ļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’”In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of €the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from €the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there €was evening and there was morning, one day. @And God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, €and let it separate the waters from the waters." And God made the firmament and separated the waters which were under €the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament. And it €was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there €was morning, a second day. @And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together €into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered €together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. And God said, "Let the earth put forth vegetation, plants yielding €seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each €according to its kind, upon the earth." And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to €their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each €according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. @And God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to €separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for €seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light €upon the earth." And it was so. And God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, €and the lesser light to rule the night; he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the €earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from €the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day. @And God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, €and let birds fly above the earth across the firmament of the heavens." So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that €moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every €winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the €waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day. @And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according €to their kinds: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth €according to their kinds." And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the €cattle according to their kinds, and everything that creeps upon the €ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. @Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and €let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of €the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every €creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created €him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, €and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of €the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that €moves upon the earth." And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed which €is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its €fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to €everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of €life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. €And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.  @Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of €them. And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done, and he €rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God €rested from all his work which he had done in creation. @These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were €created. €@In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the €field had yet sprung up -- for the LORD God had not caused it to rain €upon the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the €ground --then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into €his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he €put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is €pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the €midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. @A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided €and became four rivers. The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which flows around the €whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; and the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which flows around €the whole land of Cush. And the name of the third river is Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. €And the fourth river is the Euphrates. @The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till €it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may freely eat of €every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, €for in the day that you eat of it you shall die." @Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; €I will make him a helper fit for him." So out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and €every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would €call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was €its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to €every beast of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper €fit for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he €slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a €woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, €@@"This at last is bone of my bones €@@@and flesh of my flesh; €@@she shall be called Woman, €@@@because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his €wife, and they become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.  @Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the €LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, `You shall not €eat of any tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the €trees of the garden; but God said, `You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in €the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you €will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was €a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one €wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her €husband, and he ate. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’£—Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; €and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons. @And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the €cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the €presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" And he said, "I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was €afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree €of which I commanded you not to eat?" The man said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me €fruit of the tree, and I ate." Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" €The woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I ate." The LORD God said to the serpent, €@@"Because you have done this, €@@@cursed are you above all cattle, €@@@and above all wild animals; €@@upon your belly you shall go, €@@@and dust you shall eat €@@@all the days of your life. @@I will put enmity between you and the woman, €@@@and between your seed and her seed; €@@he shall bruise your head, €@@@and you shall bruise his heel." To the woman he said, €@@"I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; €@@@in pain you shall bring forth children, €@@yet your desire shall be for your husband, €@@@and he shall rule over you." And to Adam he said, €@@"Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, €@@@and have eaten of the tree €@@of which I commanded you, €@@@`You shall not eat of it,' €@@cursed is the ground because of you; €@@@in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; @@thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you; €@@@and you shall eat the plants of the field. @@In the sweat of your face €@@@you shall eat bread €@@till you return to the ground, €@@@for out of it you were taken; €@@you are dust, €@@@and to dust you shall return." @The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all €living. And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins, and €clothed them. @Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us, €knowing good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand and take €also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever" --therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till €the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed €the cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the €way to the tree of life.  @Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, €"I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD." And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, €and Cain a tiller of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit €of the ground, and Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat €portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, €and his countenance fell. The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance €fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, €sin is couching at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master €it." @Cain said to Abel his brother, "Let us go out to the field." And when €they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and €killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I €do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's €blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to €receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength; €you shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me this day away from the ground; and from thy €face I shall be hidden; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the €earth, and whoever finds me will slay me." Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If any one slays Cain, vengeance €shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest €any who came upon him should kill him. Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the €land of Nod, east of Eden. @Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a €city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad was the father of Me-hu'ja-el, and €Me-hu'ja-el the father of Me-thu'sha-el, and Me-thu'sha-el the father €of Lamech. And Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name €of the other Zillah. Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have €cattle. His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play €the lyre and pipe. Zillah bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze €and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Na'amah. @Lamech said to his wives: €@@"Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; €@@@you wives of Lamech, hearken to what I say: €@@I have slain a man for wounding me, €@@@a young man for striking me. @@If Cain is avenged sevenfold, €@@@truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold." @And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name €Seth, for she said, "God has appointed for me another child instead of €Abel, for Cain slew him." To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time €men began to call upon the name of the LORD.  @This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he €made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man €when they were created. When Adam had lived a hundred and thirty years, he became the father of €a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred €years; and he had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; €and he died. @When Seth had lived a hundred and five years, he became the father of €Enosh. Seth lived after the birth of Enosh eight hundred and seven years, and €had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years; and he €died. @When Enosh had lived ninety years, he became the father of Kenan. Enosh lived after the birth of Kenan eight hundred and fifteen years, €and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years; and he €died. @When Kenan had lived seventy years, he became the father of €Ma-hal'alel. Kenan lived after the birth of Ma-hal'alel eight hundred and forty €years, and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years; and he died. @When Ma-hal'alel had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of €Jared. Ma-hal'alel lived after the birth of Jared eight hundred and thirty €years, and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Ma-hal'alel were eight hundred and ninety-five €years; and he died. @When Jared had lived a hundred and sixty-two years he became the €father of Enoch. Jared lived after the birth of Enoch eight hundred years, and had other €sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and €he died. @When Enoch had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of €Methu'selah. Enoch walked with God after the birth of Methu'selah three hundred €years, and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. @When Methu'selah had lived a hundred and eighty-seven years, he €became the father of Lamech. Methu'selah lived after the birth of Lamech seven hundred and €eighty-two years, and had other sons and daughters. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’„˜›Thus all the days of Methu'selah were nine hundred and sixty-nine €years; and he died. @When Lamech had lived a hundred and eighty-two years, he became the €father of a son, and called his name Noah, saying, "Out of the ground which the LORD has €cursed this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the toil €of our hands." Lamech lived after the birth of Noah five hundred and ninety-five €years, and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; €and he died. @After Noah was five hundred years old, Noah became the father of €Shem, Ham, and Japheth.  @When men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters €were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair; and they took €to wife such of them as they chose. Then the LORD said, "My spirit shall not abide in man for ever, for he €is flesh, but his days shall be a hundred and twenty years." The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when €the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children €to them. These were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown. @The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and €that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil €continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it €grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the €face of the ground, man and beast and creeping things and birds of the €air, for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. @These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, €blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. @Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled €with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had €corrupted their way upon the earth. And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh; €for the earth is filled with violence through them; behold, I will €destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover €it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark three hundred €cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above; and set the €door of the ark in its side; make it with lower, second, and third €decks. For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy €all flesh in which is the breath of life from under heaven; everything €that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the €ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every €sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and €female. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to €their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its €kind, two of every sort shall come in to you, to keep them alive. Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up; €and it shall serve as food for you and for them." Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.  @Then the LORD said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and all your €household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this €generation. Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate; €and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate; and seven pairs of the birds of the air also, male and female, to keep €their kind alive upon the face of all the earth. For in seven days I will send rain upon the earth forty days and forty €nights; and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from €the face of the ground." And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him. @Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the €earth. And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him went €into the ark, to escape the waters of the flood. Of clean animals, and of animals that are not clean, and of birds, and €of everything that creeps on the ground, two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had €commanded Noah. And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth. @In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the €seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the €great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. And rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights. On the very same day Noah and his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and €Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them entered the ark, they and every beast according to its kind, and all the cattle €according to their kinds, and every creeping thing that creeps on the €earth according to its kind, and every bird according to its kind, €every bird of every sort. They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which €there was the breath of life. And they that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had €commanded him; and the LORD shut him in. @The flood continued forty days upon the earth; and the waters €increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark €floated on the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed so mightily upon the earth that all the high €mountains under the whole heaven were covered; the waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits €deep. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, birds, cattle, beasts, €all swarming creatures that swarm upon the earth, and every man; everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life €died. He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the ground, €man and animals and creeping things and birds of the air; they were €blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were €with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days.  @But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that €were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and €the waters subsided; the fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, €the rain from the heavens was restrained, and the waters receded from the earth continually. At the end of a €hundred and fifty days the waters had abated; and in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark €came to rest upon the mountains of Ar'arat. And the waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth €month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were €seen. @At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark which he €had made, and sent forth a raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were €dried up from the earth. Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided €from the face of the ground; but the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to €the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So €he put forth his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with €him. He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of €the ark; and the dove came back to him in the evening, and lo, in her mouth a €freshly plucked olive leaf; so Noah knew that the waters had subsided €from the earth. Then he waited another seven days, and sent forth the dove; and she did €not return to him any more. @In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day €of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth; and Noah €removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the face of €the ground was dry. In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth €was dry. Then God said to Noah, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’؈˜"Go forth from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons' €wives with you. Bring forth with you every living thing that is with you of all €flesh -- birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the €earth -- that they may breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and €multiply upon the earth." So Noah went forth, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with €him. And every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that €moves upon the earth, went forth by families out of the ark. @Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal €and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the LORD smelled the pleasing odor, the LORD said in his €heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the €imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I ever €again destroy every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer €and winter, day and night, shall not cease."  @And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, "Be fruitful and €multiply, and fill the earth. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the €earth, and upon every bird of the air, upon everything that creeps on €the ground and all the fish of the sea; into your hand they are €delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and as I gave you €the green plants, I give you everything. Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning; of every beast I €will require it and of man; of every man's brother I will require the €life of man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for God €made man in his own image. And you, be fruitful and multiply, bring forth abundantly on the earth €and multiply in it." @Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, "Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your descendants after €you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, €and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be €cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a €flood to destroy the earth." And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant which I make between me €and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future €generations: I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant €between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant which is between me and you and every €living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a €flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will look upon it and remember the €everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh €that is upon the earth." God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have €established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth." @The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and €Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah; and from these the whole earth was €peopled. @Noah was the first tiller of the soil. He planted a vineyard; and he drank of the wine, and became drunk, and lay uncovered in his €tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and €told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it upon both their €shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their €father; their faces were turned away, and they did not see their €father's nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done €to him, he said, €@@"Cursed be Canaan; €@@@a slave of slaves shall he be to his brothers." He also said, €@@"Blessed by the LORD my God be Shem; €@@@and let Canaan be his slave." @@God enlarge Japheth, €@@@and let him dwell in the tents of Shem; €@@@and let Canaan be his slave." After the flood Noah lived three hundred and fifty years. All the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died.  @These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and €Japheth; sons were born to them after the flood. @The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and €Tiras. The sons of Gomer: Ash'kenaz, Riphath, and Togar'mah. The sons of Javan: Eli'shah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Do'danim. From these the coastland peoples spread. These are the sons of Japheth €in their lands, each with his own language, by their families, in their €nations. @The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. The sons of Cush: Seba, Hav'ilah, Sabtah, Ra'amah, and Sab'teca. The €sons of Ra'amah: Sheba and Dedan. Cush became the father of Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a €mighty man. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like €Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD." The beginning of his kingdom was Ba'bel, Erech, and Accad, all of them €in the land of Shinar. From that land he went into Assyria, and built Nin'eveh, Reho'both-Ir, €Calah, and Resen between Nin'eveh and Calah; that is the great city. Egypt became the father of Ludim, An'amim, Leha'bim, Naph-tu'him, Pathru'sim, Caslu'him (whence came the Philistines), and Caph'torim. @Canaan became the father of Sidon his first-born, and Heth, and the Jeb'usites, the Amorites, the Gir'gashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Ar'vadites, the Zem'arites, and the Ha'mathites. Afterward the €families of the Canaanites spread abroad. And the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon, in the €direction of Gerar, as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, €Gomor'rah, Admah, and Zeboi'im, as far as Lasha. These are the sons of Ham, by their families, their languages, their €lands, and their nations. @To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder €brother of Japheth, children were born. The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpach'shad, Lud, and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. Arpach'shad became the father of Shelah; and Shelah became the father €of Eber. To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his €days the earth was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan. Joktan became the father of Almo'dad, Sheleph, Hazarma'veth, Jerah, Hador'am, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abim'a-el, Sheba, Ophir, Hav'ilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. The territory in which they lived extended from Mesha in the direction €of Sephar to the hill country of the east. These are the sons of Shem, by their families, their languages, their €lands, and their nations. @These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their €genealogies, in their nations; and from these the nations spread abroad €on the earth after the flood.  @Now the whole earth had one language and few words. And as men migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of €Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them €thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with €its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we €be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the sons of €men had built. And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one €language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; and €nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down, and there confuse their language, that they may €not understand one another's speech." So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the €earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Ba'bel, because there the LORD confused €the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’؋˜‰ƒabroad over the face of all the earth. @These are the descendants of Shem. When Shem was a hundred years old, €he became the father of Arpach'shad two years after the flood; and Shem lived after the birth of Arpach'shad five hundred years, and €had other sons and daughters. @When Arpach'shad had lived thirty-five years, he became the father of €Shelah; and Arpach'shad lived after the birth of Shelah four hundred and three €years, and had other sons and daughters. @When Shelah had lived thirty years, he became the father of Eber; and Shelah lived after the birth of Eber four hundred and three years, €and had other sons and daughters. @When Eber had lived thirty-four years, he became the father of Peleg; and Eber lived after the birth of Peleg four hundred and thirty years, €and had other sons and daughters. @When Peleg had lived thirty years, he became the father of Re'u; and Peleg lived after the birth of Re'u two hundred and nine years, and €had other sons and daughters. @When Re'u had lived thirty-two years, he became the father of Serug; and Re'u lived after the birth of Serug two hundred and seven years, €and had other sons and daughters. @When Serug had lived thirty years, he became the father of Nahor; and Serug lived after the birth of Nahor two hundred years, and had €other sons and daughters. @When Nahor had lived twenty-nine years, he became the father of Terah; and Nahor lived after the birth of Terah a hundred and nineteen years, €and had other sons and daughters. @When Terah had lived seventy years, he became the father of Abram, €Nahor, and Haran. @Now these are the descendants of Terah. Terah was the father of €Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran was the father of Lot. Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of €the Chalde'ans. And Abram and Nahor took wives; the name of Abram's wife was Sar'ai, €and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father €of Milcah and Iscah. Now Sar'ai was barren; she had no child. @Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and €Sar'ai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife, and they went forth €together from Ur of the Chalde'ans to go into the land of Canaan; but €when they came to Haran, they settled there. The days of Terah were two hundred and five years; and Terah died in €Haran.  @Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred €and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make €your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; €and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves." @So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram €was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sar'ai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all €their possessions which they had gathered, and the persons that they €had gotten in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. €When they had come to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of €Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the LORD appeared to Abram, and said, "To your descendants I will €give this land." So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had €appeared to him. Thence he removed to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched €his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he €built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb. @Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to €sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sar'ai his wife, "I know €that you are a woman beautiful to behold; and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, `This is his wife'; then €they will kill me, but they will let you live. Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and €that my life may be spared on your account." When Abram entered Egypt the Egyptians saw that the woman was very €beautiful. And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. €And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, €he-asses, menservants, maidservants, she-asses, and camels. @But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues €because of Sar'ai, Abram's wife. So Pharaoh called Abram, and said, "What is this you have done to me? €Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, `She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? €Now then, here is your wife, take her, and be gone." And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him; and they set him on the €way, with his wife and all that he had.  @So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, €and Lot with him, into the Negeb. @Now Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel, to the place where €his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first; and there Abram €called on the name of the LORD. And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for €their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's cattle and the €herdsmen of Lot's cattle. At that time the Canaanites and the €Per'izzites dwelt in the land. @Then Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife between you and me, €and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you €take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you take the €right hand, then I will go to the left." And Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw that the Jordan valley was well €watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, €in the direction of Zo'ar; this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and €Gomor'rah. So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan valley, and Lot journeyed east; €thus they separated from each other. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, while Lot dwelt among the cities of €the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD. @The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Lift up €your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and €southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see I will give to you and to your €descendants for ever. I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if one €can count the dust of the earth, your descendants also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will €give it to you." So Abram moved his tent, and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which €are at Hebron; and there he built an altar to the LORD.  @In the days of Am'raphel king of Shinar, Ar'ioch king of Ella'sar, €Ched-or-lao'mer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goi'im, these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomor'rah, €Shinab king of Admah, Sheme'ber king of Zeboi'im, and the king of Bela €(that is, Zo'ar). And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt €Sea). Twelve years they had served Ched-or-lao'mer, but in the thirteenth €year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year Ched-or-lao'mer and the kings who were with him €came and subdued the Reph'aim in Ash'teroth-karna'im, the Zuzim in Ham, €the Emim in Sha'veh-kiriatha'im, and the Horites in their Mount Se'ir as far as El-paran on the border €of the wilderness; then they turned back and came to Enmish'pat (that is, Kadesh), and €subdued all the country of the Amal'ekites, and also the Amorites who €dwelt in Haz'azon-ta'mar. Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomor'rah, the king of Admah, the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’؎˜ˆ‚king of Zeboi'im, and the king of Bela (that is, Zo'ar) went out, and €they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim with Ched-or-lao'mer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goi'im, Am'raphel king €of Shinar, and Ar'ioch king of Ella'sar, four kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits; and as the kings of €Sodom and Gomor'rah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the €mountain. So the enemy took all the goods of Sodom and Gomor'rah, and all their €provisions, and went their way; they also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother, who dwelt in Sodom, and €his goods, and departed. @Then one who had escaped came, and told Abram the Hebrew, who was €living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner; €these were allies of Abram. When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth €his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen of them, €and went in pursuit as far as Dan. And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, €and routed them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. Then he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his kinsman €Lot with his goods, and the women and the people. @After his return from the defeat of Ched-or-lao'mer and the kings who €were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of €Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). And Mel-chiz'edek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was €priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, €@@"Blessed be Abram by God Most High, €@@@maker of heaven and earth; @@and blessed be God Most High, €@@@who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" €And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. And the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, but take the €goods for yourself." But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have sworn to the LORD God Most €High, maker of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal-thong or anything that is €yours, lest you should say, `I have made Abram rich.' I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of €the men who went with me; let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share."  @After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, €"Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, for I continue €childless, and the heir of my house is Elie'zer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "Behold, thou hast given me no offspring; and a slave €born in my house will be my heir." And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, "This man shall not be €your heir; your own son shall be your heir." And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number €the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So €shall your descendants be." And he believed the LORD; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness. @And he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the €Chalde'ans, to give you this land to possess." But he said, "O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?" He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a she-goat three €years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." And he brought him all these, cut them in two, and laid each half over €against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them €away. @As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram; and lo, a €dread and great darkness fell upon him. Then the LORD said to Abram, "Know of a surety that your descendants €will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and will be slaves €there, and they will be oppressed for four hundred years; but I will bring judgment on the nation which they serve, and afterward €they shall come out with great possessions. As for yourself, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be €buried in a good old age. And they shall come back here in the fourth generation; for the €iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." @When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire €pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your €descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great €river, the river Euphra'tes, the land of the Ken'ites, the Ken'izzites, the Kad'monites, the Hittites, the Per'izzites, the Reph'aim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Gir'gashites and the Jeb'usites."  @Now Sar'ai, Abram's wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian €maid whose name was Hagar; and Sar'ai said to Abram, "Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from €bearing children; go in to my maid; it may be that I shall obtain €children by her." And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sar'ai. So, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, Sar'ai, €Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to Abram €her husband as a wife. And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she €had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. And Sar'ai said to Abram, "May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave €my maid to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she €looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!" But Abram said to Sar'ai, "Behold, your maid is in your power; do to €her as you please." Then Sar'ai dealt harshly with her, and she fled €from her. @The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the €wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, "Hagar, maid of Sar'ai, where have you come from and where €are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from my mistress Sar'ai." The angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit €to her." The angel of the LORD also said to her, "I will so greatly multiply €your descendants that they cannot be numbered for multitude." And the angel of the LORD said to her, "Behold, you are with child, and €shall bear a son; you shall call his name Ish'mael; because the LORD €has given heed to your affliction. He shall be a wild ass of a man, his hand against every man and every €man's hand against him; and he shall dwell over against all his €kinsmen." So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "Thou art a God of €seeing"; for she said, "Have I really seen God and remained alive after €seeing him?" Therefore the well was called Beer-la'hai-roi; it lies between Kadesh €and Bered. @And Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son, €whom Hagar bore, Ish'mael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ish'mael to Abram.  @When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram, and €said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you €exceedingly." Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, "Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a €multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for €I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, €and kings shall come forth from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your €descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting €covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. And I will give to you, and to your descendants after you, the land of €your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting €possession; and I will be their God." @And God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you €and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your €descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall €be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He that is eight days old among you shall be circumcised; every male žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’ؑ˜Œ‚throughout your generations, whether born in your house, or bought with €your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he that is born in your house and he that is bought with your €money, shall be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an €everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his €foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant." @And God said to Abraham, "As for Sar'ai your wife, you shall not call €her name Sar'ai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her; I will €bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall €come from her." Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, "Shall €a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who €is ninety years old, bear a child?" And Abraham said to God, "O that Ish'mael might live in thy sight!" God said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall €call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an €everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. As for Ish'mael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him and make €him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly; he shall be the father of €twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to €you at this season next year." @When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. Then Abraham took Ish'mael his son and all the slaves born in his house €or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, €and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God €had said to him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh €of his foreskin. And Ish'mael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in €the flesh of his foreskin. That very day Abraham and his son Ish'mael were circumcised; and all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought €with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.  @And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the €door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood in front €of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and €bowed himself to the earth, and said, "My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by €your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves €under the tree, while I fetch a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and €after that you may pass on -- since you have come to your servant." So €they said, "Do as you have said." And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready €quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes." And Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave €it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds, and milk, and the calf which he had prepared, and €set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. @They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "She is in €the tent." The LORD said, "I will surely return to you in the spring, and Sarah €your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door €behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be €with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have grown old, and my €husband is old, shall I have pleasure?" The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, and say, `Shall I €indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return €to you, in the spring, and Sarah shall have a son." But Sarah denied, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. He €said, "No, but you did laugh." @Then the men set out from there, and they looked toward Sodom; and €Abraham went with them to set them on their way. The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall become a great and mighty nation, and all the €nations of the earth shall bless themselves by him? No, for I have chosen him, that he may charge his children and his €household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness €and justice; so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised €him." Then the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomor'rah is €great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to €the outcry which has come to me; and if not, I will know." @So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham €still stood before the LORD. Then Abraham drew near, and said, "Wilt thou indeed destroy the €righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt thou then €destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in €it? Far be it from thee to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the €wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from €thee! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" And the LORD said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I €will spare the whole place for their sake." Abraham answered, "Behold, I have taken upon myself to speak to the €Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Wilt thou destroy the €whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I €find forty-five there." Again he spoke to him, and said, "Suppose forty are found there." He €answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it." Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose €thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find €thirty there." He said, "Behold, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord. €Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I €will not destroy it." Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but €this once. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of €ten I will not destroy it." And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham; €and Abraham returned to his place.  @The two angels came to Sodom in the evening; and Lot was sitting in €the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and bowed €himself with his face to the earth, and said, "My lords, turn aside, I pray you, to your servant's house €and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise up early and €go on your way." They said, "No; we will spend the night in the street." But he urged them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his €house; and he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they €ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both €young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house; and they called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? €Bring them out to us, that we may know them." Lot went out of the door to the men, shut the door after him, and said, "I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters who have not known man; let me bring them €out to you, and do to them as you please; only do nothing to these men, €for they have come under the shelter of my roof." But they said, "Stand back!" And they said, "This fellow came to €sojourn, and he would play the judge! Now we will deal worse with you €than with them." Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew €near to break the door. But the men put forth their hands and brought Lot into the house to €them, and shut the door. And they struck with blindness the men who were at the door of the €house, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves groping €for the door. @Then the men said to Lot, "Have you any one else here? Sons-in-law, €sons, daughters, or any one you have in the city, bring them out of the €place; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’ؓ˜for we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its €people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to €destroy it." So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his €daughters, "Up, get out of this place; for the LORD is about to destroy €the city." But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting. @When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Arise, take your €wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the €punishment of the city." But he lingered; so the men seized him and his wife and his two €daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought €him forth and set him outside the city. And when they had brought them forth, they said, "Flee for your life; €do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley; flee to the hills, €lest you be consumed." And Lot said to them, "Oh, no, my lords; behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown €me great kindness in saving my life; but I cannot flee to the hills, €lest the disaster overtake me, and I die. Behold, yonder city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. €Let me escape there -- is it not a little one? -- and my life will be €saved!" He said to him, "Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not €overthrow the city of which you have spoken. Make haste, escape there; for I can do nothing till you arrive there." €Therefore the name of the city was called Zo'ar. The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zo'ar. @Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomor'rah brimstone and fire from €the LORD out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the €inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But Lot's wife behind him looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood €before the LORD; and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomor'rah and toward all the land €of the valley, and beheld, and lo, the smoke of the land went up like €the smoke of a furnace. @So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God €remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, €when he overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt. @Now Lot went up out of Zo'ar, and dwelt in the hills with his two €daughters, for he was afraid to dwell in Zo'ar; so he dwelt in a cave €with his two daughters. And the first-born said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there €is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the €earth. Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that €we may preserve offspring through our father." So they made their father drink wine that night; and the first-born €went in, and lay with her father; he did not know when she lay down or €when she arose. And on the next day, the first-born said to the younger, "Behold, I lay €last night with my father; let us make him drink wine tonight also; €then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring through €our father." So they made their father drink wine that night also; and the younger €arose, and lay with him; and he did not know when she lay down or when €she arose. Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. The first-born bore a son, and called his name Moab; he is the father €of the Moabites to this day. The younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben-ammi; he is the €father of the Ammonites to this day.  @From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb, and €dwelt between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abim'elech €king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abim'elech in a dream by night, and said to him, €"Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken; €for she is a man's wife." Now Abim'elech had not approached her; so he said, "Lord, wilt thou €slay an innocent people? Did he not himself say to me, `She is my sister'? And she herself said, €`He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of €my hands I have done this." Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you have done this €in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning €against me; therefore I did not let you touch her. Now then restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray €for you, and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that €you shall surely die, you, and all that are yours." @So Abim'elech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, €and told them all these things; and the men were very much afraid. Then Abim'elech called Abraham, and said to him, "What have you done to €us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and €my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be €done." And Abim'elech said to Abraham, "What were you thinking of, that you €did this thing?" Abraham said, "I did it because I thought, There is no fear of God at €all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife. Besides she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father but not the €daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. And when God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, €`This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, €say of me, He is my brother.'" Then Abim'elech took sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and €gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah his wife to him. And Abim'elech said, "Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it €pleases you." To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces €of silver; it is your vindication in the eyes of all who are with you; €and before every one you are righted." Then Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abim'elech, and also healed €his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abim'elech €because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.  @The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as €he had promised. And Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time €of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore €him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as €God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, "God has made laughter for me; every one who hears will €laugh over me." And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would suckle €children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age." @And the child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on €the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to €Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, "Cast out this slave woman with her son; for €the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac." And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, "Be not displeased because of the lad and €because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she €tells you, for through Isaac shall your descendants be named. And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he €is your offspring." So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of €water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the €child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the €wilderness of Beer-sheba. @When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of €the bushes. Then she went, and sat down over against him a good way off, about the €distance of a bowshot; for she said, "Let me not look upon the death of €the child." And as she sat over against him, the child lifted up his €voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to €Hagar from heaven, and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Fear žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’ؕ˜‘ƒnot; for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him fast with your hand; for I will €make him a great nation." Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, €and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. And God was with the lad, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, €and became an expert with the bow. He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him €from the land of Egypt. @At that time Abim'elech and Phicol the commander of his army said to €Abraham, "God is with you in all that you do; now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely €with me or with my offspring or with my posterity, but as I have dealt €loyally with you, you will deal with me and with the land where you €have sojourned." And Abraham said, "I will swear." @When Abraham complained to Abim'elech about a well of water which €Abim'elech's servants had seized, Abim'elech said, "I do not know who has done this thing; you did not €tell me, and I have not heard of it until today." So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abim'elech, and the two €men made a covenant. Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. And Abim'elech said to Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe €lambs which you have set apart?" He said, "These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that you €may be a witness for me that I dug this well." Therefore that place was called Beer-sheba; because there both of them €swore an oath. So they made a covenant at Beer-sheba. Then Abim'elech and Phicol the €commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the €Philistines. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and called there on the €name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines.  @After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" €And he said, "Here am I." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to €the land of Mori'ah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one €of the mountains of which I shall tell you." So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his ass, and took two of €his young men with him, and his son Isaac; and he cut the wood for the €burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told €him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off. Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the ass; I and the €lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you." And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it on Isaac €his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went €both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here €am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood; but where is €the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, €my son." So they went both of them together. @When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built €an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, €and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, €"Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for €now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, €your only son, from me." And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a €ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the €ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place The LORD will provide; as it €is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided." @And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done €this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the €stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. And your €descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless €themselves, because you have obeyed my voice." So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together €to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba. @Now after these things it was told Abraham, "Behold, Milcah also has €borne children to your brother Nahor: Uz the first-born, Buz his brother, Kemu'el the father of Aram, Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethu'el." Bethu'el became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to €Nahor, Abraham's brother. Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, €Tahash, and Ma'acah.  @Sarah lived a hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of €the life of Sarah. And Sarah died at Kir'iath-ar'ba (that is, Hebron) in the land of €Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. And Abraham rose up from before his dead, and said to the Hittites, "I am a stranger and a sojourner among you; give me property among you €for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight." The Hittites answered Abraham, "Hear us, my lord; you are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in €the choicest of our sepulchres; none of us will withhold from you his €sepulchre, or hinder you from burying your dead." Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. And he said to them, "If you are willing that I should bury my dead out €of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Mach-pe'lah, which he owns; it is at €the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your €presence as a possession for a burying place." Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites; and Ephron the Hittite €answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at €the gate of his city, "No, my lord, hear me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave €that is in it; in the presence of the sons of my people I give it to €you; bury your dead." Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, "But if €you will, hear me; I will give the price of the field; accept it from €me, that I may bury my dead there." Ephron answered Abraham, "My lord, listen to me; a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of €silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead." Abraham agreed with Ephron; and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the €silver which he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred €shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants. @So the field of Ephron in Mach-pe'lah, which was to the east of €Mamre, the field with the cave which was in it and all the trees that €were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all €who went in at the gate of his city. After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of €Mach-pe'lah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as a €possession for a burying place by the Hittites.  @Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years; and the LORD had blessed €Abraham in all things. And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his house, who had €charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and of the €earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of €the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son €Isaac." The servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman may not be willing to €follow me to this land; must I then take your son back to the land from €which you came?" žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’ؘ–Abraham said to him, "See to it that you do not take my son back there. The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and €from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and swore to me, `To €your descendants I will give this land,' he will send his angel before €you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free €from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there." So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and €swore to him concerning this matter. @Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking €all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose, and went to €Mesopota'mia, to the city of Nahor. And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water €at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water. And he said, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, grant me success today, €I pray thee, and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the €men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the maiden to whom I shall say, `Pray let down your jar that I may €drink,' and who shall say, `Drink, and I will water your camels' -- let €her be the one whom thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac. By this €I shall know that thou hast shown steadfast love to my master." @Before he had done speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to €Bethu'el the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came €out with her water jar upon her shoulder. The maiden was very fair to look upon, a virgin, whom no man had known. €She went down to the spring, and filled her jar, and came up. Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Pray give me a little €water to drink from your jar." She said, "Drink, my lord"; and she quickly let down her jar upon her €hand, and gave him a drink. When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw for €your camels also, until they have done drinking." So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the €well to draw, and she drew for all his camels. The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the LORD had prospered €his journey or not. @When the camels had done drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing €a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels, and said, "Tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your €father's house for us to lodge in?" She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethu'el the son of Milcah, whom €she bore to Nahor." She added, "We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge €in." The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD, and said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has €not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. €As for me, the LORD has led me in the way to the house of my master's €kinsmen." @Then the maiden ran and told her mother's household about these €things. Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran out to the €man, to the spring. When he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and when €he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, "Thus the man spoke to me," €he went to the man; and behold, he was standing by the camels at the €spring. He said, "Come in, O blessed of the LORD; why do you stand outside? For €I have prepared the house and a place for the camels." So the man came into the house; and Laban ungirded the camels, and gave €him straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and €the feet of the men who were with him. Then food was set before him to eat; but he said, "I will not eat until €I have told my errand." He said, "Speak on." @So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great; he has €given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, menservants and €maidservants, camels and asses. And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; €and to him he has given all that he has. My master made me swear, saying, `You shall not take a wife for my son €from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell; but you shall go to my father's house and to my kindred, and take a €wife for my son.' I said to my master, `Perhaps the woman will not follow me.' But he said to me, `The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel €with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son €from my kindred and from my father's house; then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my kindred; and if €they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.' @"I came today to the spring, and said, `O LORD, the God of my master €Abraham, if now thou wilt prosper the way which I go, behold, I am standing by the spring of water; let the young woman who €comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, "Pray give me a little water €from your jar to drink," and who will say to me, "Drink, and I will draw for your camels also," €let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.' @"Before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out €with her water jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, €and drew. I said to her, `Pray let me drink.' She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, `Drink, and I €will give your camels drink also.' So I drank, and she gave the camels €drink also. Then I asked her, `Whose daughter are you?' She said, The daughter of €Bethu'el, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on €her nose, and the bracelets on her arms. Then I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the €God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to take the €daughter of my master's kinsman for his son. Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; €and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand or to the left." @Then Laban and Bethu'el answered, "The thing comes from the LORD; we €cannot speak to you bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife €of your master's son, as the LORD has spoken." @When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the €earth before the LORD. And the servant brought forth jewelry of silver and of gold, and €raiment, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave to her brother and to €her mother costly ornaments. And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the €night there. When they arose in the morning, he said, "Send me back to €my master." Her brother and her mother said, "Let the maiden remain with us a €while, at least ten days; after that she may go." But he said to them, "Do not delay me, since the LORD has prospered my €way; let me go that I may go to my master." They said, "We will call the maiden, and ask her." And they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" €She said, "I will go." So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham's €servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah, and said to her, "Our sister, be the mother €of thousands of ten thousands; and may your descendants possess the €gate of those who hate them!" Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and rode upon the camels and followed €the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. @Now Isaac had come from Beer-la'hai-roi, and was dwelling in the €Negeb. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he €lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there were camels coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted €from the camel, and said to the servant, "Who is the man yonder, walking in the field €to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil €and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into the tent, and took Rebekah, and she became €his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's €death. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’ؙ@Abraham took another wife, whose name was Ketu'rah. She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Mid'ian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were €Asshu'rim, Letu'shim, and Le-um'mim. The sons of Mid'ian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abi'da, and Elda'ah. All €these were the children of Ketu'rah. Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was €still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east €country. @These are the days of the years of Abraham's life, a hundred and €seventy-five years. Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and €full of years, and was gathered to his people. Isaac and Ish'mael his sons buried him in the cave of Mach-pe'lah, in €the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, the field which Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was €buried, with Sarah his wife. After the death of Abraham God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac dwelt €at Beer-la'hai-roi. @These are the descendants of Ish'mael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the €Egyptian, Sarah's maid, bore to Abraham. These are the names of the sons of Ish'mael, named in the order of €their birth: Neba'ioth, the first-born of Ish'mael; and Kedar, Adbeel, €Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Ked'emah. These are the sons of Ish'mael and these are their names, by their €villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their €tribes. (These are the years of the life of Ish'mael, a hundred and €thirty-seven years; he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to €his kindred.) They dwelt from Hav'ilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the €direction of Assyria; he settled over against all his people. @These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham was the €father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he took to wife Rebekah, the €daughter of Bethu'el the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban €the Aramean. And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and €the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. The children struggled together within her; and she said, "If it is €thus, why do I live?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said to her, €@@"Two nations are in your womb, €@@@and two peoples, born of you, shall be divided; €@@the one shall be stronger than the other, €@@@the elder shall serve the younger." When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins €in her womb. The first came forth red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they €called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came forth, and his hand had taken hold of Esau's €heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she €bore them. @When the boys grew up, Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field, €while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his game; but Rebekah loved Jacob. @Once when Jacob was boiling pottage, Esau came in from the field, and €he was famished. And Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red pottage, for I am €famished!" (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, "First sell me your birthright." Esau said, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?" Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore to him, and sold his €birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils, and he ate and €drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.  @Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that €was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to Abim'elech king €of the Philistines. And the LORD appeared to him, and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; dwell €in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for €to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will €fulfil the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give €to your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the €nations of the earth shall bless themselves: because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my €statutes, and my laws." @So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my €sister"; for he feared to say, "My wife," thinking, "lest the men of €the place should kill me for the sake of Rebekah"; because she was fair €to look upon. When he had been there a long time, Abim'elech king of the Philistines €looked out of a window and saw Isaac fondling Rebekah his wife. So Abim'elech called Isaac, and said, "Behold, she is your wife; how €then could you say, `She is my sister'?" Isaac said to him, "Because I €thought, `Lest I die because of her.'" Abim'elech said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the people €might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt €upon us." So Abim'elech warned all the people, saying, "Whoever touches this man €or his wife shall be put to death." @And Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a €hundredfold. The LORD blessed him, and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very €wealthy. He had possessions of flocks and herds, and a great household, so that €the Philistines envied him. (Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the wells €which his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father.) And Abim'elech said to Isaac, "Go away from us; for you are much €mightier than we." @So Isaac departed from there, and encamped in the valley of Gerar and €dwelt there. And Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days €of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the €death of Abraham; and he gave them the names which his father had given €them. But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of €springing water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The €water is ours." So he called the name of the well Esek, because they €contended with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that also; so he €called its name Sitnah. And he moved from there and dug another well, and over that they did €not quarrel; so he called its name Reho'both, saying, "For now the LORD €has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land." @From there he went up to Beer-sheba. And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of €Abraham your father; fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and €multiply your descendants for my servant Abraham's sake." So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD, and €pitched his tent there. And there Isaac's servants dug a well. @Then Abim'elech went to him from Gerar with Ahuz'zath his adviser and €Phicol the commander of his army. Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me €and have sent me away from you?" They said, "We see plainly that the LORD is with you; so we say, let €there be an oath between you and us, and let us make a covenant with €you, that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have €done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are €now the blessed of the LORD." So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. In the morning they rose early and took oath with one another; and €Isaac set them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. That same day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well which €they had dug, and said to him, "We have found water." He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba to €this day. @When Esau was forty years old, he took to wife Judith the daughter of €Be-e'ri the Hittite, and Bas'emath the daughter of Elon the Hittite; and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.  @When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’؛‚called Esau his older son, and said to him, "My son"; and he answered, €"Here I am." He said, "Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to €the field, and hunt game for me, and prepare for me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that €I may eat; that I may bless you before I die." @Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when €Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "I heard your father speak to your €brother Esau, `Bring me game, and prepare for me savory food, that I may eat it, and €bless you before the LORD before I die.' Now therefore, my son, obey my word as I command you. Go to the flock, and fetch me two good kids, that I may prepare from €them savory food for your father, such as he loves; and you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you €before he dies." But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "Behold, my brother Esau is a €hairy man, and I am a smooth man. Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him, and €bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing." His mother said to him, "Upon me be your curse, my son; only obey my €word, and go, fetch them to me." So he went and took them and brought them to his mother; and his mother €prepared savory food, such as his father loved. Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were €with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son; and the skins of the kids she put upon his hands and upon the smooth €part of his neck; and she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, €into the hand of her son Jacob. @So he went in to his father, and said, "My father"; and he said, €"Here I am; who are you, my son?" Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your first-born. I have done as €you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that you may bless me." But Isaac said to his son, "How is it that you have found it so €quickly, my son?" He answered, "Because the LORD your God granted me €success." Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near, that I may feel you, my son, to €know whether you are really my son Esau or not." So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, "The €voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau." And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his €brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him. He said, "Are you really my son Esau?" He answered, "I am." Then he said, "Bring it to me, that I may eat of my son's game and €bless you." So he brought it to him, and he ate; and he brought him €wine, and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, "Come near and kiss me, my son." So he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his €garments, and blessed him, and said, €@@"See, the smell of my son €@@@is as the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed! @@May God give you of the dew of heaven, €@@@and of the fatness of the earth, €@@@and plenty of grain and wine. @@Let peoples serve you, €@@@and nations bow down to you. €@@Be lord over your brothers, €@@@and may your mother's sons bow down to you. €@@Cursed be every one who curses you, €@@@and blessed be every one who blesses you!" @As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely €gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came €in from his hunting. He also prepared savory food, and brought it to his father. And he said €to his father, "Let my father arise, and eat of his son's game, that €you may bless me." His father Isaac said to him, "Who are you?" He answered, "I am your €son, your first-born, Esau." Then Isaac trembled violently, and said, "Who was it then that hunted €game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have €blessed him? -- yes, and he shall be blessed." When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an €exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me, €even me also, O my father!" But he said, "Your brother came with guile, and he has taken away your €blessing." Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me €these two times. He took away my birthright; and behold, now he has €taken away my blessing." Then he said, "Have you not reserved a €blessing for me?" Isaac answered Esau, "Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his €brothers I have given to him for servants, and with grain and wine I €have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?" Esau said to his father, "Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless €me, even me also, O my father." And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. @Then Isaac his father answered him: €@@@"Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall €@@your dwelling be, and away from the dew of heaven on high. @@By your sword you shall live, €@@@and you shall serve your brother; €@@but when you break loose €@@@you shall break his yoke from your neck." @Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father €had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my €father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob." But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah; so she sent €and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, "Behold, your €brother Esau comforts himself by planning to kill you. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee to Laban my brother €in Haran, and stay with him a while, until your brother's fury turns away; until your brother's anger turns away, and he forgets what you have €done to him; then I will send, and fetch you from there. Why should I €be bereft of you both in one day?" @Then Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am weary of my life because of the €Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women such as these, €one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?"  @Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, "You shall €not marry one of the Canaanite women. Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethu'el your mother's father; €and take as wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother's €brother. God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you €may become a company of peoples. May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your descendants with €you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings which €God gave to Abraham!" Thus Isaac sent Jacob away; and he went to Paddan-aram to Laban, the €son of Bethu'el the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's €mother. @Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to €Paddan-aram to take a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he €charged him, "You shall not marry one of the Canaanite women," and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and gone to €Paddan-aram. So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac his €father, Esau went to Ish'mael and took to wife, besides the wives he had, €Ma'halath the daughter of Ish'mael Abraham's son, the sister of €Neba'ioth. @Jacob left Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. And he came to a certain place, and stayed there that night, because €the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under €his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top €of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending €and descending on it! And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, "I am the LORD, the God €of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie €I will give to you and to your descendants; and your descendants shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall €spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the €south; and by you and your descendants shall all the families of the €earth bless themselves. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring €you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done that €of which I have spoken to you." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’؜˜Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this €place; and I did not know it." And he was afraid, and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none €other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." @So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone which he €had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the €top of it. He called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of the city was €Luz at the first. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and will keep €me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to €wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall €be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house; €and of all that thou givest me I will give the tenth to thee."  @Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the people of €the east. As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and lo, three flocks of sheep €lying beside it; for out of that well the flocks were watered. The €stone on the well's mouth was large, and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll €the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the sheep, and put the €stone back in its place upon the mouth of the well. @Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where do you come from?" They said, €"We are from Haran." He said to them, "Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?" They said, "We €know him." He said to them, "Is it well with him?" They said, "It is well; and €see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!" He said, "Behold, it is still high day, it is not time for the animals €to be gathered together; water the sheep, and go, pasture them." But they said, "We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, €and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the €sheep." @While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's €sheep; for she kept them. Now when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, €and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob went up and rolled €the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his €mother's brother. Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and wept aloud. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's kinsman, and that he was €Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father. @When Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, he ran to €meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his €house. Jacob told Laban all these things, and Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh!" And he €stayed with him a month. @Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman, should you €therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?" Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the €name of the younger was Rachel. Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful and lovely. Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, "I will serve you seven years for your €younger daughter Rachel." Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than that I should €give her to any other man; stay with me." So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a €few days because of the love he had for her. @Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife that I may go in to her, €for my time is completed." So Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; €and he went in to her. (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) And in the morning, behold, it was Leah; and Jacob said to Laban, "What €is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why €then have you deceived me?" Laban said, "It is not so done in our country, to give the younger €before the first-born. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in €return for serving me another seven years." Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter €Rachel to wife. (Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maid.) So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, €and served Laban for another seven years. @When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel €was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for €she said, "Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; surely now €my husband will love me." She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the LORD has €heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also"; and she called €his name Simeon. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, "Now this time my husband €will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons"; therefore €his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "This time I will €praise the LORD"; therefore she called his name Judah; then she ceased €bearing.  @When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her €sister; and she said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I shall die!" Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in the €place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?" Then she said, "Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, that she may bear €upon my knees, and even I may have children through her." So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife; and Jacob went in to her. And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, "God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and €given me a son"; therefore she called his name Dan. Rachel's maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, "With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my €sister, and have prevailed"; so she called his name Naph'tali. @When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her maid €Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Then Leah's maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. And Leah said, "Good fortune!" so she called his name Gad. Leah's maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. And Leah said, "Happy am I! For the women will call me happy"; so she €called his name Asher. @In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the €field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, €"Give me, I pray, some of your son's mandrakes." But she said to her, "Is it a small matter that you have taken away my €husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes also?" Rachel said, €"Then he may lie with you tonight for your son's mandrakes." When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet €him, and said, "You must come in to me; for I have hired you with my €son's mandrakes." So he lay with her that night. And God hearkened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Leah said, "God has given me my hire because I gave my maid to my €husband"; so she called his name Is'sachar. And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, "God has endowed me with a good dowry; now my husband €will honor me, because I have borne him six sons"; so she called his €name Zeb'ulun. Afterwards she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah. Then God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her and opened her €womb. She conceived and bore a son, and said, "God has taken away my €reproach"; and she called his name Joseph, saying, "May the LORD add to me another €son!" @When Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, "Send me away, €that I may go to my own home and country. Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me €go; for you know the service which I have given you." But Laban said to him, "If you will allow me to say so, I have learned €by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you; name your wages, and I will give it." Jacob said to him, "You yourself know how I have served you, and how €your cattle have fared with me. For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly; and €the LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. But now when shall I žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’؞˜žƒprovide for my own household also?" He said, "What shall I give you?" Jacob said, "You shall not give me €anything; if you will do this for me, I will again feed your flock and €keep it: let me pass through all your flock today, removing from it every €speckled and spotted sheep and every black lamb, and the spotted and €speckled among the goats; and such shall be my wages. So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come to look into my €wages with you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the €goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, shall be counted €stolen." Laban said, "Good! Let it be as you have said." But that day Laban removed the he-goats that were striped and spotted, €and all the she-goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that €had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in charge €of his sons; and he set a distance of three days' journey between himself and Jacob; €and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flock. @Then Jacob took fresh rods of poplar and almond and plane, and peeled €white streaks in them, exposing the white of the rods. He set the rods which he had peeled in front of the flocks in the €runnels, that is, the watering troughs, where the flocks came to drink. €And since they bred when they came to drink, the flocks bred in front of the rods and so the flocks brought forth €striped, speckled, and spotted. And Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward €the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban; and he put his own €droves apart, and did not put them with Laban's flock. Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding Jacob laid the rods in €the runnels before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed among €the rods, but for the feebler of the flock he did not lay them there; so the €feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. Thus the man grew exceedingly rich, and had large flocks, maidservants €and menservants, and camels and asses.  @Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, "Jacob has taken €all that was our father's; and from what was our father's he has gained €all this wealth." And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to €your kindred, and I will be with you." So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock €was, and said to them, "I see that your father does not regard me with favor €as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. You know that I have served your father with all my strength; yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, but God €did not permit him to harm me. If he said, `The spotted shall be your wages,' then all the flock bore €spotted; and if he said, `The striped shall be your wages,' then all €the flock bore striped. Thus God has taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. In the mating season of the flock I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a €dream that the he-goats which leaped upon the flock were striped, €spotted, and mottled. Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, `Jacob,' and I said, €`Here I am!' And he said, `Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that leap upon €the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled; for I have seen all that €Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to €me. Now arise, go forth from this land, and return to the land of your €birth.'" Then Rachel and Leah answered him, "Is there any portion or inheritance €left to us in our father's house? Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he €has been using up the money given for us. All the property which God has taken away from our father belongs to us €and to our children; now then, whatever God has said to you, do." @So Jacob arose, and set his sons and his wives on camels; and he drove away all his cattle, all his livestock which he had €gained, the cattle in his possession which he had acquired in €Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father's €household gods. And Jacob outwitted Laban the Aramean, in that he did not tell him that €he intended to flee. He fled with all that he had, and arose and crossed the Euphra'tes, and €set his face toward the hill country of Gilead. @When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and €followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead. But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night, and said to him, €"Take heed that you say not a word to Jacob, either good or bad." @And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill €country, and Laban with his kinsmen encamped in the hill country of €Gilead. And Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done, that you have cheated me, €and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword? Why did you flee secretly, and cheat me, and did not tell me, so that I €might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre? And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters €farewell? Now you have done foolishly. It is in my power to do you harm; but the God of your father spoke to €me last night, saying, `Take heed that you speak to Jacob neither good €nor bad.' And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father's €house, but why did you steal my gods?" Jacob answered Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I thought that you €would take your daughters from me by force. Any one with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of €our kinsmen point out what I have that is yours, and take it." Now €Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them. @So Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the €tent of the two maidservants, but he did not find them. And he went out €of Leah's tent, and entered Rachel's. Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel's €saddle, and sat upon them. Laban felt all about the tent, but did not €find them. And she said to her father, "Let not my lord be angry that I cannot €rise before you, for the way of women is upon me." So he searched, but €did not find the household gods. @Then Jacob became angry, and upbraided Laban; Jacob said to Laban, €"What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me? Although you have felt through all my goods, what have you found of all €your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, €that they may decide between us two. These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your she-goats €have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks. That which was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the €loss of it myself; of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or €stolen by night. Thus I was; by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my €sleep fled from my eyes. These twenty years I have been in your house; I served you fourteen €years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you €have changed my wages ten times. If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had €not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away €empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands, and €rebuked you last night." @Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, "The daughters are my €daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and €all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my €daughters, or to their children whom they have borne? Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I; and let it be a witness €between you and me." So Jacob took a stone, and set it up as a pillar. And Jacob said to his kinsmen, "Gather stones," and they took stones, €and made a heap; and they ate there by the heap. Laban called it Je'gar-sahadu'tha: but Jacob called it Galeed. Laban said, "This heap is a witness between you and me today." €Therefore he named it Galeed, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’؟˜±and the pillar Mizpah, for he said, "The LORD watch between you and me, €when we are absent one from the other. If you ill-treat my daughters, or if you take wives besides my €daughters, although no man is with us, remember, God is witness between €you and me." @Then Laban said to Jacob, "See this heap and the pillar, which I have €set between you and me. This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not €pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and €this pillar to me, for harm. The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge €between us." So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac, and Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and called his kinsmen to €eat bread; and they ate bread and tarried all night on the mountain. @Early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his grandchildren and €his daughters and blessed them; then he departed and returned home.  @Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him; and when Jacob saw them he said, "This is God's army!" So he called the €name of that place Mahana'im. @And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land €of Se'ir, the country of Edom, instructing them, "Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your €servant Jacob, `I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now; and I have oxen, asses, flocks, menservants, and maidservants; and I €have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your €sight.'" @And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your €brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men with €him." Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people €that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two €companies, thinking, "If Esau comes to the one company and destroys it, then the €company which is left will escape." @And Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father €Isaac, O LORD who didst say to me, `Return to your country and to your €kindred, and I will do you good,' I am not worthy of the least of all the steadfast love and all the €faithfulness which thou hast shown to thy servant, for with only my €staff I crossed this Jordan; and now I have become two companies. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of €Esau, for I fear him, lest he come and slay us all, the mothers with €the children. But thou didst say, `I will do you good, and make your descendants as €the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.'" @So he lodged there that night, and took from what he had with him a €present for his brother Esau, two hundred she-goats and twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes and twenty €rams, thirty milch camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty €she-asses and ten he-asses. These he delivered into the hand of his servants, every drove by €itself, and said to his servants, "Pass on before me, and put a space €between drove and drove." He instructed the foremost, "When Esau my brother meets you, and asks €you, `To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these €before you?' then you shall say, `They belong to your servant Jacob; they are a €present sent to my lord Esau; and moreover he is behind us.'" He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed €the droves, "You shall say the same thing to Esau when you meet him, and you shall say, `Moreover your servant Jacob is behind us.'" For he €thought, "I may appease him with the present that goes before me, and €afterwards I shall see his face; perhaps he will accept me." So the present passed on before him; and he himself lodged that night €in the camp. @The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two maids, and €his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything €that he had. And Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until the €breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched the €hollow of his thigh; and Jacob's thigh was put out of joint as he €wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I €will not let you go, unless you bless me." And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then he said, "Your name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel, for €you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him, "Tell me, I pray, your name." But he said, "Why €is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peni'el, saying, "For I have seen €God face to face, and yet my life is preserved." The sun rose upon him as he passed Penu'el, limping because of his €thigh. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the sinew of the hip €which is upon the hollow of the thigh, because he touched the hollow of €Jacob's thigh on the sinew of the hip.  @And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, €and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah €and Rachel and the two maids. And he put the maids with their children in front, then Leah with her €children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven €times, until he came near to his brother. @But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and €kissed him, and they wept. And when Esau raised his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, €"Who are these with you?" Jacob said, "The children whom God has €graciously given your servant." Then the maids drew near, they and their children, and bowed down; Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down; and last €Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. Esau said, "What do you mean by all this company which I met?" Jacob €answered, "To find favor in the sight of my lord." But Esau said, "I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for €yourself." Jacob said, "No, I pray you, if I have found favor in your sight, then €accept my present from my hand; for truly to see your face is like €seeing the face of God, with such favor have you received me. Accept, I pray you, my gift that is brought to you, because God has €dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough." Thus he urged €him, and he took it. @Then Esau said, "Let us journey on our way, and I will go before you." But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are frail, and €that the flocks and herds giving suck are a care to me; and if they are €overdriven for one day, all the flocks will die. Let my lord pass on before his servant, and I will lead on slowly, €according to the pace of the cattle which are before me and according €to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Se'ir." @So Esau said, "Let me leave with you some of the men who are with €me." But he said, "What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight €of my lord." So Esau returned that day on his way to Se'ir. But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house, and made €booths for his cattle; therefore the name of the place is called €Succoth. @And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of €Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram; and he camped before the city. And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, he bought for a hundred €pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. There he erected an altar and called it El-El'ohe-Israel.  @Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out €to visit the women of the land; and when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, €saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humbled her. And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob; he loved the €maiden and spoke tenderly to her. So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, "Get me this maiden for €my wife." Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah; but his sons €were with his cattle in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they €came. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’Ø¢–And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. The sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard of it; and the €men were indignant and very angry, because he had wrought folly in €Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, for such a thing ought not to be €done. @But Hamor spoke with them, saying, "The soul of my son Shechem longs €for your daughter; I pray you, give her to him in marriage. Make marriages with us; give your daughters to us, and take our €daughters for yourselves. You shall dwell with us; and the land shall be open to you; dwell and €trade in it, and get property in it." Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, "Let me find favor €in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. Ask of me ever so much as marriage present and gift, and I will give €according as you say to me; only give me the maiden to be my wife." @The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, €because he had defiled their sister Dinah. They said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one €who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us. Only on this condition will we consent to you: that you will become as €we are and every male of you be circumcised. Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters €to ourselves, and we will dwell with you and become one people. But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take €our daughter, and we will be gone." @Their words pleased Hamor and Hamor's son Shechem. And the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he had delight €in Jacob's daughter. Now he was the most honored of all his family. So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke €to the men of their city, saying, "These men are friendly with us; let them dwell in the land and trade €in it, for behold, the land is large enough for them; let us take their €daughters in marriage, and let us give them our daughters. Only on this condition will the men agree to dwell with us, to become €one people: that every male among us be circumcised as they are €circumcised. Will not their cattle, their property and all their beasts be ours? €Only let us agree with them, and they will dwell with us." And all who went out of the gate of his city hearkened to Hamor and his €son Shechem; and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the €gate of his city. @On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, €Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and came upon the €city unawares, and killed all the males. They slew Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword, and took Dinah out €of Shechem's house, and went away. And the sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, €because their sister had been defiled; they took their flocks and their herds, their asses, and whatever was €in the city and in the field; all their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was €in the houses, they captured and made their prey. Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by €making me odious to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the €Per'izzites; my numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against €me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household." But they said, "Should he treat our sister as a harlot?"  @God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there; and make €there an altar to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your €brother Esau." So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away €the foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change €your garments; then let us arise and go up to Bethel, that I may make there an altar €to the God who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with €me wherever I have gone." So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings €that were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was €near Shechem. @And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that €were round about them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. And Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of €Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, and there he built an altar, and called the place El-bethel, because €there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. And Deb'orah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak €below Bethel; so the name of it was called Al'lon-bacuth. @God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and €blessed him. And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be €called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name." So his name was called €Israel. And God said to him, "I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a €nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall €spring from you. The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I €will give the land to your descendants after you." Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a €pillar of stone; and he poured out a drink offering on it, and poured €oil on it. So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him, €Bethel. @Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when they were still some €distance from Ephrath, Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor. And when she was in her hard labor, the midwife said to her, "Fear not; €for now you will have another son." And as her soul was departing (for she died), she called his name €Ben-o'ni; but his father called his name Benjamin. So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, €Bethlehem), and Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave; it is the pillar of Rachel's €tomb, which is there to this day. Israel journeyed on, and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder. @While Israel dwelt in that land Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his €father's concubine; and Israel heard of it. €@Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's first-born), Simeon, Levi, Judah, €Is'sachar, and Zeb'ulun. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maid: Dan and Naph'tali. The sons of Zilpah, Leah's maid: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of €Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram. @And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kir'iath-ar'ba (that €is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. Now the days of Isaac were a hundred and eighty years. And Isaac breathed his last; and he died and was gathered to his €people, old and full of days; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.  @These are the descendants of Esau (that is, Edom). Esau took his wives from the Canaanites: Adah the daughter of Elon the €Hittite, Oholiba'mah the daughter of Anah the son of Zib'eon the Hivite, and Bas'emath, Ish'mael's daughter, the sister of Neba'ioth. And Adah bore to Esau, El'iphaz; Bas'emath bore Reu'el; and Oholiba'mah bore Je'ush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of €Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan. @Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the €members of his household, his cattle, all his beasts, and all his €property which he had acquired in the land of Canaan; and he went into €a land away from his brother Jacob. For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together; the €land of their sojournings could not support them because of their €cattle. So Esau dwelt in the hill country of Se'ir; Esau is Edom. @These are the descendants of Esau the father of the E'domites in the €hill country of Se'ir. These are the names of Esau's sons: El'iphaz the son of Adah the wife €of Esau, Reu'el the son of Bas'emath the wife of Esau. The sons of El'iphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. (Timna was a concubine of El'iphaz, Esau's son; she bore Am'alek to €El'iphaz.) These are the sons of Adah, Esau's wife. These are the sons of Reu'el: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’ؤ˜‚are the sons of Bas'emath, Esau's wife. These are the sons of Oholiba'mah the daughter of Anah the son of €Zib'eon, Esau's wife: she bore to Esau Je'ush, Jalam, and Korah. @These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of El'iphaz the €first-born of Esau: the chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, Korah, Gatam, and Am'alek; these are the chiefs of El'iphaz in the land €of Edom; they are the sons of Adah. These are the sons of Reu'el, Esau's son: the chiefs Nahath, Zerah, €Shammah, and Mizzah; these are the chiefs of Reu'el in the land of €Edom; they are the sons of Bas'emath, Esau's wife. These are the sons of Oholiba'mah, Esau's wife: the chiefs Je'ush, €Jalam, and Korah; these are the chiefs born of Oholiba'mah the daughter €of Anah, Esau's wife. These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs. @These are the sons of Se'ir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: €Lotan, Shobal, Zib'eon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan; these are the chiefs of the Horites, the sons €of Se'ir in the land of Edom. The sons of Lotan were Hori and Heman; and Lotan's sister was Timna. These are the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Man'ahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. These are the sons of Zib'eon: A'iah and Anah; he is the Anah who found €the hot springs in the wilderness, as he pastured the asses of Zib'eon €his father. These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholiba'mah the daughter of €Anah. These are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Za'avan, and Akan. These are the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. These are the chiefs of the Horites: the chiefs Lotan, Shobal, Zib'eon, €Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan; these are the chiefs of the Horites, €according to their clans in the land of Se'ir. @These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king €reigned over the Israelites. Bela the son of Be'or reigned in Edom, the name of his city being €Din'habah. Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead. Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Te'manites reigned in his €stead. Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated Mid'ian in the €country of Moab, reigned in his stead, the name of his city being Avith. Hadad died, and Samlah of Masre'kah reigned in his stead. Samlah died, and Shaul of Reho'both on the Euphra'tes reigned in his €stead. Shaul died, and Ba'al-ha'nan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. Ba'al-ha'nan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead, €the name of his city being Pau; his wife's name was Mehet'abel, the €daughter of Matred, daughter of Me'zahab. @These are the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their €families and their dwelling places, by their names: the chiefs Timna, €Alvah, Jetheth, Oholiba'mah, Elah, Pinon, Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, Mag'diel, and Iram; these are the chiefs of Edom (that is, Esau, the €father of Edom), according to their dwelling places in the land of €their possession.  @Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of €Canaan. This is the history of the family of Jacob. €@Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his €brothers; he was a lad with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's €wives; and Joseph brought an ill report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he €was the son of his old age; and he made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his €brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him. @Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they only €hated him the more. He said to them, "Hear this dream which I have dreamed: behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf arose €and stood upright; and behold, your sheaves gathered round it, and €bowed down to my sheaf." His brothers said to him, "Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you €indeed to have dominion over us?" So they hated him yet more for his €dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, €"Behold, I have dreamed another dream; and behold, the sun, the moon, €and eleven stars were bowing down to me." But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father €rebuked him, and said to him, "What is this dream that you have €dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow €ourselves to the ground before you?" And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in €mind. @Now his brothers went to pasture their father's flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, "Are not your brothers pasturing the flock €at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them." And he said to him, "Here I €am." So he said to him, "Go now, see if it is well with your brothers, and €with the flock; and bring me word again." So he sent him from the €valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. And a man found him wandering in the fields; and the man asked him, €"What are you seeking?" "I am seeking my brothers," he said, "tell me, I pray you, where they €are pasturing the flock." And the man said, "They have gone away, for I heard them say, `Let us €go to Dothan.'" So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at €Dothan. They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them they conspired €against him to kill him. They said to one another, "Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we €shall say that a wild beast has devoured him, and we shall see what €will become of his dreams." But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, €"Let us not take his life." And Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood; cast him into this pit here in €the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him" -- that he might rescue him out €of their hand, to restore him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the €long robe with sleeves that he wore; and they took him and cast him into a pit. The pit was empty, there was €no water in it. @Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of €Ish'maelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, €and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we slay our €brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ish'maelites, and let not our hand be upon €him, for he is our brother, our own flesh." And his brothers heeded him. Then Mid'ianite traders passed by; and they drew Joseph up and lifted €him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ish'maelites for twenty shekels €of silver; and they took Joseph to Egypt. @When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the €pit, he rent his clothes and returned to his brothers, and said, "The lad is gone; and I, where €shall I go?" Then they took Joseph's robe, and killed a goat, and dipped the robe in €the blood; and they sent the long robe with sleeves and brought it to their €father, and said, "This we have found; see now whether it is your son's €robe or not." And he recognized it, and said, "It is my son's robe; a wild beast has €devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces." Then Jacob rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and €mourned for his son many days. All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he €refused to be comforted, and said, "No, I shall go down to Sheol to my €son, mourning." Thus his father wept for him. Meanwhile the Mid'ianites had sold him in Egypt to Pot'i-phar, an €officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.  @It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers, and €turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was €Shua; he married her and went in to her, and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. Again she conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’ئ•Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. She was in €Chezib when she bore him. And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and €the LORD slew him. Then Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife, and perform the €duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your €brother." But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in €to his brother's wife he spilled the semen on the ground, lest he €should give offspring to his brother. And what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD, and he slew €him also. Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in your €father's house, till Shelah my son grows up" -- for he feared that he €would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and dwelt in her father's €house. @In course of time the wife of Judah, Shua's daughter, died; and when €Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and €his friend Hirah the Adullamite. And when Tamar was told, "Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to €shear his sheep," she put off her widow's garments, and put on a veil, wrapping herself €up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; €for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him €in marriage. When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot, for she had covered €her face. He went over to her at the road side, and said, "Come, let me come in €to you," for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She €said, "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?" He answered, "I will send you a kid from the flock." And she said, €"Will you give me a pledge, till you send it?" He said, "What pledge shall I give you?" She replied, "Your signet and €your cord, and your staff that is in your hand." So he gave them to €her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. Then she arose and went away, and taking off her veil she put on the €garments of her widowhood. @When Judah sent the kid by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the €pledge from the woman's hand, he could not find her. And he asked the men of the place, "Where is the harlot who was at €Enaim by the wayside?" And they said, "No harlot has been here." So he returned to Judah, and said, "I have not found her; and also the €men of the place said, `No harlot has been here.'" And Judah replied, "Let her keep the things as her own, lest we be €laughed at; you see, I sent this kid, and you could not find her." @About three months later Judah was told, "Tamar your daughter-in-law €has played the harlot; and moreover she is with child by harlotry." And €Judah said, "Bring her out, and let her be burned." As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, "By €the man to whom these belong, I am with child." And she said, "Mark, I €pray you, whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff." Then Judah acknowledged them and said, "She is more righteous than I, €inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah." And he did not lie €with her again. @When the time of her delivery came, there were twins in her womb. And when she was in labor, one put out a hand; and the midwife took and €bound on his hand a scarlet thread, saying, "This came out first." But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out; and she €said, "What a breach you have made for yourself!" Therefore his name €was called Perez. Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread upon his hand; €and his name was called Zerah.  @Now Joseph was taken down to Egypt, and Pot'i-phar, an officer of €Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the €Ish'maelites who had brought him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man; and he was in €the house of his master the Egyptian, and his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD caused €all that he did to prosper in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him €overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that €he had the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the €blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had, in house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge; and having him he had no €concern for anything but the food which he ate. €@Now Joseph was handsome and good-looking. And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and said, €"Lie with me." But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Lo, having me my master €has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything €that he has in my hand; he is not greater in this house than I am; nor has he kept back €anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife; how then €can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" And although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to €her, to lie with her or to be with her. But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the €men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his €garment in her hand, and fled and got out of the house. And when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had fled €out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, "See, he has €brought among us a Hebrew to insult us; he came in to me to lie with €me, and I cried out with a loud voice; and when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his €garment with me, and fled and got out of the house." Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, and she told him the same story, saying, "The Hebrew servant, whom you €have brought among us, came in to me to insult me; but as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment with €me, and fled out of the house." @When his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, "This is €the way your servant treated me," his anger was kindled. And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place €where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love, and gave €him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's care all the €prisoners who were in the prison; and whatever was done there, he was €the doer of it; the keeper of the prison paid no heed to anything that was in Joseph's €care, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made €it prosper.  @Some time after this, the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker €offended their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the €chief baker, and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in €the prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he waited on €them; and they continued for some time in custody. And one night they both dreamed -- the butler and the baker of the king €of Egypt, who were confined in the prison -- each his own dream, and each €dream with its own meaning. When Joseph came to them in the morning and saw them, they were €troubled. So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in custody in his €master's house, "Why are your faces downcast today?" They said to him, "We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret €them." And Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? €Tell them to me, I pray you." @So the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my €dream there was a vine before me, and on the vine there were three branches; as soon as it budded, its €blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them €into Pharaoh's cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand." Then Joseph said to him, "This is its interpretation: the three žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’ØؘŒ‚branches are three days; within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to €your office; and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand as formerly, €when you were his butler. But remember me, when it is well with you, and do me the kindness, I €pray you, to make mention of me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this €house. For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also I €have done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon." @When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he €said to Joseph, "I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on €my head, and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for €Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head." And Joseph answered, "This is its interpretation: the three baskets are €three days; within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head -- from you! -- and hang €you on a tree; and the birds will eat the flesh from you." @On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for €all his servants, and lifted up the head of the chief butler and the €head of the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief butler to his butlership, and he placed the cup €in Pharaoh's hand; but he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.  @After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the €Nile, and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows sleek and fat, and €they fed in the reed grass. And behold, seven other cows, gaunt and thin, came up out of the Nile €after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. And the gaunt and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. And €Pharaoh awoke. And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven ears of €grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the €east wind. And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. And €Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. So in the morning his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for €all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men; and Pharaoh told them €his dream, but there was none who could interpret it to Pharaoh. @Then the chief butler said to Pharaoh, "I remember my faults today. When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me and the chief €baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its €own meaning. A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the €guard; and when we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an €interpretation to each man according to his dream. And as he interpreted to us, so it came to pass; I was restored to my €office, and the baker was hanged." @Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out €of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, €he came in before Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one €who can interpret it; and I have heard it said of you that when you €hear a dream you can interpret it." Joseph answered Pharaoh, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a €favorable answer." Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Behold, in my dream I was standing on the €banks of the Nile; and seven cows, fat and sleek, came up out of the Nile and fed in the €reed grass; and seven other cows came up after them, poor and very gaunt and thin, €such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. And the thin and gaunt cows ate up the first seven fat cows, but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had €eaten them, for they were still as gaunt as at the beginning. Then I €awoke. I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good; and seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted €after them, and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to €the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me." @Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dream of Pharaoh is one; God has €revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven €years; the dream is one. The seven lean and gaunt cows that came up after them are seven years, €and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years €of famine. It is as I told Pharaoh, God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to €do. There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of €Egypt, but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the €plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; the famine will consume €the land, and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of that famine €which will follow, for it will be very grievous. And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by €God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore let Pharaoh select a man discreet and wise, and set him €over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land, and take the €fifth part of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven €plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, €and lay up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, €and let them keep it. That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of €famine which are to befall the land of Egypt, so that the land may not €perish through the famine." @This proposal seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a man as this, in €whom is the Spirit of God?" So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has shown you all this, there is €none so discreet and wise as you are; you shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as €you command; only as regards the throne will I be greater than you." And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Behold, I have set you over all the land €of Egypt." Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's €hand, and arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain €about his neck; and he made him to ride in his second chariot; and they cried before €him, "Bow the knee!" Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. Moreover Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your €consent no man shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaph'enath-pane'ah; and he gave him in €marriage As'enath, the daughter of Poti'phera priest of On. So Joseph €went out over the land of Egypt. @Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh €king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and €went through all the land of Egypt. During the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth abundantly, and he gathered up all the food of the seven years when there was €plenty in the land of Egypt, and stored up food in the cities; he €stored up in every city the food from the fields around it. And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the €sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured. @Before the year of famine came, Joseph had two sons, whom As'enath, €the daughter of Poti'phera priest of On, bore to him. Joseph called the name of the first-born Manas'seh, "For," he said, €"God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house." The name of the second he called E'phraim, "For God has made me €fruitful in the land of my affliction." @The seven years of plenty that prevailed in the land of Egypt came to €an end; and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There €was famine in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh €for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph; what €he says to you, do." So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’Ø©˜ø‚storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in €the land of Egypt. Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because €the famine was severe over all the earth.  @When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his €sons, "Why do you look at one another?" And he said, "Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go €down and buy grain for us there, that we may live, and not die." So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers, €for he feared that harm might befall him. Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the €famine was in the land of Canaan. @Now Joseph was governor over the land; he it was who sold to all the €people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came, and bowed themselves €before him with their faces to the ground. Joseph saw his brothers, and knew them, but he treated them like €strangers and spoke roughly to them. "Where do you come from?" he said. €They said, "From the land of Canaan, to buy food." Thus Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him. And Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed of them; and he €said to them, "You are spies, you have come to see the weakness of the €land." They said to him, "No, my lord, but to buy food have your servants come. We are all sons of one man, we are honest men, your servants are not €spies." He said to them, "No, it is the weakness of the land that you have come €to see." And they said, "We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one €man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is this day with €our father, and one is no more." But Joseph said to them, "It is as I said to you, you are spies. By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go €from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain in €prison, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you; €or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies." And he put them all together in prison for three days. @On the third day Joseph said to them, "Do this and you will live, for €I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined in your €prison, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your €households, and bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, €and you shall not die." And they did so. Then they said to one another, "In truth we are guilty concerning our €brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he besought us €and we would not listen; therefore is this distress come upon us." And Reuben answered them, "Did I not tell you not to sin against the €lad? But you would not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his €blood." They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an €interpreter between them. Then he turned away from them and wept; and he returned to them and €spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their €eyes. And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace €every man's money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the €journey. This was done for them. @Then they loaded their asses with their grain, and departed. And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender at the €lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack; and he said to his brothers, "My money has been put back; here it is in €the mouth of my sack!" At this their hearts failed them, and they €turned trembling to one another, saying, "What is this that God has €done to us?" @When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told €him all that had befallen them, saying, "The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us, and took us to be €spies of the land. But we said to him, `We are honest men, we are not spies; we are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the €youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.' Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, `By this I shall know €that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take €grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. Bring your youngest brother to me; then I shall know that you are not €spies but honest men, and I will deliver to you your brother, and you €shall trade in the land.'" @As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man's bundle of money was €in his sack; and when they and their father saw their bundles of money, €they were dismayed. And Jacob their father said to them, "You have bereaved me of my €children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would €take Benjamin; all this has come upon me." Then Reuben said to his father, "Slay my two sons if I do not bring him €back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you." But he said, "My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is €dead, and he only is left. If harm should befall him on the journey €that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to €Sheol."  @Now the famine was severe in the land. And when they had eaten the grain which they had brought from Egypt, €their father said to them, "Go again, buy us a little food." But Judah said to him, "The man solemnly warned us, saying, `You shall €not see my face, unless your brother is with you.' If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food; but if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to €us, `You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.'" Israel said, "Why did you treat me so ill as to tell the man that you €had another brother?" They replied, "The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our €kindred, saying, `Is your father still alive? Have you another €brother?' What we told him was in answer to these questions; could we €in any way know that he would say, `Bring your brother down'?" And Judah said to Israel his father, "Send the lad with me, and we will €arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also €our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand you shall require him. If I do not €bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the €blame for ever; for if we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice." @Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do €this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and €carry down to the man a present, a little balm and a little honey, gum, €myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. Take double the money with you; carry back with you the money that was €returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man; may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may send back €your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am €bereaved." So the men took the present, and they took double the money with them, €and Benjamin; and they arose and went down to Egypt, and stood before €Joseph. @When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his €house, "Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make €ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon." The man did as Joseph bade him, and brought the men to Joseph's house. And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house, €and they said, "It is because of the money, which was replaced in our €sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may seek €occasion against us and fall upon us, to make slaves of us and seize €our asses." So they went up to the steward of Joseph's house, and spoke with him at €the door of the house, and said, "Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food; and when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there €was every man's money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full €weight; so we have brought it again with us, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’Ø«˜–and we have brought other money down in our hand to buy food. We do not €know who put our money in our sacks." He replied, "Rest assured, do not be afraid; your God and the God of €your father must have put treasure in your sacks for you; I received €your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them. And when the man had brought the men into Joseph's house, and given €them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their €asses provender, they made ready the present for Joseph's coming at noon, for they heard €that they should eat bread there. @When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present €which they had with them, and bowed down to him to the ground. And he inquired about their welfare, and said, "Is your father well, €the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?" They said, "Your servant our father is well, he is still alive." And €they bowed their heads and made obeisance. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's €son, and said, "Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? €God be gracious to you, my son!" Then Joseph made haste, for his heart yearned for his brother, and he €sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out; and controlling himself he said, €"Let food be served." They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians €who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians might not eat €bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. And they sat before him, the first-born according to his birthright and €the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked at one another €in amazement. Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table, but Benjamin's portion €was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry €with him.  @Then he commanded the steward of his house, "Fill the men's sacks €with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the €mouth of his sack, and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the €youngest, with his money for the grain." And he did as Joseph told him. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their €asses. When they had gone but a short distance from the city, Joseph said to €his steward, "Up, follow after the men; and when you overtake them, say €to them, `Why have you returned evil for good? Why have you stolen my €silver cup? Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he divines? €You have done wrong in so doing.'" @When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words. They said to him, "Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be €it from your servants that they should do such a thing! Behold, the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks, we brought €back to you from the land of Canaan; how then should we steal silver or €gold from your lord's house? With whomever of your servants it be found, let him die, and we also €will be my lord's slaves." He said, "Let it be as you say: he with whom it is found shall be my €slave, and the rest of you shall be blameless." Then every man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and every man €opened his sack. And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the €youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Then they rent their clothes, and every man loaded his ass, and they €returned to the city. @When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, he was still €there; and they fell before him to the ground. Joseph said to them, "What deed is this that you have done? Do you not €know that such a man as I can indeed divine?" And Judah said, "What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or €how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your €servants; behold, we are my lord's slaves, both we and he also in whose €hand the cup has been found." But he said, "Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in €whose hand the cup was found shall be my slave; but as for you, go up €in peace to your father." @Then Judah went up to him and said, "O my lord, let your servant, I €pray you, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not your anger burn €against your servant; for you are like Pharaoh himself. My lord asked his servants, saying, `Have you a father, or a brother?' And we said to my lord, `We have a father, an old man, and a young €brother, the child of his old age; and his brother is dead, and he €alone is left of his mother's children; and his father loves him.' Then you said to your servants, `Bring him down to me, that I may set €my eyes upon him.' We said to my lord, `The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should €leave his father, his father would die.' Then you said to your servants, `Unless your youngest brother comes €down with you, you shall see my face no more.' When we went back to your servant my father we told him the words of my €lord. And when our father said, `Go again, buy us a little food,' we said, `We cannot go down. If our youngest brother goes with us, then €we will go down; for we cannot see the man's face unless our youngest €brother is with us.' Then your servant my father said to us, `You know that my wife bore me €two sons; one left me, and I said, Surely he has been torn to pieces; and I have €never seen him since. If you take this one also from me, and harm befalls him, you will bring €down my gray hairs in sorrow to Sheol.' Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is €not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the lad's life, when he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die; and your €servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with €sorrow to Sheol. For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, `If I €do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame in the sight €of my father all my life.' Now therefore, let your servant, I pray you, remain instead of the lad €as a slave to my lord; and let the lad go back with his brothers. For how can I go back to my father if the lad is not with me? I fear to €see the evil that would come upon my father."  @Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by €him; and he cried, "Make every one go out from me." So no one stayed €with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of €Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph; is my father still €alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed €at his presence. @So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, I pray you." And €they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold €into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you €sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are yet €five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and €to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; and he has made me a €father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the €land of Egypt. Make haste and go up to my father and say to him, `Thus says your son €Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not €tarry; you shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you €and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your €herds, and all that you have; and there I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of €famine to come; lest you and your household, and all that you have, €come to poverty.' And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it €is my mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and of all that €you have seen. Make haste and bring my father down here." Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept; and Benjamin €wept upon his neck. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’Ø­˜And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his €brothers talked with him. @When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house, "Joseph's brothers have €come," it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, `Do this: load your €beasts and go back to the land of Canaan; and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will €give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of €the land.' Command them also, `Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for €your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Give no thought to your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is €yours.'" @The sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons, according to €the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. To each and all of them he gave festal garments; but to Benjamin he €gave three hundred shekels of silver and five festal garments. To his father he sent as follows: ten asses loaded with the good things €of Egypt, and ten she-asses loaded with grain, bread, and provision for €his father on the journey. Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, €"Do not quarrel on the way." So they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to their €father Jacob. And they told him, "Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the €land of Egypt." And his heart fainted, for he did not believe them. But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to €them, and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, €the spirit of their father Jacob revived; and Israel said, "It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive; I will go €and see him before I die."  @So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to €Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, "Jacob, €Jacob." And he said, "Here am I." Then he said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go €down to Egypt; for I will there make of you a great nation. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; €and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes." Then Jacob set out from Beer-sheba; and the sons of Israel carried €Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons €which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. They also took their cattle and their goods, which they had gained in €the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring €with him, his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' €daughters; all his offspring he brought with him into Egypt. @Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into €Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Reuben, Jacob's first-born, and the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. The sons of Simeon: Jemu'el, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the €son of a Canaanitish woman. The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merar'i. The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan €died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of Perez were Hezron and €Hamul. The sons of Is'sachar: Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron. The sons of Zeb'ulun: Sered, Elon, and Jah'leel (these are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, €together with his daughter Dinah; altogether his sons and his daughters €numbered thirty-three). The sons of Gad: Ziph'ion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Aro'di, and Are'li. The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beri'ah, with Serah their €sister. And the sons of Beri'ah: Heber and Mal'chi-el (these are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; €and these she bore to Jacob -- sixteen persons). The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife: Joseph and Benjamin. And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manas'seh and E'phraim, €whom As'enath, the daughter of Poti'phera the priest of On, bore to him. And the sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Na'aman, Ehi, €Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard (these are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob -- fourteen persons €in all). The sons of Dan: Hushim. The sons of Naph'tali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem (these are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, €and these she bore to Jacob -- seven persons in all). All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his €own offspring, not including Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six €persons in all; and the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two; all €the persons of the house of Jacob, that came into Egypt, were seventy. @He sent Judah before him to Joseph, to appear before him in Goshen; €and they came into the land of Goshen. Then Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to meet Israel his €father in Goshen; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his €neck, and wept on his neck a good while. Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face and €know that you are still alive." Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "I will go €up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, `My brothers and my father's €household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me; and the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of cattle; and €they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they €have.' When Pharaoh calls you, and says, `What is your occupation?' you shall say, `Your servants have been keepers of cattle from our €youth even until now, both we and our fathers,' in order that you may €dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to €the Egyptians."  @So Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, "My father and my brothers, with €their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the €land of Canaan; they are now in the land of Goshen." And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to €Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" And they said €to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were." They said to Pharaoh, "We have come to sojourn in the land; for there €is no pasture for your servants' flocks, for the famine is severe in €the land of Canaan; and now, we pray you, let your servants dwell in €the land of Goshen." Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Your father and your brothers have come €to you. The land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers €in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen; and if €you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my cattle." @Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh, €and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How many are the days of the years of your €life?" And Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my sojourning are €a hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the €years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years €of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning." And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers, and gave them a €possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land €of Ram'eses, as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's €household with food, according to the number of their dependents. @Now there was no food in all the land; for the famine was very €severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by €reason of the famine. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of €Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and €Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land €of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph, and said, "Give us food; €why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone." And Joseph answered, "Give your cattle, and I will give you food in €exchange for your cattle, if your money is gone." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’ØƘ‘So they brought their cattle to Joseph; and Joseph gave them food in €exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the asses: and he €supplied them with food in exchange for all their cattle that year. And when that year was ended, they came to him the following year, and €said to him, "We will not hide from my lord that our money is all €spent; and the herds of cattle are my lord's; there is nothing left in €the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and €our land for food, and we with our land will be slaves to Pharaoh; and €give us seed, that we may live, and not die, and that the land may not €be desolate." @So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for all the €Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe upon them. €The land became Pharaoh's; and as for the people, he made slaves of them from one end of Egypt to €the other. Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had a €fixed allowance from Pharaoh, and lived on the allowance which Pharaoh €gave them; therefore they did not sell their land. Then Joseph said to the people, "Behold, I have this day bought you and €your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the €land. And at the harvests you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths €shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and €your households, and as food for your little ones." And they said, "You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we €will be slaves to Pharaoh." So Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands €to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; the land of the €priests alone did not become Pharaoh's. @Thus Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen; and €they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied €exceedingly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the days of €Jacob, the years of his life, were a hundred and forty-seven years. @And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son €Joseph and said to him, "If now I have found favor in your sight, put €your hand under my thigh, and promise to deal loyally and truly with €me. Do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers; carry me out of Egypt and bury me in €their burying place." He answered, "I will do as you have said." And he said, "Swear to me"; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed €himself upon the head of his bed.  @After this Joseph was told, "Behold, your father is ill"; so he took €with him his two sons, Manas'seh and E'phraim. And it was told to Jacob, "Your son Joseph has come to you"; then €Israel summoned his strength, and sat up in bed. And Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the €land of Canaan and blessed me, and said to me, `Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, €and I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to €your descendants after you for an everlasting possession.' And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before €I came to you in Egypt, are mine; E'phraim and Manas'seh shall be mine, €as Reuben and Simeon are. And the offspring born to you after them shall be yours; they shall be €called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. For when I came from Paddan, Rachel to my sorrow died in the land of €Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath; €and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)." @When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, "Who are these?" Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me €here." And he said, "Bring them to me, I pray you, that I may bless €them." Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So €Joseph brought them near him; and he kissed them and embraced them. And Israel said to Joseph, "I had not thought to see your face; and lo, €God has let me see your children also." Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his €face to the earth. And Joseph took them both, E'phraim in his right hand toward Israel's €left hand, and Manas'seh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, €and brought them near him. And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it upon the head of €E'phraim, who was the younger, and his left hand upon the head of €Manas'seh, crossing his hands, for Manas'seh was the first-born. And he blessed Joseph, and said, €@@"The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, €@@the God who has led me all my life long to this day, @@the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; €@@and in them let my name be perpetuated, and the name of my €@@@@fathers Abraham and Isaac; €@@and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." @When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of €E'phraim, it displeased him; and he took his father's hand, to remove €it from E'phraim's head to Manas'seh's head. And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father; for this one is the €first-born; put your right hand upon his head." But his father refused, and said, "I know, my son, I know; he also €shall become a people, and he also shall be great; nevertheless his €younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall €become a multitude of nations." So he blessed them that day, saying, €@@"By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, €@@`God make you as E'phraim and as Manas'seh'"; €and thus he put E'phraim before Manas'seh. Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am about to die, but God will be €with you, and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. Moreover I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain €slope which I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with €my bow."  @Then Jacob called his sons, and said, "Gather yourselves together, €that I may tell you what shall befall you in days to come. @@Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob, €@@@and hearken to Israel your father. @@Reuben, you are my first-born, €@@@my might, and the first fruits of my strength, €@@@pre-eminent in pride and pre-eminent in power. @@Unstable as water, you shall not have pre-eminence €@@@because you went up to your father's bed; €@@@then you defiled it -- you went up to my couch! @@Simeon and Levi are brothers; €@@@weapons of violence are their swords. @@O my soul, come not into their council; €@@@O my spirit, be not joined to their company; €@@for in their anger they slay men, €@@@and in their wantonness they hamstring oxen. @@Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; €@@@and their wrath, for it is cruel! €@@I will divide them in Jacob €@@@and scatter them in Israel. @@Judah, your brothers shall praise you; €@@@your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; €@@@your father's sons shall bow down before you. @@Judah is a lion's whelp; €@@@from the prey, my son, you have gone up. €@@He stooped down, he couched as a lion, €@@@and as a lioness; who dares rouse him up? @@The scepter shall not depart from Judah, €@@@nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, €@@until he comes to whom it belongs; €@@@and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. @@Binding his foal to the vine €@@@and his ass's colt to the choice vine, €@@he washes his garments in wine €@@@and his vesture in the blood of grapes; @@his eyes shall be red with wine, €@@@and his teeth white with milk. @@Zeb'ulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea; €@@@he shall become a haven for ships, €@@@and his border shall be at Sidon. @@Is'sachar is a strong ass, €@@@crouching between the sheepfolds; @@he saw that a resting place was good, €@@@and that the land was pleasant; €@@so he bowed his shoulder to bear, €@@@and became a slave at forced labor. @@Dan shall judge his people €@@@as one of the tribes of Israel. @@Dan shall be a serpent in the way, €@@@a viper by the path, €@@that bites the horse's heels €@@@so that his rider falls backward. @@I wait for thy salvation, O LORD. @@Raiders shall raid Gad, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°±’ļ‚Ēåī’ر˜“‚@@@but he shall raid at their heels. @@Asher's food shall be rich, €@@@and he shall yield royal dainties. @@Naph'tali is a hind let loose, €@@@that bears comely fawns. @@Joseph is a fruitful bough, €@@@a fruitful bough by a spring; €@@@his branches run over the wall. @@The archers fiercely attacked him, €@@@shot at him, and harassed him sorely; @@yet his bow remained unmoved, €@@@his arms were made agile €@@by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob €@@@(by the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel), @@by the God of your father who will help you, €@@@by God Almighty who will bless you €@@@with blessings of heaven above, €@@blessings of the deep that couches beneath, €@@@blessings of the breasts and of the womb. @@The blessings of your father €@@@are mighty beyond the blessings of the eternal mountains, €@@@the bounties of the everlasting hills; €@@may they be on the head of Joseph, €@@@and on the brow of him who was separate from his brothers. @@Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, €@@@in the morning devouring the prey, €@@@and at even dividing the spoil." @All these are the twelve tribes of Israel; and this is what their €father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing €suitable to him. Then he charged them, and said to them, "I am to be gathered to my €people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of €Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field at Mach-pe'lah, to the east of Mamre, €in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron €the Hittite to possess as a burying place. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac €and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah --the field and the cave that is in it were purchased from the Hittites." When Jacob finished charging his sons, he drew up his feet into the €bed, and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.  @Then Joseph fell on his father's face, and wept over him, and kissed €him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. €So the physicians embalmed Israel; forty days were required for it, for so many are required for €embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. @And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the €household of Pharaoh, saying, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, €speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, My father made me swear, saying, `I am about to die: in my tomb which I €hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.' €Now therefore let me go up, I pray you, and bury my father; then I will €return." And Pharaoh answered, "Go up, and bury your father, as he made you €swear." So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the €servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of €the land of Egypt, as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's €household; only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left €in the land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen; it was a very €great company. When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the €Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and sorrowful €lamentation; and he made a mourning for his father seven days. When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on €the threshing floor of Atad, they said, "This is a grievous mourning to €the Egyptians." Therefore the place was named A'bel-mizraim; it is €beyond the Jordan. Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them; for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the €cave of the field at Mach-pe'lah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham €bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite, to possess as a burying €place. After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his €brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father. @When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "It €may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil which €we did to him." So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this €command before he died, `Say to Joseph, Forgive, I pray you, the transgression of your brothers €and their sin, because they did evil to you.' And now, we pray you, €forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." €Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him, and said, "Behold, we €are your servants." But Joseph said to them, "Fear not, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to €bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones." Thus he €reassured them and comforted them. @So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father's house; and Joseph lived €a hundred and ten years. And Joseph saw E'phraim's children of the third generation; the €children also of Machir the son of Manas'seh were born upon Joseph's €knees. And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die; but God will visit €you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to €Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." Then Joseph took an oath of the sons of Israel, saying, "God will visit €you, and you shall carry up my bones from here." So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed €him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. ąļ‚Åųļä’”These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, €each with his household: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Is'sachar, Zeb'ulun, and Benjamin, Dan and Naph'tali, Gad and Asher. All the offspring of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in €Egypt. Then Joseph died, and all his brothers, and all that generation. But the descendants of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they €multiplied and grew exceedingly strong; so that the land was filled €with them. @Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, "Behold, the people of Israel are too many €and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war €befall us, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from €the land." Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy €burdens; and they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and Ra-am'ses. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more €they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of €Israel. So they made the people of Israel serve with rigor, and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and €in all kinds of work in the field; in all their work they made them €serve with rigor. @Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was €named Shiph'rah and the other Pu'ah, "When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the €birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him; but if it is a €daughter, she shall live." But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt €commanded them, but let the male children live. So the king of Egypt called the midwives, and said to them, "Why have €you done this, and let the male children live?" The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like €the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and are delivered before the €midwife comes to them." So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and grew €very strong. And because the midwives feared God he gave them families. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, "Every son that is born to the €Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter €live."  @Now a man from the house of Levi went and took to wife a daughter of €Levi. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a €goodly child, she hid him three months. And when she could hide him no longer she took for him a basket made of €bulrushes, and daubed it with bitumen and pitch; and she put the child žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’¢“ƒin it and placed it among the reeds at the river's brink. And his sister stood at a distance, to know what would be done to him. Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, and her €maidens walked beside the river; she saw the basket among the reeds and €sent her maid to fetch it. When she opened it she saw the child; and lo, the babe was crying. She €took pity on him and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children." Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and call you a €nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?" And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." So the girl went and called €the child's mother. And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child away, and nurse €him for me, and I will give you your wages." So the woman took the €child and nursed him. And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he €became her son; and she named him Moses, for she said, "Because I drew €him out of the water." @One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and €looked on their burdens; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one €of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one he killed the Egyptian €and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling €together; and he said to the man that did the wrong, "Why do you strike €your fellow?" He answered, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to €kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid, and €thought, "Surely the thing is known." When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. €@But Moses fled from Pharaoh, and stayed in the land of Mid'ian; and €he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Mid'ian had seven daughters; and they came and drew €water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. The shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped €them, and watered their flock. When they came to their father Reu'el, he said, "How is it that you €have come so soon today?" They said, "An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, €and even drew water for us and watered the flock." He said to his daughters, "And where is he? Why have you left the man? €Call him, that he may eat bread." And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his €daughter Zippo'rah. She bore a son, and he called his name Gershom; for he said, "I have €been a sojourner in a foreign land." @In the course of those many days the king of Egypt died. And the €people of Israel groaned under their bondage, and cried out for help, €and their cry under bondage came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with €Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God saw the people of Israel, and God knew their condition.  @Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the €priest of Mid'ian; and he led his flock to the west side of the €wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the €midst of a bush; and he looked, and lo, the bush was burning, yet it €was not consumed. And Moses said, "I will turn aside and see this great sight, why the €bush is not burnt." When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of €the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here am I." Then he said, "Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for €the place on which you are standing is holy ground." And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God €of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was €afraid to look at God. @Then the LORD said, "I have seen the affliction of my people who are €in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters; I know €their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, €and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land €flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the €Hittites, the Amorites, the Per'izzites, the Hivites, and the €Jeb'usites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I €have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring forth my people, €the sons of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring €the sons of Israel out of Egypt?" He said, "But I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you, €that I have sent you: when you have brought forth the people out of €Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain." @Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to €them, `The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, €`What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the €people of Israel, `I AM has sent me to you.'" God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, `The LORD, €the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the €God of Jacob, has sent me to you': this is my name for ever, and thus I €am to be remembered throughout all generations. Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, `The €LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of €Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, "I have observed you and what has €been done to you in Egypt; and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt, €to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the €Per'izzites, the Hivites, and the Jeb'usites, a land flowing with milk €and honey."' And they will hearken to your voice; and you and the elders of Israel €shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, `The LORD, the God of the €Hebrews, has met with us; and now, we pray you, let us go a three days' €journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.' I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a €mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and smite Egypt with all the wonders €which I will do in it; after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and €when you go, you shall not go empty, but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and of her who sojourns in €her house, jewelry of silver and of gold, and clothing, and you shall €put them on your sons and on your daughters; thus you shall despoil the €Egyptians."  @Then Moses answered, "But behold, they will not believe me or listen €to my voice, for they will say, `The LORD did not appear to you.'" The LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." And he said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and €it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. But the LORD said to Moses, "Put out your hand, and take it by the €tail" -- so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in €his hand --"that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God €of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to €you." Again, the LORD said to him, "Put your hand into your bosom." And he €put his hand into his bosom; and when he took it out, behold, his hand €was leprous, as white as snow. Then God said, "Put your hand back into your bosom." So he put his hand €back into his bosom; and when he took it out, behold, it was restored €like the rest of his flesh. "If they will not believe you," God said, "or heed the first sign, they €may believe the latter sign. If they will not believe even these two signs or heed your voice, you €shall take some water from the Nile and pour it upon the dry ground; €and the water which you shall take from the Nile will become blood upon €the dry ground." @But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either €heretofore or since thou hast spoken to thy servant; but I am slow of €speech and of tongue." Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him €dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’¤˜ŒNow therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you €shall speak." But he said, "Oh, my Lord, send, I pray, some other person." Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses and he said, "Is €there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak €well; and behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you he €will be glad in his heart. And you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will €be with your mouth and with his mouth, and will teach you what you €shall do. He shall speak for you to the people; and he shall be a mouth for you, €and you shall be to him as God. And you shall take in your hand this rod, with which you shall do the €signs." @Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Let me €go back, I pray, to my kinsmen in Egypt and see whether they are still €alive." And Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace." And the LORD said to Moses in Mid'ian, "Go back to Egypt; for all the €men who were seeking your life are dead." So Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on an ass, and went €back to the land of Egypt; and in his hand Moses took the rod of God. @And the LORD said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you €do before Pharaoh all the miracles which I have put in your power; but €I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. And you shall say to Pharaoh, `Thus says the LORD, Israel is my €first-born son, and I say to you, "Let my son go that he may serve me"; if you refuse €to let him go, behold, I will slay your first-born son.'" @At a lodging place on the way the LORD met him and sought to kill him. Then Zippo'rah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin, and touched €Moses' feet with it, and said, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to €me!" So he let him alone. Then it was that she said, "You are a bridegroom €of blood," because of the circumcision. @The LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." So he €went, and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD with which he had sent €him, and all the signs which he had charged him to do. Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the €people of Israel. And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses, and €did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited €the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed €their heads and worshiped.  @Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "Thus says the €LORD, the God of Israel, `Let my people go, that they may hold a feast €to me in the wilderness.'" But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should heed his voice and €let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover I will not let €Israel go." Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us; let us go, we €pray, a three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the €LORD our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword." But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you take €the people away from their work? Get to your burdens." And Pharaoh said, "Behold, the people of the land are now many and you €make them rest from their burdens!" The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their €foremen, "You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as €heretofore; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks which they made heretofore you shall lay upon €them, you shall by no means lessen it; for they are idle; therefore €they cry, `Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.' Let heavier work be laid upon the men that they may labor at it and pay €no regard to lying words." @So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to €the people, "Thus says Pharaoh, `I will not give you straw. Go yourselves, get your straw wherever you can find it; but your work €will not be lessened in the least.'" So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt, €to gather stubble for straw. The taskmasters were urgent, saying, "Complete your work, your daily €task, as when there was straw." And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had €set over them, were beaten, and were asked, "Why have you not done all €your task of making bricks today, as hitherto?" @Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, €"Why do you deal thus with your servants? No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, `Make bricks!' €And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own €people." But he said, "You are idle, you are idle; therefore you say, `Let us go €and sacrifice to the LORD.' Go now, and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall €deliver the same number of bricks." The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in evil plight, €when they said, "You shall by no means lessen your daily number of €bricks." They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came forth €from Pharaoh; and they said to them, "The LORD look upon you and judge, because you €have made us offensive in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and €have put a sword in their hand to kill us." @Then Moses turned again to the LORD and said, "O LORD, why hast thou €done evil to this people? Why didst thou ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he has done evil to €this people, and thou hast not delivered thy people at all."  But the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to €Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, yea, with a €strong hand he will drive them out of his land." @And God said to Moses, "I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by €my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. I also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of €Canaan, the land in which they dwelt as sojourners. Moreover I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the €Egyptians hold in bondage and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the people of Israel, `I am the LORD, and I will bring €you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you €from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and €with great acts of judgment, and I will take you for my people, and I will be your God; and you €shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from €under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to €Isaac, and to Jacob; I will give it to you for a possession. I am the €LORD.'" Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel; but they did not listen to €Moses, because of their broken spirit and their cruel bondage. @And the LORD said to Moses, "Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out €of his land." But Moses said to the LORD, "Behold, the people of Israel have not €listened to me; how then shall Pharaoh listen to me, who am a man of €uncircumcised lips?" But the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them a charge to the €people of Israel and to Pharaoh king of Egypt to bring the people of €Israel out of the land of Egypt. @These are the heads of their fathers' houses: the sons of Reuben, the €first-born of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the €families of Reuben. The sons of Simeon: Jemu'el, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the €son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon. These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: €Gershon, Kohath, and Merar'i, the years of the life of Levi being a €hundred and thirty-seven years. The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shim'e-i, by their families. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uz'ziel, the years of the €life of Kohath being a hundred and thirty-three years. The sons of Merar'i: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the €Levites according to their generations. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’¦˜”Amram took to wife Joch'ebed his father's sister and she bore him Aaron €and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being one hundred and €thirty-seven years. The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. And the sons of Uz'ziel: Mi'sha-el, Elza'phan, and Sithri. Aaron took to wife Eli'sheba, the daughter of Ammin'adab and the sister €of Nahshon; and she bore him Nadab, Abi'hu, Elea'zar, and Ith'amar. The sons of Korah: Assir, Elka'nah, and Abi'asaph; these are the €families of the Ko'rahites. Elea'zar, Aaron's son, took to wife one of the daughters of Pu'ti-el; €and she bore him Phin'ehas. These are the heads of the fathers' houses €of the Levites by their families. @These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said: "Bring out the €people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts." It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the €people of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron. @On the day when the LORD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, the LORD said to Moses, "I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all €that I say to you." But Moses said to the LORD, "Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips; how €then shall Pharaoh listen to me?"  And the LORD said to Moses, "See, I make you as God to Pharaoh; and €Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you; and Aaron your brother shall €tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and €wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you; then I will lay my hand upon Egypt and €bring forth my hosts, my people the sons of Israel, out of the land of €Egypt by great acts of judgment. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth €my hand upon Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them." And Moses and Aaron did so; they did as the LORD commanded them. Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty- three years old, when €they spoke to Pharaoh. @And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "When Pharaoh says to you, `Prove yourselves by working a miracle,' €then you shall say to Aaron, `Take your rod and cast it down before €Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.'" So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the LORD commanded; Aaron €cast down his rod before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a €serpent. Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers; and they also, €the magicians of Egypt, did the same by their secret arts. For every man cast down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron's €rod swallowed up their rods. Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them; as €the LORD had said. @Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuses €to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water; wait for €him by the river's brink, and take in your hand the rod which was €turned into a serpent. And you shall say to him, `The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to €you, saying, "Let my people go, that they may serve me in the €wilderness; and behold, you have not yet obeyed." Thus says the LORD, "By this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, €I will strike the water that is in the Nile with the rod that is in my €hand, and it shall be turned to blood, and the fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile shall become foul, and €the Egyptians will loathe to drink water from the Nile."'" And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, `Take your rod and stretch €out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their €canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, that they may €become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of €Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.'" @Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded; in the sight of Pharaoh €and in the sight of his servants, he lifted up the rod and struck the €water that was in the Nile, and all the water that was in the Nile €turned to blood. And the fish in the Nile died; and the Nile became foul, so that the €Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile; and there was blood €throughout all the land of Egypt. But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts; so €Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them; as €the LORD had said. Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not lay even this to €heart. And all the Egyptians dug round about the Nile for water to drink, for €they could not drink the water of the Nile. @Seven days passed after the LORD had struck the Nile.  Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, `Thus €says the LORD, "Let my people go, that they may serve me. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your €country with frogs; the Nile shall swarm with frogs which shall come up into your house, €and into your bedchamber and on your bed, and into the houses of your €servants and of your people, and into your ovens and your kneading €bowls; the frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your €servants."'" And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, `Stretch out your hand with €your rod over the rivers, over the canals, and over the pools, and €cause frogs to come upon the land of Egypt!'" So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs €came up and covered the land of Egypt. But the magicians did the same by their secret arts, and brought frogs €upon the land of Egypt. @Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, and said, "Entreat the LORD to €take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the €people go to sacrifice to the LORD." Moses said to Pharaoh, "Be pleased to command me when I am to entreat, €for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be €destroyed from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile." And he said, "Tomorrow." Moses said, "Be it as you say, that you may €know that there is no one like the LORD our God. The frogs shall depart from you and your houses and your servants and €your people; they shall be left only in the Nile." So Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh; and Moses cried to the LORD €concerning the frogs, as he had agreed with Pharaoh. And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; the frogs died out of €the houses and courtyards and out of the fields. And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart, €and would not listen to them; as the LORD had said. @Then the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, `Stretch out your rod and €strike the dust of the earth, that it may become gnats throughout all €the land of Egypt.'" And they did so; Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and struck €the dust of the earth, and there came gnats on man and beast; all the €dust of the earth became gnats throughout all the land of Egypt. The magicians tried by their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they €could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. And the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But €Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them; as the €LORD had said. @Then the LORD said to Moses, "Rise up early in the morning and wait €for Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, `Thus says €the LORD, "Let my people go, that they may serve me. Else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of €flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses; €and the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, €and also the ground on which they stand. But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people €dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there; that you may know €that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. By €tomorrow shall this sign be."'" And the LORD did so; there came great swarms of flies into the house of €Pharaoh and into his servants' houses, and in all the land of Egypt the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’؈˜˜ƒland was ruined by reason of the flies. @Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, and said, "Go, sacrifice to your €God within the land." But Moses said, "It would not be right to do so; for we shall sacrifice €to the LORD our God offerings abominable to the Egyptians. If we €sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will €they not stone us? We must go three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the €LORD our God as he will command us." So Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, to sacrifice to the LORD your God €in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Make entreaty €for me." Then Moses said, "Behold, I am going out from you and I will pray to €the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his €servants, and from his people, tomorrow; only let not Pharaoh deal €falsely again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD." So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. And the LORD did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from €Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the €people go.  @Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh, and say to him, `Thus €says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, "Let my people go, that they may €serve me. For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them, behold, the hand of the LORD will fall with a very severe plague upon €your cattle which are in the field, the horses, the asses, the camels, €the herds, and the flocks. But the LORD will make a distinction between the cattle of Israel and €the cattle of Egypt, so that nothing shall die of all that belongs to €the people of Israel."'" And the LORD set a time, saying, "Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing €in the land." And on the morrow the LORD did this thing; all the cattle of the €Egyptians died, but of the cattle of the people of Israel not one died. And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the cattle of the Israelites €was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the €people go. @And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of ashes from €the kiln, and let Moses throw them toward heaven in the sight of €Pharaoh. And it shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become €boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of €Egypt." So they took ashes from the kiln, and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses €threw them toward heaven, and it became boils breaking out in sores on €man and beast. And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, €for the boils were upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians. But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to €them; as the LORD had spoken to Moses. @Then the LORD said to Moses, "Rise up early in the morning and stand €before Pharaoh, and say to him, `Thus says the LORD, the God of the €Hebrews, "Let my people go, that they may serve me. For this time I will send all my plagues upon your heart, and upon your €servants and your people, that you may know that there is none like me €in all the earth. For by now I could have put forth my hand and struck you and your €people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth; but for this purpose have I let you live, to show you my power, so that €my name may be declared throughout all the earth. You are still exalting yourself against my people, and will not let €them go. Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to fall, €such as never has been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. Now therefore send, get your cattle and all that you have in the field €into safe shelter; for the hail shall come down upon every man and €beast that is in the field and is not brought home, and they shall €die."'" Then he who feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh €made his slaves and his cattle flee into the houses; but he who did not regard the word of the LORD left his slaves and his €cattle in the field. @And the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch forth your hand toward heaven, €that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man and beast and €every plant of the field, throughout the land of Egypt." Then Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven; and the LORD sent €thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained €hail upon the land of Egypt; there was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, €very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since €it became a nation. The hail struck down everything that was in the field throughout all €the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and the hail struck down every €plant of the field, and shattered every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, there was €no hail. @Then Pharaoh sent, and called Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "I €have sinned this time; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people €are in the wrong. Entreat the LORD; for there has been enough of this thunder and hail; I €will let you go, and you shall stay no longer." Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will €stretch out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease, and there €will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the LORD's. But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the €LORD God." (The flax and the barley were ruined, for the barley was in the ear and €the flax was in bud. But the wheat and the spelt were not ruined, for they are late in €coming up.) So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and stretched out his hands €to the LORD; and the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain no €longer poured upon the earth. But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had €ceased, he sinned yet again, and hardened his heart, he and his €servants. So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people of €Israel go; as the LORD had spoken through Moses.  @Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened €his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of €mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your son's son €how I have made sport of the Egyptians and what signs I have done among €them; that you may know that I am the LORD." @So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and said to him, "Thus says €the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, `How long will you refuse to humble €yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me. For if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring €locusts into your country, and they shall cover the face of the land, so that no one can see the €land; and they shall eat what is left to you after the hail, and they €shall eat every tree of yours which grows in the field, and they shall fill your houses, and the houses of all your servants €and of all the Egyptians; as neither your fathers nor your grandfathers €have seen, from the day they came on earth to this day.'" Then he €turned and went out from Pharaoh. @And Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long shall this man be a €snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God; do €you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?" So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh; and he said to them, €"Go, serve the LORD your God; but who are to go?" And Moses said, "We will go with our young and our old; we will go with €our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold €a feast to the LORD." And he said to them, "The LORD be with you, if ever I let you and your €little ones go! Look, you have some evil purpose in mind. No! Go, the men among you, and serve the LORD, for that is what you €desire." And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence. @Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the land of €Egypt for the locusts, that they may come upon the land of Egypt, and €eat every plant in the land, all that the hail has left." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’؊˜So Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD €brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night; and €when it was morning the east wind had brought the locusts. And the locusts came up over all the land of Egypt, and settled on the €whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been €before, nor ever shall be again. For they covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was €darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of €the trees which the hail had left; not a green thing remained, neither €tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron in haste, and said, "I have sinned €against the LORD your God, and against you. Now therefore, forgive my sin, I pray you, only this once, and entreat €the LORD your God only to remove this death from me." So he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the LORD. And the LORD turned a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts €and drove them into the Red Sea; not a single locust was left in all €the country of Egypt. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children €of Israel go. @Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven €that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be €felt." So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick €darkness in all the land of Egypt three days; they did not see one another, nor did any rise from his place for three €days; but all the people of Israel had light where they dwelt. Then Pharaoh called Moses, and said, "Go, serve the LORD; your children €also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain €behind." But Moses said, "You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt €offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. Our cattle also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for €we must take of them to serve the LORD our God, and we do not know with €what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there." But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. Then Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me; take heed to yourself; €never see my face again; for in the day you see my face you shall die." Moses said, "As you say! I will not see your face again."  @The LORD said to Moses, "Yet one plague more I will bring upon €Pharaoh and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence; when he €lets you go, he will drive you away completely. Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his €neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, jewelry of silver and of €gold." And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. €Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the €sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people. @And Moses said, "Thus says the LORD: About midnight I will go forth €in the midst of Egypt; and all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the €first-born of Pharaoh who sits upon his throne, even to the first-born €of the maidservant who is behind the mill; and all the first-born of €the cattle. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such €as there has never been, nor ever shall be again. But against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, not a dog €shall growl; that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction €between the Egyptians and Israel. And all these your servants shall come down to me, and bow down to me, €saying, `Get you out, and all the people who follow you.' And after €that I will go out." And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh will not listen to you; that my €wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt." @Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the LORD €hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go €out of his land.  @The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, "This month shall be for you the beginning of months; it shall be the €first month of the year for you. Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month €they shall take every man a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a €lamb for a household; and if the household is too small for a lamb, then a man and his €neighbor next to his house shall take according to the number of €persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for €the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old; you shall take €it from the sheep or from the goats; and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the €whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs in €the evening. Then they shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two doorposts €and the lintel of the houses in which they eat them. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted; with unleavened bread and €bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled with water, but roasted, its head €with its legs and its inner parts. And you shall let none of it remain until the morning, anything that €remains until the morning you shall burn. In this manner you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on €your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste. €It is the LORD's passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will smite €all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all €the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you, upon the houses where you are; and €when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall fall €upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. @"This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a €feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as €an ordinance for ever. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread; on the first day you shall €put away leaven out of your houses, for if any one eats what is €leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall €be cut off from Israel. On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day €a holy assembly; no work shall be done on those days; but what every €one must eat, that only may be prepared by you. And you shall observe the feast of unleavened bread, for on this very €day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt: therefore you shall €observe this day, throughout your generations, as an ordinance for ever. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you €shall eat unleavened bread, and so until the twenty-first day of the €month at evening. For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses; for if any one €eats what is leavened, that person shall be cut off from the €congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the €land. You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat €unleavened bread." @Then Moses called all the elders of Israel, and said to them, "Select €lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the passover €lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, €and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood which is in €the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until €the morning. For the LORD will pass through to slay the Egyptians; and when he sees €the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass €over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to €slay you. You shall observe this rite as an ordinance for you and for your sons €for ever. And when you come to the land which the LORD will give you, as he has €promised, you shall keep this service. And when your children say to you, `What do you mean by this service?' you shall say, `It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, for he €passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he slew €the Egyptians but spared our houses.'" And the people bowed their heads €and worshiped. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’،˜œ@Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded €Moses and Aaron, so they did. @At midnight the LORD smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, €from the first-born of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the first-born €of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the first-born of the €cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the €Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a €house where one was not dead. And he summoned Moses and Aaron by night, and said, "Rise up, go forth €from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve €the LORD, as you have said. Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and €bless me also!" @And the Egyptians were urgent with the people, to send them out of €the land in haste; for they said, "We are all dead men." So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading €bowls being bound up in their mantles on their shoulders. The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had €asked of the Egyptians jewelry of silver and of gold, and clothing; and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, €so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they despoiled the €Egyptians. @And the people of Israel journeyed from Ram'eses to Succoth, about €six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very many cattle, both €flocks and herds. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out €of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of €Egypt and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any €provisions. @The time that the people of Israel dwelt in Egypt was four hundred €and thirty years. And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, on that very day, all €the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. It was a night of watching by the LORD, to bring them out of the land €of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the LORD by €all the people of Israel throughout their generations. @And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "This is the ordinance of the €passover: no foreigner shall eat of it; but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have €circumcised him. No sojourner or hired servant may eat of it. In one house shall it be eaten; you shall not carry forth any of the €flesh outside the house; and you shall not break a bone of it. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. And when a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the passover €to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, then he may come near €and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised €person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns €among you." @Thus did all the people of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and €Aaron, so they did. And on that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel out of the €land of Egypt by their hosts.  @The LORD said to Moses, "Consecrate to me all the first-born; whatever is the first to open the €womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine." @And Moses said to the people, "Remember this day, in which you came €out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage, for by strength of hand €the LORD brought you out from this place; no leavened bread shall be €eaten. This day you are to go forth, in the month of Abib. And when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the €Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jeb'usites, which he swore €to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you €shall keep this service in this month. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there €shall be a feast to the LORD. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall €be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your €territory. And you shall tell your son on that day, `It is because of what the €LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between €your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a €strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year €to year. @"And when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he €swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the €firstlings of your cattle that are males shall be the LORD's. Every firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will €not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every first-born of man among €your sons you shall redeem. And when in time to come your son asks you, `What does this mean?' you €shall say to him, `By strength of hand the LORD brought us out of €Egypt, from the house of bondage. For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD slew all the €first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man and the €first-born of cattle. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all the males €that first open the womb; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem.' It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes; for €by a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt." @When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the €land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest €the people repent when they see war, and return to Egypt." But God led the people round by the way of the wilderness toward the €Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt €equipped for battle. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him; for Joseph had solemnly €sworn the people of Israel, saying, "God will visit you; then you must €carry my bones with you from here." And they moved on from Succoth, and encamped at Etham, on the edge of €the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them €along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, €that they might travel by day and by night; the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not €depart from before the people.  @Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of €Pi-ha-hi'roth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Ba'al-ze'phon; €you shall encamp over against it, by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, `They are entangled in €the land; the wilderness has shut them in.' And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them and I will €get glory over Pharaoh and all his host; and the Egyptians shall know €that I am the LORD." And they did so. @When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of €Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, €"What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?" So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, and took six hundred picked chariots and all the other chariots of €Egypt with officers over all of them. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt and he pursued €the people of Israel as they went forth defiantly. The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his €horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by €Pi-ha-hi'roth, in front of Ba'al-ze'phon. @When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, €and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were in €great fear. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD; and they said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt €that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you €done to us, in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, `Let us alone and let us €serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the €Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’؎˜And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the €salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today; for the €Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be still." The LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of €Israel to go forward. Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, €that the people of Israel may go on dry ground through the sea. And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in €after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his €chariots, and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten €glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen." @Then the angel of God who went before the host of Israel moved and €went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and €stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was €the cloud and the darkness; and the night passed without one coming €near the other all night. @Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD drove €the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry €land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, €the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the €sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud €looked down upon the host of the Egyptians, and discomfited the host of €the Egyptians, clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily; and the €Egyptians said, "Let us flee from before Israel; for the LORD fights €for them against the Egyptians." @Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, €that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, €and upon their horsemen." So Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to €its wonted flow when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled into €it, and the LORD routed the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen and all €the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not so much as €one of them remained. But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the €waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. @Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians; €and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore. And Israel saw the great work which the LORD did against the Egyptians, €and the people feared the LORD; and they believed in the LORD and in €his servant Moses.  @Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, €saying, €@@"I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; €@@@the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. @@The LORD is my strength and my song, €@@@and he has become my salvation; €@@this is my God, and I will praise him, €@@@my father's God, and I will exalt him. @@The LORD is a man of war; €@@@the LORD is his name. @@"Pharaoh's chariots and his host he cast into the sea; €@@@and his picked officers are sunk in the Red Sea. @@The floods cover them; €@@@they went down into the depths like a stone. @@Thy right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, €@@thy right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. @@In the greatness of thy majesty thou overthrowest thy adversaries; €@@@thou sendest forth thy fury, it consumes them like stubble. @@At the blast of thy nostrils the waters piled up, €@@@the floods stood up in a heap; €@@@the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea. @@The enemy said, `I will pursue, I will overtake, €@@@I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. €@@@I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.' @@Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them; €@@@they sank as lead in the mighty waters. @@"Who is like thee, O LORD, among the gods? €@@@Who is like thee, majestic in holiness, €@@@terrible in glorious deeds, doing wonders? @@Thou didst stretch out thy right hand, €@@@the earth swallowed them. @@"Thou hast led in thy steadfast love €@@@@the people whom thou hast redeemed, €@@@thou hast guided them by thy strength to thy holy abode. @@The peoples have heard, they tremble; €@@@pangs have seized on the inhabitants of Philistia. @@Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; €@@@the leaders of Moab, trembling seizes them; €@@@all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. @@Terror and dread fall upon them; €@@@because of the greatness of thy arm, they are as still as a stone, €@@till thy people, O LORD, pass by, €@@@till the people pass by whom thou hast purchased. @@Thou wilt bring them in, and plant them on thy own mountain, €@@@the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thy abode, €@@@the sanctuary, LORD, which thy hands have established. @@The LORD will reign for ever and ever." @For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen €went into the sea, the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon €them; but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the €sea. Then Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her €hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and dancing. And Miriam sang to them: €@@"Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; €@@the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea." @Then Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went into the €wilderness of Shur; they went three days in the wilderness and found no €water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah €because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" And he cried to the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, and he threw €it into the water, and the water became sweet. €@There the LORD made for them a statute and an ordinance and there he €proved them, saying, "If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD your €God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give heed to his €commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases €upon you which I put upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD, your €healer." @Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and €seventy palm trees; and they encamped there by the water.  @They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of €Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, €on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from €the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the people of Israel murmured against €Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in €the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the €full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this €whole assembly with hunger." @Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven €for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every €day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be €twice as much as they gather daily." So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, "At evening you €shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of €Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has €heard your murmurings against the LORD. For what are we, that you €murmur against us?" And Moses said, "When the LORD gives you in the evening flesh to eat €and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your €murmurings which you murmur against him -- what are we? Your murmurings €are not against us but against the LORD." @And Moses said to Aaron, "Say to the whole congregation of the people €of Israel, `Come near before the LORD, for he has heard your €murmurings.'" žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’ؐ˜ŠAnd as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, €they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD €appeared in the cloud. And the LORD said to Moses, "I have heard the murmurings of the people of Israel; say to them, `At €twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall be filled €with bread; then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'" @In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the €morning dew lay round about the camp. And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a €fine, flake-like thing, fine as hoarfrost on the ground. When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is €it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is €the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: `Gather of it, every man of you, €as much as he can eat; you shall take an omer apiece, according to the €number of the persons whom each of you has in his tent.'" And the people of Israel did so; they gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, he that gathered much had €nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; each gathered €according to what he could eat. And Moses said to them, "Let no man leave any of it till the morning." But they did not listen to Moses; some left part of it till the €morning, and it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with €them. Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but €when the sun grew hot, it melted. @On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers apiece; €and when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, he said to them, "This is what the LORD has commanded: `Tomorrow is a €day of solemn rest, a holy sabbath to the LORD; bake what you will bake €and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay by to be €kept till the morning.'" So they laid it by till the morning, as Moses bade them; and it did not €become foul, and there were no worms in it. Moses said, "Eat it today, for today is a sabbath to the LORD; today €you will not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is a €sabbath, there will be none." On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, and they €found none. And the LORD said to Moses, "How long do you refuse to keep my €commandments and my laws? See! The LORD has given you the sabbath, therefore on the sixth day he €gives you bread for two days; remain every man of you in his place, let €no man go out of his place on the seventh day." So the people rested on the seventh day. @Now the house of Israel called its name manna; it was like coriander €seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. And Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded: `Let an omer of €it be kept throughout your generations, that they may see the bread €with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the €land of Egypt.'" And Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, €and place it before the LORD, to be kept throughout your generations." As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the testimony, €to be kept. And the people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a €habitable land; they ate the manna, till they came to the border of the €land of Canaan. (An omer is the tenth part of an ephah.)  @All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the €wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, €and camped at Reph'idim; but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people found fault with Moses, and said, "Give us water €to drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you find fault with me? Why €do you put the LORD to the proof?" But the people thirsted there for water, and the people murmured €against Moses, and said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill €us and our children and our cattle with thirst?" So Moses cried to the LORD, "What shall I do with this people? They are €almost ready to stone me." And the LORD said to Moses, "Pass on before the people, taking with you €some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand the rod with which €you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you €shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, that the people €may drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah and Mer'ibah, because of the €faultfinding of the children of Israel, and because they put the LORD €to the proof by saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?" @Then came Am'alek and fought with Israel at Reph'idim. And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose for us men, and go out, fight with €Am'alek; tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of €God in my hand." So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Am'alek; and Moses, €Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he €lowered his hand, Am'alek prevailed. But Moses' hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, €and he sat upon it, and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one €side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until €the going down of the sun. And Joshua mowed down Am'alek and his people with the edge of the sword. @And the LORD said to Moses, "Write this as a memorial in a book and €recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the €remembrance of Am'alek from under heaven." And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD is my €banner, saying, "A hand upon the banner of the LORD! The LORD will have war €with Am'alek from generation to generation."  @Jethro, the priest of Mid'ian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all €that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the LORD had €brought Israel out of Egypt. Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zippo'rah, Moses' wife, €after he had sent her away, and her two sons, of whom the name of the one was Gershom (for he said, €"I have been a sojourner in a foreign land"), and the name of the other, Elie'zer (for he said, "The God of my father €was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh"). And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to €Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. And when one told Moses, "Lo, your father-in-law Jethro is coming to €you with your wife and her two sons with her," Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance and kissed €him; and they asked each other of their welfare, and went into the tent. Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh €and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come €upon them in the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the LORD had done to Israel, €in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. @And Jethro said, "Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of €the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because he delivered €the people from under the hand of the Egyptians, when they dealt €arrogantly with them." And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, offered a burnt offering and €sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat €bread with Moses' father-in-law before God. @On the morrow Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood €about Moses from morning till evening. When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he €said, "What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit €alone, and all the people stand about you from morning till evening?" And Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to €inquire of God; when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between a man žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’ؒ˜‚and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God and his €decisions." Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will wear yourselves out, for the thing is €too heavy for you; you are not able to perform it alone. Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God be with you! €You shall represent the people before God, and bring their cases to God; and you shall teach them the statutes and the decisions, and make them €know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover choose able men from all the people, such as fear God, men who €are trustworthy and who hate a bribe; and place such men over the €people as rulers of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times; every great matter they €shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves; €so it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to €endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace." @So Moses gave heed to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that €he had said. Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the €people, rulers of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And they judged the people at all times; hard cases they brought to €Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own €country.  @On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone forth out €of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of €Sinai. And when they set out from Reph'idim and came into the wilderness of €Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped €before the mountain. And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him out of the €mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell €the people of Israel: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on €eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you €shall be my own possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These €are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel." @So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before €them all these words which the LORD had commanded him. And all the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has €spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people to the €LORD. And the LORD said to Moses, "Lo, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, €that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe €you for ever." €@Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD. And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today €and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, and be ready by the third day; for on the third day the LORD will come €down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. And you shall set bounds for the people round about, saying, `Take heed €that you do not go up into the mountain or touch the border of it; €whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death; no hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast €or man, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they €shall come up to the mountain." So Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and consecrated the €people; and they washed their garments. And he said to the people, "Be ready by the third day; do not go near a €woman." @On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings, €and a thick cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so €that all the people who were in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God; and they €took their stand at the foot of the mountain. And Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the LORD descended upon €it in fire; and the smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and €the whole mountain quaked greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, €and God answered him in thunder. And the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; €and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. And the LORD said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people, lest they €break through to the LORD to gaze and many of them perish. And also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate €themselves, lest the LORD break out upon them." And Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; €for thou thyself didst charge us, saying, `Set bounds about the €mountain, and consecrate it.'" And the LORD said to him, "Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with €you; but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up €to the LORD, lest he break out against them." So Moses went down to the people and told them.  @And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out €of the house of bondage. @"You shall have no other gods before me. @"You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of €anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or €that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God €am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the €children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep €my commandments. @"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the €LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. @"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; in it you shall €not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, €or your maidservant, or your cattle, or the sojourner who is within €your gates; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that €is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the €sabbath day and hallowed it. @"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the €land which the LORD your God gives you. @"You shall not kill. @"You shall not commit adultery. @"You shall not steal. @"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. @"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your €neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or €his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's." @Now when all the people perceived the thunderings and the lightnings €and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were €afraid and trembled; and they stood afar off, and said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will hear; but let not God €speak to us, lest we die." And Moses said to the people, "Do not fear; for God has come to prove €you, and that the fear of him may be before your eyes, that you may not €sin." @And the people stood afar off, while Moses drew near to the thick €darkness where God was. And the LORD said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the people of €Israel: `You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from €heaven. You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for €yourselves gods of gold. An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt €offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every €place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and €bless you. And if you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn €stones; for if you wield your tool upon it you profane it. And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be €not exposed on it.'  @"Now these are the ordinances which you shall set before them. When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’ؕ’‚seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, €then his wife shall go out with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the €wife and her children shall be her master's and he shall go out alone. But if the slave plainly says, `I love my master, my wife, and my €children; I will not go out free,' then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the €door or the doorpost; and his master shall bore his ear through with an €awl; and he shall serve him for life. @"When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as €the male slaves do. If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, €then he shall let her be redeemed; he shall have no right to sell her €to a foreign people, since he has dealt faithlessly with her. If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a €daughter. If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, €her clothing, or her marital rights. And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for €nothing, without payment of money. @"Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his €hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him treacherously, you €shall take him from my altar, that he may die. @"Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death. @"Whoever steals a man, whether he sells him or is found in possession €of him, shall be put to death. @"Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death. @"When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his €fist and the man does not die but keeps his bed, then if the man rises again and walks abroad with his staff, he that €struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, €and shall have him thoroughly healed. @"When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the €slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be punished; for €the slave is his money. @"When men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that there €is a miscarriage, and yet no harm follows, the one who hurt her shall €be fined, according as the woman's husband shall lay upon him; and he €shall pay as the judges determine. If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. @"When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and €destroys it, he shall let the slave go free for the eye's sake. If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let €the slave go free for the tooth's sake. @"When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, €and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be €clear. But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner €has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, €the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death. If a ransom is laid on him, then he shall give for the redemption of €his life whatever is laid upon him. If it gores a man's son or daughter, he shall be dealt with according €to this same rule. If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their €master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned. @"When a man leaves a pit open, or when a man digs a pit and does not €cover it, and an ox or an ass falls into it, the owner of the pit shall make it good; he shall give money to its €owner, and the dead beast shall be his. @"When one man's ox hurts another's, so that it dies, then they shall €sell the live ox and divide the price of it; and the dead beast also €they shall divide. Or if it is known that the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, €and its owner has not kept it in, he shall pay ox for ox, and the dead €beast shall be his.  @"If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall €pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. He shall make €restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. ”If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it €is an ox or an ass or a sheep, he shall pay double. ’@"If a thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, €there shall be no bloodguilt for him; but if the sun has risen upon him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. •@"When a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets €his beast loose and it feeds in another man's field, he shall make €restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard. @"When fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain €or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he that kindled the €fire shall make full restitution. @"If a man delivers to his neighbor money or goods to keep, and it is €stolen out of the man's house, then, if the thief is found, he shall €pay double. If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to €God, to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor's goods. @"For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for ass, for sheep, €for clothing, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, `This €is it,' the case of both parties shall come before God; he whom God €shall condemn shall pay double to his neighbor. @"If a man delivers to his neighbor an ass or an ox or a sheep or any €beast to keep, and it dies or is hurt or is driven away, without any €one seeing it, an oath by the LORD shall be between them both to see whether he has €not put his hand to his neighbor's property; and the owner shall accept €the oath, and he shall not make restitution. But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence; he shall not €make restitution for what has been torn. @"If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is hurt or dies, €the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was €hired, it came for its hire. @"If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, €he shall give the marriage present for her, and make her his wife. If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money €equivalent to the marriage present for virgins. @"You shall not permit a sorceress to live. @"Whoever lies with a beast shall be put to death. @"Whoever sacrifices to any god, save to the LORD only, shall be €utterly destroyed. @"You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were €strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you do afflict them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear €their cry; and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your €wives shall become widows and your children fatherless. @"If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you €shall not be to him as a creditor, and you shall not exact interest €from him. If ever you take your neighbor's garment in pledge, you shall restore €it to him before the sun goes down; for that is his only covering, it is his mantle for his body; in what €else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am €compassionate. @"You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people. @"You shall not delay to offer from the fulness of your harvest and €from the outflow of your presses. €@"The first-born of your sons you shall give to me. You shall do likewise with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it €shall be with its dam; on the eighth day you shall give it to me. @"You shall be men consecrated to me; therefore you shall not eat any €flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall cast it to the €dogs.  @"You shall not utter a false report. You shall not join hands with a €wicked man, to be a malicious witness. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’ؗ’You shall not follow a multitude to do evil; nor shall you bear witness €in a suit, turning aside after a multitude, so as to pervert justice; nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his suit. @"If you meet your enemy's ox or his ass going astray, you shall bring €it back to him. If you see the ass of one who hates you lying under its burden, you €shall refrain from leaving him with it, you shall help him to lift it €up. @"You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his suit. Keep far from a false charge, and do not slay the innocent and €righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked. And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the officials, and €subverts the cause of those who are in the right. @"You shall not oppress a stranger; you know the heart of a stranger, €for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. @"For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield; but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the €poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the wild beasts may €eat. You shall do likewise with your vineyard, and with your olive €orchard. @"Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall €rest; that your ox and your ass may have rest, and the son of your €bondmaid, and the alien, may be refreshed. Take heed to all that I have said to you; and make no mention of the €names of other gods, nor let such be heard out of your mouth. @"Three times in the year you shall keep a feast to me. You shall keep the feast of unleavened bread; as I commanded you, you €shall eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the €month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. None shall appear €before me empty-handed. You shall keep the feast of harvest, of the first fruits of your labor, €of what you sow in the field. You shall keep the feast of ingathering €at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of €your labor. Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord GOD. @"You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread, €or let the fat of my feast remain until the morning. @"The first of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring into €the house of the LORD your God. €@"You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk. @"Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to €bring you to the place which I have prepared. Give heed to him and hearken to his voice, do not rebel against him, €for he will not pardon your transgression; for my name is in him. @"But if you hearken attentively to his voice and do all that I say, €then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your €adversaries. @"When my angel goes before you, and brings you in to the Amorites, €and the Hittites, and the Per'izzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, €and the Jeb'usites, and I blot them out, you shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according €to their works, but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their €pillars in pieces. @You shall serve the LORD your God, and I will bless your bread and €your water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of you. None shall cast her young or be barren in your land; I will fulfil the €number of your days. I will send my terror before you, and will throw into confusion all the €people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies €turn their backs to you. And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out Hivite, €Canaanite, and Hittite from before you. I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land €become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you are €increased and possess the land. And I will set your bounds from the Red Sea to the sea of the €Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphra'tes; for I will €deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive €them out before you. You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me; €for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you."  @And he said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab, and €Abi'hu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship afar off. Moses alone shall come near to the LORD; but the others shall not come €near, and the people shall not come up with him." @Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the €ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, "All €the words which the LORD has spoken we will do." And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. And he rose early in the €morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve €pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt €offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD. And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the €blood he threw against the altar. Then he took the book of the covenant, and read it in the hearing of €the people; and they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, €and we will be obedient." And Moses took the blood and threw it upon the people, and said, €"Behold the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you in €accordance with all these words." @Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abi'hu, and seventy of the elders of €Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were €a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; €they beheld God, and ate and drank. @The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and wait €there; and I will give you the tables of stone, with the law and the €commandment, which I have written for their instruction." So Moses rose with his servant Joshua, and Moses went up into the €mountain of God. And he said to the elders, "Tarry here for us, until we come to you €again; and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a cause, €let him go to them." @Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the €mountain. The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it €six days; and on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of €the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire €on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. And Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. And Moses was €on the mountain forty days and forty nights.  @The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me an offering; from €every man whose heart makes him willing you shall receive the offering €for me. And this is the offering which you shall receive from them: gold, €silver, and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, goats' hair, tanned rams' skins, goatskins, acacia wood, oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant €incense, onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the €breastpiece. And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. According to all that I show you concerning the pattern of the €tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it. @"They shall make an ark of acacia wood; two cubits and a half shall €be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half €its height. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, within and without shall you €overlay it, and you shall make upon it a molding of gold round about. And you shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four €feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side €of it. You shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to €carry the ark by them. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken €from it. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’ؙ˜And you shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you. Then you shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half €shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you €make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end; of one €piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the €mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the €mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark; and in the ark €you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between €the two cherubim that are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak €with you of all that I will give you in commandment for the people of €Israel. @"And you shall make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be its €length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. You shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold around €it. And you shall make around it a frame a handbreadth wide, and a molding €of gold around the frame. And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and fasten the rings to €the four corners at its four legs. Close to the frame the rings shall lie, as holders for the poles to €carry the table. You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, €and the table shall be carried with these. And you shall make its plates and dishes for incense, and its flagons €and bowls with which to pour libations; of pure gold you shall make €them. And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me €always. @"And you shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The base and the shaft €of the lampstand shall be made of hammered work; its cups, its €capitals, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it; and there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches €of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the €lampstand out of the other side of it; three cups made like almonds, each with capital and flower, on one €branch, and three cups made like almonds, each with capital and flower, €on the other branch -- so for the six branches going out of the lampstand; and on the lampstand itself four cups made like almonds, with their €capitals and flowers, and a capital of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches €going out from the lampstand. Their capitals and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the €whole of it one piece of hammered work of pure gold. And you shall make the seven lamps for it; and the lamps shall be set €up so as to give light upon the space in front of it. Its snuffers and their trays shall be of pure gold. Of a talent of pure gold shall it be made, with all these utensils. And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being €shown you on the mountain.  @"Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine €twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet stuff; with cherubim €skilfully worked shall you make them. The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the €breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall have one €measure. Five curtains shall be coupled to one another; and the other five €curtains shall be coupled to one another. And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outmost curtain in €the first set; and likewise you shall make loops on the edge of the €outmost curtain in the second set. Fifty loops you shall make on the one curtain, and fifty loops you €shall make on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the €loops shall be opposite one another. And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to €the other with the clasps, that the tabernacle may be one whole. @"You shall also make curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the €tabernacle; eleven curtains shall you make. The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of €each curtain four cubits; the eleven curtains shall have the same €measure. And you shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by €themselves, and the sixth curtain you shall double over at the front of €the tent. And you shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is €outmost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which is €outmost in the second set. @"And you shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into €the loops, and couple the tent together that it may be one whole. And the part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain €that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. And the cubit on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, of what €remains in the length of the curtains of the tent shall hang over the €sides of the tabernacle, on this side and that side, to cover it. And you shall make for the tent a covering of tanned rams' skins and €goatskins. @"And you shall make upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood. Ten cubits shall be the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the €breadth of each frame. There shall be two tenons in each frame, for fitting together; so shall €you do for all the frames of the tabernacle. You shall make the frames for the tabernacle: twenty frames for the €south side; and forty bases of silver you shall make under the twenty frames, two €bases under one frame for its two tenons, and two bases under another €frame for its two tenons; and for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side twenty €frames, and their forty bases of silver, two bases under one frame, and two €bases under another frame; and for the rear of the tabernacle westward you shall make six frames. And you shall make two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear; they shall be separate beneath, but joined at the top, at the first €ring; thus shall it be with both of them; they shall form the two €corners. And there shall be eight frames, with their bases of silver, sixteen €bases; two bases under one frame, and two bases under another frame. @"And you shall make bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the €one side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and €five bars for the frames of the side of the tabernacle at the rear €westward. The middle bar, halfway up the frames, shall pass through from end to €end. You shall overlay the frames with gold, and shall make their rings of €gold for holders for the bars; and you shall overlay the bars with gold. And you shall erect the tabernacle according to the plan for it which €has been shown you on the mountain. @"And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and €fine twined linen; in skilled work shall it be made, with cherubim; and you shall hang it upon four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, €with hooks of gold, upon four bases of silver. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the €testimony in thither within the veil; and the veil shall separate for €you the holy place from the most holy. You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most €holy place. And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the €south side of the tabernacle opposite the table; and you shall put the €table on the north side. @"And you shall make a screen for the door of the tent, of blue and €purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, embroidered with €needlework. And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay €them with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five €bases of bronze for them.  @"You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five €cubits broad; the altar shall be square, and its height shall be three €cubits. And you shall make horns for it on its four corners; its horns shall be žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’؛’‚of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze. You shall make pots for it to receive its ashes, and shovels and basins €and forks and firepans; all its utensils you shall make of bronze. You shall also make for it a grating, a network of bronze; and upon the €net you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners. And you shall set it under the ledge of the altar so that the net shall €extend halfway down the altar. And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and €overlay them with bronze; and the poles shall be put through the rings, so that the poles shall €be upon the two sides of the altar, when it is carried. You shall make it hollow, with boards; as it has been shown you on the €mountain, so shall it be made. @"You shall make the court of the tabernacle. On the south side the €court shall have hangings of fine twined linen a hundred cubits long €for one side; their pillars shall be twenty and their bases twenty, of bronze, but €the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver. And likewise for its length on the north side there shall be hangings a €hundred cubits long, their pillars twenty and their bases twenty, of €bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of €silver. And for the breadth of the court on the west side there shall be €hangings for fifty cubits, with ten pillars and ten bases. The breadth of the court on the front to the east shall be fifty cubits. The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits, with €three pillars and three bases. On the other side the hangings shall be fifteen cubits, with three €pillars and three bases. For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, €of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, embroidered €with needlework; it shall have four pillars and with them four bases. All the pillars around the court shall be filleted with silver; their €hooks shall be of silver, and their bases of bronze. The length of the court shall be a hundred cubits, the breadth fifty, €and the height five cubits, with hangings of fine twined linen and €bases of bronze. All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, and all its pegs and €all the pegs of the court, shall be of bronze. @"And you shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you €pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may be set up to burn €continually. In the tent of meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, €Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the €LORD. It shall be a statute for ever to be observed throughout their €generations by the people of Israel.  @"Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, €from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests -- Aaron and €Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abi'hu, Elea'zar and Ith'amar. And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and €for beauty. And you shall speak to all who have ability, whom I have endowed with €an able mind, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him for my €priesthood. These are the garments which they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, €a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a girdle; they shall make €holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as €priests. @"They shall receive gold, blue and purple and scarlet stuff, and fine €twined linen. And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet €stuff, and of fine twined linen, skilfully worked. It shall have two shoulder-pieces attached to its two edges, that it €may be joined together. And the skilfully woven band upon it, to gird it on, shall be of the €same workmanship and materials, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet €stuff, and fine twined linen. And you shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of €the sons of Israel, six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six €on the other stone, in the order of their birth. As a jeweler engraves signets, so shall you engrave the two stones with €the names of the sons of Israel; you shall enclose them in settings of €gold filigree. And you shall set the two stones upon the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, €as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel; and Aaron shall bear €their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for remembrance. And you shall make settings of gold filigree, and two chains of pure gold, twisted like cords; and you shall attach €the corded chains to the settings. @"And you shall make a breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work; like €the work of the ephod you shall make it; of gold, blue and purple and €scarlet stuff, and fine twined linen shall you make it. It shall be square and double, a span its length and a span its breadth. And you shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, €and carbuncle shall be the first row; and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper; they shall be set in €gold filigree. There shall be twelve stones with their names according to the names of €the sons of Israel; they shall be like signets, each engraved with its €name, for the twelve tribes. And you shall make for the breastpiece twisted chains like cords, of €pure gold; and you shall make for the breastpiece two rings of gold, and put the €two rings on the two edges of the breastpiece. And you shall put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges €of the breastpiece; the two ends of the two cords you shall attach to the two settings of €filigree, and so attach it in front to the shoulder-pieces of the ephod. And you shall make two rings of gold, and put them at the two ends of €the breastpiece, on its inside edge next to the ephod. And you shall make two rings of gold, and attach them in front to the €lower part of the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod, at its joining €above the skilfully woven band of the ephod. And they shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the €ephod with a lace of blue, that it may lie upon the skilfully woven €band of the ephod, and that the breastpiece shall not come loose from €the ephod. So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece €of judgment upon his heart, when he goes into the holy place, to bring €them to continual remembrance before the LORD. And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the €Thummim, and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goes in before €the LORD; thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel €upon his heart before the LORD continually. @"And you shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. It shall have in it an opening for the head, with a woven binding €around the opening, like the opening in a garment, that it may not be €torn. On its skirts you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and €scarlet stuff, around its skirts, with bells of gold between them, a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, round €about on the skirts of the robe. And it shall be upon Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be €heard when he goes into the holy place before the LORD, and when he €comes out, lest he die. @"And you shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the €engraving of a signet, `Holy to the LORD.' And you shall fasten it on the turban by a lace of blue; it shall be on €the front of the turban. It shall be upon Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall take upon himself €any guilt incurred in the holy offering which the people of Israel €hallow as their holy gifts; it shall always be upon his forehead, that €they may be accepted before the LORD. @"And you shall weave the coat in checker work of fine linen, and you €shall make a turban of fine linen, and you shall make a girdle €embroidered with needlework. @"And for Aaron's sons you shall make coats and girdles and caps; you €shall make them for glory and beauty. And you shall put them upon Aaron your brother, and upon his sons with žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’؜˜©‚him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that €they may serve me as priests. And you shall make for them linen breeches to cover their naked flesh; €from the loins to the thighs they shall reach; and they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they go into the €tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister in the €holy place; lest they bring guilt upon themselves and die. This shall €be a perpetual statute for him and for his descendants after him.  @"Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them, that they €may serve me as priests. Take one young bull and two rams without €blemish, and unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened €wafers spread with oil. You shall make them of fine wheat flour. And you shall put them in one basket and bring them in the basket, and €bring the bull and the two rams. You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tent of meeting, €and wash them with water. And you shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the coat and the robe €of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastpiece, and gird him with the €skilfully woven band of the ephod; and you shall set the turban on his head, and put the holy crown upon €the turban. And you shall take the anointing oil, and pour it on his head and €anoint him. Then you shall bring his sons, and put coats on them, and you shall gird them with girdles and bind caps on them; and the €priesthood shall be theirs by a perpetual statute. Thus you shall €ordain Aaron and his sons. @"Then you shall bring the bull before the tent of meeting. Aaron and €his sons shall lay their hands upon the head of the bull, and you shall kill the bull before the LORD, at the door of the tent of €meeting, and shall take part of the blood of the bull and put it upon the horns €of the altar with your finger, and the rest of the blood you shall pour €out at the base of the altar. And you shall take all the fat that covers the entrails, and the €appendage of the liver, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on €them, and burn them upon the altar. But the flesh of the bull, and its skin, and its dung, you shall burn €with fire outside the camp; it is a sin offering. @"Then you shall take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall €lay their hands upon the head of the ram, and you shall slaughter the ram, and shall take its blood and throw it €against the altar round about. Then you shall cut the ram into pieces, and wash its entrails and its €legs, and put them with its pieces and its head, and burn the whole ram upon the altar; it is a burnt offering to the €LORD; it is a pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the LORD. @"You shall take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall lay their €hands upon the head of the ram, and you shall kill the ram, and take part of its blood and put it upon €the tip of the right ear of Aaron and upon the tips of the right ears €of his sons, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the €great toes of their right feet, and throw the rest of the blood against €the altar round about. Then you shall take part of the blood that is on the altar, and of the €anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron and his garments, and upon €his sons and his sons' garments with him; and he and his garments shall €be holy, and his sons and his sons' garments with him. @"You shall also take the fat of the ram, and the fat tail, and the €fat that covers the entrails, and the appendage of the liver, and the €two kidneys with the fat that is on them, and the right thigh (for it €is a ram of ordination), and one loaf of bread, and one cake of bread with oil, and one wafer, €out of the basket of unleavened bread that is before the LORD; and you shall put all these in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of €his sons, and wave them for a wave offering before the LORD. Then you shall take them from their hands, and burn them on the altar €in addition to the burnt offering, as a pleasing odor before the LORD; €it is an offering by fire to the LORD. @"And you shall take the breast of the ram of Aaron's ordination and €wave it for a wave offering before the LORD; and it shall be your €portion. And you shall consecrate the breast of the wave offering, and the thigh €of the priests' portion, which is waved, and which is offered from the €ram of ordination, since it is for Aaron and for his sons. It shall be for Aaron and his sons as a perpetual due from the people €of Israel, for it is the priests' portion to be offered by the people €of Israel from their peace offerings; it is their offering to the LORD. @"The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, to be €anointed in them and ordained in them. The son who is priest in his place shall wear them seven days, when he €comes into the tent of meeting to minister in the holy place. @"You shall take the ram of ordination, and boil its flesh in a holy €place; and Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram and the bread €that is in the basket, at the door of the tent of meeting. They shall eat those things with which atonement was made, to ordain €and consecrate them, but an outsider shall not eat of them, because €they are holy. And if any of the flesh for the ordination, or of the bread, remain €until the morning, then you shall burn the remainder with fire; it €shall not be eaten, because it is holy. @"Thus you shall do to Aaron and to his sons, according to all that I €have commanded you; through seven days shall you ordain them, and every day you shall offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement. €Also you shall offer a sin offering for the altar, when you make €atonement for it, and shall anoint it, to consecrate it. Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar, and consecrate it, €and the altar shall be most holy; whatever touches the altar shall €become holy. @"Now this is what you shall offer upon the altar: two lambs a year €old day by day continually. One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall €offer in the evening; and with the first lamb a tenth measure of fine flour mingled with a €fourth of a hin of beaten oil, and a fourth of a hin of wine for a €libation. And the other lamb you shall offer in the evening, and shall offer with €it a cereal offering and its libation, as in the morning, for a €pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the LORD. It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at €the door of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with €you, to speak there to you. There I will meet with the people of Israel, and it shall be sanctified €by my glory; I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar; Aaron also and his €sons I will consecrate, to serve me as priests. And I will dwell among the people of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them €forth out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them; I am the €LORD their God.  @"You shall make an altar to burn incense upon; of acacia wood shall €you make it. A cubit shall be its length, and a cubit its breadth; it shall be €square, and two cubits shall be its height; its horns shall be of one €piece with it. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and its sides round €about and its horns; and you shall make for it a molding of gold round €about. And two golden rings shall you make for it; under its molding on two €opposite sides of it shall you make them, and they shall be holders for €poles with which to carry it. You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. And you shall put it before the veil that is by the ark of the €testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I €will meet with you. And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it; every morning when he €dresses the lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps in the evening, he shall burn it, a €perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. You shall offer no unholy incense thereon, nor burnt offering, nor žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’؞˜‰‚cereal offering; and you shall pour no libation thereon. Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year; with the blood €of the sin offering of atonement he shall make atonement for it once in €the year throughout your generations; it is most holy to the LORD." @The LORD said to Moses, "When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give €a ransom for himself to the LORD when you number them, that there be no €plague among them when you number them. Each who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel €according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), €half a shekel as an offering to the LORD. Every one who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and €upward, shall give the LORD's offering. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than €the half shekel, when you give the LORD's offering to make atonement €for yourselves. And you shall take the atonement money from the people of Israel, and €shall appoint it for the service of the tent of meeting; that it may €bring the people of Israel to remembrance before the LORD, so as to €make atonement for yourselves." @The LORD said to Moses, "You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base of bronze, for €washing. And you shall put it between the tent of meeting and the €altar, and you shall put water in it, with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet. When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar €to minister, to burn an offering by fire to the LORD, they shall wash €with water, lest they die. They shall wash their hands and their feet, lest they die: it shall be €a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his descendants €throughout their generations." @Moreover, the LORD said to Moses, "Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh five hundred shekels, and of €sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, two hundred and fifty, €and of aromatic cane two hundred and fifty, and of cassia five hundred, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, €and of olive oil a hin; and you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the €perfumer; a holy anointing oil it shall be. And you shall anoint with it the tent of meeting and the ark of the €testimony, and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, €and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the laver and €its base; you shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches €them will become holy. And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they €may serve me as priests. And you shall say to the people of Israel, `This shall be my holy €anointing oil throughout your generations. It shall not be poured upon the bodies of ordinary men, and you shall €make no other like it in composition; it is holy, and it shall be holy €to you. Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an outsider €shall be cut off from his people.'" @And the LORD said to Moses, "Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, €and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there €be an equal part), and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, €pure and holy; and you shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the €testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you; it shall €be for you most holy. And the incense which you shall make according to its composition, you €shall not make for yourselves; it shall be for you holy to the LORD. Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his €people."  @The LORD said to Moses, "See, I have called by name Bez'alel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the €tribe of Judah: and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and €intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every €craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oho'liab, the son of Ahis'amach, €of the tribe of Dan; and I have given to all able men ability, that €they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat €that is thereon, and all the furnishings of the tent, the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its €utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver €and its base, and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest €and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the holy place. €According to all that I have commanded you they shall do." @And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, `You shall keep my sabbaths, for this is €a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may €know that I, the LORD, sanctify you. You shall keep the sabbath, because it is holy for you; every one who €profanes it shall be put to death; whoever does any work on it, that €soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn €rest, holy to the LORD; whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall €be put to death. Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the sabbath, observing the €sabbath throughout their generations, as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign for ever between me and the people of Israel that in six €days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, €and was refreshed.'" @And he gave to Moses, when he had made an end of speaking with him €upon Mount Sinai, the two tables of the testimony, tables of stone, €written with the finger of God.  @When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the €mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron, and said to €him, "Up, make us gods, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the €man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has €become of him." And Aaron said to them, "Take off the rings of gold which are in the €ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to €me." So all the people took off the rings of gold which were in their ears, €and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving €tool, and made a molten calf; and they said, "These are your gods, O €Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!" When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made €proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD." And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings and €brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and €rose up to play. @And the LORD said to Moses, "Go down; for your people, whom you €brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves; they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them; €they have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and €sacrificed to it, and said, `These are your gods, O Israel, who brought €you up out of the land of Egypt!'" And the LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and behold, it is €a stiff-necked people; now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and €I may consume them; but of you I will make a great nation." @But Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, "O LORD, why does thy €wrath burn hot against thy people, whom thou hast brought forth out of €the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, `With evil intent did he bring them €forth, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face €of the earth'? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil €against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou didst €swear by thine own self, and didst say to them, `I will multiply your €descendants as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’Ø ˜„promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it for €ever.'" And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do to his people. @And Moses turned, and went down from the mountain with the two tables €of the testimony in his hands, tables that were written on both sides; €on the one side and on the other were they written. And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of €God, graven upon the tables. When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to €Moses, "There is a noise of war in the camp." But he said, "It is not the sound of shouting for victory, or the sound €of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear." And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, €Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tables out of his hands and €broke them at the foot of the mountain. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it with fire, and €ground it to powder, and scattered it upon the water, and made the €people of Israel drink it. @And Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you €have brought a great sin upon them?" And Aaron said, "Let not the anger of my lord burn hot; you know the €people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, `Make us gods, who shall go before us; as for this €Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not €know what has become of him.' And I said to them, `Let any who have gold take it off'; so they gave €it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and there came out this calf." @And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had €let them break loose, to their shame among their enemies), then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Who is on the €LORD's side? Come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves €together to him. And he said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel, `Put every man €his sword on his side, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout €the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, €and every man his neighbor.'" And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses; and there fell €of the people that day about three thousand men. And Moses said, "Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of €the LORD, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, that he €may bestow a blessing upon you this day." @On the morrow Moses said to the people, "You have sinned a great sin. €And now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your €sin." So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Alas, this people have sinned €a great sin; they have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if thou wilt forgive their sin -- and if not, blot me, I pray €thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." But the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, him will I €blot out of my book. But now go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you; €behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I €visit, I will visit their sin upon them." @And the LORD sent a plague upon the people, because they made the €calf which Aaron made.  @The LORD said to Moses, "Depart, go up hence, you and the people whom €you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I €swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, `To your descendants I will €give it.' And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the €Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Per'izzites, the Hivites, €and the Jeb'usites. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among €you, lest I consume you in the way, for you are a stiff-necked people." @When the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned; and no man €put on his ornaments. For the LORD had said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, `You are €a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, €I would consume you. So now put off your ornaments from you, that I may €know what to do with you.'" Therefore the people of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, €from Mount Horeb onward. @Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far €off from the camp; and he called it the tent of meeting. And every one €who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting, which was €outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose up, and every €man stood at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he had gone €into the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and €stand at the door of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the door of €the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, every man at his €tent door. Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to €his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his servant Joshua €the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tent. @Moses said to the LORD, "See, thou sayest to me, `Bring up this €people'; but thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet €thou hast said, `I know you by name, and you have also found favor in €my sight.' Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thy sight, show me €now thy ways, that I may know thee and find favor in thy sight. €Consider too that this nation is thy people." And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." And he said to him, "If thy presence will not go with me, do not carry €us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in thy sight, I and €thy people? Is it not in thy going with us, so that we are distinct, I €and thy people, from all other people that are upon the face of the €earth?" @And the LORD said to Moses, "This very thing that you have spoken I €will do; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." Moses said, "I pray thee, show me thy glory." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will €proclaim before you my name `The LORD'; and I will be gracious to whom €I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But," he said, "you cannot see my face; for man shall not see me and €live." And the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by me where you shall €stand upon the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and €I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face €shall not be seen."  @The LORD said to Moses, "Cut two tables of stone like the first; and €I will write upon the tables the words that were on the first tables, €which you broke. Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and €present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain. No man shall come up with you, and let no man be seen throughout all €the mountain; let no flocks or herds feed before that mountain." So Moses cut two tables of stone like the first; and he rose early in €the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, €and took in his hand two tables of stone. And the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and €proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him, and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God €merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love €and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and €transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, €visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the €children's children, to the third and the fourth generation." And Moses made haste to bow his head toward the earth, and worshiped. And he said, "If now I have found favor in thy sight, O Lord, let the €Lord, I pray thee, go in the midst of us, although it is a stiff-necked €people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thy €inheritance." @And he said, "Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’Ø¢˜Š‚will do marvels, such as have not been wrought in all the earth or in €any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of €the LORD; for it is a terrible thing that I will do with you. @"Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I will drive out before €you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Per'izzites, the €Hivites, and the Jeb'usites. Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of €the land whither you go, lest it become a snare in the midst of you. You shall tear down their altars, and break their pillars, and cut down €their Ashe'rim (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is €Jealous, is a jealous God), lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when €they play the harlot after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and €one invites you, you eat of his sacrifice, and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters play €the harlot after their gods and make your sons play the harlot after €their gods. @"You shall make for yourself no molten gods. @"The feast of unleavened bread you shall keep. Seven days you shall €eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the €month Abib; for in the month Abib you came out from Egypt. All that opens the womb is mine, all your male cattle, the firstlings €of cow and sheep. The firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will €not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the first-born of your sons €you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty. @"Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; in €plowing time and in harvest you shall rest. And you shall observe the feast of weeks, the first fruits of wheat €harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end. Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the LORD €God, the God of Israel. For I will cast out nations before you, and enlarge your borders; €neither shall any man desire your land, when you go up to appear before €the LORD your God three times in the year. @"You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither €shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left until the €morning. The first of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring to the €house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a kid in its mother's €milk." @And the LORD said to Moses, "Write these words; in accordance with €these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel." And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither €ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of €the covenant, the ten commandments. @When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tables of the €testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not €know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with €God. And when Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin €of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the €congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. And afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he gave them in €commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his €face; but whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took €the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the €people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' €face shone; and Moses would put the veil upon his face again, until he €went in to speak with him.  @Moses assembled all the congregation of the people of Israel, and €said to them, "These are the things which the LORD has commanded you to €do. Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a €holy sabbath of solemn rest to the LORD; whoever does any work on it €shall be put to death; you shall kindle no fire in all your habitations on the sabbath day." @Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, "This is €the thing which the LORD has commanded. Take from among you an offering to the LORD; whoever is of a generous €heart, let him bring the LORD's offering: gold, silver, and bronze; blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen; goats' hair, tanned rams' skins, and goatskins; acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant €incense, and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the €breastpiece. @"And let every able man among you come and make all that the LORD has €commanded: the tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its hooks and its frames, its bars, its €pillars, and its bases; the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the veil of the screen; the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the bread of the €Presence; the lampstand also for the light, with its utensils and its lamps, and €the oil for the light; and the altar of incense, with its poles, and the anointing oil and the €fragrant incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the €tabernacle; the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and €all its utensils, the laver and its base; the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen €for the gate of the court; the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their cords; the finely wrought garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy €garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, for their €service as priests." @Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the €presence of Moses. And they came, every one whose heart stirred him, and every one whose €spirit moved him, and brought the LORD's offering to be used for the €tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. So they came, both men and women; all who were of a willing heart €brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts €of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the LORD. And every man with whom was found blue or purple or scarlet stuff or €fine linen or goats' hair or tanned rams' skins or goatskins, brought €them. Every one who could make an offering of silver or bronze brought it as €the LORD's offering; and every man with whom was found acacia wood of €any use in the work, brought it. And all women who had ability spun with their hands, and brought what €they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined €linen; all the women whose hearts were moved with ability spun the goats' hair. And the leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set, for the ephod €and for the breastpiece, and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for €the fragrant incense. All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to €bring anything for the work which the LORD had commanded by Moses to be €done, brought it as their freewill offering to the LORD. @And Moses said to the people of Israel, "See, the LORD has called by €name Bez'alel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability, with €intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every €skilled craft. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oho'liab the son of €Ahis'amach of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with ability to do every sort of work done by a €craftsman or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and €scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, or by a weaver -- by any sort of €workman or skilled designer.  Bez'alel and Oho'liab and every able man in whom the LORD has put €ability and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction €of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has €commanded." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’ؤ’@And Moses called Bez'alel and Oho'liab and every able man in whose €mind the LORD had put ability, every one whose heart stirred him up to €come to do the work; and they received from Moses all the freewill offering which the people €of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still €kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the able men who were doing every sort of task on the €sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, and said to Moses, "The people bring much more than enough for doing €the work which the LORD has commanded us to do." So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, €"Let neither man nor woman do anything more for the offering for the €sanctuary." So the people were restrained from bringing; for the stuff they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more. @And all the able men among the workmen made the tabernacle with ten €curtains; they were made of fine twined linen and blue and purple and €scarlet stuff, with cherubim skilfully worked. The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of €each curtain four cubits; all the curtains had the same measure. @And he coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five €curtains he coupled to one another. And he made loops of blue on the edge of the outmost curtain of the €first set; likewise he made them on the edge of the outmost curtain of €the second set; he made fifty loops on the one curtain, and he made fifty loops on the €edge of the curtain that was in the second set; the loops were opposite €one another. And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to the €other with clasps; so the tabernacle was one whole. @He also made curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; €he made eleven curtains. The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and the breadth of each €curtain four cubits; the eleven curtains had the same measure. He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves. And he made fifty loops on the edge of the outmost curtain of the one €set, and fifty loops on the edge of the other connecting curtain. And he made fifty clasps of bronze to couple the tent together that it €might be one whole. And he made for the tent a covering of tanned rams' skins and goatskins. @Then he made the upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood. Ten cubits was the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the €breadth of each frame. Each frame had two tenons, for fitting together; he did this for all €the frames of the tabernacle. The frames for the tabernacle he made thus: twenty frames for the south €side; and he made forty bases of silver under the twenty frames, two bases €under one frame for its two tenons, and two bases under another frame €for its two tenons. And for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made €twenty frames and their forty bases of silver, two bases under one frame and two €bases under another frame. And for the rear of the tabernacle westward he made six frames. And he made two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear. And they were separate beneath, but joined at the top, at the first €ring; he made two of them thus, for the two corners. There were eight frames with their bases of silver: sixteen bases, €under every frame two bases. @And he made bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side €of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and €five bars for the frames of the tabernacle at the rear westward. And he made the middle bar to pass through from end to end halfway up €the frames. And he overlaid the frames with gold, and made their rings of gold for €holders for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold. @And he made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine €twined linen; with cherubim skilfully worked he made it. And for it he made four pillars of acacia, and overlaid them with gold; €their hooks were of gold, and he cast for them four bases of silver. He also made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue and purple and €scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework; and its five pillars with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals, and €their fillets were of gold, but their five bases were of bronze.  @Bez'alel made the ark of acacia wood; two cubits and a half was its €length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its €height. And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a €molding of gold around it. And he cast for it four rings of gold for its four corners, two rings €on its one side and two rings on its other side. And he made poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the €ark. And he made a mercy seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half was its €length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. And he made two cherubim of hammered gold; on the two ends of the mercy €seat he made them, one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end; of one €piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat €with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy €seat were the faces of the cherubim. @He also made the table of acacia wood; two cubits was its length, a €cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height; and he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold around it. And he made around it a frame a handbreadth wide, and made a molding of €gold around the frame. He cast for it four rings of gold, and fastened the rings to the four €corners at its four legs. Close to the frame were the rings, as holders for the poles to carry €the table. He made the poles of acacia wood to carry the table, and overlaid them €with gold. And he made the vessels of pure gold which were to be upon the table, €its plates and dishes for incense, and its bowls and flagons with which €to pour libations. @He also made the lampstand of pure gold. The base and the shaft of €the lampstand were made of hammered work; its cups, its capitals, and €its flowers were of one piece with it. And there were six branches going out of its sides, three branches of €the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand €out of the other side of it; three cups made like almonds, each with capital and flower, on one €branch, and three cups made like almonds, each with capital and flower, €on the other branch -- so for the six branches going out of the €lampstand. And on the lampstand itself were four cups made like almonds, with €their capitals and flowers, and a capital of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches €going out of it. Their capitals and their branches were of one piece with it; the whole €of it was one piece of hammered work of pure gold. And he made its seven lamps and its snuffers and its trays of pure gold. He made it and all its utensils of a talent of pure gold. @He made the altar of incense of acacia wood; its length was a cubit, €and its breadth was a cubit; it was square, and two cubits was its €height; its horns were of one piece with it. He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, and its sides round about, and €its horns; and he made a molding of gold round about it, and made two rings of gold on it under its molding, on two opposite €sides of it, as holders for the poles with which to carry it. And he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. @He made the holy anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense, €blended as by the perfumer.  @He made the altar of burnt offering also of acacia wood; five cubits €was its length, and five cubits its breadth; it was square, and three €cubits was its height. He made horns for it on its four corners; its horns were of one piece €with it, and he overlaid it with bronze. And he made all the utensils of the altar, the pots, the shovels, the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’ئ“‚basins, the forks, and the firepans: all its utensils he made of bronze. And he made for the altar a grating, a network of bronze, under its €ledge, extending halfway down. He cast four rings on the four corners of the bronze grating as holders €for the poles; he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze. And he put the poles through the rings on the sides of the altar, to €carry it with them; he made it hollow, with boards. @And he made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the €mirrors of the ministering women who ministered at the door of the tent €of meeting. @And he made the court; for the south side the hangings of the court €were of fine twined linen, a hundred cubits; their pillars were twenty and their bases twenty, of bronze, but the €hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. And for the north side a hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, their €bases twenty, of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their fillets €were of silver. And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, €and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were €of silver. And for the front to the east, fifty cubits. The hangings for one side of the gate were fifteen cubits, with three €pillars and three bases. And so for the other side; on this hand and that hand by the gate of €the court were hangings of fifteen cubits, with three pillars and three €bases. All the hangings round about the court were of fine twined linen. And the bases for the pillars were of bronze, but the hooks of the €pillars and their fillets were of silver; the overlaying of their €capitals was also of silver, and all the pillars of the court were €filleted with silver. And the screen for the gate of the court was embroidered with €needlework in blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen; €it was twenty cubits long and five cubits high in its breadth, €corresponding to the hangings of the court. And their pillars were four; their four bases were of bronze, their €hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals and their fillets €of silver. And all the pegs for the tabernacle and for the court round about were €of bronze. @This is the sum of the things for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of €the testimony, as they were counted at the commandment of Moses, for €the work of the Levites under the direction of Ith'amar the son of €Aaron the priest. Bez'alel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all €that the LORD commanded Moses; and with him was Oho'liab the son of Ahis'amach, of the tribe of Dan, a €craftsman and designer and embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet €stuff and fine twined linen. @All the gold that was used for the work, in all the construction of €the sanctuary, the gold from the offering, was twenty-nine talents and €seven hundred and thirty shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary. And the silver from those of the congregation who were numbered was a €hundred talents and a thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels, €by the shekel of the sanctuary: a beka a head (that is, half a shekel, by the shekel of the sanctuary), €for every one who was numbered in the census, from twenty years old and €upward, for six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty men. The hundred talents of silver were for casting the bases of the €sanctuary, and the bases of the veil; a hundred bases for the hundred €talents, a talent for a base. And of the thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels he made €hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their capitals and made fillets for €them. And the bronze that was contributed was seventy talents, and two €thousand and four hundred shekels; with it he made the bases for the door of the tent of meeting, the €bronze altar and the bronze grating for it and all the utensils of the €altar, the bases round about the court, and the bases of the gate of the €court, all the pegs of the tabernacle, and all the pegs round about the €court.  @And of the blue and purple and scarlet stuff they made finely wrought €garments, for ministering in the holy place; they made the holy €garments for Aaron; as the LORD had commanded Moses. @And he made the ephod of gold, blue and purple and scarlet stuff, and €fine twined linen. And gold leaf was hammered out and cut into threads to work into the €blue and purple and the scarlet stuff, and into the fine twined linen, €in skilled design. They made for the ephod shoulder-pieces, joined to it at its two edges. And the skilfully woven band upon it, to gird it on, was of the same €materials and workmanship, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet stuff, €and fine twined linen; as the LORD had commanded Moses. @The onyx stones were prepared, enclosed in settings of gold filigree €and engraved like the engravings of a signet, according to the names of €the sons of Israel. And he set them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, to be stones of €remembrance for the sons of Israel; as the LORD had commanded Moses. @He made the breastpiece, in skilled work, like the work of the ephod, €of gold, blue and purple and scarlet stuff, and fine twined linen. It was square; the breastpiece was made double, a span its length and a €span its breadth when doubled. And they set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and €carbuncle was the first row; and the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper; they were enclosed €in settings of gold filigree. There were twelve stones with their names according to the names of the €sons of Israel; they were like signets, each engraved with its name, €for the twelve tribes. And they made on the breastpiece twisted chains like cords, of pure €gold; and they made two settings of gold filigree and two gold rings, and put €the two rings on the two edges of the breastpiece; and they put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges of the €breastpiece. Two ends of the two cords they had attached to the two settings of €filigree; thus they attached it in front to the shoulder-pieces of the €ephod. Then they made two rings of gold, and put them at the two ends of the €breastpiece, on its inside edge next to the ephod. And they made two rings of gold, and attached them in front to the €lower part of the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod, at its joining €above the skilfully woven band of the ephod. And they bound the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod €with a lace of blue, so that it should lie upon the skilfully woven €band of the ephod, and that the breastpiece should not come loose from €the ephod; as the LORD had commanded Moses. @He also made the robe of the ephod woven all of blue; and the opening of the robe in it was like the opening in a garment, €with a binding around the opening, that it might not be torn. On the skirts of the robe they made pomegranates of blue and purple and €scarlet stuff and fine twined linen. They also made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the €pomegranates upon the skirts of the robe round about, between the €pomegranates; a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate round about upon the €skirts of the robe for ministering; as the LORD had commanded Moses. @They also made the coats, woven of fine linen, for Aaron and his sons, and the turban of fine linen, and the caps of fine linen, and the linen €breeches of fine twined linen, and the girdle of fine twined linen and of blue and purple and scarlet €stuff, embroidered with needlework; as the LORD had commanded Moses. @And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote €upon it an inscription, like the engraving of a signet, "Holy to the €LORD." And they tied to it a lace of blue, to fasten it on the turban above; €as the LORD had commanded Moses. @Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was €finished; and the people of Israel had done according to all that the €LORD had commanded Moses; so had they done. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°²’ļ‚Åųļä’ا˜”And they brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its €utensils, its hooks, its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; the covering of tanned rams' skins and goatskins, and the veil of the €screen; the ark of the testimony with its poles and the mercy seat; the table with all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; the lampstand of pure gold and its lamps with the lamps set and all its €utensils, and the oil for the light; the golden altar, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the €screen for the door of the tent; the bronze altar, and its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its €utensils; the laver and its base; the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its bases, and the screen €for the gate of the court, its cords, and its pegs; and all the €utensils for the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting; the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy €garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons to serve as €priests. According to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so the people of €Israel had done all the work. And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the LORD €had commanded, so had they done it. And Moses blessed them.  @The LORD said to Moses, "On the first day of the first month you shall erect the tabernacle of €the tent of meeting. And you shall put in it the ark of the testimony, and you shall screen €the ark with the veil. And you shall bring in the table, and set its arrangements in order; €and you shall bring in the lampstand, and set up its lamps. And you shall put the golden altar for incense before the ark of the €testimony, and set up the screen for the door of the tabernacle. You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the €tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and place the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put €water in it. And you shall set up the court round about, and hang up the screen for €the gate of the court. Then you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and €all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture; and it €shall become holy. You shall also anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, €and consecrate the altar; and the altar shall be most holy. You shall also anoint the laver and its base, and consecrate it. Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tent of €meeting, and shall wash them with water, and put upon Aaron the holy garments, and you shall anoint him and €consecrate him, that he may serve me as priest. You shall bring his sons also and put coats on them, and anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve me €as priests: and their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual €priesthood throughout their generations." @Thus did Moses; according to all that the LORD commanded him, so he €did. And in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the €month, the tabernacle was erected. Moses erected the tabernacle; he laid its bases, and set up its frames, €and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars; and he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the €tent over it, as the LORD had commanded Moses. And he took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on €the ark, and set the mercy seat above on the ark; and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the €screen, and screened the ark of the testimony; as the LORD had €commanded Moses. And he put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the €tabernacle, outside the veil, and set the bread in order on it before the LORD; as the LORD had €commanded Moses. And he put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table on €the south side of the tabernacle, and set up the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses. And he put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil, and burnt fragrant incense upon it; as the LORD had commanded Moses. And he put in place the screen for the door of the tabernacle. And he set the altar of burnt offering at the door of the tabernacle of €the tent of meeting, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the €cereal offering; as the LORD had commanded Moses. And he set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put €water in it for washing, with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their €feet; when they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the €altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses. And he erected the court round the tabernacle and the altar, and set up €the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. @Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD €filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud €abode upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from €over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would go onward; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not go onward till the €day that it was taken up. For throughout all their journeys the cloud of the LORD was upon the €tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the €house of Israel. ąļ‚Ģåö’”The LORD called Moses, and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, €saying, "Speak to the people of Israel, and say to them, When any man of you €brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of cattle €from the herd or from the flock. @"If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a €male without blemish; he shall offer it at the door of the tent of €meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD; he shall lay his hand upon the head of the burnt offering, and it shall €be accepted for him to make atonement for him. Then he shall kill the bull before the LORD; and Aaron's sons the €priests shall present the blood, and throw the blood round about €against the altar that is at the door of the tent of meeting. And he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces; and the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar, and lay €wood in order upon the fire; and Aaron's sons the priests shall lay the pieces, the head, and the €fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire upon the altar; but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest €shall burn the whole on the altar, as a burnt offering, an offering by €fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD. @"If his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep €or goats, he shall offer a male without blemish; and he shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the LORD, €and Aaron's sons the priests shall throw its blood against the altar €round about. And he shall cut it into pieces, with its head and its fat, and the €priest shall lay them in order upon the wood that is on the fire upon €the altar; but the entrails and the legs he shall wash with water. And the priest €shall offer the whole, and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt €offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD. @"If his offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, then he €shall bring his offering of turtledoves or of young pigeons. And the priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head, and €burn it on the altar; and its blood shall be drained out on the side of €the altar; and he shall take away its crop with the feathers, and cast it beside €the altar on the east side, in the place for ashes; he shall tear it by its wings, but shall not divide it asunder. And the €priest shall burn it on the altar, upon the wood that is on the fire; €it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the €LORD.  @"When any one brings a cereal offering as an offering to the LORD, €his offering shall be of fine flour; he shall pour oil upon it, and put €frankincense on it, and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. And he shall take from it a €handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense; and žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°³’ļ‚Ģåö’¢’ƒthe priest shall burn this as its memorial portion upon the altar, an €offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD. And what is left of the cereal offering shall be for Aaron and his €sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings by fire to the LORD. @"When you bring a cereal offering baked in the oven as an offering, €it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or €unleavened wafers spread with oil. And if your offering is a cereal offering baked on a griddle, it shall €be of fine flour unleavened, mixed with oil; you shall break it in pieces, and pour oil on it; it is a cereal €offering. And if your offering is a cereal offering cooked in a pan, it shall be €made of fine flour with oil. And you shall bring the cereal offering that is made of these things to €the LORD; and when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to €the altar. And the priest shall take from the cereal offering its memorial portion €and burn this on the altar, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the €LORD. And what is left of the cereal offering shall be for Aaron and his €sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings by fire to the LORD. @"No cereal offering which you bring to the LORD shall be made with €leaven; for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey as an offering by €fire to the LORD. As an offering of first fruits you may bring them to the LORD, but they €shall not be offered on the altar for a pleasing odor. You shall season all your cereal offerings with salt; you shall not let €the salt of the covenant with your God be lacking from your cereal €offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt. @"If you offer a cereal offering of first fruits to the LORD, you €shall offer for the cereal offering of your first fruits crushed new €grain from fresh ears, parched with fire. And you shall put oil upon it, and lay frankincense on it; it is a €cereal offering. And the priest shall burn as its memorial portion part of the crushed €grain and of the oil with all of its frankincense; it is an offering by €fire to the LORD.  @"If a man's offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers €an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without €blemish before the LORD. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering and kill it at €the door of the tent of meeting; and Aaron's sons the priests shall €throw the blood against the altar round about. And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as an offering by fire to €the LORD, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat €that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the €appendage of the liver which he shall take away with the kidneys. Then Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt offering, €which is upon the wood on the fire; it is an offering by fire, a €pleasing odor to the LORD. @"If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering to the LORD is an €animal from the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without €blemish. If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the €LORD, laying his hand upon the head of his offering and killing it before the €tent of meeting; and Aaron's sons shall throw its blood against the €altar round about. Then from the sacrifice of the peace offering as an offering by fire to €the LORD he shall offer its fat, the fat tail entire, taking it away €close by the backbone, and the fat that covers the entrails, and all €the fat that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the €appendage of the liver which he shall take away with the kidneys. And the priest shall burn it on the altar as food offered by fire to €the LORD. @"If his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD, and lay his hand upon its head, and kill it before the tent of meeting; €and the sons of Aaron shall throw its blood against the altar round €about. Then he shall offer from it, as his offering for an offering by fire to €the LORD, the fat covering the entrails, and all the fat that is on the €entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the €appendage of the liver which he shall take away with the kidneys. And the priest shall burn them on the altar as food offered by fire for €a pleasing odor. All fat is the LORD's. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, in all €your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood."  @And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, If any one sins unwittingly in any of the €things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and does any one of €them, if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the €people, then let him offer for the sin which he has committed a young €bull without blemish to the LORD for a sin offering. He shall bring the bull to the door of the tent of meeting before the €LORD, and lay his hand on the head of the bull, and kill the bull €before the LORD. And the anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull and €bring it to the tent of meeting; and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle part of €the blood seven times before the LORD in front of the veil of the €sanctuary. And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of €fragrant incense before the LORD which is in the tent of meeting, and €the rest of the blood of the bull he shall pour out at the base of the €altar of burnt offering which is at the door of the tent of meeting. And all the fat of the bull of the sin offering he shall take from it, €the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the €entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the €appendage of the liver which he shall take away with the kidneys (just as these are taken from the ox of the sacrifice of the peace €offerings), and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of burnt €offering. But the skin of the bull and all its flesh, with its head, its legs, €its entrails, and its dung, the whole bull he shall carry forth outside the camp to a clean place, €where the ashes are poured out, and shall burn it on a fire of wood; €where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned. @"If the whole congregation of Israel commits a sin unwittingly and €the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do any one €of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done and are €guilty; when the sin which they have committed becomes known, the assembly €shall offer a young bull for a sin offering and bring it before the €tent of meeting; and the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head €of the bull before the LORD, and the bull shall be killed before the €LORD. Then the anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull to €the tent of meeting, and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven €times before the LORD in front of the veil. And he shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar which is €in the tent of meeting before the LORD; and the rest of the blood he €shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering which is at €the door of the tent of meeting. And all its fat he shall take from it and burn upon the altar. Thus shall he do with the bull; as he did with the bull of the sin €offering, so shall he do with this; and the priest shall make atonement €for them, and they shall be forgiven. And he shall carry forth the bull outside the camp, and burn it as he €burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the assembly. @"When a ruler sins, doing unwittingly any one of all the things which €the LORD his God has commanded not to be done, and is guilty, if the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring €as his offering a goat, a male without blemish, and shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the €place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD; it is a sin €offering. Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°³’ļ‚Ģåö’¤˜™‚his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and €pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar of burnt €offering. And all its fat he shall burn on the altar, like the fat of the €sacrifice of peace offerings; so the priest shall make atonement for €him for his sin, and he shall be forgiven. @"If any one of the common people sins unwittingly in doing any one of €the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and is guilty, when the sin which he has committed is made known to him he shall bring €for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he €has committed. And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill the €sin offering in the place of burnt offering. And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it €on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of €its blood at the base of the altar. And all its fat he shall remove, as the fat is removed from the peace €offerings, and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a pleasing €odor to the LORD; and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he €shall be forgiven. @"If he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall €bring a female without blemish, and lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and kill it for a €sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with €his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and €pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. And all its fat he shall remove as the fat of the lamb is removed from €the sacrifice of peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the €altar, upon the offerings by fire to the LORD; and the priest shall €make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed, and he shall €be forgiven.  @"If any one sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify and €though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, €yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity. Or if any one touches an unclean thing, whether the carcass of an €unclean beast or a carcass of unclean cattle or a carcass of unclean €swarming things, and it is hidden from him, and he has become unclean, €he shall be guilty. Or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness €may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when €he comes to know it he shall be guilty. Or if any one utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do €good, any sort of rash oath that men swear, and it is hidden from him, €when he comes to know it he shall in any of these be guilty. When a man is guilty in any of these, he shall confess the sin he has €committed, and he shall bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin which he €has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin €offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin. @"But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring, as his guilt €offering to the LORD for the sin which he has committed, two €turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other €for a burnt offering. He shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for €the sin offering; he shall wring its head from its neck, but shall not €sever it, and he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side €of the altar, while the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the €base of the altar; it is a sin offering. Then he shall offer the second for a burnt offering according to the €ordinance; and the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin €which he has committed, and he shall be forgiven. @"But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then €he shall bring, as his offering for the sin which he has committed, a €tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil €upon it, and shall put no frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. And he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take a €handful of it as its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, upon €the offerings by fire to the LORD; it is a sin offering. Thus the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has €committed in any one of these things, and he shall be forgiven. And the €remainder shall be for the priest, as in the cereal offering." @The LORD said to Moses, "If any one commits a breach of faith and sins unwittingly in any of €the holy things of the LORD, he shall bring, as his guilt offering to €the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued by you in €shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; it is a €guilt offering. He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy €thing, and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest; and the €priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, €and he shall be forgiven. @"If any one sins, doing any of the things which the LORD has €commanded not to be done, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty €and shall bear his iniquity. He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, €valued by you at the price for a guilt offering, and the priest shall €make atonement for him for the error which he committed unwittingly, €and he shall be forgiven. It is a guilt offering; he is guilty before the LORD."  @The LORD said to Moses, "If any one sins and commits a breach of faith against the LORD by €deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through €robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor or has found what was lost and lied about it, swearing falsely -- in any €of all the things which men do and sin therein, when one has sinned and become guilty, he shall restore what he took by €robbery, or what he got by oppression, or the deposit which was €committed to him, or the lost thing which he found, or anything about which he has sworn falsely; he shall restore it in €full, and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it €belongs, on the day of his guilt offering. And he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD, a ram €without blemish out of the flock, valued by you at the price for a €guilt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD, and he €shall be forgiven for any of the things which one may do and thereby €become guilty." @The LORD said to Moses, "Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt €offering. The burnt offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all €night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept €burning on it. And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and put his linen €breeches upon his body, and he shall take up the ashes to which the €fire has consumed the burnt offering on the altar, and put them beside €the altar. Then he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and €carry forth the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it, it shall not go out; €the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall lay the €burnt offering in order upon it, and shall burn on it the fat of the €peace offerings. Fire shall be kept burning upon the altar continually; it shall not go €out. @"And this is the law of the cereal offering. The sons of Aaron shall €offer it before the LORD, in front of the altar. And one shall take from it a handful of the fine flour of the cereal €offering with its oil and all the frankincense which is on the cereal €offering, and burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a €pleasing odor to the LORD. And the rest of it Aaron and his sons shall eat; it shall be eaten €unleavened in a holy place; in the court of the tent of meeting they €shall eat it. It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it as their portion of €my offerings by fire; it is a thing most holy, like the sin offering €and the guilt offering. Every male among the children of Aaron may eat of it, as decreed for žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°³’ļ‚Ģåö’¦˜’‚ever throughout your generations, from the LORD's offerings by fire; €whoever touches them shall become holy." @The LORD said to Moses, "This is the offering which Aaron and his sons shall offer to the LORD €on the day when he is anointed: a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a €regular cereal offering, half of it in the morning and half in the €evening. It shall be made with oil on a griddle; you shall bring it well mixed, €in baked pieces like a cereal offering, and offer it for a pleasing €odor to the LORD. The priest from among Aaron's sons, who is anointed to succeed him, €shall offer it to the LORD as decreed for ever; the whole of it shall €be burned. Every cereal offering of a priest shall be wholly burned; it shall not €be eaten." @The LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron and his sons, This is the law of the sin offering. In the €place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be €killed before the LORD; it is most holy. The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it; in a holy place it shall €be eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting. Whatever touches its flesh shall be holy; and when any of its blood is €sprinkled on a garment, you shall wash that on which it was sprinkled €in a holy place. And the earthen vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken; but if it €is boiled in a bronze vessel, that shall be scoured, and rinsed in €water. Every male among the priests may eat of it; it is most holy. But no sin offering shall be eaten from which any blood is brought into €the tent of meeting to make atonement in the holy place; it shall be €burned with fire.  @"This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy; in the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the €guilt offering, and its blood shall be thrown on the altar round about. And all its fat shall be offered, the fat tail, the fat that covers the €entrails, the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the €appendage of the liver which he shall take away with the kidneys; the priest shall burn them on the altar as an offering by fire to the €LORD; it is a guilt offering. Every male among the priests may eat of it; it shall be eaten in a holy €place; it is most holy. The guilt offering is like the sin offering, there is one law for them; €the priest who makes atonement with it shall have it. And the priest who offers any man's burnt offering shall have for €himself the skin of the burnt offering which he has offered. And every cereal offering baked in the oven and all that is prepared on €a pan or a griddle shall belong to the priest who offers it. And every cereal offering, mixed with oil or dry, shall be for all the €sons of Aaron, one as well as another. @"And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which one €may offer to the LORD. If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the thank €offering unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers spread with €oil, and cakes of fine flour well mixed with oil. With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving he shall €bring his offering with cakes of leavened bread. And of such he shall offer one cake from each offering, as an offering €to the LORD; it shall belong to the priest who throws the blood of the €peace offerings. And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving €shall be eaten on the day of his offering; he shall not leave any of it €until the morning. But if the sacrifice of his offering is a votive offering or a freewill €offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, €and on the morrow what remains of it shall be eaten, but what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall €be burned with fire. If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten on €the third day, he who offers it shall not be accepted, neither shall it €be credited to him; it shall be an abomination, and he who eats of it €shall bear his iniquity. @"Flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be €burned with fire. All who are clean may eat flesh, but the person who eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of the LORD's €peace offerings while an uncleanness is on him, that person shall be €cut off from his people. And if any one touches an unclean thing, whether the uncleanness of man €or an unclean beast or any unclean abomination, and then eats of the €flesh of the sacrifice of the LORD's peace offerings, that person shall €be cut off from his people." @The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, You shall eat no fat, of ox, or sheep, or €goat. The fat of an animal that dies of itself, and the fat of one that is €torn by beasts, may be put to any other use, but on no account shall €you eat it. For every person who eats of the fat of an animal of which an offering €by fire is made to the LORD shall be cut off from his people. Moreover you shall eat no blood whatever, whether of fowl or of animal, €in any of your dwellings. Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people." @The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, He that offers the sacrifice of his peace €offerings to the LORD shall bring his offering to the LORD; from the €sacrifice of his peace offerings he shall bring with his own hands the offerings by fire to the LORD; he €shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved as a €wave offering before the LORD. The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be for €Aaron and his sons. And the right thigh you shall give to the priest as an offering from €the sacrifice of your peace offerings; he among the sons of Aaron who offers the blood of the peace offerings €and the fat shall have the right thigh for a portion. For the breast that is waved and the thigh that is offered I have taken €from the people of Israel, out of the sacrifices of their peace €offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons, as €a perpetual due from the people of Israel. This is the portion of Aaron and of his sons from the offerings made by €fire to the LORD, consecrated to them on the day they were presented to €serve as priests of the LORD; the LORD commanded this to be given them by the people of Israel, on €the day that they were anointed; it is a perpetual due throughout their €generations." @This is the law of the burnt offering, of the cereal offering, of the €sin offering, of the guilt offering, of the consecration, and of the €peace offerings, which the LORD commanded Moses on Mount Sinai, on the day that he €commanded the people of Israel to bring their offerings to the LORD, in €the wilderness of Sinai.  @The LORD said to Moses, "Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing €oil, and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams, and the basket €of unleavened bread; and assemble all the congregation at the door of the tent of meeting." And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the congregation was €assembled at the door of the tent of meeting. @And Moses said to the congregation, "This is the thing which the LORD €has commanded to be done." And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. And he put on him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed €him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and girded him with the €skilfully woven band of the ephod, binding it to him therewith. And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the €Urim and the Thummim. And he set the turban upon his head, and on the turban, in front, he €set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the LORD commanded Moses. @Then Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and €all that was in it, and consecrated them. And he sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, and anointed the €altar and all its utensils, and the laver and its base, to consecrate €them. And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head, and anointed €him, to consecrate him. And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and clothed them with coats, and girded žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°³’ļ‚Ģåö’؈˜‚them with girdles, and bound caps on them, as the LORD commanded Moses. @Then he brought the bull of the sin offering; and Aaron and his sons €laid their hands upon the head of the bull of the sin offering. And Moses killed it, and took the blood, and with his finger put it on €the horns of the altar round about, and purified the altar, and poured €out the blood at the base of the altar, and consecrated it, to make €atonement for it. And he took all the fat that was on the entrails, and the appendage of €the liver, and the two kidneys with their fat, and Moses burned them on €the altar. But the bull, and its skin, and its flesh, and its dung, he burned with €fire outside the camp, as the LORD commanded Moses. @Then he presented the ram of the burnt offering; and Aaron and his €sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. And Moses killed it, and threw the blood upon the altar round about. And when the ram was cut into pieces, Moses burned the head and the €pieces and the fat. And when the entrails and the legs were washed with water, Moses burned €the whole ram on the altar, as a burnt offering, a pleasing odor, an €offering by fire to the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses. @Then he presented the other ram, the ram of ordination; and Aaron and €his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. And Moses killed it, and took some of its blood and put it on the tip €of Aaron's right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the €great toe of his right foot. And Aaron's sons were brought, and Moses put some of the blood on the €tips of their right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on €the great toes of their right feet; and Moses threw the blood upon the €altar round about. Then he took the fat, and the fat tail, and all the fat that was on the €entrails, and the appendage of the liver, and the two kidneys with €their fat, and the right thigh; and out of the basket of unleavened bread which was before the LORD he €took one unleavened cake, and one cake of bread with oil, and one €wafer, and placed them on the fat and on the right thigh; and he put all these in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his €sons, and waved them as a wave offering before the LORD. Then Moses took them from their hands, and burned them on the altar €with the burnt offering, as an ordination offering, a pleasing odor, an €offering by fire to the LORD. And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before the €LORD; it was Moses' portion of the ram of ordination, as the LORD €commanded Moses. @Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and of the blood which was €on the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron and his garments, and also €upon his sons and his sons' garments; so he consecrated Aaron and his €garments, and his sons and his sons' garments with him. @And Moses said to Aaron and his sons, "Boil the flesh at the door of €the tent of meeting, and there eat it and the bread that is in the €basket of ordination offerings, as I commanded, saying, `Aaron and his €sons shall eat it'; and what remains of the flesh and the bread you shall burn with fire. And you shall not go out from the door of the tent of meeting for seven €days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for it will take €seven days to ordain you. As has been done today, the LORD has commanded to be done to make €atonement for you. At the door of the tent of meeting you shall remain day and night for €seven days, performing what the LORD has charged, lest you die; for so €I am commanded." And Aaron and his sons did all the things which the LORD commanded by €Moses.  @On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of €Israel; and he said to Aaron, "Take a bull calf for a sin offering, and a ram €for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the €LORD. And say to the people of Israel, `Take a male goat for a sin offering, €and a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish, for a burnt €offering, and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD, €and a cereal offering mixed with oil; for today the LORD will appear to €you.'" And they brought what Moses commanded before the tent of meeting; and €all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. And Moses said, "This is the thing which the LORD commanded you to do; €and the glory of the LORD will appear to you." Then Moses said to Aaron, "Draw near to the altar, and offer your sin €offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and €for the people; and bring the offering of the people, and make €atonement for them; as the LORD has commanded." @So Aaron drew near to the altar, and killed the calf of the sin €offering, which was for himself. And the sons of Aaron presented the blood to him, and he dipped his €finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar, and poured €out the blood at the base of the altar; but the fat and the kidneys and the appendage of the liver from the sin €offering he burned upon the altar, as the LORD commanded Moses. The flesh and the skin he burned with fire outside the camp. @And he killed the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons delivered to him €the blood, and he threw it on the altar round about. And they delivered the burnt offering to him, piece by piece, and the €head; and he burned them upon the altar. And he washed the entrails and the legs, and burned them with the burnt €offering on the altar. @Then he presented the people's offering, and took the goat of the sin €offering which was for the people, and killed it, and offered it for €sin, like the first sin offering. And he presented the burnt offering, and offered it according to the €ordinance. And he presented the cereal offering, and filled his hand from it, and €burned it upon the altar, besides the burnt offering of the morning. @He killed the ox also and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings €for the people; and Aaron's sons delivered to him the blood, which he €threw upon the altar round about, and the fat of the ox and of the ram, the fat tail, and that which €covers the entrails, and the kidneys, and the appendage of the liver; and they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burned the fat upon the €altar, but the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved for a wave offering €before the LORD; as Moses commanded. @Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them; €and he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering €and the peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting; and when they came €out they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all €the people. And fire came forth from before the LORD and consumed the burnt €offering and the fat upon the altar; and when all the people saw it, €they shouted, and fell on their faces.  @Now Nadab and Abi'hu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and €put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered unholy fire before €the LORD, such as he had not commanded them. And fire came forth from the presence of the LORD and devoured them, €and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD has said, `I will show €myself holy among those who are near me, and before all the people I €will be glorified.'" And Aaron held his peace. @And Moses called Mish'a-el and Elza'phan, the sons of Uz'ziel the €uncle of Aaron, and said to them, "Draw near, carry your brethren from €before the sanctuary out of the camp." So they drew near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as €Moses had said. And Moses said to Aaron and to Elea'zar and Ith'amar, his sons, "Do not €let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not rend your clothes, €lest you die, and lest wrath come upon all the congregation; but your €brethren, the whole house of Israel, may bewail the burning which the €LORD has kindled. And do not go out from the door of the tent of meeting, lest you die; €for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you." And they did according €to the word of Moses. @And the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°³’ļ‚Ģåö’؊˜‰"Drink no wine nor strong drink, you nor your sons with you, when you €go into the tent of meeting, lest you die; it shall be a statute for €ever throughout your generations. You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the €unclean and the clean; and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes which the €LORD has spoken to them by Moses." @And Moses said to Aaron and to Elea'zar and Ith'amar, his sons who €were left, "Take the cereal offering that remains of the offerings by €fire to the LORD, and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is €most holy; you shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your due and your sons' €due, from the offerings by fire to the LORD; for so I am commanded. But the breast that is waved and the thigh that is offered you shall €eat in any clean place, you and your sons and your daughters with you; €for they are given as your due and your sons' due, from the sacrifices €of the peace offerings of the people of Israel. The thigh that is offered and the breast that is waved they shall bring €with the offerings by fire of the fat, to wave for a wave offering €before the LORD, and it shall be yours, and your sons' with you, as a €due for ever; as the LORD has commanded." @Now Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and €behold, it was burned! And he was angry with Elea'zar and Ith'amar, the €sons of Aaron who were left, saying, "Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the place of the sanctuary, €since it is a thing most holy and has been given to you that you may €bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them €before the LORD? Behold, its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. €You certainly ought to have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded." And Aaron said to Moses, "Behold, today they have offered their sin €offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and yet such things €as these have befallen me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would €it have been acceptable in the sight of the LORD?" And when Moses heard that, he was content.  @And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Say to the people of Israel, These are the living things which you may €eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among €the animals, you may eat. Nevertheless among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall €not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part €the hoof, is unclean to you. And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the €hoof, is unclean to you. And the hare, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is €unclean to you. And the swine, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does €not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not €touch; they are unclean to you. @"These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the €waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, €you may eat. But anything in the seas or the rivers that has not fins and scales, of €the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that €are in the waters, is an abomination to you. They shall remain an abomination to you; of their flesh you shall not €eat, and their carcasses you shall have in abomination. Everything in the waters that has not fins and scales is an abomination €to you. @"And these you shall have in abomination among the birds, they shall €not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the €osprey, the kite, the falcon according to its kind, every raven according to its kind, the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk according to its €kind, the owl, the cormorant, the ibis, the water hen, the pelican, the carrion vulture, the stork, the heron according to its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat. @"All winged insects that go upon all fours are an abomination to you. Yet among the winged insects that go on all fours you may eat those €which have legs above their feet, with which to leap on the earth. Of them you may eat: the locust according to its kind, the bald locust €according to its kind, the cricket according to its kind, and the €grasshopper according to its kind. But all other winged insects which have four feet are an abomination to €you. @"And by these you shall become unclean; whoever touches their carcass €shall be unclean until the evening, and whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes €and be unclean until the evening. Every animal which parts the hoof but is not cloven-footed or does not €chew the cud is unclean to you; every one who touches them shall be €unclean. And all that go on their paws, among the animals that go on all fours, €are unclean to you; whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean €until the evening, and he who carries their carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean €until the evening; they are unclean to you. @"And these are unclean to you among the swarming things that swarm €upon the earth: the weasel, the mouse, the great lizard according to €its kind, the gecko, the land crocodile, the lizard, the sand lizard, and the €chameleon. These are unclean to you among all that swarm; whoever touches them €when they are dead shall be unclean until the evening. And anything upon which any of them falls when they are dead shall be €unclean, whether it is an article of wood or a garment or a skin or a €sack, any vessel that is used for any purpose; it must be put into €water, and it shall be unclean until the evening; then it shall be €clean. And if any of them falls into any earthen vessel, all that is in it €shall be unclean, and you shall break it. Any food in it which may be eaten, upon which water may come, shall be €unclean; and all drink which may be drunk from every such vessel shall €be unclean. And everything upon which any part of their carcass falls shall be €unclean; whether oven or stove, it shall be broken in pieces; they are €unclean, and shall be unclean to you. Nevertheless a spring or a cistern holding water shall be clean; but €whatever touches their carcass shall be unclean. And if any part of their carcass falls upon any seed for sowing that is €to be sown, it is clean; but if water is put on the seed and any part of their carcass falls on €it, it is unclean to you. @"And if any animal of which you may eat dies, he who touches its €carcass shall be unclean until the evening, and he who eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean €until the evening; he also who carries the carcass shall wash his €clothes and be unclean until the evening. @"Every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth is an abomination; €it shall not be eaten. Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever €has many feet, all the swarming things that swarm upon the earth, you €shall not eat; for they are an abomination. You shall not make yourselves abominable with any swarming thing that €swarms; and you shall not defile yourselves with them, lest you become €unclean. For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves therefore, and be €holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming €thing that crawls upon the earth. For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be €your God; you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy." @This is the law pertaining to beast and bird and every living €creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms €upon the earth, to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the €living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not €be eaten.  @The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, If a woman conceives, and bears a male €child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as at the time of her €menstruation, she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°³’ļ‚Ģåö’،”‚purifying; she shall not touch any hallowed thing, nor come into the €sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, €as in her menstruation; and she shall continue in the blood of her €purifying for sixty-six days. @"And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son €or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the door of the €tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a young €pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, and he shall offer it before the LORD, and make atonement for her; then €she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her €who bears a child, either male or female. And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or €two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin €offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be €clean."  @The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a €spot, and it turns into a leprous disease on the skin of his body, then €he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the €priests, and the priest shall examine the diseased spot on the skin of his body; €and if the hair in the diseased spot has turned white and the disease €appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a leprous €disease; when the priest has examined him he shall pronounce him €unclean. But if the spot is white in the skin of his body, and appears no deeper €than the skin, and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest €shall shut up the diseased person for seven days; and the priest shall examine him on the seventh day, and if in his eyes €the disease is checked and the disease has not spread in the skin, then €the priest shall shut him up seven days more; and the priest shall examine him again on the seventh day, and if the €diseased spot is dim and the disease has not spread in the skin, then €the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only an eruption; and he €shall wash his clothes, and be clean. But if the eruption spreads in the skin, after he has shown himself to €the priest for his cleansing, he shall appear again before the priest; and the priest shall make an examination, and if the eruption has €spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is €leprosy. @"When a man is afflicted with leprosy, he shall be brought to the €priest; and the priest shall make an examination, and if there is a white €swelling in the skin, which has turned the hair white, and there is €quick raw flesh in the swelling, it is a chronic leprosy in the skin of his body, and the priest shall €pronounce him unclean; he shall not shut him up, for he is unclean. And if the leprosy breaks out in the skin, so that the leprosy covers €all the skin of the diseased person from head to foot, so far as the €priest can see, then the priest shall make an examination, and if the leprosy has €covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean of the disease; it €has all turned white, and he is clean. But when raw flesh appears on him, he shall be unclean. And the priest shall examine the raw flesh, and pronounce him unclean; €raw flesh is unclean, for it is leprosy. But if the raw flesh turns again and is changed to white, then he shall €come to the priest, and the priest shall examine him, and if the disease has turned white, €then the priest shall pronounce the diseased person clean; he is clean. @"And when there is in the skin of one's body a boil that has healed, and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a €reddish-white spot, then it shall be shown to the priest; and the priest shall make an examination, and if it appears deeper than €the skin and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce €him unclean; it is the disease of leprosy, it has broken out in the €boil. But if the priest examines it, and the hair on it is not white and it €is not deeper than the skin, but is dim, then the priest shall shut him €up seven days; and if it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him €unclean; it is diseased. But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread, it is the €scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean. @"Or, when the body has a burn on its skin and the raw flesh of the €burn becomes a spot, reddish-white or white, the priest shall examine it, and if the hair in the spot has turned €white and it appears deeper than the skin, then it is leprosy; it has €broken out in the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it €is a leprous disease. But if the priest examines it, and the hair in the spot is not white €and it is no deeper than the skin, but is dim, the priest shall shut €him up seven days, and the priest shall examine him the seventh day; if it is spreading in €the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a leprous €disease. But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread in the skin, €but is dim, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall €pronounce him clean; for it is the scar of the burn. @"When a man or woman has a disease on the head or the beard, the priest shall examine the disease; and if it appears deeper than the €skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall €pronounce him unclean; it is an itch, a leprosy of the head or the €beard. And if the priest examines the itching disease, and it appears no €deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, then the priest €shall shut up the person with the itching disease for seven days, and on the seventh day the priest shall examine the disease; and if the €itch has not spread, and there is in it no yellow hair, and the itch €appears to be no deeper than the skin, then he shall shave himself, but the itch he shall not shave; and the €priest shall shut up the person with the itching disease for seven days €more; and on the seventh day the priest shall examine the itch, and if the €itch has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the €skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; and he shall wash his €clothes, and be clean. But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing, then the priest shall examine him, and if the itch has spread in the €skin, the priest need not seek for the yellow hair; he is unclean. But if in his eyes the itch is checked, and black hair has grown in it, €the itch is healed, he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce him €clean. @"When a man or a woman has spots on the skin of the body, white spots, the priest shall make an examination, and if the spots on the skin of €the body are of a dull white, it is tetter that has broken out in the €skin; he is clean. @"If a man's hair has fallen from his head, he is bald but he is clean. And if a man's hair has fallen from his forehead and temples, he has €baldness of the forehead but he is clean. But if there is on the bald head or the bald forehead a reddish-white €diseased spot, it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or his bald €forehead. Then the priest shall examine him, and if the diseased swelling is €reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, like the €appearance of leprosy in the skin of the body, he is a leprous man, he is unclean; the priest must pronounce him €unclean; his disease is on his head. @"The leper who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the €hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry, €`Unclean, unclean.' He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean; €he shall dwell alone in a habitation outside the camp. @"When there is a leprous disease in a garment, whether a woolen or a €linen garment, in warp or woof of linen or wool, or in a skin or in anything made of €skin, if the disease shows greenish or reddish in the garment, whether in €warp or woof or in skin or in anything made of skin, it is a leprous €disease and shall be shown to the priest. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°³’ļ‚Ģåö’؍˜²And the priest shall examine the disease, and shut up that which has €the disease for seven days; then he shall examine the disease on the seventh day. If the disease €has spread in the garment, in warp or woof, or in the skin, whatever be €the use of the skin, the disease is a malignant leprosy; it is unclean. And he shall burn the garment, whether diseased in warp or woof, woolen €or linen, or anything of skin, for it is a malignant leprosy; it shall €be burned in the fire. @"And if the priest examines, and the disease has not spread in the €garment in warp or woof or in anything of skin, then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which is the €disease, and he shall shut it up seven days more; and the priest shall examine the diseased thing after it has been €washed. And if the diseased spot has not changed color, though the €disease has not spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire, €whether the leprous spot is on the back or on the front. @"But if the priest examines, and the disease is dim after it is €washed, he shall tear the spot out of the garment or the skin or the €warp or woof; then if it appears again in the garment, in warp or woof, or in €anything of skin, it is spreading; you shall burn with fire that in €which is the disease. But the garment, warp or woof, or anything of skin from which the €disease departs when you have washed it, shall then be washed a second €time, and be clean." @This is the law for a leprous disease in a garment of wool or linen, €either in warp or woof, or in anything of skin, to decide whether it is €clean or unclean.  @The LORD said to Moses, "This shall be the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing. He €shall be brought to the priest; and the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall make an €examination. Then, if the leprous disease is healed in the leper, the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two €living clean birds and cedarwood and scarlet stuff and hyssop; and the priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an €earthen vessel over running water. He shall take the living bird with the cedarwood and the scarlet stuff €and the hyssop, and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the €bird that was killed over the running water; and he shall sprinkle it seven times upon him who is to be cleansed of €leprosy; then he shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living €bird go into the open field. And he who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all €his hair, and bathe himself in water, and he shall be clean; and after €that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent €seven days. And on the seventh day he shall shave all his hair off his head; he €shall shave off his beard and his eyebrows, all his hair. Then he shall €wash his clothes, and bathe his body in water, and he shall be clean. @"And on the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish, €and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish, and a cereal offering of €three tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, and one log of €oil. And the priest who cleanses him shall set the man who is to be cleansed €and these things before the LORD, at the door of the tent of meeting. And the priest shall take one of the male lambs, and offer it for a €guilt offering, along with the log of oil, and wave them for a wave €offering before the LORD; and he shall kill the lamb in the place where they kill the sin €offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place; for the guilt €offering, like the sin offering, belongs to the priest; it is most holy. The priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and the €priest shall put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be €cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of €his right foot. Then the priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the €palm of his own left hand, and dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and €sprinkle some oil with his finger seven times before the LORD. And some of the oil that remains in his hand the priest shall put on €the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb €of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot, upon the €blood of the guilt offering; and the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put on €the head of him who is to be cleansed. Then the priest shall make €atonement for him before the LORD. The priest shall offer the sin offering, to make atonement for him who €is to be cleansed from his uncleanness. And afterward he shall kill the €burnt offering; and the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the cereal offering €on the altar. Thus the priest shall make atonement for him, and he €shall be clean. @"But if he is poor and cannot afford so much, then he shall take one €male lamb for a guilt offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, €and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal €offering, and a log of oil; also two turtledoves or two young pigeons, such as he can afford; the €one shall be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering. And on the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the €priest, to the door of the tent of meeting, before the LORD; and the priest shall take the lamb of the guilt offering, and the log €of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the €LORD. And he shall kill the lamb of the guilt offering; and the priest shall €take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and put it on the tip of €the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his €right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot. And the priest shall pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left €hand; and shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his €left hand seven times before the LORD; and the priest shall put some of the oil that is in his hand on the tip €of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his €right hand, and the great toe of his right foot, in the place where the €blood of the guilt offering was put; and the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put on €the head of him who is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before €the LORD. And he shall offer, of the turtledoves or young pigeons such as he can €afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, along with a €cereal offering; and the priest shall make atonement before the LORD €for him who is being cleansed. This is the law for him in whom is a leprous disease, who cannot afford €the offerings for his cleansing." @The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "When you come into the land of Canaan, which I give you for a €possession, and I put a leprous disease in a house in the land of your €possession, then he who owns the house shall come and tell the priest, `There seems €to me to be some sort of disease in my house.' Then the priest shall command that they empty the house before the €priest goes to examine the disease, lest all that is in the house be €declared unclean; and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house. And he shall examine the disease; and if the disease is in the walls of €the house with greenish or reddish spots, and if it appears to be €deeper than the surface, then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and €shut up the house seven days. And the priest shall come again on the seventh day, and look; and if €the disease has spread in the walls of the house, then the priest shall command that they take out the stones in which is €the disease and throw them into an unclean place outside the city; and he shall cause the inside of the house to be scraped round about, €and the plaster that they scrape off they shall pour into an unclean €place outside the city; then they shall take other stones and put them in the place of those €stones, and he shall take other plaster and plaster the house. @"If the disease breaks out again in the house, after he has taken out žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°³’ļ‚Ģåö’؎˜«‚the stones and scraped the house and plastered it, then the priest shall go and look; and if the disease has spread in the €house, it is a malignant leprosy in the house; it is unclean. And he shall break down the house, its stones and timber and all the €plaster of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city to €an unclean place. Moreover he who enters the house while it is shut up shall be unclean €until the evening; and he who lies down in the house shall wash his clothes; and he who €eats in the house shall wash his clothes. @"But if the priest comes and makes an examination, and the disease €has not spread in the house after the house was plastered, then the €priest shall pronounce the house clean, for the disease is healed. And for the cleansing of the house he shall take two small birds, with €cedarwood and scarlet stuff and hyssop, and shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water, and shall take the cedarwood and the hyssop and the scarlet stuff, €along with the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the bird that €was killed and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times. Thus he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with €the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedarwood and €hyssop and scarlet stuff; and he shall let the living bird go out of the city into the open €field; so he shall make atonement for the house, and it shall be clean." @This is the law for any leprous disease: for an itch, for leprosy in a garment or in a house, and for a swelling or an eruption or a spot, to show when it is unclean and when it is clean. This is the law for €leprosy.  @The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Say to the people of Israel, When any man has a discharge from his €body, his discharge is unclean. And this is the law of his uncleanness for a discharge: whether his €body runs with his discharge, or his body is stopped from discharge, it €is uncleanness in him. Every bed on which he who has the discharge lies shall be unclean; and €everything on which he sits shall be unclean. And any one who touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe €himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. And whoever sits on anything on which he who has the discharge has sat €shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean €until the evening. And whoever touches the body of him who has the discharge shall wash €his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the €evening. And if he who has the discharge spits on one who is clean, then he €shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean €until the evening. And any saddle on which he who has the discharge rides shall be unclean. And whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until €the evening; and he who carries such a thing shall wash his clothes, €and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. Any one whom he that has the discharge touches without having rinsed €his hands in water shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, €and be unclean until the evening. And the earthen vessel which he who has the discharge touches shall be €broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water. @"And when he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then €he shall count for himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his €clothes; and he shall bathe his body in running water, and shall be €clean. And on the eighth day he shall take two turtledoves or two young €pigeons, and come before the LORD to the door of the tent of meeting, €and give them to the priest; and the priest shall offer them, one for a sin offering and the other €for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him €before the LORD for his discharge. @"And if a man has an emission of semen, he shall bathe his whole body €in water, and be unclean until the evening. And every garment and every skin on which the semen comes shall be €washed with water, and be unclean until the evening. If a man lies with a woman and has an emission of semen, both of them €shall bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening. @"When a woman has a discharge of blood which is her regular discharge €from her body, she shall be in her impurity for seven days, and whoever €touches her shall be unclean until the evening. And everything upon which she lies during her impurity shall be €unclean; everything also upon which she sits shall be unclean. And whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself €in water, and be unclean until the evening. And whoever touches anything upon which she sits shall wash his €clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening; whether it is the bed or anything upon which she sits, when he touches €it he shall be unclean until the evening. And if any man lies with her, and her impurity is on him, he shall be €unclean seven days; and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean. @"If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time €of her impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her €impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in €uncleanness; as in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean. Every bed on which she lies, all the days of her discharge, shall be to €her as the bed of her impurity; and everything on which she sits shall €be unclean, as in the uncleanness of her impurity. And whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his €clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. But if she is cleansed of her discharge, she shall count for herself €seven days, and after that she shall be clean. And on the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves or two young €pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the tent of €meeting. And the priest shall offer one for a sin offering and the other for a €burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before the €LORD for her unclean discharge. @"Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their €uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my €tabernacle that is in their midst." @This is the law for him who has a discharge and for him who has an €emission of semen, becoming unclean thereby; also for her who is sick with her impurity; that is, for any one, male €or female, who has a discharge, and for the man who lies with a woman €who is unclean.  @The LORD spoke to Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, €when they drew near before the LORD and died; and the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at all €times into the holy place within the veil, before the mercy seat which €is upon the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud upon the €mercy seat. But thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bull for a €sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He shall put on the holy linen coat, and shall have the linen breeches €on his body, be girded with the linen girdle, and wear the linen €turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water, €and then put them on. And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two €male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. @"And Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself, and €shall make atonement for himself and for his house. Then he shall take the two goats, and set them before the LORD at the €door of the tent of meeting; and Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats, one lot for the LORD and €the other lot for Aza'zel. And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD, €and offer it as a sin offering; but the goat on which the lot fell for Aza'zel shall be presented alive €before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away €into the wilderness to Aza'zel. @"Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and €shall make atonement for himself and for his house; he shall kill the €bull as a sin offering for himself. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°³’ļ‚Ģåö’ؐ˜ŒAnd he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before €the LORD, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small; and he shall €bring it within the veil and put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the €incense may cover the mercy seat which is upon the testimony, lest he €die; and he shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with €his finger on the front of the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat he €shall sprinkle the blood with his finger seven times. @"Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering which is for the €people, and bring its blood within the veil, and do with its blood as €he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it upon the mercy seat €and before the mercy seat; thus he shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the €uncleannesses of the people of Israel, and because of their €transgressions, all their sins; and so he shall do for the tent of €meeting, which abides with them in the midst of their uncleannesses. There shall be no man in the tent of meeting when he enters to make €atonement in the holy place until he comes out and has made atonement €for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel. Then he shall go out to the altar which is before the LORD and make €atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and of €the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar round about. And he shall sprinkle some of the blood upon it with his finger seven €times, and cleanse it and hallow it from the uncleannesses of the €people of Israel. @"And when he has made an end of atoning for the holy place and the €tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat; and Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and €confess over him all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all €their transgressions, all their sins; and he shall put them upon the €head of the goat, and send him away into the wilderness by the hand of €a man who is in readiness. The goat shall bear all their iniquities upon him to a solitary land; €and he shall let the goat go in the wilderness. @"Then Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting, and shall put off €the linen garments which he put on when he went into the holy place, €and shall leave them there; and he shall bathe his body in water in a holy place, and put on his €garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering and the burnt €offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the €people. And the fat of the sin offering he shall burn upon the altar. And he who lets the goat go to Aza'zel shall wash his clothes and bathe €his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. And the bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, €whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall €be carried forth outside the camp; their skin and their flesh and their €dung shall be burned with fire. And he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in €water, and afterward he may come into the camp. @"And it shall be a statute to you for ever that in the seventh month, €on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves, and shall €do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you; for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from €all your sins you shall be clean before the LORD. It is a sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict €yourselves; it is a statute for ever. And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his €father's place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments; he shall make atonement for the sanctuary, and he shall make atonement €for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement €for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. And this shall be an everlasting statute for you, that atonement may be €made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their €sins." And Moses did as the LORD commanded him.  @And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron and his sons, and to all the people of Israel, This is €the thing which the LORD has commanded. If any man of the house of Israel kills an ox or a lamb or a goat in €the camp, or kills it outside the camp, and does not bring it to the door of the tent of meeting, to offer it €as a gift to the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD, bloodguilt €shall be imputed to that man; he has shed blood; and that man shall be €cut off from among his people. This is to the end that the people of Israel may bring their sacrifices €which they slay in the open field, that they may bring them to the €LORD, to the priest at the door of the tent of meeting, and slay them €as sacrifices of peace offerings to the LORD; and the priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of the LORD at the €door of the tent of meeting, and burn the fat for a pleasing odor to €the LORD. So they shall no more slay their sacrifices for satyrs, after whom they €play the harlot. This shall be a statute for ever to them throughout €their generations. @"And you shall say to them, Any man of the house of Israel, or of the €strangers that sojourn among them, who offers a burnt offering or €sacrifice, and does not bring it to the door of the tent of meeting, to sacrifice €it to the LORD; that man shall be cut off from his people. @"If any man of the house of Israel or of the strangers that sojourn €among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who €eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it for you €upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood €that makes atonement, by reason of the life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, No person among you €shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat €blood. Any man also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn €among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten €shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust. @"For the life of every creature is the blood of it; therefore I have €said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any €creature, for the life of every creature is its blood; whoever eats it €shall be cut off. And every person that eats what dies of itself or what is torn by €beasts, whether he is a native or a sojourner, shall wash his clothes, €and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening; then he €shall be clean. But if he does not wash them or bathe his flesh, he shall bear his €iniquity."  @And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, I am the LORD your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, and €you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am €bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall do my ordinances and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am €the LORD your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances, by doing which €a man shall live: I am the LORD. @"None of you shall approach any one near of kin to him to uncover €nakedness. I am the LORD. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the €nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you shall not uncover her €nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife; it is your €father's nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of €your father or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or €born abroad. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter or of your €daughter's daughter, for their nakedness is your own nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, €begotten by your father, since she is your sister. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister; she is €your father's near kinswoman. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, for she is €your mother's near kinswoman. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°³’ļ‚Ģåö’ؒ˜ŽYou shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother, that is, €you shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is €your son's wife, you shall not uncover her nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife; she is your €brother's nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and of her daughter, and €you shall not take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter to €uncover her nakedness; they are your near kinswomen; it is wickedness. And you shall not take a woman as a rival wife to her sister, €uncovering her nakedness while her sister is yet alive. @"You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is €in her menstrual uncleanness. And you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife, and defile €yourself with her. You shall not give any of your children to devote them by fire to €Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. And you shall not lie with any beast and defile yourself with it, €neither shall any woman give herself to a beast to lie with it: it is €perversion. @"Do not defile yourselves by any of these things, for by all these €the nations I am casting out before you defiled themselves; and the land became defiled, so that I punished its iniquity, and the €land vomited out its inhabitants. But you shall keep my statutes and my ordinances and do none of these €abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you (for all of these abominations the men of the land did, who were before €you, so that the land became defiled); lest the land vomit you out, when you defile it, as it vomited out the €nation that was before you. For whoever shall do any of these abominations, the persons that do €them shall be cut off from among their people. So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs €which were practiced before you, and never to defile yourselves by €them: I am the LORD your God."  @And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to all the congregation of the people of Israel, You shall be €holy; for I the LORD your God am holy. Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall €keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD €your God. @"When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD, you shall €offer it so that you may be accepted. It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, or on the morrow; and €anything left over until the third day shall be burned with fire. If it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination; it will €not be accepted, and every one who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has €profaned a holy thing of the LORD; and that person shall be cut off €from his people. @"When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your €field to its very border, neither shall you gather the gleanings after €your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather €the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor €and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God. @"You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. And you shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of €your God: I am the LORD. @"You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired €servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, €but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD. @"You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to €the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge €your neighbor. You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people, and you €shall not stand forth against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. @"You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason €with your neighbor, lest you bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of €your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the €LORD. @"You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with €a different kind; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed; €nor shall there come upon you a garment of cloth made of two kinds of €stuff. @"If a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave, betrothed to €another man and not yet ransomed or given her freedom, an inquiry shall €be held. They shall not be put to death, because she was not free; but he shall bring a guilt offering for himself to the LORD, to the €door of the tent of meeting, a ram for a guilt offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt €offering before the LORD for his sin which he has committed; and the €sin which he has committed shall be forgiven him. @"When you come into the land and plant all kinds of trees for food, €then you shall count their fruit as forbidden; three years it shall be €forbidden to you, it must not be eaten. And in the fourth year all their fruit shall be holy, an offering of €praise to the LORD. But in the fifth year you may eat of their fruit, that they may yield €more richly for you: I am the LORD your God. @"You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not €practice augury or witchcraft. You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of €your beard. You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh on account of the dead or €tattoo any marks upon you: I am the LORD. @"Do not profane your daughter by making her a harlot, lest the land €fall into harlotry and the land become full of wickedness. You shall keep my sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. @"Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out, to be €defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. @"You shall rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of an €old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the LORD. @"When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him €wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among €you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the €land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. @"You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight €or quantity. You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just €hin: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. And you shall observe all my statutes and all my ordinances, and do €them: I am the LORD."  @The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, Any man of the people of Israel, or of €the strangers that sojourn in Israel, who gives any of his children to €Molech shall be put to death; the people of the land shall stone him €with stones. I myself will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from €among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, €defiling my sanctuary and profaning my holy name. And if the people of the land do at all hide their eyes from that man, €when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to €death, then I will set my face against that man and against his family, and €will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him €in playing the harlot after Molech. @"If a person turns to mediums and wizards, playing the harlot after €them, I will set my face against that person, and will cut him off from €among his people. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am the LORD your €God. Keep my statutes, and do them; I am the LORD who sanctify you. For every one who curses his father or his mother shall be put to €death; he has cursed his father or his mother, his blood is upon him. @"If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the €adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death. The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°³’ļ‚Ģåö’ؔ˜‹‚nakedness; both of them shall be put to death, their blood is upon them. If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall be put to €death; they have committed incest, their blood is upon them. If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed €an abomination; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them. If a man takes a wife and her mother also, it is wickedness; they shall €be burned with fire, both he and they, that there may be no wickedness €among you. If a man lies with a beast, he shall be put to death; and you shall €kill the beast. If a woman approaches any beast and lies with it, you shall kill the €woman and the beast; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon €them. @"If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of €his mother, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a €shameful thing, and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children €of their people; he has uncovered his sister's nakedness, he shall bear €his iniquity. If a man lies with a woman having her sickness, and uncovers her €nakedness, he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the €fountain of her blood; both of them shall be cut off from among their €people. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister or of your €father's sister, for that is to make naked one's near kin; they shall €bear their iniquity. If a man lies with his uncle's wife, he has uncovered his uncle's €nakedness; they shall bear their sin, they shall die childless. If a man takes his brother's wife, it is impurity; he has uncovered his €brother's nakedness, they shall be childless. @"You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and €do them; that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not vomit €you out. And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation which I am casting €out before you; for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred €them. But I have said to you, `You shall inherit their land, and I will give €it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.' I am the €LORD your God, who have separated you from the peoples. You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean beast and the €unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; you shall not make €yourselves abominable by beast or by bird or by anything with which the €ground teems, which I have set apart for you to hold unclean. You shall be holy to me; for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you €from the peoples, that you should be mine. @"A man or a woman who is a medium or a wizard shall be put to death; €they shall be stoned with stones, their blood shall be upon them."  @And the LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, €and say to them that none of them shall defile himself for the dead €among his people, except for his nearest of kin, his mother, his father, his son, his €daughter, his brother, or his virgin sister (who is near to him because she has had no €husband; for her he may defile himself). He shall not defile himself as a husband among his people and so €profane himself. They shall not make tonsures upon their heads, nor shave off the edges €of their beards, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God; €for they offer the offerings by fire to the LORD, the bread of their €God; therefore they shall be holy. They shall not marry a harlot or a woman who has been defiled; neither €shall they marry a woman divorced from her husband; for the priest is €holy to his God. You shall consecrate him, for he offers the bread of your God; he shall €be holy to you; for I the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy. And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by playing the €harlot, profanes her father; she shall be burned with fire. @"The priest who is chief among his brethren, upon whose head the €anointing oil is poured, and who has been consecrated to wear the €garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang loose, nor rend his €clothes; he shall not go in to any dead body, nor defile himself, even for his €father or for his mother; neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of €his God; for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is upon €him: I am the LORD. And he shall take a wife in her virginity. A widow, or one divorced, or a woman who has been defiled, or a harlot, €these he shall not marry; but he shall take to wife a virgin of his own €people, that he may not profane his children among his people; for I am the €LORD who sanctify him." @And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, None of your descendants throughout their generations €who has a blemish may approach to offer the bread of his God. For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or €one who has a mutilated face or a limb too long, or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand, or a hunchback, or a dwarf, or a man with a defect in his sight or an €itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles; no man of the descendants of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall €come near to offer the LORD's offerings by fire; since he has a €blemish, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God. He may eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy €things, but he shall not come near the veil or approach the altar, because he €has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuaries; for I am the €LORD who sanctify them." So Moses spoke to Aaron and to his sons and to all the people of Israel.  @And the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron and his sons to keep away from the holy things of the €people of Israel, which they dedicate to me, so that they may not €profane my holy name; I am the LORD. Say to them, `If any one of all your descendants throughout your €generations approaches the holy things, which the people of Israel €dedicate to the LORD, while he has an uncleanness, that person shall be €cut off from my presence: I am the LORD. None of the line of Aaron who is a leper or suffers a discharge may eat €of the holy things until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is €unclean through contact with the dead or a man who has had an emission €of semen, and whoever touches a creeping thing by which he may be made unclean or €a man from whom he may take uncleanness, whatever his uncleanness may €be --the person who touches any such shall be unclean until the evening and €shall not eat of the holy things unless he has bathed his body in water. When the sun is down he shall be clean; and afterward he may eat of the €holy things, because such are his food. That which dies of itself or is torn by beasts he shall not eat, €defiling himself by it: I am the LORD.' They shall therefore keep my charge, lest they bear sin for it and die €thereby when they profane it: I am the LORD who sanctify them. @"An outsider shall not eat of a holy thing. A sojourner of the €priest's or a hired servant shall not eat of a holy thing; but if a priest buys a slave as his property for money, the slave may €eat of it; and those that are born in his house may eat of his food. If a priest's daughter is married to an outsider she shall not eat of €the offering of the holy things. But if a priest's daughter is a widow or divorced, and has no child, €and returns to her father's house, as in her youth, she may eat of her €father's food; yet no outsider shall eat of it. And if a man eats of a holy thing unwittingly, he shall add the fifth €of its value to it, and give the holy thing to the priest. The priests shall not profane the holy things of the people of Israel, €which they offer to the LORD, and so cause them to bear iniquity and guilt, by eating their holy €things: for I am the LORD who sanctify them." @And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel, When any one €of the house of Israel or of the sojourners in Israel presents his €offering, whether in payment of a vow or as a freewill offering which žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°³’ļ‚Ģåö’ؖ˜’„is offered to the LORD as a burnt offering, to be accepted you shall offer a male without blemish, of the bulls or €the sheep or the goats. You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be €acceptable for you. And when any one offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD, to €fulfil a vow or as a freewill offering, from the herd or from the €flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in €it. Animals blind or disabled or mutilated or having a discharge or an itch €or scabs, you shall not offer to the LORD or make of them an offering €by fire upon the altar to the LORD. A bull or a lamb which has a part too long or too short you may present €for a freewill offering; but for a votive offering it cannot be €accepted. Any animal which has its testicles bruised or crushed or torn or cut, €you shall not offer to the LORD or sacrifice within your land; neither shall you offer as the bread of your God any such animals €gotten from a foreigner. Since there is a blemish in them, because of €their mutilation, they will not be accepted for you." @And the LORD said to Moses, "When a bull or sheep or goat is born, it shall remain seven days with €its mother; and from the eighth day on it shall be acceptable as an €offering by fire to the LORD. And whether the mother is a cow or a ewe, you shall not kill both her €and her young in one day. And when you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, you €shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted. It shall be eaten on the same day, you shall leave none of it until €morning: I am the LORD. @"So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the LORD. And you shall not profane my holy name, but I will be hallowed among €the people of Israel; I am the LORD who sanctify you, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD."  @The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, The appointed feasts of the LORD which €you shall proclaim as holy convocations, my appointed feasts, are these. Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a sabbath of €solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no work; it is a sabbath €to the LORD in all your dwellings. @"These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, the holy convocations, €which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, €is the LORD's passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened €bread to the LORD; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no €laborious work. But you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD seven days; on €the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work." @And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, When you come into the land which I give €you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits €of your harvest to the priest; and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, that you may find €acceptance; on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. And on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb a €year old without blemish as a burnt offering to the LORD. And the cereal offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine €flour mixed with oil, to be offered by fire to the LORD, a pleasing €odor; and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, a fourth of a €hin. And you shall eat neither bread nor grain parched or fresh until this €same day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a €statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. @"And you shall count from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day €that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven full weeks shall €they be, counting fifty days to the morrow after the seventh sabbath; then you €shall present a cereal offering of new grain to the LORD. You shall bring from your dwellings two loaves of bread to be waved, €made of two tenths of an ephah; they shall be of fine flour, they shall €be baked with leaven, as first fruits to the LORD. And you shall present with the bread seven lambs a year old without €blemish, and one young bull, and two rams; they shall be a burnt €offering to the LORD, with their cereal offering and their drink €offerings, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD. And you shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male €lambs a year old as a sacrifice of peace offerings. And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the first fruits as a €wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs; they shall be holy €to the LORD for the priest. And you shall make proclamation on the same day; you shall hold a holy €convocation; you shall do no laborious work: it is a statute for ever €in all your dwellings throughout your generations. @"And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your €field to its very border, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your €harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am €the LORD your God." @And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, In the seventh month, on the first day of €the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial €proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no laborious work; and you shall present an offering by €fire to the LORD." @And the LORD said to Moses, "On the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it €shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict €yourselves and present an offering by fire to the LORD. And you shall do no work on this same day; for it is a day of €atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whoever is not afflicted on this same day shall be cut off from his €people. And whoever does any work on this same day, that person I will destroy €from among his people. You shall do no work: it is a statute for ever throughout your €generations in all your dwellings. It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict €yourselves; on the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from €evening to evening shall you keep your sabbath." @And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, On the fifteenth day of this seventh €month and for seven days is the feast of booths to the LORD. On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious €work. Seven days you shall present offerings by fire to the LORD; on the €eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present an offering by €fire to the LORD; it is a solemn assembly; you shall do no laborious €work. @"These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim €as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the LORD offerings by €fire, burnt offerings and cereal offerings, sacrifices and drink €offerings, each on its proper day; besides the sabbaths of the LORD, and besides your gifts, and besides €all your votive offerings, and besides all your freewill offerings, €which you give to the LORD. @"On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in €the produce of the land, you shall keep the feast of the LORD seven €days; on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day €shall be a solemn rest. And you shall take on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches €of palm trees, and boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and €you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. You shall keep it as a feast to the LORD seven days in the year; it is €a statute for ever throughout your generations; you shall keep it in €the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths for seven days; all that are native in Israel €shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell €in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD €your God." @Thus Moses declared to the people of Israel the appointed feasts of €the LORD.  @The LORD said to Moses, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°³’ļ‚Ģåö’ؘ’"Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives €for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning continually. Outside the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, Aaron shall €keep it in order from evening to morning before the LORD continually; €it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations. He shall keep the lamps in order upon the lampstand of pure gold before €the LORD continually. @"And you shall take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes of it; two €tenths of an ephah shall be in each cake. And you shall set them in two rows, six in a row, upon the table of €pure gold. And you shall put pure frankincense with each row, that it may go with €the bread as a memorial portion to be offered by fire to the LORD. Every sabbath day Aaron shall set it in order before the LORD €continually on behalf of the people of Israel as a covenant for ever. And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy €place, since it is for him a most holy portion out of the offerings by €fire to the LORD, a perpetual due." @Now an Israelite woman's son, whose father was an Egyptian, went out €among the people of Israel; and the Israelite woman's son and a man of €Israel quarreled in the camp, and the Israelite woman's son blasphemed the Name, and cursed. And they €brought him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelo'mith, the daughter of €Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. And they put him in custody, till the will of the LORD should be €declared to them. @And the LORD said to Moses, "Bring out of the camp him who cursed; and let all who heard him lay €their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. And say to the people of Israel, Whoever curses his God shall bear his €sin. He who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall be put to death; all the €congregation shall stone him; the sojourner as well as the native, when €he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death. He who kills a man shall be put to death. He who kills a beast shall make it good, life for life. When a man causes a disfigurement in his neighbor, as he has done it €shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has €disfigured a man, he shall be disfigured. He who kills a beast shall make it good; and he who kills a man shall €be put to death. You shall have one law for the sojourner and for the native; for I am €the LORD your God." So Moses spoke to the people of Israel; and they brought him who had €cursed out of the camp, and stoned him with stones. Thus the people of €Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.  @The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai, "Say to the people of Israel, When you come into the land which I give €you, the land shall keep a sabbath to the LORD. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your €vineyard, and gather in its fruits; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the €land, a sabbath to the LORD; you shall not sow your field or prune your €vineyard. What grows of itself in your harvest you shall not reap, and the grapes €of your undressed vine you shall not gather; it shall be a year of €solemn rest for the land. The sabbath of the land shall provide food for you, for yourself and €for your male and female slaves and for your hired servant and the €sojourner who lives with you; for your cattle also and for the beasts that are in your land all its €yield shall be for food. @"And you shall count seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, €so that the time of the seven weeks of years shall be to you forty-nine €years. Then you shall send abroad the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the €seventh month; on the day of atonement you shall send abroad the €trumpet throughout all your land. And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout €the land to all its inhabitants; it shall be a jubilee for you, when €each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return €to his family. A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be to you; in it you shall neither €sow, nor reap what grows of itself, nor gather the grapes from the €undressed vines. For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat what it €yields out of the field. @"In this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his property. And if you sell to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall €not wrong one another. According to the number of years after the jubilee, you shall buy from €your neighbor, and according to the number of years for crops he shall €sell to you. If the years are many you shall increase the price, and if the years €are few you shall diminish the price, for it is the number of the crops €that he is selling to you. You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am €the LORD your God. @"Therefore you shall do my statutes, and keep my ordinances and €perform them; so you will dwell in the land securely. The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell in €it securely. And if you say, `What shall we eat in the seventh year, if we may not €sow or gather in our crop?' I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, so that it will €bring forth fruit for three years. When you sow in the eighth year, you will be eating old produce; until €the ninth year, when its produce comes in, you shall eat the old. The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; for you €are strangers and sojourners with me. And in all the country you possess, you shall grant a redemption of the €land. @"If your brother becomes poor, and sells part of his property, then €his next of kin shall come and redeem what his brother has sold. If a man has no one to redeem it, and then himself becomes prosperous €and finds sufficient means to redeem it, let him reckon the years since he sold it and pay back the overpayment €to the man to whom he sold it; and he shall return to his property. But if he has not sufficient means to get it back for himself, then €what he sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it until the €year of jubilee; in the jubilee it shall be released, and he shall €return to his property. @"If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, he may redeem it €within a whole year after its sale; for a full year he shall have the €right of redemption. If it is not redeemed within a full year, then the house that is in the €walled city shall be made sure in perpetuity to him who bought it, €throughout his generations; it shall not be released in the jubilee. But the houses of the villages which have no wall around them shall be €reckoned with the fields of the country; they may be redeemed, and they €shall be released in the jubilee. Nevertheless the cities of the Levites, the houses in the cities of €their possession, the Levites may redeem at any time. And if one of the Levites does not exercise his right of redemption, €then the house that was sold in a city of their possession shall be €released in the jubilee; for the houses in the cities of the Levites €are their possession among the people of Israel. But the fields of common land belonging to their cities may not be €sold; for that is their perpetual possession. @"And if your brother becomes poor, and cannot maintain himself with €you, you shall maintain him; as a stranger and a sojourner he shall €live with you. Take no interest from him or increase, but fear your God; that your €brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food €for profit. I am the LORD your God, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt €to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. @"And if your brother becomes poor beside you, and sells himself to €you, you shall not make him serve as a slave: he shall be with you as a hired servant and as a sojourner. He shall €serve with you until the year of the jubilee; then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and go €back to his own family, and return to the possession of his fathers. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°³’ļ‚Ģåö’ؙ˜ŖFor they are my servants, whom I brought forth out of the land of €Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves. You shall not rule over him with harshness, but shall fear your God. As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male €and female slaves from among the nations that are round about you. You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and €their families that are with you, who have been born in your land; and €they may be your property. You may bequeath them to your sons after you, to inherit as a €possession for ever; you may make slaves of them, but over your €brethren the people of Israel you shall not rule, one over another, €with harshness. @"If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother €beside him becomes poor and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner €with you, or to a member of the stranger's family, then after he is sold he may be redeemed; one of his brothers may €redeem him, or his uncle, or his cousin may redeem him, or a near kinsman belonging €to his family may redeem him; or if he grows rich he may redeem himself. He shall reckon with him who bought him from the year when he sold €himself to him until the year of jubilee, and the price of his release €shall be according to the number of years; the time he was with his €owner shall be rated as the time of a hired servant. If there are still many years, according to them he shall refund out of €the price paid for him the price for his redemption. If there remain but a few years until the year of jubilee, he shall €make a reckoning with him; according to the years of service due from €him he shall refund the money for his redemption. As a servant hired year by year shall he be with him; he shall not rule €with harshness over him in your sight. And if he is not redeemed by these means, then he shall be released in €the year of jubilee, he and his children with him. For to me the people of Israel are servants, they are my servants whom €I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.  @"You shall make for yourselves no idols and erect no graven image or €pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land, to bow €down to them; for I am the LORD your God. You shall keep my sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. @"If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall €yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall last to the time of vintage, and the vintage €shall last to the time for sowing; and you shall eat your bread to the €full, and dwell in your land securely. And I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none €shall make you afraid; and I will remove evil beasts from the land, and €the sword shall not go through your land. And you shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the €sword. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten €thousand; and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. And I will have regard for you and make you fruitful and multiply you, €and will confirm my covenant with you. And you shall eat old store long kept, and you shall clear out the old €to make way for the new. And I will make my abode among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my €people. I am the LORD your God, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, €that you should not be their slaves; and I have broken the bars of your €yoke and made you walk erect. @"But if you will not hearken to me, and will not do all these €commandments, if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my ordinances, so €that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant, I will do this to you: I will appoint over you sudden terror, €consumption, and fever that waste the eyes and cause life to pine away. €And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it; I will set my face against you, and you shall be smitten before your €enemies; those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee €when none pursues you. And if in spite of this you will not hearken to me, then I will €chastise you again sevenfold for your sins, and I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heavens €like iron and your earth like brass; and your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield €its increase, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit. @"Then if you walk contrary to me, and will not hearken to me, I will €bring more plagues upon you, sevenfold as many as your sins. And I will let loose the wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of €your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number, so €that your ways shall become desolate. @"And if by this discipline you are not turned to me, but walk €contrary to me, then I also will walk contrary to you, and I myself will smite you €sevenfold for your sins. And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall execute vengeance for the €covenant; and if you gather within your cities I will send pestilence €among you, and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. When I break your staff of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in €one oven, and shall deliver your bread again by weight; and you shall €eat, and not be satisfied. @"And if in spite of this you will not hearken to me, but walk €contrary to me, then I will walk contrary to you in fury, and chastise you myself €sevenfold for your sins. You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of €your daughters. And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, €and cast your dead bodies upon the dead bodies of your idols; and my €soul will abhor you. And I will lay your cities waste, and will make your sanctuaries €desolate, and I will not smell your pleasing odors. And I will devastate the land, so that your enemies who settle in it €shall be astonished at it. And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the €sword after you; and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities €shall be a waste. @"Then the land shall enjoy its sabbaths as long as it lies desolate, €while you are in your enemies' land; then the land shall rest, and €enjoy its sabbaths. As long as it lies desolate it shall have rest, the rest which it had €not in your sabbaths when you dwelt upon it. And as for those of you that are left, I will send faintness into their €hearts in the lands of their enemies; the sound of a driven leaf shall €put them to flight, and they shall flee as one flees from the sword, €and they shall fall when none pursues. They shall stumble over one another, as if to escape a sword, though €none pursues; and you shall have no power to stand before your enemies. And you shall perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies €shall eat you up. And those of you that are left shall pine away in your enemies' lands €because of their iniquity; and also because of the iniquities of their €fathers they shall pine away like them. @"But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers €in their treachery which they committed against me, and also in walking €contrary to me, so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of €their enemies; if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they €make amends for their iniquity; then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my €covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember €the land. But the land shall be left by them, and enjoy its sabbaths while it €lies desolate without them; and they shall make amends for their €iniquity, because they spurned my ordinances, and their soul abhorred €my statutes. Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will €not spurn them, neither will I abhor them so as to destroy them utterly €and break my covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°³’ļ‚Ģåö’ؚ˜­but I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, €whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the €nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD." @These are the statutes and ordinances and laws which the LORD made €between him and the people of Israel on Mount Sinai by Moses.  @The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, When a man makes a special vow of persons €to the LORD at your valuation, then your valuation of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years €old shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the €sanctuary. If the person is a female, your valuation shall be thirty shekels. If the person is from five years old up to twenty years old, your €valuation shall be for a male twenty shekels, and for a female ten €shekels. If the person is from a month old up to five years old, your valuation €shall be for a male five shekels of silver, and for a female your €valuation shall be three shekels of silver. And if the person is sixty years old and upward, then your valuation €for a male shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels. And if a man is too poor to pay your valuation, then he shall bring the €person before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to €the ability of him who vowed the priest shall value him. @"If it is an animal such as men offer as an offering to the LORD, all €of such that any man gives to the LORD is holy. He shall not substitute anything for it or exchange it, a good for a €bad, or a bad for a good; and if he makes any exchange of beast for €beast, then both it and that for which it is exchanged shall be holy. And if it is an unclean animal such as is not offered as an offering to €the LORD, then the man shall bring the animal before the priest, and the priest shall value it as either good or bad; as you, the €priest, value it, so it shall be. But if he wishes to redeem it, he shall add a fifth to the valuation. @"When a man dedicates his house to be holy to the LORD, the priest €shall value it as either good or bad; as the priest values it, so it €shall stand. And if he who dedicates it wishes to redeem his house, he shall add a €fifth of the valuation in money to it, and it shall be his. @"If a man dedicates to the LORD part of the land which is his by €inheritance, then your valuation shall be according to the seed for it; €a sowing of a homer of barley shall be valued at fifty shekels of €silver. If he dedicates his field from the year of jubilee, it shall stand at €your full valuation; but if he dedicates his field after the jubilee, then the priest shall €compute the money-value for it according to the years that remain until €the year of jubilee, and a deduction shall be made from your valuation. And if he who dedicates the field wishes to redeem it, then he shall €add a fifth of the valuation in money to it, and it shall remain his. But if he does not wish to redeem the field, or if he has sold the €field to another man, it shall not be redeemed any more; but the field, when it is released in the jubilee, shall be holy to the €LORD, as a field that has been devoted; the priest shall be in €possession of it. If he dedicates to the LORD a field which he has bought, which is not a €part of his possession by inheritance, then the priest shall compute the valuation for it up to the year of €jubilee, and the man shall give the amount of the valuation on that day €as a holy thing to the LORD. In the year of jubilee the field shall return to him from whom it was €bought, to whom the land belongs as a possession by inheritance. Every valuation shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: €twenty gerahs shall make a shekel. @"But a firstling of animals, which as a firstling belongs to the €LORD, no man may dedicate; whether ox or sheep, it is the LORD's. And if it is an unclean animal, then he shall buy it back at your €valuation, and add a fifth to it; or, if it is not redeemed, it shall €be sold at your valuation. @"But no devoted thing that a man devotes to the LORD, of anything €that he has, whether of man or beast, or of his inherited field, shall €be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy to the LORD. No one devoted, who is to be utterly destroyed from among men, shall be €ransomed; he shall be put to death. @"All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the €fruit of the trees, is the LORD's; it is holy to the LORD. If a man wishes to redeem any of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it. And all the tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that €pass under the herdsman's staff, shall be holy to the LORD. A man shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, neither shall he €exchange it; and if he exchanges it, then both it and that for which it €is exchanged shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed." @These are the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses for the €people of Israel on Mount Sinai. ąļ‚Īõķ’”The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of €meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after €they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by €families, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every €male, head by head; from twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go €forth to war, you and Aaron shall number them, company by company. And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the €head of the house of his fathers. And these are the names of the men who shall attend you. From Reuben, €Eli'zur the son of Shed'eur; from Simeon, Shelu'mi-el the son of Zurishad'dai; from Judah, Nahshon the son of Ammin'adab; from Is'sachar, Nethan'el the son of Zu'ar; from Zeb'ulun, Eli'ab the son of Helon; from the sons of Joseph, from E'phraim, Eli'shama the son of Ammi'hud, €and from Manas'seh, Gama'liel the son of Pedah'zur; from Benjamin, Abi'dan the son of Gideo'ni; from Dan, Ahi-e'zer the son of Ammishad'dai; from Asher, Pa'giel the son of Ochran; from Gad, Eli'asaph the son of Deu'el; from Naph'tali, Ahi'ra the son of Enan." These were the ones chosen from the congregation, the leaders of their €ancestral tribes, the heads of the clans of Israel. @Moses and Aaron took these men who have been named, and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole €congregation together, who registered themselves by families, by €fathers' houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old €and upward, head by head, as the LORD commanded Moses. So he numbered them in the wilderness of €Sinai. @The people of Reuben, Israel's first-born, their generations, by €their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of €names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all €who were able to go forth to war: the number of the tribe of Reuben was forty-six thousand five hundred. @Of the people of Simeon, their generations, by their families, by €their fathers' houses, those of them that were numbered, according to €the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and €upward, all who were able to go forth to war: the number of the tribe of Simeon was fifty-nine thousand three hundred. @Of the people of Gad, their generations, by their families, by their €fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty €years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war: the number of the tribe of Gad was forty-five thousand six hundred and €fifty. @Of the people of Judah, their generations, by their families, by €their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty €years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war: the number of the tribe of Judah was seventy-four thousand six hundred. @Of the people of Is'sachar, their generations, by their families, by €their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty €years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war: žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’”˜the number of the tribe of Is'sachar was fifty-four thousand four €hundred. @Of the people of Zeb'ulun, their generations, by their families, by €their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty €years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war: the number of the tribe of Zeb'ulun was fifty-seven thousand four €hundred. @Of the people of Joseph, namely, of the people of E'phraim, their €generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to €the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able €to go forth to war: the number of the tribe of E'phraim was forty thousand five hundred. @Of the people of Manas'seh, their generations, by their families, by €their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty €years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war: the number of the tribe of Manas'seh was thirty-two thousand two €hundred. @Of the people of Benjamin, their generations, by their families, by €their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty €years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war: the number of the tribe of Benjamin was thirty-five thousand four €hundred. @Of the people of Dan, their generations, by their families, by their €fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years €old and upward, every man able to go forth to war: the number of the tribe of Dan was sixty-two thousand seven hundred. @Of the people of Asher, their generations, by their families, by €their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty €years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war: the number of the tribe of Asher was forty-one thousand five hundred. @Of the people of Naph'tali, their generations, by their families, by €their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty €years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war: the number of the tribe of Naph'tali was fifty-three thousand four €hundred. @These are those who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered with €the help of the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each representing his €fathers' house. So the whole number of the people of Israel, by their fathers' houses, €from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go forth to war in €Israel --their whole number was six hundred and three thousand five hundred and €fifty. @But the Levites were not numbered by their ancestral tribe along with €them. For the LORD said to Moses, "Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, and you shall not take a €census of them among the people of Israel; but appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over €all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it; they are to carry €the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall tend it, and €shall encamp around the tabernacle. When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down; and €when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. And €if any one else comes near, he shall be put to death. The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, every €man by his own camp and every man by his own standard; but the Levites shall encamp around the tabernacle of the testimony, €that there may be no wrath upon the congregation of the people of €Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the €testimony." Thus did the people of Israel; they did according to all that the LORD €commanded Moses.  @The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "The people of Israel shall encamp each by his own standard, with the €ensigns of their fathers' houses; they shall encamp facing the tent of €meeting on every side. Those to encamp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the €standard of the camp of Judah by their companies, the leader of the €people of Judah being Nahshon the son of Ammin'adab, his host as numbered being seventy-four thousand six hundred. Those to encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Is'sachar, the leader €of the people of Is'sachar being Nethan'el the son of Zu'ar, his host as numbered being fifty-four thousand four hundred. Then the tribe of Zeb'ulun, the leader of the people of Zeb'ulun being €Eli'ab the son of Helon, his host as numbered being fifty-seven thousand four hundred. The whole number of the camp of Judah, by their companies, is a hundred €and eighty-six thousand four hundred. They shall set out first on the €march. @"On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben by €their companies, the leader of the people of Reuben being Eli'zur the €son of Shed'eur, his host as numbered being forty-six thousand five hundred. And those to encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon, the €leader of the people of Simeon being Shelu'mi-el the son of €Zurishad'dai, his host as numbered being fifty-nine thousand three hundred. Then the tribe of Gad, the leader of the people of Gad being Eli'asaph €the son of Reu'el, his host as numbered being forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty. The whole number of the camp of Reuben, by their companies, is a €hundred and fifty-one thousand four hundred and fifty. They shall set €out second. @"Then the tent of meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites €in the midst of the camps; as they encamp, so shall they set out, each €in position, standard by standard. @"On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of E'phraim by €their companies, the leader of the people of E'phraim being Eli'shama €the son of Ammi'hud, his host as numbered being forty thousand five hundred. And next to him shall be the tribe of Manas'seh, the leader of the €people of Manas'seh being Gama'liel the son of Pedah'zur, his host as numbered being thirty-two thousand two hundred. Then the tribe of Benjamin, the leader of the people of Benjamin being €Abi'dan the son of Gideo'ni, his host as numbered being thirty-five thousand four hundred. The whole number of the camp of E'phraim, by their companies, is a €hundred and eight thousand one hundred. They shall set out third on the €march. @"On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan by their €companies, the leader of the people of Dan being Ahi-e'zer the son of €Ammishad'dai, his host as numbered being sixty-two thousand seven hundred. And those to encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher, the leader €of the people of Asher being Pa'giel the son of Ochran, his host as numbered being forty-one thousand five hundred. Then the tribe of Naph'tali, the leader of the people of Naph'tali €being Ahi'ra the son of Enan, his host as numbered being fifty-three thousand four hundred. The whole number of the camp of Dan is a hundred and fifty-seven €thousand six hundred. They shall set out last, standard by standard." @These are the people of Israel as numbered by their fathers' houses; €all in the camps who were numbered by their companies were six hundred €and three thousand five hundred and fifty. But the Levites were not numbered among the people of Israel, as the €LORD commanded Moses. @Thus did the people of Israel. According to all that the LORD €commanded Moses, so they encamped by their standards, and so they set €out, every one in his family, according to his fathers' house.  @ These are the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the €LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the first-born, and €Abi'hu, Elea'zar, and Ith'amar; these are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he €ordained to minister in the priest's office. But Nadab and Abi'hu died before the LORD when they offered unholy fire €before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. €So Elea'zar and Ith'amar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron €their father. @And the LORD said to Moses, "Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, €that they may minister to him. They shall perform duties for him and for the whole congregation before €the tent of meeting, as they minister at the tabernacle; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’£˜ˆthey shall have charge of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, €and attend to the duties for the people of Israel as they minister at €the tabernacle. And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are wholly €given to him from among the people of Israel. And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall attend to €their priesthood; but if any one else comes near, he shall be put to €death." @And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel €instead of every first-born that opens the womb among the people of €Israel. The Levites shall be mine, for all the first-born are mine; on the day that I slew all the €first-born in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for my own all the €first-born in Israel, both of man and of beast; they shall be mine: I €am the LORD." @And the LORD said to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, "Number the sons of Levi, by fathers' houses and by families; every €male from a month old and upward you shall number." So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was €commanded. And these were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon and Kohath and €Merar'i. And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni €and Shim'e-i. And the sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and €Uz'ziel. And the sons of Merar'i by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are €the families of the Levites, by their fathers' houses. @Of Gershon were the family of the Libnites and the family of the €Shim'e-ites; these were the families of the Gershonites. Their number according to the number of all the males from a month old €and upward was seven thousand five hundred. The families of the Gershonites were to encamp behind the tabernacle on €the west, with Eli'asaph, the son of La'el as head of the fathers' house of the €Gershonites. And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting was to be €the tabernacle, the tent with its covering, the screen for the door of €the tent of meeting, the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the court which €is around the tabernacle and the altar, and its cords; all the service €pertaining to these. @Of Kohath were the family of the Amramites, and the family of the €Izhar'ites, and the family of the He'bronites, and the family of the €Uzzie'lites; these are the families of the Ko'hathites. According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, €there were eight thousand six hundred, attending to the duties of the €sanctuary. The families of the sons of Kohath were to encamp on the south side of €the tabernacle, with Eli-za'phan the son of Uz'ziel as head of the fathers' house of €the families of the Ko'hathites. And their charge was to be the ark, the table, the lampstand, the €altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, €and the screen; all the service pertaining to these. And Elea'zar the son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the €leaders of the Levites, and to have oversight of those who had charge €of the sanctuary. @Of Merar'i were the family of the Mahlites and the family of the €Mushites: these are the families of Merar'i. Their number according to the number of all the males from a month old €and upward was six thousand two hundred. And the head of the fathers' house of the families of Merar'i was €Zu'riel the son of Ab'ihail; they were to encamp on the north side of €the tabernacle. And the appointed charge of the sons of Merar'i was to be the frames of €the tabernacle, the bars, the pillars, the bases, and all their €accessories; all the service pertaining to these; also the pillars of the court round about, with their bases and pegs €and cords. @And those to encamp before the tabernacle on the east, before the €tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, €having charge of the rites within the sanctuary, whatever had to be €done for the people of Israel; and any one else who came near was to be €put to death. All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at €the commandment of the LORD, by families, all the males from a month €old and upward, were twenty-two thousand. @And the LORD said to Moses, "Number all the first-born males of the €people of Israel, from a month old and upward, taking their number by €names. And you shall take the Levites for me -- I am the LORD -- instead of all €the first-born among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the €Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the people of €Israel." So Moses numbered all the first-born among the people of Israel, as the €LORD commanded him. And all the first-born males, according to the number of names, from a €month old and upward as numbered were twenty-two thousand two hundred €and seventy-three. @And the LORD said to Moses, "Take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the people of €Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the €Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD. And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the €first-born of the people of Israel, over and above the number of the €male Levites, you shall take five shekels apiece; reckoning by the shekel of the €sanctuary, the shekel of twenty gerahs, you shall take them, and give the money by which the excess number of them is redeemed to €Aaron and his sons." So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above €those redeemed by the Levites; from the first-born of the people of Israel he took the money, one €thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, reckoned by the shekel €of the sanctuary; and Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to €the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.  @The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by €their families and their fathers' houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who can enter the €service, to do the work in the tent of meeting. This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: the €most holy things. When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take €down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the testimony with it; then they shall put on it a covering of goatskin, and spread over that €a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles. And over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a €cloth of blue, and put upon it the plates, the dishes for incense, the €bowls, and the flagons for the drink offering; the continual bread also €shall be on it; then they shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same €with a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles. And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the lampstand for the €light, with its lamps, its snuffers, its trays, and all the vessels for €oil with which it is supplied: and they shall put it with all its utensils in a covering of goatskin €and put it upon the carrying frame. And over the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover €it with a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles; and they shall take all the vessels of the service which are used in €the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a €covering of goatskin, and put them on the carrying frame. And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple €cloth over it; and they shall put on it all the utensils of the altar, which are used €for the service there, the firepans, the forks, the shovels, and the €basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a €covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles. And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and €all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that €the sons of Kohath shall come to carry these, but they must not touch €the holy things, lest they die. These are the things of the tent of €meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’¤˜@"And Elea'zar the son of Aaron the priest shall have charge of the €oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the continual cereal offering, €and the anointing oil, with the oversight of all the tabernacle and all €that is in it, of the sanctuary and its vessels." @The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Let not the tribe of the families of the Ko'hathites be destroyed from €among the Levites; but deal thus with them, that they may live and not die when they come €near to the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and €appoint them each to his task and to his burden, but they shall not go in to look upon the holy things even for a €moment, lest they die." @The LORD said to Moses, "Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their families and their €fathers' houses; from thirty years old up to fifty years old, you shall number them, all €who can enter for service, to do the work in the tent of meeting. This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and €bearing burdens: they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tent of €meeting with its covering, and the covering of goatskin that is on top €of it, and the screen for the door of the tent of meeting, and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the entrance of the €gate of the court which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and €their cords, and all the equipment for their service; and they shall do €all that needs to be done with regard to them. All the service of the sons of the Gershonites shall be at the command €of Aaron and his sons, in all that they are to carry, and in all that €they have to do; and you shall assign to their charge all that they are €to carry. This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in €the tent of meeting, and their work is to be under the oversight of €Ith'amar the son of Aaron the priest. @"As for the sons of Merar'i, you shall number them by their families €and their fathers' houses; from thirty years old up to fifty years old, you shall number them, €every one that can enter the service, to do the work of the tent of €meeting. And this is what they are charged to carry, as the whole of their €service in the tent of meeting: the frames of the tabernacle, with its €bars, pillars, and bases, and the pillars of the court round about with their bases, pegs, and €cords, with all their equipment and all their accessories; and you €shall assign by name the objects which they are required to carry. This is the service of the families of the sons of Merar'i, the whole €of their service in the tent of meeting, under the hand of Ith'amar the €son of Aaron the priest." @And Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the congregation numbered the €sons of the Ko'hathites, by their families and their fathers' houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, every one that could enter €the service, for work in the tent of meeting; and their number by families was two thousand seven hundred and fifty. This was the number of the families of the Ko'hathites, all who served €in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the €commandment of the LORD by Moses. @The number of the sons of Gershon, by their families and their €fathers' houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, every one that could enter €the service for work in the tent of meeting --their number by their families and their fathers' houses was two €thousand six hundred and thirty. This was the number of the families of the sons of Gershon, all who €served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according €to the commandment of the LORD. @The number of the families of the sons of Merar'i, by their families €and their fathers' houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, every one that could enter €the service, for work in the tent of meeting --their number by families was three thousand two hundred. These are those who were numbered of the families of the sons of €Merar'i, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of €the LORD by Moses. @All those who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and €the leaders of Israel numbered, by their families and their fathers' €houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, every one that could enter €to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens in the tent €of meeting, those who were numbered of them were eight thousand five hundred and €eighty. According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses they were €appointed, each to his task of serving or carrying; thus they were €numbered by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.  @The LORD said to Moses, "Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp every €leper, and every one having a discharge, and every one that is unclean €through contact with the dead; you shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, €that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell." And the people of Israel did so, and drove them outside the camp; as €the LORD said to Moses, so the people of Israel did. @And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, When a man or woman commits any of the €sins that men commit by breaking faith with the LORD, and that person €is guilty, he shall confess his sin which he has committed; and he shall make full €restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it, and giving it to him €to whom he did the wrong. But if the man has no kinsman to whom restitution may be made for the €wrong, the restitution for wrong shall go to the LORD for the priest, €in addition to the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for €him. And every offering, all the holy things of the people of Israel, which €they bring to the priest, shall be his; and every man's holy things shall be his; whatever any man gives to the €priest shall be his." @And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, If any man's wife goes astray and acts €unfaithfully against him, if a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her €husband, and she is undetected though she has defiled herself, and €there is no witness against her, since she was not taken in the act; and if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him, and he is jealous of his €wife who has defiled herself; or if the spirit of jealousy comes upon €him, and he is jealous of his wife, though she has not defiled herself; then the man shall bring his wife to the priest, and bring the offering €required of her, a tenth of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no €oil upon it and put no frankincense on it, for it is a cereal offering €of jealousy, a cereal offering of remembrance, bringing iniquity to €remembrance. @"And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD; and the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel, and take €some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into €the water. And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and unbind the hair €of the woman's head, and place in her hands the cereal offering of €remembrance, which is the cereal offering of jealousy. And in his hand €the priest shall have the water of bitterness that brings the curse. Then the priest shall make her take an oath, saying, `If no man has €lain with you, and if you have not turned aside to uncleanness, while €you were under your husband's authority, be free from this water of €bitterness that brings the curse. But if you have gone astray, though you are under your husband's €authority, and if you have defiled yourself, and some man other than €your husband has lain with you, then' (let the priest make the woman take the oath of the curse, and €say to the woman) `the LORD make you an execration and an oath among €your people, when the LORD makes your thigh fall away and your body €swell; may this water that brings the curse pass into your bowels and make €your body swell and your thigh fall away.' And the woman shall say, €`Amen, Amen.' @"Then the priest shall write these curses in a book, and wash them €off into the water of bitterness; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’„˜˜and he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings €the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and €cause bitter pain. And the priest shall take the cereal offering of jealousy out of the €woman's hand, and shall wave the cereal offering before the LORD and €bring it to the altar; and the priest shall take a handful of the cereal offering, as its €memorial portion, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall make €the woman drink the water. And when he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled €herself and has acted unfaithfully against her husband, the water that €brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain, and her €body shall swell, and her thigh shall fall away, and the woman shall €become an execration among her people. But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she shall €be free and shall conceive children. @"This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, though under her €husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself, or when the spirit of jealousy comes upon a man and he is jealous of €his wife; then he shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest €shall execute upon her all this law. The man shall be free from iniquity, but the woman shall bear her €iniquity."  @And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, When either a man or a woman makes a €special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no €vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and shall not drink any juice €of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by €the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. @"All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall come upon his €head; until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the €LORD, he shall be holy; he shall let the locks of hair of his head grow €long. @"All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go €near a dead body. Neither for his father nor for his mother, nor for brother or sister, €if they die, shall he make himself unclean; because his separation to €God is upon his head. All the days of his separation he is holy to the LORD. @"And if any man dies very suddenly beside him, and he defiles his €consecrated head, then he shall shave his head on the day of his €cleansing; on the seventh day he shall shave it. On the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons €to the priest to the door of the tent of meeting, and the priest shall offer one for a sin offering and the other for a €burnt offering, and make atonement for him, because he sinned by reason €of the dead body. And he shall consecrate his head that same day, and separate himself to the LORD for the days of his separation, and €bring a male lamb a year old for a guilt offering; but the former time €shall be void, because his separation was defiled. @"And this is the law for the Nazirite, when the time of his €separation has been completed: he shall be brought to the door of the €tent of meeting, and he shall offer his gift to the LORD, one male lamb a year old €without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb a year old €without blemish as a sin offering, and one ram without blemish as a €peace offering, and a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, €and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and their cereal offering and €their drink offerings. And the priest shall present them before the LORD and offer his sin €offering and his burnt offering, and he shall offer the ram as a sacrifice of peace offering to the €LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread; the priest shall offer also €its cereal offering and its drink offering. And the Nazirite shall shave his consecrated head at the door of the €tent of meeting, and shall take the hair from his consecrated head and €put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offering. And the priest shall take the shoulder of the ram, when it is boiled, €and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, €and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazirite, after he has shaven €the hair of his consecration, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD; €they are a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast that €is waved and the thigh that is offered; and after that the Nazirite may €drink wine. @"This is the law for the Nazirite who takes a vow. His offering to €the LORD shall be according to his vow as a Nazirite, apart from what €else he can afford; in accordance with the vow which he takes, so shall €he do according to the law for his separation as a Nazirite." @The LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron and his sons, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: €you shall say to them, @@The LORD bless you and keep you: @@The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: @@The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. @"So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will €bless them."  @On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and had €anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings, and had anointed €and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, the leaders of Israel, heads of their fathers' houses, the leaders of €the tribes, who were over those who were numbered, offered and brought their offerings before the LORD, six covered wagons €and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the leaders, and for each one €an ox; they offered them before the tabernacle. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the service of €the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man €according to his service." So Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to €their service; and four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merar'i, €according to their service, under the direction of Ith'amar the son of €Aaron the priest. But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with €the care of the holy things which had to be carried on the shoulder. And the leaders offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on €the day it was anointed; and the leaders offered their offering before €the altar. And the LORD said to Moses, "They shall offer their offerings, one €leader each day, for the dedication of the altar." @He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of €Ammin'adab, of the tribe of Judah; and his offering was one silver plate whose weight was a hundred and €thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the €shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil €for a cereal offering; one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five €male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of €Nahshon the son of Ammin'adab. @On the second day Nethan'el the son of Zu'ar, the leader of €Is'sachar, made an offering; he offered for his offering one silver plate, whose weight was a €hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, €according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine €flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering; one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five €male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of €Nethan'el the son of Zu'ar. @On the third day Eli'ab the son of Helon, the leader of the men of €Zeb'ulun: his offering was one silver plate, whose weight was a hundred and žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’§˜™‚thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the €shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil €for a cereal offering; one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five €male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of €Eli'ab the son of Helon. @On the fourth day Eli'zur the son of Shed'eur, the leader of the men €of Reuben: his offering was one silver plate whose weight was a hundred and thirty €shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel €of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a €cereal offering; one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five €male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of €Eli'zur the son of Shed'eur. @On the fifth day Shelu'mi-el the son of Zurishad'dai, the leader of €the men of Simeon: his offering was one silver plate, whose weight was a hundred and €thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the €shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil €for a cereal offering; one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five €male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of €Shelu'mi-el the son of Zurishad'dai. @On the sixth day Eli'asaph the son of Deu'el, the leader of the men €of Gad: his offering was one silver plate, whose weight was a hundred and €thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the €shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil €for a cereal offering; one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five €male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of €Eli'asaph the son of Deu'el. @On the seventh day Eli'shama the son of Ammi'hud, the leader of the €men of E'phraim: his offering was one silver plate, whose weight was a hundred and €thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the €shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil €for a cereal offering; one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five €male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of €Eli'shama the son of Ammi'hud. @On the eighth day Gama'liel the son of Pedah'zur, the leader of the €men of Manas'seh: his offering was one silver plate, whose weight was a hundred and €thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the €shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil €for a cereal offering; one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five €male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of €Gama'liel the son of Pedah'zur. @On the ninth day Abi'dan the son of Gideo'ni, the leader of the men €of Benjamin: his offering was one silver plate, whose weight was a hundred and €thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the €shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil €for a cereal offering; one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five €male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of €Abi'dan the son of Gideo'ni. @On the tenth day Ahie'zer the son of Ammishad'dai, the leader of the €men of Dan: his offering was one silver plate, whose weight was a hundred and €thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the €shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil €for a cereal offering; one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five €male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of €Ahie'zer the son of Ammishad'dai. @On the eleventh day Pa'giel the son of Ochran, the leader of the men €of Asher: his offering was one silver plate, whose weight was a hundred and €thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the €shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil €for a cereal offering; one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five €male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of €Pa'giel the son of Ochran. @On the twelfth day Ahi'ra the son of Enan, the leader of the men of €Naph'tali: his offering was one silver plate, whose weight was a hundred and €thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the €shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil €for a cereal offering; one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five €male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of €Ahi'ra the son of Enan. @This was the dedication offering for the altar, on the day when it €was anointed, from the leaders of Israel: twelve silver plates, twelve €silver basins, twelve golden dishes, each silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and each basin €seventy, all the silver of the vessels two thousand four hundred €shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary, the twelve golden dishes, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece €according to the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the dishes €being a hundred and twenty shekels; all the cattle for the burnt offering twelve bulls, twelve rams, twelve €male lambs a year old, with their cereal offering; and twelve male €goats for a sin offering; and all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace offerings twenty-four €bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the male lambs a year old €sixty. This was the dedication offering for the altar, after it was €anointed. @And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, €he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was €upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it €spoke to him.  @Now the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give €light in front of the lampstand." And Aaron did so; he set up its lamps to give light in front of the €lampstand, as the LORD commanded Moses. And this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold; €from its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the €pattern which the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand. @And the LORD said to Moses, "Take the Levites from among the people of Israel, and cleanse them. And thus you shall do to them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’؈—‚expiation upon them, and let them go with a razor over all their body, €and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves. Then let them take a young bull and its cereal offering of fine flour €mixed with oil, and you shall take another young bull for a sin €offering. And you shall present the Levites before the tent of meeting, and €assemble the whole congregation of the people of Israel. When you present the Levites before the LORD, the people of Israel €shall lay their hands upon the Levites, and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering €from the people of Israel, that it may be theirs to do the service of €the LORD. Then the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bulls; and €you shall offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt €offering to the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites. And you shall cause the Levites to attend Aaron and his sons, and shall €offer them as a wave offering to the LORD. @"Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, €and the Levites shall be mine. And after that the Levites shall go in to do service at the tent of €meeting, when you have cleansed them and offered them as a wave €offering. For they are wholly given to me from among the people of Israel; €instead of all that open the womb, the first-born of all the people of €Israel, I have taken them for myself. For all the first-born among the people of Israel are mine, both of man €and of beast; on the day that I slew all the first-born in the land of €Egypt I consecrated them for myself, and I have taken the Levites instead of all the first-born among the €people of Israel. And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among €the people of Israel, to do the service for the people of Israel at the €tent of meeting, and to make atonement for the people of Israel, that €there may be no plague among the people of Israel in case the people of €Israel should come near the sanctuary." @Thus did Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the people of €Israel to the Levites; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses €concerning the Levites, the people of Israel did to them. And the Levites purified themselves from sin, and washed their clothes; €and Aaron offered them as a wave offering before the LORD, and Aaron €made atonement for them to cleanse them. And after that the Levites went in to do their service in the tent of €meeting in attendance upon Aaron and his sons; as the LORD had €commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them. @And the LORD said to Moses, "This is what pertains to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and €upward they shall go in to perform the work in the service of the tent €of meeting; and from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw from the work of €the service and serve no more, but minister to their brethren in the tent of meeting, to keep the €charge, and they shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites €in assigning their duties."  @And the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first €month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, €saying, "Let the people of Israel keep the passover at its appointed time. On the fourteenth day of this month, in the evening, you shall keep it €at its appointed time; according to all its statutes and all its €ordinances you shall keep it." So Moses told the people of Israel that they should keep the passover. And they kept the passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of €the month, in the evening, in the wilderness of Sinai; according to all €that the LORD commanded Moses, so the people of Israel did. And there were certain men who were unclean through touching the dead €body of a man, so that they could not keep the passover on that day; €and they came before Moses and Aaron on that day; and those men said to him, "We are unclean through touching the dead €body of a man; why are we kept from offering the LORD's offering at its €appointed time among the people of Israel?" And Moses said to them, "Wait, that I may hear what the LORD will €command concerning you." @The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, If any man of you or of your descendants €is unclean through touching a dead body, or is afar off on a journey, €he shall still keep the passover to the LORD. In the second month on the fourteenth day in the evening they shall €keep it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break a bone of it; €according to all the statute for the passover they shall keep it. But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, yet refrains from €keeping the passover, that person shall be cut off from his people, €because he did not offer the LORD's offering at its appointed time; €that man shall bear his sin. And if a stranger sojourns among you, and will keep the passover to the €LORD, according to the statute of the passover and according to its €ordinance, so shall he do; you shall have one statute, both for the €sojourner and for the native." @On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the €tabernacle, the tent of the testimony; and at evening it was over the €tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. So it was continually; the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance €of fire by night. And whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tent, after that the €people of Israel set out; and in the place where the cloud settled €down, there the people of Israel encamped. At the command of the LORD the people of Israel set out, and at the €command of the LORD they encamped; as long as the cloud rested over the €tabernacle, they remained in camp. Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people €of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and did not set out. Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according €to the command of the LORD they remained in camp; then according to the €command of the LORD they set out. And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning; and when €the cloud was taken up in the morning, they set out, or if it continued €for a day and a night, when the cloud was taken up they set out. Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud €continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel €remained in camp and did not set out; but when it was taken up they set €out. At the command of the LORD they encamped, and at the command of the €LORD they set out; they kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of €the LORD by Moses.  @The LORD said to Moses, "Make two silver trumpets; of hammered work you shall make them; and €you shall use them for summoning the congregation, and for breaking €camp. And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves €to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the heads of the tribes of €Israel, shall gather themselves to you. When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set €out. And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the €south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to €set out. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but €you shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The €trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your €generations. And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses €you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be €remembered before the LORD your God, and you shall be saved from your €enemies. On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts, and at €the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your €burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; they €shall serve you for remembrance before your God: I am the LORD your €God." @In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’؊˜‹‚month, the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony, and the people of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of €Sinai; and the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran. They set out for the first time at the command of the LORD by Moses. The standard of the camp of the men of Judah set out first by their €companies; and over their host was Nahshon the son of Ammin'adab. And over the host of the tribe of the men of Is'sachar was Nethan'el €the son of Zu'ar. And over the host of the tribe of the men of Zeb'ulun was Eli'ab the €son of Helon. @And when the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and the €sons of Merar'i, who carried the tabernacle, set out. And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out by their companies; and €over their host was Eli'zur the son of Shed'eur. And over the host of the tribe of the men of Simeon was Shelu'mi-el the €son of Zurishad'dai. And over the host of the tribe of the men of Gad was Eli'asaph the son €of Deu'el. @Then the Ko'hathites set out, carrying the holy things, and the €tabernacle was set up before their arrival. And the standard of the camp of the men of E'phraim set out by their €companies; and over their host was Eli'shama the son of Ammi'hud. And over the host of the tribe of the men of Manas'seh was Gama'liel €the son of Pedah'zur. And over the host of the tribe of the men of Benjamin was Abi'dan the €son of Gideo'ni. @Then the standard of the camp of the men of Dan, acting as the rear €guard of all the camps, set out by their companies; and over their host €was Ahie'zer the son of Ammishad'dai. And over the host of the tribe of the men of Asher was Pa'giel the son €of Ochran. And over the host of the tribe of the men of Naph'tali was Ahi'ra the €son of Enan. This was the order of march of the people of Israel according to their €hosts, when they set out. @And Moses said to Hobab the son of Reu'el the Mid'ianite, Moses' €father-in-law, "We are setting out for the place of which the LORD €said, `I will give it to you'; come with us, and we will do you good; €for the LORD has promised good to Israel." But he said to him, "I will not go; I will depart to my own land and to €my kindred." And he said, "Do not leave us, I pray you, for you know how we are to €encamp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us. And if you go with us, whatever good the LORD will do to us, the same €will we do to you." @So they set out from the mount of the LORD three days' journey; and €the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them three days' €journey, to seek out a resting place for them. And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day, whenever they set out €from the camp. @And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, "Arise, O LORD, and let thy €enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee." And when it rested, he said, "Return, O LORD, to the ten thousand €thousands of Israel."  @And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their €misfortunes; and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the €fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some outlying parts of €the camp. Then the people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the €fire abated. So the name of that place was called Tab'erah, because the fire of the €LORD burned among them. @Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving; and the €people of Israel also wept again, and said, "O that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the €melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this €manna to look at." @Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that €of bdellium. The people went about and gathered it, and ground it in mills or beat €it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it; and the €taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil. When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell with it. @Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man €at the door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD blazed hotly, and €Moses was displeased. Moses said to the LORD, "Why hast thou dealt ill with thy servant? And €why have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou dost lay the burden €of all this people upon me? Did I conceive all this people? Did I bring them forth, that thou €shouldst say to me, `Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries the €sucking child, to the land which thou didst swear to give their €fathers?' Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before €me and say, `Give us meat, that we may eat.' I am not able to carry all this people alone, the burden is too heavy €for me. If thou wilt deal thus with me, kill me at once, if I find favor in thy €sight, that I may not see my wretchedness." @And the LORD said to Moses, "Gather for me seventy men of the elders €of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers €over them; and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take €their stand there with you. And I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take some of €the spirit which is upon you and put it upon them; and they shall bear €the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself €alone. And say to the people, `Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you €shall eat meat; for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD, saying, €"Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt." €Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat. You shall not eat one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or €twenty days, but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes €loathsome to you, because you have rejected the LORD who is among you, €and have wept before him, saying, "Why did we come forth out of €Egypt?"'" But Moses said, "The people among whom I am number six hundred thousand €on foot; and thou hast said, `I will give them meat, that they may eat €a whole month!' Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to suffice them? Or €shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice €them?" And the LORD said to Moses, "Is the LORD's hand shortened? Now you €shall see whether my word will come true for you or not." @So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD; and he €gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and placed them round €about the tent. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of €the spirit that was upon him and put it upon the seventy elders; and €when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did so no €more. @Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other €named Medad, and the spirit rested upon them; they were among those €registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they €prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in €the camp." And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen €men, said, "My lord Moses, forbid them." But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the €LORD's people were prophets, that the LORD would put his spirit upon €them!" And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp. @And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and it brought quails from €the sea, and let them fall beside the camp, about a day's journey on €this side and a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, €and about two cubits above the face of the earth. And the people rose all that day, and all night, and all the next day, €and gathered the quails; he who gathered least gathered ten homers; and €they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the €anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote €the people with a very great plague. Therefore the name of that place was called Kib'roth-hatta'avah, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’؋˜¢‚because there they buried the people who had the craving. From Kib'roth-hatta'avah the people journeyed to Haze'roth; and they €remained at Haze'roth.  @Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman €whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman; and they said, "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he €not spoken through us also?" And the LORD heard it. Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all men that were on the €face of the earth. And suddenly the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, "Come out, €you three, to the tent of meeting." And the three of them came out. And the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of €the tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward. And he said, "Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the €LORD make myself known to him in a vision, I speak with him in a dream. Not so with my servant Moses; he is entrusted with all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in dark speech; and €he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak €against my servant Moses?" @And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and he departed; and when the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was €leprous, as white as snow. And Aaron turned towards Miriam, and behold, €she was leprous. And Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have €done foolishly and have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he €comes out of his mother's womb." And Moses cried to the LORD, "Heal her, O God, I beseech thee." But the LORD said to Moses, "If her father had but spit in her face, €should she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut up outside the €camp seven days, and after that she may be brought in again." So Miriam was shut up outside the camp seven days; and the people did €not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again. After that the people set out from Haze'roth, and encamped in the €wilderness of Paran.  @The LORD said to Moses, "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I give to the people of €Israel; from each tribe of their fathers shall you send a man, every €one a leader among them." So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the €command of the LORD, all of them men who were heads of the people of €Israel. And these were their names: From the tribe of Reuben, Sham'mu-a the son €of Zaccur; from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori; from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephun'neh; from the tribe of Is'sachar, Igal the son of Joseph; from the tribe of E'phraim, Hoshe'a the son of Nun; from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu; from the tribe of Zeb'ulun, Gad'diel the son of Sodi; from the tribe of Joseph (that is from the tribe of Manas'seh), Gaddi €the son of Susi; from the tribe of Dan, Am'miel the son of Gemal'li; from the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael; from the tribe of Naph'tali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi; from the tribe of Gad, Geu'el the son of Machi. These were the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. €And Moses called Hoshe'a the son of Nun Joshua. @Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, "Go €up into the Negeb yonder, and go up into the hill country, and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are €strong or weak, whether they are few or many, and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the €cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds, and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there is wood in it €or not. Be of good courage, and bring some of the fruit of the land." €Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes. @So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to €Rehob, near the entrance of Hamath. They went up into the Negeb, and came to Hebron; and Ahi'man, She'shai, €and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Hebron was built €seven years before Zo'an in Egypt.) And they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch €with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between €two of them; they brought also some pomegranates and figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster €which the men of Israel cut down from there. @At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land. And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the €people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought €back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the €fruit of the land. And they told him, "We came to the land to which you sent us; it flows €with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Yet the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are €fortified and very large; and besides, we saw the descendants of Anak €there. The Amal'ekites dwell in the land of the Negeb; the Hittites, the €Jeb'usites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country; and the €Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan." @But Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at €once, and occupy it; for we are well able to overcome it." Then the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up €against the people; for they are stronger than we." So they brought to the people of Israel an evil report of the land €which they had spied out, saying, "The land, through which we have €gone, to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all €the people that we saw in it are men of great stature. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the €Nephilim); and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we €seemed to them."  @Then all the congregation raised a loud cry; and the people wept that €night. And all the people of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron; the €whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of €Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why does the LORD bring us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our €wives and our little ones will become a prey; would it not be better €for us to go back to Egypt?" @And they said to one another, "Let us choose a captain, and go back €to Egypt." Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the €congregation of the people of Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephun'neh, who were €among those who had spied out the land, rent their clothes, and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, "The land, €which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it €to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only, do not rebel against the LORD; and do not fear the people of the €land, for they are bread for us; their protection is removed from them, €and the LORD is with us; do not fear them." But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. €@Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the €people of Israel. And the LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people despise me? And €how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs which I €have wrought among them? I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will €make of you a nation greater and mightier than they." @But Moses said to the LORD, "Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for €thou didst bring up this people in thy might from among them, and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that €thou, O LORD, art in the midst of this people; for thou, O LORD, art €seen face to face, and thy cloud stands over them and thou goest before €them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if thou dost kill this people as one man, then the nations who have €heard thy fame will say, `Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which €he swore to give to them, therefore he has slain them in the €wilderness.' žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’؎˜‘And now, I pray thee, let the power of the LORD be great as thou hast €promised, saying, `The LORD is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving €iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, €visiting the iniquity of fathers upon children, upon the third and upon €the fourth generation.' Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray thee, according to the €greatness of thy steadfast love, and according as thou hast forgiven €this people, from Egypt even until now." @Then the LORD said, "I have pardoned, according to your word; but truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the €glory of the LORD, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs which I wrought in €Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the proof these ten €times and have not hearkened to my voice, shall see the land which I swore to give to their fathers; and none of €those who despised me shall see it. But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has €followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and €his descendants shall possess it. Now, since the Amal'ekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valleys, €turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea." @And the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron, "How long shall this wicked congregation murmur against me? I have €heard the murmurings of the people of Israel, which they murmur against €me. Say to them, `As I live,' says the LORD, `what you have said in my €hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness; and of all your number, €numbered from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you €dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephun'neh and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring €in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and €shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies €lies in the wilderness. According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, €forty days, for every day a year, you shall bear your iniquity, forty €years, and you shall know my displeasure.' I, the LORD, have spoken; surely this will I do to all this wicked €congregation that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness €they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die." @And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, and who returned and €made all the congregation to murmur against him by bringing up an evil €report against the land, the men who brought up an evil report of the land, died by plague €before the LORD. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephun'neh remained €alive, of those men who went to spy out the land. @And Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, and the €people mourned greatly. And they rose early in the morning, and went up to the heights of the €hill country, saying, "See, we are here, we will go up to the place €which the LORD has promised; for we have sinned." But Moses said, "Why now are you transgressing the command of the LORD, €for that will not succeed? Do not go up lest you be struck down before your enemies, for the LORD €is not among you. For there the Amal'ekites and the Canaanites are before you, and you €shall fall by the sword; because you have turned back from following €the LORD, the LORD will not be with you." But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although €neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD, nor Moses, departed out of €the camp. Then the Amal'ekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in that hill country €came down, and defeated them and pursued them, even to Hormah.  @The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, When you come into the land you are to €inhabit, which I give you, and you offer to the LORD from the herd or from the flock an offering €by fire or a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfil a vow or as a €freewill offering or at your appointed feasts, to make a pleasing odor €to the LORD, then he who brings his offering shall offer to the LORD a cereal €offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with a fourth of a €hin of oil; and wine for the drink offering, a fourth of a hin, you shall prepare €with the burnt offering, or for the sacrifice, for each lamb. Or for a ram, you shall prepare for a cereal offering two tenths of an €ephah of fine flour mixed with a third of a hin of oil; and for the drink offering you shall offer a third of a hin of wine, a €pleasing odor to the LORD. And when you prepare a bull for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice, €to fulfil a vow, or for peace offerings to the LORD, then one shall offer with the bull a cereal offering of three tenths of €an ephah of fine flour, mixed with half a hin of oil, and you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine, as an €offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD. @"Thus it shall be done for each bull or ram, or for each of the male €lambs or the kids. According to the number that you prepare, so shall you do with every €one according to their number. All who are native shall do these things in this way, in offering an €offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD. And if a stranger is sojourning with you, or any one is among you €throughout your generations, and he wishes to offer an offering by €fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD, he shall do as you do. For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the €stranger who sojourns with you, a perpetual statute throughout your €generations; as you are, so shall the sojourner be before the LORD. One law and one ordinance shall be for you and for the stranger who €sojourns with you." @The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, When you come into the land to which I €bring you and when you eat of the food of the land, you shall present an offering €to the LORD. Of the first of your coarse meal you shall present a cake as an €offering; as an offering from the threshing floor, so shall you present €it. Of the first of your coarse meal you shall give to the LORD an offering €throughout your generations. @"But if you err, and do not observe all these commandments which the €LORD has spoken to Moses, all that the LORD has commanded you by Moses, from the day that the €LORD gave commandment, and onward throughout your generations, then if it was done unwittingly without the knowledge of the €congregation, all the congregation shall offer one young bull for a €burnt offering, a pleasing odor to the LORD, with its cereal offering €and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and one male goat €for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the €people of Israel, and they shall be forgiven; because it was an error, €and they have brought their offering, an offering by fire to the LORD, €and their sin offering before the LORD, for their error. And all the congregation of the people of Israel shall be forgiven, and €the stranger who sojourns among them, because the whole population was €involved in the error. @"If one person sins unwittingly, he shall offer a female goat a year €old for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who €commits an error, when he sins unwittingly, to make atonement for him; €and he shall be forgiven. You shall have one law for him who does anything unwittingly, for him €who is native among the people of Israel, and for the stranger who €sojourns among them. But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native €or a sojourner, reviles the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from €among his people. Because he has despised the word of the LORD, and has broken his €commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall €be upon him." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’؏˜ @While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man €gathering sticks on the sabbath day. And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and €Aaron, and to all the congregation. They put him in custody, because it had not been made plain what should €be done to him. And the LORD said to Moses, "The man shall be put to death; all the €congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp." And all the congregation brought him outside the camp, and stoned him €to death with stones, as the LORD commanded Moses. @The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the people of Israel, and bid them to make tassels on the €corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put upon €the tassel of each corner a cord of blue; and it shall be to you a tassel to look upon and remember all the €commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own €heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to go after wantonly. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your €God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be €your God: I am the LORD your God."  @Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan €and Abi'ram the sons of Eli'ab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of €Reuben, took men; and they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of €Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen from €the assembly, well-known men; and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, €and said to them, "You have gone too far! For all the congregation are €holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them; why then do you €exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" When Moses heard it, he fell on his face; and he said to Korah and all his company, "In the morning the LORD will €show who is his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to €him; him whom he will choose he will cause to come near to him. Do this: take censers, Korah and all his company; put fire in them and put incense upon them before the LORD tomorrow, €and the man whom the LORD chooses shall be the holy one. You have gone €too far, sons of Levi!" And Moses said to Korah, "Hear now, you sons of Levi: is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated €you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to €do service in the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the €congregation to minister to them; and that he has brought you near him, and all your brethren the sons of €Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also? Therefore it is against the LORD that you and all your company have €gathered together; what is Aaron that you murmur against him?" @And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abi'ram the sons of Eli'ab; and €they said, "We will not come up. Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing €with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also €make yourself a prince over us? Moreover you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and €honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put €out the eyes of these men? We will not come up." @And Moses was very angry, and said to the LORD, "Do not respect their €offering. I have not taken one ass from them, and I have not harmed one €of them." And Moses said to Korah, "Be present, you and all your company, before €the LORD, you and they, and Aaron, tomorrow; and let every one of you take his censer, and put incense upon it, and €every one of you bring before the LORD his censer, two hundred and €fifty censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer." So every man took his censer, and they put fire in them and laid €incense upon them, and they stood at the entrance of the tent of €meeting with Moses and Aaron. Then Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the entrance €of the tent of meeting. And the glory of the LORD appeared to all the €congregation. @And the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron, "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume €them in a moment." And they fell on their faces, and said, "O God, the God of the spirits €of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be angry with all the €congregation?" And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the congregation, Get away from about the dwelling of Korah, €Dathan, and Abi'ram." @Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abi'ram; and the elders of €Israel followed him. And he said to the congregation, "Depart, I pray you, from the tents of €these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away €with all their sins." So they got away from about the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abi'ram; €and Dathan and Abi'ram came out and stood at the door of their tents, €together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones. And Moses said, "Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do €all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they are visited by €the fate of all men, then the LORD has not sent me. But if the LORD creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth, €and swallows them up, with all that belongs to them, and they go down €alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the €LORD." @And as he finished speaking all these words, the ground under them €split asunder; and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their €households and all the men that belonged to Korah and all their goods. So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol; and €the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the €assembly. And all Israel that were round about them fled at their cry; for they €said, "Lest the earth swallow us up!" And fire came forth from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and €fifty men offering the incense. @Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Elea'zar the son of Aaron the priest to take up the censers out €of the blaze; then scatter the fire far and wide. For they are holy, the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives; so €let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for €they offered them before the LORD; therefore they are holy. Thus they €shall be a sign to the people of Israel." So Elea'zar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were €burned had offered; and they were hammered out as a covering for the €altar, to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so that no one who is not a €priest, who is not of the descendants of Aaron, should draw near to €burn incense before the LORD, lest he become as Korah and as his €company -- as the LORD said to Elea'zar through Moses. @But on the morrow all the congregation of the people of Israel €murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, "You have killed the €people of the LORD." And when the congregation had assembled against Moses and against €Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting; and behold, the cloud €covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, and the LORD said to Moses, "Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them €in a moment." And they fell on their faces. And Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer, and put fire therein from €off the altar, and lay incense on it, and carry it quickly to the €congregation, and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone forth €from the LORD, the plague has begun." So Aaron took it as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly; €and behold, the plague had already begun among the people; and he put €on the incense, and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was €stopped. Now those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, €besides those who died in the affair of Korah. And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, €when the plague was stopped.  @The LORD said to Moses, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’ؑ’"Speak to the people of Israel, and get from them rods, one for each €fathers' house, from all their leaders according to their fathers' €houses, twelve rods. Write each man's name upon his rod, and write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi. For there shall be one rod €for the head of each fathers' house. Then you shall deposit them in the tent of meeting before the €testimony, where I meet with you. And the rod of the man whom I choose shall sprout; thus I will make to €cease from me the murmurings of the people of Israel, which they murmur €against you." Moses spoke to the people of Israel; and all their leaders gave him €rods, one for each leader, according to their fathers' houses, twelve €rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. And Moses deposited the rods before the LORD in the tent of the €testimony. @And on the morrow Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and €behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put €forth buds, and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. Then Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD to all the €people of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod. And the LORD said to Moses, "Put back the rod of Aaron before the €testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an €end of their murmurings against me, lest they die." Thus did Moses; as the LORD commanded him, so he did. @And the people of Israel said to Moses, "Behold, we perish, we are €undone, we are all undone. Every one who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, €shall die. Are we all to perish?"  @So the LORD said to Aaron, "You and your sons and your fathers' house €with you shall bear iniquity in connection with the sanctuary; and you €and your sons with you shall bear iniquity in connection with your €priesthood. And with you bring your brethren also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of €your father, that they may join you, and minister to you while you and €your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony. They shall attend you and attend to all duties of the tent; but shall €not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary or to the altar, lest €they, and you, die. They shall join you, and attend to the tent of meeting, for all the €service of the tent; and no one else shall come near you. And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and the duties of €the altar, that there be wrath no more upon the people of Israel. And behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the €people of Israel; they are a gift to you, given to the LORD, to do the €service of the tent of meeting. And you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for all €that concerns the altar and that is within the veil; and you shall €serve. I give your priesthood as a gift, and any one else who comes €near shall be put to death." @Then the LORD said to Aaron, "And behold, I have given you whatever €is kept of the offerings made to me, all the consecrated things of the €people of Israel; I have given them to you as a portion, and to your €sons as a perpetual due. This shall be yours of the most holy things, reserved from the fire; €every offering of theirs, every cereal offering of theirs and every sin €offering of theirs and every guilt offering of theirs, which they €render to me, shall be most holy to you and to your sons. In a most holy place shall you eat of it; every male may eat of it; it €is holy to you. This also is yours, the offering of their gift, all the wave offerings €of the people of Israel; I have given them to you, and to your sons and €daughters with you, as a perpetual due; every one who is clean in your €house may eat of it. All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine and of the grain, €the first fruits of what they give to the LORD, I give to you. The first ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to €the LORD, shall be yours; every one who is clean in your house may eat €of it. Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours. Everything that opens the womb of all flesh, whether man or beast, €which they offer to the LORD, shall be yours; nevertheless the €first-born of man you shall redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts €you shall redeem. And their redemption price (at a month old you shall redeem them) you €shall fix at five shekels in silver, according to the shekel of the €sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs. But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the €firstling of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy. You shall €sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shall burn their fat as an €offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD; but their flesh shall be yours, as the breast that is waved and as the €right thigh are yours. All the holy offerings which the people of Israel present to the LORD I €give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual €due; it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD for you and for €your offspring with you." And the LORD said to Aaron, "You shall have no inheritance in their €land, neither shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion €and your inheritance among the people of Israel. @"To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an €inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, their €service in the tent of meeting. And henceforth the people of Israel shall not come near the tent of €meeting, lest they bear sin and die. But the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they €shall bear their iniquity; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout €your generations; and among the people of Israel they shall have no €inheritance. For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as an €offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; €therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance among €the people of Israel." @And the LORD said to Moses, "Moreover you shall say to the Levites, `When you take from the people €of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your €inheritance, then you shall present an offering from it to the LORD, a €tithe of the tithe. And your offering shall be reckoned to you as though it were the grain €of the threshing floor, and as the fulness of the wine press. So shall you also present an offering to the LORD from all your tithes, €which you receive from the people of Israel; and from it you shall give €the LORD's offering to Aaron the priest. Out of all the gifts to you, you shall present every offering due to €the LORD, from all the best of them, giving the hallowed part from €them.' Therefore you shall say to them, `When you have offered from it the €best of it, then the rest shall be reckoned to the Levites as produce €of the threshing floor, and as produce of the wine press; and you may eat it in any place, you and your households; for it is €your reward in return for your service in the tent of meeting. And you shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have offered the €best of it. And you shall not profane the holy things of the people of €Israel, lest you die.'"  @Now the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron, "This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded: Tell the €people of Israel to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which €there is no blemish, and upon which a yoke has never come. And you shall give her to Elea'zar the priest, and she shall be taken €outside the camp and slaughtered before him; and Elea'zar the priest shall take some of her blood with his finger, €and sprinkle some of her blood toward the front of the tent of meeting €seven times. And the heifer shall be burned in his sight; her skin, her flesh, and €her blood, with her dung, shall be burned; and the priest shall take cedarwood and hyssop and scarlet stuff, and €cast them into the midst of the burning of the heifer. Then the priest shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and €afterwards he shall come into the camp; and the priest shall be unclean €until evening. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’ؓ˜ˆHe who burns the heifer shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his €body in water, and shall be unclean until evening. And a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and €deposit them outside the camp in a clean place; and they shall be kept €for the congregation of the people of Israel for the water for €impurity, for the removal of sin. And he who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and €be unclean until evening. And this shall be to the people of Israel, €and to the stranger who sojourns among them, a perpetual statute. @"He who touches the dead body of any person shall be unclean seven €days; he shall cleanse himself with the water on the third day and on the €seventh day, and so be clean; but if he does not cleanse himself on the €third day and on the seventh day, he will not become clean. Whoever touches a dead person, the body of any man who has died, and €does not cleanse himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD, and that €person shall be cut off from Israel; because the water for impurity was €not thrown upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is still on €him. @"This is the law when a man dies in a tent: every one who comes into €the tent, and every one who is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days. And every open vessel, which has no cover fastened upon it, is unclean. Whoever in the open field touches one who is slain with a sword, or a €dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. For the unclean they shall take some ashes of the burnt sin offering, €and running water shall be added in a vessel; then a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and €sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the furnishings, and upon the €persons who were there, and upon him who touched the bone, or the €slain, or the dead, or the grave; and the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day €and on the seventh day; thus on the seventh day he shall cleanse him, €and he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and at €evening he shall be clean. @"But the man who is unclean and does not cleanse himself, that person €shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, since he has defiled €the sanctuary of the LORD; because the water for impurity has not been €thrown upon him, he is unclean. And it shall be a perpetual statute for them. He who sprinkles the €water for impurity shall wash his clothes; and he who touches the water €for impurity shall be unclean until evening. And whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean; and any one €who touches it shall be unclean until evening."  @And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the €wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; €and Miriam died there, and was buried there. @Now there was no water for the congregation; and they assembled €themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people contended with Moses, and said, "Would that we had died €when our brethren died before the LORD! Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, €that we should die here, both we and our cattle? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil €place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; €and there is no water to drink." Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door €of the tent of meeting, and fell on their faces. And the glory of the €LORD appeared to them, and the LORD said to Moses, "Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your €brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water; so you €shall bring water out of the rock for them; so you shall give drink to €the congregation and their cattle." And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. @And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, €and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water €for you out of this rock?" And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his rod twice; €and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their €cattle. And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in €me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you €shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." These are the waters of Mer'ibah, where the people of Israel contended €with the LORD, and he showed himself holy among them. @Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, "Thus says €your brother Israel: You know all the adversity that has befallen us: how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; €and the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers; and when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel €and brought us forth out of Egypt; and here we are in Kadesh, a city on €the edge of your territory. Now let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or €vineyard, neither will we drink water from a well; we will go along the €King's Highway, we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the €left, until we have passed through your territory." But Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through, lest I come out with €the sword against you." And the people of Israel said to him, "We will go up by the highway; €and if we drink of your water, I and my cattle, then I will pay for it; €let me only pass through on foot, nothing more." But he said, "You shall not pass through." And Edom came out against €them with many men, and with a strong force. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory; so €Israel turned away from him. @And they journeyed from Kadesh, and the people of Israel, the whole €congregation, came to Mount Hor. And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the €land of Edom, "Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter the land €which I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled €against my command at the waters of Mer'ibah. Take Aaron and Elea'zar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Elea'zar his son; €and Aaron shall be gathered to his people, and shall die there." Moses did as the LORD commanded; and they went up Mount Hor in the €sight of all the congregation. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Elea'zar €his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses €and Elea'zar came down from the mountain. And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, all the house of €Israel wept for Aaron thirty days.  @When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who dwelt in the Negeb, heard €that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, €and took some of them captive. And Israel vowed a vow to the LORD, and said, "If thou wilt indeed give €this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities." And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and gave over the €Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities; so the €name of the place was called Hormah. @From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around €the land of Edom; and the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you €brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no €food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food." Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the €people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have €spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD, that he take €away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a €pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live." So Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it on a pole; and if a serpent €bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’ؕ˜Š@And the people of Israel set out, and encamped in Oboth. And they set out from Oboth, and encamped at I'ye-ab'arim, in the €wilderness which is opposite Moab, toward the sunrise. From there they set out, and encamped in the Valley of Zered. From there they set out, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon, €which is in the wilderness, that extends from the boundary of the €Amorites; for the Arnon is the boundary of Moab, between Moab and the €Amorites. Wherefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD, €@@"Waheb in Suphah, €@@and the valleys of the Arnon, @@and the slope of the valleys €@@that extends to the seat of Ar, €@@and leans to the border of Moab." @And from there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the €LORD said to Moses, "Gather the people together, and I will give them €water." Then Israel sang this song: €@@"Spring up, O well! -- Sing to it! --@@the well which the princes dug, €@@which the nobles of the people €@@delved with the scepter and with their staves." €And from the wilderness they went on to Mat'tanah, and from Mat'tanah to Nahal'iel, and from Nahal'iel to Bamoth, and from Bamoth to the valley lying in the region of Moab by the top of €Pisgah which looks down upon the desert. @Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, "Let me pass through your land; we will not turn aside into field or €vineyard; we will not drink the water of a well; we will go by the €King's Highway, until we have passed through your territory." But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. He €gathered all his men together, and went out against Israel to the €wilderness, and came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. And Israel slew him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of €his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites; for €Jazer was the boundary of the Ammonites. And Israel took all these cities, and Israel settled in all the cities €of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages. For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had €fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of €his hand, as far as the Arnon. Therefore the ballad singers say, €@@"Come to Heshbon, let it be built, €@@@let the city of Sihon be established. @@For fire went forth from Heshbon, €@@@flame from the city of Sihon. €@@@It devoured Ar of Moab, €@@@the lords of the heights of the Arnon. @@Woe to you, O Moab! €@@@You are undone, O people of Chemosh! €@@He has made his sons fugitives, €@@@and his daughters captives, €@@@to an Amorite king, Sihon. @@So their posterity perished from Heshbon, as far as Dibon, €@@@and we laid waste until fire spread to Med'eba." @Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. And Moses sent to spy out Jazer; and they took its villages, and €dispossessed the Amorites that were there. Then they turned and went up by the way to Bashan; and Og the king of €Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at €Ed're-i. But the LORD said to Moses, "Do not fear him; for I have given him into €your hand, and all his people, and his land; and you shall do to him as €you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon." So they slew him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was not €one survivor left to him; and they possessed his land.  @Then the people of Israel set out, and encamped in the plains of Moab €beyond the Jordan at Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the €Amorites. And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many; Moab €was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. And Moab said to the elders of Mid'ian, "This horde will now lick up €all that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field." €So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, sent messengers to Balaam the son of Be'or at Pethor, which is near the €River, in the land of Amaw to call him, saying, "Behold, a people has €come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the earth, and they are €dwelling opposite me. Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me; €perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land; €for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is €cursed." @So the elders of Moab and the elders of Mid'ian departed with the €fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and gave €him Balak's message. And he said to them, "Lodge here this night, and I will bring back word €to you, as the LORD speaks to me"; so the princes of Moab stayed with €Balaam. And God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?" And Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has €sent to me, saying, `Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the €earth; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to fight €against them and drive them out.'" God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them; you shall not curse €the people, for they are blessed." So Balaam rose in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, "Go to €your own land; for the LORD has refused to let me go with you." So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, "Balaam €refuses to come with us." @Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than €they. And they came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of €Zippor: `Let nothing hinder you from coming to me; for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will €do; come, curse this people for me.'" But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak €were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go €beyond the command of the LORD my God, to do less or more. Pray, now, tarry here this night also, that I may know what more the €LORD will say to me." And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come €to call you, rise, go with them; but only what I bid you, that shall €you do." @So Balaam rose in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the €princes of Moab. But God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the LORD €took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the €ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a €drawn sword in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the road, and €went into the field; and Balaam struck the ass, to turn her into the €road. Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the €vineyards, with a wall on either side. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the €wall, and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall; so he struck her €again. Then the angel of the LORD went ahead, and stood in a narrow place, €where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. When the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; and €Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the ass with his staff. Then the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, €"What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" And Balaam said to the ass, "Because you have made sport of me. I wish €I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you." And the ass said to Balaam, "Am I not your ass, upon which you have €ridden all your life long to this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so €to you?" And he said, "No." @Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the €LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he €bowed his head, and fell on his face. And the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your ass €these three times? Behold, I have come forth to withstand you, because €your way is perverse before me; and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. If €she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have slain €you and let her live." Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’ؖ˜¢‚not know that thou didst stand in the road against me. Now therefore, €if it is evil in thy sight, I will go back again." And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men; but only €the word which I bid you, that shall you speak." So Balaam went on with €the princes of Balak. @When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the €city of Moab, on the boundary formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of €the boundary. And Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send to you to call you? Why did €you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?" Balaam said to Balak, "Lo, I have come to you! Have I now any power at €all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I €speak." Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kir'iath-hu'zoth. And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam and to the €princes who were with him. @And on the morrow Balak took Balaam and brought him up to €Bamoth-ba'al; and from there he saw the nearest of the people.  And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars, and provide €for me here seven bulls and seven rams." Balak did as Balaam had said; and Balak and Balaam offered on each €altar a bull and a ram. And Balaam said to Balak, "Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will €go; perhaps the LORD will come to meet me; and whatever he shows me I €will tell you." And he went to a bare height. And God met Balaam; and Balaam said to him, "I have prepared the seven €altars, and I have offered upon each altar a bull and a ram." And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, €and thus you shall speak." And he returned to him, and lo, he and all the princes of Moab were €standing beside his burnt offering. And Balaam took up his discourse, and said, €@@"From Aram Balak has brought me, €@@@the king of Moab from the eastern mountains: €@@`Come, curse Jacob for me, €@@@and come, denounce Israel!' @@How can I curse whom God has not cursed? €@@@How can I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced? @@For from the top of the mountains I see him, €@@@from the hills I behold him; €@@lo, a people dwelling alone, €@@@and not reckoning itself among the nations! @@Who can count the dust of Jacob, €@@@or number the fourth part of Israel? €@@Let me die the death of the righteous, €@@@and let my end be like his!" @And Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to €curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them." And he answered, "Must I not take heed to speak what the LORD puts in €my mouth?" @And Balak said to him, "Come with me to another place, from which you €may see them; you shall see only the nearest of them, and shall not see €them all; then curse them for me from there." And he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built €seven altars, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I €meet the LORD yonder." And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, "Return €to Balak, and thus shall you speak." And he came to him, and, lo, he was standing beside his burnt offering, €and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, "What has the €LORD spoken?" And Balaam took up his discourse, and said, €@@"Rise, Balak, and hear; €@@@hearken to me, O son of Zippor: @@God is not man, that he should lie, €@@@or a son of man, that he should repent. €@@Has he said, and will he not do it? €@@@Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfil it? @@Behold, I received a command to bless: €@@@he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it. @@He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob; €@@@nor has he seen trouble in Israel. €@@The LORD their God is with them, €@@@and the shout of a king is among them. @@God brings them out of Egypt; €@@@they have as it were the horns of the wild ox. @@For there is no enchantment against Jacob, €@@@no divination against Israel; €@@now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, €@@@`What has God wrought!' @@Behold, a people! As a lioness it rises up €@@@and as a lion it lifts itself; €@@it does not lie down till it devours the prey, €@@@and drinks the blood of the slain." @And Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all, nor bless them €at all." But Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell you, `All that the LORD €says, that I must do'?" And Balak said to Balaam, "Come now, I will take you to another place; €perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there." So Balak took Balaam to the top of Pe'or, that overlooks the desert. And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars, and provide €for me here seven bulls and seven rams." And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each €altar.  @When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not €go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the €wilderness. And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and saw Israel encamping tribe by tribe. €And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse, and said, €@@"The oracle of Balaam the son of Be'or, €@@@the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, @@the oracle of him who hears the words of God, €@@@who sees the vision of the Almighty, €@@falling down, but having his eyes uncovered: @@how fair are your tents, O Jacob, €@@@your encampments, O Israel! @@Like valleys that stretch afar, €@@@like gardens beside a river, €@@like aloes that the LORD has planted, €@@@like cedar trees beside the waters. @@Water shall flow from his buckets, €@@@and his seed shall be in many waters, €@@his king shall be higher than Agag, €@@@and his kingdom shall be exalted. @@God brings him out of Egypt; €@@@he has as it were the horns of the wild ox, €@@he shall eat up the nations his adversaries, €@@@and shall break their bones in pieces, €@@@and pierce them through with his arrows. @@He couched, he lay down like a lion, €@@@and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? €@@Blessed be every one who blesses you, €@@@and cursed be every one who curses you." @And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands €together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, €and behold, you have blessed them these three times. Therefore now flee to your place; I said, `I will certainly honor you,' €but the LORD has held you back from honor." And Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent €to me, `If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not €be able to go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of €my own will; what the LORD speaks, that will I speak'? And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, I will let you know €what this people will do to your people in the latter days." And he took up his discourse, and said, €@@"The oracle of Balaam the son of Be'or, €@@@the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, @@the oracle of him who hears the words of God, €@@@and knows the knowledge of the Most High, €@@who sees the vision of the Almighty, €@@@falling down, but having his eyes uncovered: @@I see him, but not now; €@@@I behold him, but not nigh: €@@a star shall come forth out of Jacob, €@@@and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; €@@it shall crush the forehead of Moab, €@@@and break down all the sons of Sheth. @@Edom shall be dispossessed, €@@@Se'ir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed, €@@@while Israel does valiantly. @@By Jacob shall dominion be exercised, €@@@and the survivors of cities be destroyed!" @Then he looked on Am'alek, and took up his discourse, and said, €@@"Am'alek was the first of the nations, €@@but in the end he shall come to destruction." @And he looked on the Ken'ite, and took up his discourse, and said, €@@"Enduring is your dwelling place, €@@@and your nest is set in the rock; @@nevertheless Kain shall be wasted. €@@@How long shall Asshur take you away captive?" @And he took up his discourse, and said, €@@"Alas, who shall live when God does this? @@@But ships shall come from Kittim €@@and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; €@@and he also shall come to destruction." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’ؘ˜™@Then Balaam rose, and went back to his place; and Balak also went his €way.  @While Israel dwelt in Shittim the people began to play the harlot €with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the €people ate, and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Ba'al of Pe'or. And the anger of the LORD €was kindled against Israel; and the LORD said to Moses, "Take all the chiefs of the people, and €hang them in the sun before the LORD, that the fierce anger of the LORD €may turn away from Israel." And Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Every one of you slay his men €who have yoked themselves to Ba'al of Pe'or." @And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Mid'ianite €woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the €whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping at €the door of the tent of meeting. When Phin'ehas the son of Elea'zar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he €rose and left the congregation, and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the inner room, and pierced both €of them, the man of Israel and the woman, through her body. Thus the €plague was stayed from the people of Israel. Nevertheless those that died by the plague were twenty-four thousand. @And the LORD said to Moses, "Phin'ehas the son of Elea'zar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned €back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my €jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in €my jealousy. Therefore say, `Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace; and it shall be to him, and to his descendants after him, the covenant €of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God, and made €atonement for the people of Israel.'" @The name of the slain man of Israel, who was slain with the €Mid'ianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, head of a fathers' house €belonging to the Simeonites. And the name of the Mid'ianite woman who was slain was Cozbi the €daughter of Zur, who was the head of the people of a fathers' house in €Mid'ian. @And the LORD said to Moses, "Harass the Mid'ianites, and smite them; for they have harassed you with their wiles, with which they beguiled €you in the matter of Pe'or, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of €the prince of Mid'ian, their sister, who was slain on the day of the €plague on account of Pe'or."  @After the plague the LORD said to Moses and to Elea'zar the son of €Aaron, the priest, "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, from €twenty years old and upward, by their fathers' houses, all in Israel €who are able to go forth to war." And Moses and Elea'zar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab €by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, "Take a census of the people, from twenty years old and upward," as the €LORD commanded Moses. The people of Israel, who came forth out of the €land of Egypt, were: @Reuben, the first-born of Israel; the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the €family of the Ha'nochites; of Pallu, the family of the Pal'luites; of Hezron, the family of the Hez'ronites; of Carmi, the family of the €Carmites. These are the families of the Reubenites; and their number was €forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty. And the sons of Pallu: Eli'ab. The sons of Eli'ab: Nem'uel, Dathan, and Abi'ram. These are the Dathan €and Abi'ram, chosen from the congregation, who contended against Moses €and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the LORD, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with €Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured two hundred and €fifty men; and they became a warning. Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah did not die. @The sons of Simeon according to their families: of Nem'uel, the €family of the Nem'uelites; of Jamin, the family of the Ja'minites; of €Jachin, the family of the Ja'chinites; of Zerah, the family of the Zer'ahites; of Sha'ul, the family of the €Sha'ulites. These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty-two thousand two €hundred. @The sons of Gad according to their families: of Zephon, the family of €the Ze'phonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites; of Shuni, the €family of the Shunites; of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites; of Ar'od, the family of the Ar'odites; of Are'li, the family of the €Are'lites. These are the families of the sons of Gad according to their number, €forty thousand five hundred. @The sons of Judah were Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land €of Canaan. And the sons of Judah according to their families were: of Shelah, the €family of the Shela'nites; of Perez, the family of the Per'ezites; of €Zerah, the family of the Zer'ahites. And the sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hez'ronites; €of Hamul, the family of the Hamu'lites. These are the families of Judah according to their number, seventy-six €thousand five hundred. @The sons of Is'sachar according to their families: of Tola, the €family of the To'laites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites; of Jashub, the family of the Jash'ubites; of Shimron, the family of the €Shim'ronites. These are the families of Is'sachar according to their number, €sixty-four thousand three hundred. @The sons of Zeb'ulun, according to their families: of Sered, the €family of the Ser'edites; of Elon, the family of the E'lonites; of €Jahleel, the family of the Jah'leelites. These are the families of the Zeb'ulunites according to their number, €sixty thousand five hundred. @The sons of Joseph according to their families: Manas'seh and €E'phraim. The sons of Manas'seh: of Machir, the family of the Ma'chirites; and €Machir was the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the €Gileadites. These are the sons of Gilead: of Ie'zer, the family of the Ie'zerites; €of Helek, the family of the He'lekites; and of As'riel, the family of the As'rielites; and of Shechem, the €family of the She'chemites; and of Shemi'da, the family of the Shemi'daites; and of Hepher, the €family of the He'pherites. Now Zeloph'ehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the €names of the daughters of Zeloph'ehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, €Milcah, and Tirzah. These are the families of Manas'seh; and their number was fifty-two €thousand seven hundred. @These are the sons of E'phraim according to their families: of €Shuthe'lah, the family of the Shuthe'lahites; of Becher, the family of €the Bech'erites; of Tahan, the family of the Ta'hanites. And these are the sons of Shuthe'lah: of Eran, the family of the €E'ranites. These are the families of the sons of E'phraim according to their €number, thirty-two thousand five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph €according to their families. @The sons of Benjamin according to their families: of Bela, the family €of the Be'la-ites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ash'belites; of €Ahi'ram, the family of the Ahi'ramites; of Shephu'pham, the family of the Shu'phamites; of Hupham, the family €of the Hu'phamites. And the sons of Bela were Ard and Na'aman: of Ard, the family of the €Ard'ites; of Na'aman, the family of the Na'amites. These are the sons of Benjamin according to their families; and their €number was forty-five thousand six hundred. @These are the sons of Dan according to their families: of Shuham, the €family of the Shu'hamites. These are the families of Dan according to €their families. All the families of the Shu'hamites, according to their number, were €sixty-four thousand four hundred. @The sons of Asher according to their families: of Imnah, the family €of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beri'ah, the €family of the Beri'ites. Of the sons of Beri'ah: of Heber, the family of the He'berites; of €Mal'chi-el, the family of the Mal'chi-elites. And the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah. These are the families of the sons of Asher according to their number, €fifty-three thousand four hundred. @The sons of Naph'tali according to their families: of Jahzeel, the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’ؚ˜°‚family of the Jah'zeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites; of Jezer, the family of the Je'zerites; of Shillem, the family of the €Shil'lemites. These are the families of Naph'tali according to their families; and €their number was forty-five thousand four hundred. @This was the number of the people of Israel, six hundred and one €thousand seven hundred and thirty. @The LORD said to Moses: "To these the land shall be divided for inheritance according to the €number of names. To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small €tribe you shall give a small inheritance; every tribe shall be given €its inheritance according to its numbers. But the land shall be divided by lot; according to the names of the €tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. Their inheritance shall be divided according to lot between the larger €and the smaller." @These are the Levites as numbered according to their families: of €Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the €Ko'hathites; of Merar'i, the family of the Merar'ites. These are the families of Levi: the family of the Libnites, the family €of the He'bronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the €Mushites, the family of the Ko'rahites. And Kohath was the father of €Amram. The name of Amram's wife was Joch'ebed the daughter of Levi, who was €born to Levi in Egypt; and she bore to Amram Aaron and Moses and Miriam €their sister. And to Aaron were born Nadab, Abi'hu, Elea'zar and Ith'amar. But Nadab and Abi'hu died when they offered unholy fire before the LORD. And those numbered of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from €a month old and upward; for they were not numbered among the people of €Israel, because there was no inheritance given to them among the people €of Israel. @These were those numbered by Moses and Elea'zar the priest, who €numbered the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at €Jericho. But among these there was not a man of those numbered by Moses and €Aaron the priest, who had numbered the people of Israel in the €wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had said of them, "They shall die in the wilderness." €There was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephun'neh €and Joshua the son of Nun.  @Then drew near the daughters of Zeloph'ehad the son of Hepher, son of €Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manas'seh, from the families of Manas'seh €the son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah, Noah, €Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. And they stood before Moses, and before Elea'zar the priest, and before €the leaders and all the congregation, at the door of the tent of €meeting, saying, "Our father died in the wilderness; he was not among the company of €those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company €of Korah, but died for his own sin; and he had no sons. Why should the name of our father be taken away from his family, €because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father's €brethren." @Moses brought their case before the LORD. And the LORD said to Moses, "The daughters of Zeloph'ehad are right; you shall give them possession €of an inheritance among their father's brethren and cause the €inheritance of their father to pass to them. And you shall say to the people of Israel, `If a man dies, and has no €son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter. And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his €brothers. And if he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his €father's brothers. And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance €to his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess €it. And it shall be to the people of Israel a statute and ordinance, as €the LORD commanded Moses.'" @The LORD said to Moses, "Go up into this mountain of Ab'arim, and see €the land which I have given to the people of Israel. And when you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, €as your brother Aaron was gathered, because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin during €the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before €their eyes." (These are the waters of Mer'ibah of Kadesh in the €wilderness of Zin.) Moses said to the LORD, "Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over €the congregation, who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead €them out and bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD may not €be as sheep which have no shepherd." And the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom €is the spirit, and lay your hand upon him; cause him to stand before Elea'zar the priest and all the congregation, €and you shall commission him in their sight. You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the €congregation of the people of Israel may obey. And he shall stand before Elea'zar the priest, who shall inquire for €him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD; at his word they shall €go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people €of Israel with him, the whole congregation." And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; he took Joshua and caused him €to stand before Elea'zar the priest and the whole congregation, and he laid his hands upon him, and commissioned him as the LORD €directed through Moses.  @The LORD said to Moses, "Command the people of Israel, and say to them, `My offering, my food €for my offerings by fire, my pleasing odor, you shall take heed to €offer to me in its due season.' And you shall say to them, This is the offering by fire which you shall €offer to the LORD: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by €day, as a continual offering. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you €shall offer in the evening; also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a cereal offering, mixed €with a fourth of a hin of beaten oil. It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained at Mount Sinai for €a pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the LORD. Its drink offering shall be a fourth of a hin for each lamb; in the €holy place you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the €LORD. The other lamb you shall offer in the evening; like the cereal offering €of the morning, and like its drink offering, you shall offer it as an €offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD. @"On the sabbath day two male lambs a year old without blemish, and €two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a cereal offering, mixed with €oil, and its drink offering: this is the burnt offering of every sabbath, besides the continual €burnt offering and its drink offering. @"At the beginnings of your months you shall offer a burnt offering to €the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without €blemish; also three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a cereal offering, €mixed with oil, for each bull; and two tenths of fine flour for a €cereal offering, mixed with oil, for the one ram; and a tenth of fine flour mixed with oil as a cereal offering for every €lamb; for a burnt offering of pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the €LORD. Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, a third €of a hin for a ram, and a fourth of a hin for a lamb; this is the burnt €offering of each month throughout the months of the year. Also one male goat for a sin offering to the LORD; it shall be offered €besides the continual burnt offering and its drink offering. @"On the fourteenth day of the first month is the LORD's passover. And on the fifteenth day of this month is a feast; seven days shall €unleavened bread be eaten. On the first day there shall be a holy convocation: you shall do no €laborious work, but offer an offering by fire, a burnt offering to the LORD: two young €bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old; see that they are €without blemish; also their cereal offering of fine flour mixed with oil; three tenths €of an ephah shall you offer for a bull, and two tenths for a ram; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’؜˜•a tenth shall you offer for each of the seven lambs; also one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you. You shall offer these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which €is for a continual burnt offering. In the same way you shall offer daily, for seven days, the food of an €offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD; it shall be offered €besides the continual burnt offering and its drink offering. And on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do €no laborious work. @"On the day of the first fruits, when you offer a cereal offering of €new grain to the LORD at your feast of weeks, you shall have a holy €convocation; you shall do no laborious work, but offer a burnt offering, a pleasing odor to the LORD; two young €bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old; also their cereal offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths €of an ephah for each bull, two tenths for one ram, a tenth for each of the seven lambs; with one male goat, to make atonement for you. Besides the continual burnt offering and its cereal offering, you shall €offer them and their drink offering. See that they are without blemish.  @"On the first day of the seventh month you shall have a holy €convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It is a day for you to €blow the trumpets, and you shall offer a burnt offering, a pleasing odor to the LORD: one €young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish; also their cereal offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths €of an ephah for the bull, two tenths for the ram, and one tenth for each of the seven lambs; with one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you; besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and its cereal offering, €and the continual burnt offering and its cereal offering, and their €drink offering, according to the ordinance for them, a pleasing odor, €an offering by fire to the LORD. @"On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy €convocation, and afflict yourselves; you shall do no work, but you shall offer a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing odor: one €young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old; they shall be to you €without blemish; and their cereal offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of €an ephah for the bull, two tenths for the one ram, a tenth for each of the seven lambs: also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the sin offering of €atonement, and the continual burnt offering and its cereal offering, €and their drink offerings. @"On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy €convocation; you shall do no laborious work, and you shall keep a feast €to the LORD seven days; and you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing €odor to the LORD, thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a €year old; they shall be without blemish; and their cereal offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of €an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each of the two €rams, and a tenth for each of the fourteen lambs; also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt €offering, its cereal offering and its drink offering. @"On the second day twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs €a year old without blemish, with the cereal offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the €rams, and for the lambs, by number, according to the ordinance; also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt €offering and its cereal offering, and their drink offerings. @"On the third day eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year €old without blemish, with the cereal offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the €rams, and for the lambs, by number, according to the ordinance; also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt €offering and its cereal offering and its drink offering. @"On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year €old without blemish, with the cereal offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the €rams, and for the lambs, by number, according to the ordinance; also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt €offering, its cereal offering and its drink offering. @"On the fifth day nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year €old without blemish, with the cereal offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the €rams, and for the lambs, by number, according to the ordinance; also one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt €offering and its cereal offering and its drink offering. @"On the sixth day eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year €old without blemish, with the cereal offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the €rams, and for the lambs, by number, according to the ordinance; also one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt €offering, its cereal offering, and its drink offerings. @"On the seventh day seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year €old without blemish, with the cereal offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the €rams, and for the lambs, by number, according to the ordinance; also one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt €offering, its cereal offering, and its drink offering. @"On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly: you shall do no €laborious work, but you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing €odor to the LORD: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old €without blemish, and the cereal offering and the drink offerings for the bull, for the €ram, and for the lambs, by number, according to the ordinance; also one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt €offering and its cereal offering and its drink offering. @"These you shall offer to the LORD at your appointed feasts, in €addition to your votive offerings and your freewill offerings, for your €burnt offerings, and for your cereal offerings, and for your drink €offerings, and for your peace offerings." @And Moses told the people of Israel everything just as the LORD had €commanded Moses.  @Moses said to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel, "This €is what the LORD has commanded. When a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by €a pledge, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all €that proceeds out of his mouth. Or when a woman vows a vow to the LORD, and binds herself by a pledge, €while within her father's house, in her youth, and her father hears of her vow and of her pledge by which she has €bound herself, and says nothing to her; then all her vows shall stand, €and every pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand. But if her father expresses disapproval to her on the day that he hears €of it, no vow of hers, no pledge by which she has bound herself, shall €stand; and the LORD will forgive her, because her father opposed her. And if she is married to a husband, while under her vows or any €thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she has bound herself, and her husband hears of it, and says nothing to her on the day that he €hears; then her vows shall stand, and her pledges by which she has €bound herself shall stand. But if, on the day that her husband comes to hear of it, he expresses €disapproval, then he shall make void her vow which was on her, and the €thoughtless utterance of her lips, by which she bound herself; and the €LORD will forgive her. But any vow of a widow or of a divorced woman, anything by which she €has bound herself, shall stand against her. And if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound herself by a pledge €with an oath, and her husband heard of it, and said nothing to her, and did not €oppose her; then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge by which €she bound herself shall stand. But if her husband makes them null and void on the day that he hears €them, then whatever proceeds out of her lips concerning her vows, or €concerning her pledge of herself, shall not stand: her husband has made žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’؞˜Œ„them void, and the LORD will forgive her. Any vow and any binding oath to afflict herself, her husband may €establish, or her husband may make void. But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he €establishes all her vows, or all her pledges, that are upon her; he has €established them, because he said nothing to her on the day that he €heard of them. But if he makes them null and void after he has heard of them, then he €shall bear her iniquity." @These are the statutes which the LORD commanded Moses, as between a €man and his wife, and between a father and his daughter, while in her €youth, within her father's house.  @The LORD said to Moses, "Avenge the people of Israel on the Mid'ianites; afterward you shall be €gathered to your people." And Moses said to the people, "Arm men from among you for the war, that €they may go against Mid'ian, to execute the LORD's vengeance on Mid'ian. You shall send a thousand from each of the tribes of Israel to the war." So there were provided, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from €each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand from each tribe, together €with Phin'ehas the son of Elea'zar the priest, with the vessels of the €sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand. They warred against Mid'ian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and slew €every male. They slew the kings of Mid'ian with the rest of their slain, Evi, €Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Mid'ian; and they also €slew Balaam the son of Be'or with the sword. And the people of Israel took captive the women of Mid'ian and their €little ones; and they took as booty all their cattle, their flocks, and €all their goods. All their cities in the places where they dwelt, and all their €encampments, they burned with fire, and took all the spoil and all the booty, both of man and of beast. Then they brought the captives and the booty and the spoil to Moses, €and to Elea'zar the priest, and to the congregation of the people of €Israel, at the camp on the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. @Moses, and Elea'zar the priest, and all the leaders of the €congregation, went forth to meet them outside the camp. And Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of €thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in €the war. Moses said to them, "Have you let all the women live? Behold, these caused the people of Israel, by the counsel of Balaam, to €act treacherously against the LORD in the matter of Pe'or, and so the €plague came among the congregation of the LORD. Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every €woman who has known man by lying with him. But all the young girls who have not known man by lying with him, keep €alive for yourselves. Encamp outside the camp seven days; whoever of you has killed any €person, and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves and your €captives on the third day and on the seventh day. You shall purify every garment, every article of skin, all work of €goats' hair, and every article of wood." @And Elea'zar the priest said to the men of war who had gone to €battle: "This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded €Moses: only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead, everything that can stand the fire, you shall pass through the fire, €and it shall be clean. Nevertheless it shall also be purified with the €water of impurity; and whatever cannot stand the fire, you shall pass €through the water. You must wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you shall be clean; €and afterward you shall come into the camp." @The LORD said to Moses, "Take the count of the booty that was taken, both of man and of beast, €you and Elea'zar the priest and the heads of the fathers' houses of the €congregation; and divide the booty into two parts, between the warriors who went out €to battle and all the congregation. And levy for the LORD a tribute from the men of war who went out to €battle, one out of five hundred, of the persons and of the oxen and of €the asses and of the flocks; take it from their half, and give it to Elea'zar the priest as an €offering to the LORD. And from the people of Israel's half you shall take one drawn out of €every fifty, of the persons, of the oxen, of the asses, and of the €flocks, of all the cattle, and give them to the Levites who have charge €of the tabernacle of the LORD." And Moses and Elea'zar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses. @Now the booty remaining of the spoil that the men of war took was: €six hundred and seventy-five thousand sheep, seventy-two thousand cattle, sixty-one thousand asses, and thirty-two thousand persons in all, women who had not known man by €lying with him. And the half, the portion of those who had gone out to war, was in €number three hundred and thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep, and the LORD's tribute of sheep was six hundred and seventy-five. The cattle were thirty-six thousand, of which the LORD's tribute was €seventy-two. The asses were thirty thousand five hundred, of which the LORD's €tribute was sixty-one. The persons were sixteen thousand, of which the LORD's tribute was €thirty-two persons. And Moses gave the tribute, which was the offering for the LORD, to €Elea'zar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses. @From the people of Israel's half, which Moses separated from that of €the men who had gone to war --now the congregation's half was three hundred and thirty-seven thousand €five hundred sheep, thirty-six thousand cattle, and thirty thousand five hundred asses, and sixteen thousand persons --from the people of Israel's half Moses took one of every fifty, both of €persons and of beasts, and gave them to the Levites who had charge of €the tabernacle of the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses. @Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the €captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, came near to Moses, and said to Moses, "Your servants have counted the men of war who are €under our command, and there is not a man missing from us. And we have brought the LORD's offering, what each man found, articles €of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and beads, to €make atonement for ourselves before the LORD." And Moses and Elea'zar the priest received from them the gold, all €wrought articles. And all the gold of the offering that they offered to the LORD, from €the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, was sixteen €thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels. (The men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.) And Moses and Elea'zar the priest received the gold from the commanders €of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tent of meeting, €as a memorial for the people of Israel before the LORD.  @Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had a very great multitude €of cattle; and they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and €behold, the place was a place for cattle. So the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben came and said to Moses and to €Elea'zar the priest and to the leaders of the congregation, "At'aroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elea'leh, Sebam, Nebo, and €Be'on, the land which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a €land for cattle; and your servants have cattle." And they said, "If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be €given to your servants for a possession; do not take us across the €Jordan." @But Moses said to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben, "Shall €your brethren go to the war while you sit here? Why will you discourage the heart of the people of Israel from going €over into the land which the LORD has given them? Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Ka'desh-bar'nea to see the €land. For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they €discouraged the heart of the people of Israel from going into the land €which the LORD had given them. And the LORD's anger was kindled on that day, and he swore, saying, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’Ø ˜‹`Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old €and upward, shall see the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to €Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not wholly followed me; none except Caleb the son of Jephun'neh the Ken'izzite and Joshua the €son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD.' And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them €wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had €done evil in the sight of the LORD was consumed. And behold, you have risen in your fathers' stead, a brood of sinful €men, to increase still more the fierce anger of the LORD against Israel! For if you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in €the wilderness; and you will destroy all this people." @Then they came near to him, and said, "We will build sheepfolds here €for our flocks, and cities for our little ones, but we will take up arms, ready to go before the people of Israel, €until we have brought them to their place; and our little ones shall €live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until the people of Israel have €inherited each his inheritance. For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and €beyond; because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the €Jordan to the east." So Moses said to them, "If you will do this, if you will take up arms €to go before the LORD for the war, and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before the LORD, €until he has driven out his enemies from before him and the land is subdued before the LORD; then after that you shall €return and be free of obligation to the LORD and to Israel; and this €land shall be your possession before the LORD. But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD; €and be sure your sin will find you out. Build cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do €what you have promised." And the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben said to Moses, "Your €servants will do as my lord commands. Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall €remain there in the cities of Gilead; but your servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, €before the LORD to battle, as my lord orders." @So Moses gave command concerning them to Elea'zar the priest, and to €Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers' houses of the €tribes of the people of Israel. And Moses said to them, "If the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben, €every man who is armed to battle before the LORD, will pass with you €over the Jordan and the land shall be subdued before you, then you €shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession; but if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have €possessions among you in the land of Canaan." And the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben answered, "As the LORD has €said to your servants, so we will do. We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, and €the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us beyond the €Jordan." @And Moses gave to them, to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben €and to the half-tribe of Manas'seh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of €Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the €land and its cities with their territories, the cities of the land €throughout the country. And the sons of Gad built Dibon, At'aroth, Aro'er, At'roth-sho'phan, Jazer, Jog'behah, Beth-nim'rah and Beth-har'an, fortified cities, and folds for sheep. And the sons of Reuben built Heshbon, Elea'leh, Kiriatha'im, Nebo, and Ba'al-me'on (their names to be changed), and Sibmah; and they €gave other names to the cities which they built. And the sons of Machir the son of Manas'seh went to Gilead and took it, €and dispossessed the Amorites who were in it. And Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manas'seh, and he settled in €it. And Ja'ir the son of Manas'seh went and took their villages, and called €them Hav'voth-ja'ir. And Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages, and called it Nobah, €after his own name.  @These are the stages of the people of Israel, when they went forth €out of the land of Egypt by their hosts under the leadership of Moses €and Aaron. Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of €the LORD; and these are their stages according to their starting places. They set out from Ram'eses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of €the first month; on the day after the passover the people of Israel €went out triumphantly in the sight of all the Egyptians, while the Egyptians were burying all their first-born, whom the LORD €had struck down among them; upon their gods also the LORD executed €judgments. @So the people of Israel set out from Ram'eses, and encamped at €Succoth. And they set out from Succoth, and encamped at Etham, which is on the €edge of the wilderness. And they set out from Etham, and turned back to Pi-hahi'roth, which is €east of Ba'al-ze'phon; and they encamped before Migdol. And they set out from before Hahi'roth, and passed through the midst of €the sea into the wilderness, and they went a three days' journey in the €wilderness of Etham, and encamped at Marah. And they set out from Marah, and came to Elim; at Elim there were €twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there. And they set out from Elim, and encamped by the Red Sea. And they set out from the Red Sea, and encamped in the wilderness of €Sin. And they set out from the wilderness of Sin, and encamped at Dophkah. And they set out from Dophkah, and encamped at Alush. And they set out from Alush, and encamped at Reph'idim, where there was €no water for the people to drink. And they set out from Reph'idim, and encamped in the wilderness of €Sinai. And they set out from the wilderness of Sinai, and encamped at €Kib'roth-hatta'avah. And they set out from Kib'roth-hatta'avah, and encamped at Haze'roth. And they set out from Haze'roth, and encamped at Rithmah. And they set out from Rithmah, and encamped at Rim'mon-per'ez. And they set out from Rim'mon-per'ez, and encamped at Libnah. And they set out from Libnah, and encamped at Rissah. And they set out from Rissah, and encamped at Kehela'thah. And they set out from Kehela'thah, and encamped at Mount Shepher. And they set out from Mount Shepher, and encamped at Hara'dah. And they set out from Hara'dah, and encamped at Makhe'loth. And they set out from Makhe'loth, and encamped at Tahath. And they set out from Tahath, and encamped at Terah. And they set out from Terah, and encamped at Mithkah. And they set out from Mithkah, and encamped at Hashmo'nah. And they set out from Hashmo'nah, and encamped at Mose'roth. And they set out from Mose'roth, and encamped at Bene-ja'akan. And they set out from Bene-ja'akan, and encamped at Hor-haggid'gad. And they set out from Hor-haggid'gad, and encamped at Jot'bathah. And they set out from Jot'bathah, and encamped at Abro'nah. And they set out from Abro'nah, and encamped at E'zion-ge'ber. And they set out from E'zion-ge'ber, and encamped in the wilderness of €Zin (that is, Kadesh). And they set out from Kadesh, and encamped at Mount Hor, on the edge of €the land of Edom. @And Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor at the command of the LORD, €and died there, in the fortieth year after the people of Israel had €come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month. And Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on €Mount Hor. @And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who dwelt in the Negeb in the €land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the people of Israel. @And they set out from Mount Hor, and encamped at Zalmo'nah. And they set out from Zalmo'nah, and encamped at Punon. And they set out from Punon, and encamped at Oboth. And they set out from Oboth, and encamped at I'ye-ab'arim, in the €territory of Moab. And they set out from I'yim, and encamped at Dibon-gad. And they set out from Dibon-gad, and encamped at Al'mon-diblatha'im. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’Ø”˜ÆAnd they set out from Al'mon-diblatha'im, and encamped in the mountains €of Ab'arim, before Nebo. And they set out from the mountains of Ab'arim, and encamped in the €plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho; they encamped by the Jordan from Beth-jes'himoth as far as Abel-shittim €in the plains of Moab. @And the LORD said to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at €Jericho, "Say to the people of Israel, When you pass over the Jordan into the €land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before €you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten €images, and demolish all their high places; and you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have €given the land to you to possess it. You shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to a €large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe €you shall give a small inheritance; wherever the lot falls to any man, €that shall be his; according to the tribes of your fathers you shall €inherit. But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before €you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as pricks in your €eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land €where you dwell. And I will do to you as I thought to do to them."  @The LORD said to Moses, "Command the people of Israel, and say to them, When you enter the land €of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, €the land of Canaan in its full extent), your south side shall be from the wilderness of Zin along the side of €Edom, and your southern boundary shall be from the end of the Salt Sea €on the east; and your boundary shall turn south of the ascent of Akrab'bim, and €cross to Zin, and its end shall be south of Ka'desh-bar'nea; then it €shall go on to Ha'zar-ad'dar, and pass along to Azmon; and the boundary shall turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, and its €termination shall be at the sea. @"For the western boundary, you shall have the Great Sea and its €coast; this shall be your western boundary. @"This shall be your northern boundary: from the Great Sea you shall €mark out your line to Mount Hor; from Mount Hor you shall mark it out to the entrance of Hamath, and the €end of the boundary shall be at Zeded; then the boundary shall extend to Ziphron, and its end shall be at €Ha'zar-e'nan; this shall be your northern boundary. @"You shall mark out your eastern boundary from Ha'zar-e'nan to €Shepham; and the boundary shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side €of A'in; and the boundary shall go down, and reach to the shoulder of €the sea of Chin'nereth on the east; and the boundary shall go down to the Jordan, and its end shall be at €the Salt Sea. This shall be your land with its boundaries all round." @Moses commanded the people of Israel, saying, "This is the land which €you shall inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to give to the €nine tribes and to the half-tribe; for the tribe of the sons of Reuben by fathers' houses and the tribe of €the sons of Gad by their fathers' houses have received their €inheritance, and also the half-tribe of Manas'seh; the two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance €beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise." @The LORD said to Moses, "These are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you for €inheritance: Elea'zar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun. You shall take one leader of every tribe, to divide the land for €inheritance. These are the names of the men: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of €Jephun'neh. Of the tribe of the sons of Simeon, Shemu'el the son of Ammi'hud. Of the tribe of Benjamin, Eli'dad the son of Chislon. Of the tribe of the sons of Dan a leader, Bukki the son of Jogli. Of the sons of Joseph: of the tribe of the sons of Manas'seh a leader, €Han'niel the son of Ephod. And of the tribe of the sons of E'phraim a leader, Kemu'el the son of €Shiphtan. Of the tribe of the sons of Zeb'ulun a leader, Eli-za'phan the son of €Parnach. Of the tribe of the sons of Is'sachar a leader, Pal'tiel the son of €Azzan. And of the tribe of the sons of Asher a leader, Ahi'hud the son of €Shelo'mi. Of the tribe of the sons of Naph'tali a leader, Pedah'el the son of €Ammi'hud. These are the men whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance for €the people of Israel in the land of Canaan."  @The LORD said to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, "Command the people of Israel, that they give to the Levites, from the €inheritance of their possession, cities to dwell in; and you shall give €to the Levites pasture lands round about the cities. The cities shall be theirs to dwell in, and their pasture lands shall €be for their cattle and for their livestock and for all their beasts. The pasture lands of the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, €shall reach from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits all €round. And you shall measure, outside the city, for the east side two thousand €cubits, and for the south side two thousand cubits, and for the west €side two thousand cubits, and for the north side two thousand cubits, €the city being in the middle; this shall belong to them as pasture land €for their cities. The cities which you give to the Levites shall be the six cities of €refuge, where you shall permit the manslayer to flee, and in addition €to them you shall give forty-two cities. All the cities which you give to the Levites shall be forty-eight, with €their pasture lands. And as for the cities which you shall give from the possession of the €people of Israel, from the larger tribes you shall take many, and from €the smaller tribes you shall take few; each, in proportion to the €inheritance which it inherits, shall give of its cities to the Levites." @And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, When you cross the Jordan into the land €of Canaan, then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the €manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there. The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the €manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for €judgment. And the cities which you give shall be your six cities of refuge. You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities in the €land of Canaan, to be cities of refuge. These six cities shall be for refuge for the people of Israel, and for €the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that any one who kills €any person without intent may flee there. @"But if he struck him down with an instrument of iron, so that he €died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. And if he struck him down with a stone in the hand, by which a man may €die, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. Or if he struck him down with a weapon of wood in the hand, by which a €man may die, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put €to death. The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he €meets him, he shall put him to death. And if he stabbed him from hatred, or hurled at him, lying in wait, so €that he died, or in enmity struck him down with his hand, so that he died, then he €who struck the blow shall be put to death; he is a murderer; the €avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death, when he meets him. @"But if he stabbed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on €him without lying in wait, or used a stone, by which a man may die, and without seeing him cast it €upon him, so that he died, though he was not his enemy, and did not €seek his harm; then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger €of blood, in accordance with these ordinances; and the congregation shall rescue the manslayer from the hand of the €avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of €refuge, to which he had fled, and he shall live in it until the death €of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°“’ļ‚Īõķ’Ø£˜šBut if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the bounds of his city €of refuge to which he fled, and the avenger of blood finds him outside the bounds of his city of €refuge, and the avenger of blood slays the manslayer, he shall not be €guilty of blood. For the man must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the €high priest; but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may €return to the land of his possession. @"And these things shall be for a statute and ordinance to you €throughout your generations in all your dwellings. If any one kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the €evidence of witnesses; but no person shall be put to death on the €testimony of one witness. Moreover you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is €guilty of death; but he shall be put to death. And you shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of €refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the €high priest. You shall not thus pollute the land in which you live; for blood €pollutes the land, and no expiation can be made for the land, for the €blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of him who shed it. You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which €I dwell; for I the LORD dwell in the midst of the people of Israel."  @The heads of the fathers' houses of the families of the sons of €Gilead the son of Machir, son of Manas'seh, of the fathers' houses of €the sons of Joseph, came near and spoke before Moses and before the €leaders, the heads of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel; they said, "The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for inheritance €by lot to the people of Israel; and my lord was commanded by the LORD €to give the inheritance of Zeloph'ehad our brother to his daughters. But if they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the €people of Israel then their inheritance will be taken from the €inheritance of our fathers, and added to the inheritance of the tribe €to which they belong; so it will be taken away from the lot of our €inheritance. And when the jubilee of the people of Israel comes, then their €inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they €belong; and their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of the €tribe of our fathers." @And Moses commanded the people of Israel according to the word of the €LORD, saying, "The tribe of the sons of Joseph is right. This is what the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zeloph'ehad, €`Let them marry whom they think best; only, they shall marry within the €family of the tribe of their father. The inheritance of the people of Israel shall not be transferred from €one tribe to another; for every one of the people of Israel shall €cleave to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. And every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the €people of Israel shall be wife to one of the family of the tribe of her €father, so that every one of the people of Israel may possess the €inheritance of his fathers. So no inheritance shall be transferred from one tribe to another; for €each of the tribes of the people of Israel shall cleave to its own €inheritance.'" @The daughters of Zeloph'ehad did as the LORD commanded Moses; for Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of €Zeloph'ehad, were married to sons of their father's brothers. They were married into the families of the sons of Manas'seh the son of €Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of €their father. @These are the commandments and the ordinances which the LORD €commanded by Moses to the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the €Jordan at Jericho. ąļ‚Äåõō’”These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in €the wilderness, in the Arabah over against Suph, between Paran and €Tophel, Laban, Haze'roth, and Di'-zahab. It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Se'ir to €Ka'desh-bar'nea. And in the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses €spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the LORD had given €him in commandment to them, after he had defeated Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in €Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived in Ash'taroth and in €Ed're-i. Beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, Moses undertook to explain this €law, saying, "The LORD our God said to us in Horeb, `You have stayed long enough at €this mountain; turn and take your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites, €and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country and in €the lowland, and in the Negeb, and by the seacoast, the land of the €Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river €Euphra'tes. Behold, I have set the land before you; go in and take possession of €the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, €and to Jacob, to give to them and to their descendants after them.' @"At that time I said to you, `I am not able alone to bear you; the LORD your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are this day as €the stars of heaven for multitude. May the LORD, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as €many as you are, and bless you, as he has promised you! How can I bear alone the weight and burden of you and your strife? Choose wise, understanding, and experienced men, according to your €tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.' And you answered me, `The thing that you have spoken is good for us to €do.' So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set €them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of €hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, €throughout your tribes. And I charged your judges at that time, `Hear the cases between your €brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the €alien that is with him. You shall not be partial in judgment; you shall hear the small and the €great alike; you shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the €judgment is God's; and the case that is too hard for you, you shall €bring to me, and I will hear it.' And I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do. @"And we set out from Horeb, and went through all that great and €terrible wilderness which you saw, on the way to the hill country of €the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to €Ka'desh-bar'nea. And I said to you, `You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, €which the LORD our God gives us. Behold, the LORD your God has set the land before you; go up, take €possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you; do not €fear or be dismayed.' Then all of you came near me, and said, `Let us send men before us, €that they may explore the land for us, and bring us word again of the €way by which we must go up and the cities into which we shall come.' The thing seemed good to me, and I took twelve men of you, one man for €each tribe; and they turned and went up into the hill country, and came to the €Valley of Eshcol and spied it out. And they took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought €it down to us, and brought us word again, and said, `It is a good land €which the LORD our God gives us.' @"Yet you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the €LORD your God; and you murmured in your tents, and said, `Because the LORD hated us he €has brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand €of the Amorites, to destroy us. Whither are we going up? Our brethren have made our hearts melt, €saying, "The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are €great and fortified up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of €the Anakim there."' Then I said to you, `Do not be in dread or afraid of them. The LORD your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just €as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the LORD your God bore €you, as a man bears his son, in all the way that you went until you žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’”˜Ÿƒcame to this place.' Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the LORD your God, who went before you in the way to seek you out a place to pitch your €tents, in fire by night, to show you by what way you should go, and in €the cloud by day. @"And the LORD heard your words, and was angered, and he swore, `Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land €which I swore to give to your fathers, except Caleb the son of Jephun'neh; he shall see it, and to him and to €his children I will give the land upon which he has trodden, because he €has wholly followed the LORD!' The LORD was angry with me also on your account, and said, `You also €shall not go in there; Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter; encourage €him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. Moreover your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your €children, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, shall go in €there, and to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. But as for you, turn, and journey into the wilderness in the direction €of the Red Sea.' @"Then you answered me, `We have sinned against the LORD; we will go €up and fight, just as the LORD our God commanded us.' And every man of €you girded on his weapons of war, and thought it easy to go up into the €hill country. And the LORD said to me, `Say to them, Do not go up or fight, for I am €not in the midst of you; lest you be defeated before your enemies.' So I spoke to you, and you would not hearken; but you rebelled against €the command of the LORD, and were presumptuous and went up into the €hill country. Then the Amorites who lived in that hill country came out against you €and chased you as bees do and beat you down in Se'ir as far as Hormah. And you returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD did not hearken €to your voice or give ear to you. So you remained at Kadesh many days, the days that you remained there.  @"Then we turned, and journeyed into the wilderness in the direction €of the Red Sea, as the LORD told me; and for many days we went about €Mount Se'ir. Then the LORD said to me, `You have been going about this mountain country long enough; turn €northward. And command the people, You are about to pass through the territory of €your brethren the sons of Esau, who live in Se'ir; and they will be €afraid of you. So take good heed; do not contend with them; for I will not give you any of their land, €no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have €given Mount Se'ir to Esau as a possession. You shall purchase food from them for money, that you may eat; and you €shall also buy water of them for money, that you may drink. For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands; he €knows your going through this great wilderness; these forty years the €LORD your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.' So we went on, away from our brethren the sons of Esau who live in €Se'ir, away from the Arabah road from Elath and E'zion-ge'ber. €@"And we turned and went in the direction of the wilderness of Moab. And the LORD said to me, `Do not harass Moab or contend with them in €battle, for I will not give you any of their land for a possession, €because I have given Ar to the sons of Lot for a possession.' (The Emim formerly lived there, a people great and many, and tall as €the Anakim; like the Anakim they are also known as Reph'aim, but the Moabites call €them Emim. The Horites also lived in Se'ir formerly, but the sons of Esau €dispossessed them, and destroyed them from before them, and settled in €their stead; as Israel did to the land of their possession, which the €LORD gave to them.) `Now rise up, and go over the brook Zered.' So we went over the brook €Zered. And the time from our leaving Ka'desh-bar'nea until we crossed the €brook Zered was thirty-eight years, until the entire generation, that €is, the men of war, had perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn €to them. For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from €the camp, until they had perished. @"So when all the men of war had perished and were dead from among the €people, the LORD said to me, `This day you are to pass over the boundary of Moab at Ar; and when you approach the frontier of the sons of Ammon, do not harass €them or contend with them, for I will not give you any of the land of €the sons of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons €of Lot for a possession.' (That also is known as a land of Reph'aim; Reph'aim formerly lived €there, but the Ammonites call them Zamzum'mim, a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim; but the LORD destroyed €them before them; and they dispossessed them, and settled in their €stead; as he did for the sons of Esau, who live in Se'ir, when he destroyed €the Horites before them, and they dispossessed them, and settled in €their stead even to this day. As for the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caph'torim, €who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and settled in their stead.) `Rise up, take your journey, and go over the valley of the Arnon; €behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, €and his land; begin to take possession, and contend with him in battle. This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples €that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you and €shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.' @"So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Ked'emoth to Sihon the €king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying, `Let me pass through your land; I will go only by the road, I will turn €aside neither to the right nor to the left. You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat, and give me water for €money, that I may drink; only let me pass through on foot, as the sons of Esau who live in Se'ir and the Moabites who live in Ar €did for me, until I go over the Jordan into the land which the LORD our €God gives to us.' But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for the €LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he €might give him into your hand, as at this day. And the LORD said to me, `Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his €land over to you; begin to take possession, that you may occupy his €land.' Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at €Jahaz. And the LORD our God gave him over to us; and we defeated him and his €sons and all his people. And we captured all his cities at that time and utterly destroyed every €city, men, women, and children; we left none remaining; only the cattle we took as spoil for ourselves, with the booty of the €cities which we captured. From Aro'er, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and from €the city that is in the valley, as far as Gilead, there was not a city €too high for us; the LORD our God gave all into our hands. Only to the land of the sons of Ammon you did not draw near, that is, €to all the banks of the river Jabbok and the cities of the hill €country, and wherever the LORD our God forbade us.  @"Then we turned and went up the way to Bashan; and Og the king of €Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Ed're-i. But the LORD said to me, `Do not fear him; for I have given him and all €his people and his land into your hand; and you shall do to him as you €did to Sihon the king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.' So the LORD our God gave into our hand Og also, the king of Bashan, and €all his people; and we smote him until no survivor was left to him. And we took all his cities at that time -- there was not a city which we €did not take from them -- sixty cities, the whole region of Argob, the €kingdom of Og in Bashan. All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, €besides very many unwalled villages. And we utterly destroyed them, as we did to Sihon the king of Heshbon, €destroying every city, men, women, and children. But all the cattle and the spoil of the cities we took as our booty. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’£˜ˆSo we took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of €the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the valley of the Arnon €to Mount Hermon (the Sido'nians call Hermon Si'rion, while the Amorites call it Senir), all the cities of the tableland and all Gilead and all Bashan, as far €as Sal'ecah and Ed're-i, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. (For only Og the king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the €Reph'aim; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in €Rabbah of the Ammonites? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits €its breadth, according to the common cubit.) @"When we took possession of this land at that time, I gave to the €Reubenites and the Gadites the territory beginning at Aro'er, which is €on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country of €Gilead with its cities; the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, that is, all the €region of Argob, I gave to the half-tribe of Manas'seh. (The whole of €that Bashan is called the land of Reph'aim. Ja'ir the Manas'site took all the region of Argob, that is, Bashan, as €far as the border of the Gesh'urites and the Ma-ac'athites, and called €the villages after his own name, Hav'voth-ja'ir, as it is to this day.) To Machir I gave Gilead, and to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead €as far as the valley of the Arnon, with the middle of the valley as a €boundary, as far over as the river Jabbok, the boundary of the €Ammonites; the Arabah also, with the Jordan as the boundary, from Chin'nereth as €far as the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the slopes of Pisgah €on the east. @"And I commanded you at that time, saying, `The LORD your God has €given you this land to possess; all your men of valor shall pass over €armed before your brethren the people of Israel. But your wives, your little ones, and your cattle (I know that you have €many cattle) shall remain in the cities which I have given you, until the LORD gives rest to your brethren, as to you, and they also €occupy the land which the LORD your God gives them beyond the Jordan; €then you shall return every man to his possession which I have given €you.' And I commanded Joshua at that time, `Your eyes have seen all that the €LORD your God has done to these two kings; so will the LORD do to all €the kingdoms into which you are going over. You shall not fear them; for it is the LORD your God who fights for €you.' @"And I besought the LORD at that time, saying, `O Lord GOD, thou hast only begun to show thy servant thy greatness and €thy mighty hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do €such works and mighty acts as thine? Let me go over, I pray, and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that €goodly hill country, and Lebanon.' But the LORD was angry with me on your account, and would not hearken €to me; and the LORD said to me, `Let it suffice you; speak no more to €me of this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward and €northward and southward and eastward, and behold it with your eyes; for €you shall not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him; for he shall go €over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of €the land which you shall see.' So we remained in the valley opposite Beth-pe'or.  @"And now, O Israel, give heed to the statutes and the ordinances €which I teach you, and do them; that you may live, and go in and take €possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, gives €you. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it; €that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command €you. Your eyes have seen what the LORD did at Ba'al-pe'or; for the LORD your €God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Ba'al of €Pe'or; but you who held fast to the LORD your God are all alive this day. Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, as the LORD my God €commanded me, that you should do them in the land which you are €entering to take possession of it. Keep them and do them; for that will be your wisdom and your €understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all €these statutes, will say, `Surely this great nation is a wise and €understanding people.' For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD €our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so €righteous as all this law which I set before you this day? @"Only take heed, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the €things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart €all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your €children's children --how on the day that you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the €LORD said to me, `Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my €words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live €upon the earth, and that they may teach their children so.' And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the €mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, €cloud, and gloom. Then the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire; you heard the €sound of words, but saw no form; there was only a voice. And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, €that is, the ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of €stone. And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and €ordinances, that you might do them in the land which you are going over €to possess. @"Therefore take good heed to yourselves. Since you saw no form on the €day that the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a graven image for yourselves, €in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any €winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any €fish that is in the water under the earth. And beware lest you lift up your eyes to heaven, and when you see the €sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn €away and worship them and serve them, things which the LORD your God €has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. But the LORD has taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron €furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own possession, as at this €day. Furthermore the LORD was angry with me on your account, and he swore €that I should not cross the Jordan, and that I should not enter the €good land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance. For I must die in this land, I must not go over the Jordan; but you €shall go over and take possession of that good land. Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your €God, which he made with you, and make a graven image in the form of €anything which the LORD your God has forbidden you. For the LORD your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. @"When you beget children and children's children, and have grown old €in the land, if you act corruptly by making a graven image in the form €of anything, and by doing what is evil in the sight of the LORD your €God, so as to provoke him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will €soon utterly perish from the land which you are going over the Jordan €to possess; you will not live long upon it, but will be utterly €destroyed. And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left €few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you. And there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of men's €hands, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find him, €if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’¤˜ž‚latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and obey his voice, for the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not fail you or €destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers which he swore to €them. @"For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since €the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from one end of €heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever €happened or was ever heard of. Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst €of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from €the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by €war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, €according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before €your eyes? To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is €no other besides him. Out of heaven he let you hear his voice, that he might discipline you; €and on earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard his words out €of the midst of the fire. And because he loved your fathers and chose their descendants after €them, and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great €power, driving out before you nations greater and mightier than yourselves, to €bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as at this day; know therefore this day, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God €in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I €command you this day, that it may go well with you, and with your €children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land €which the LORD your God gives you for ever." @Then Moses set apart three cities in the east beyond the Jordan, that the manslayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor €unintentionally, without being at enmity with him in time past, and €that by fleeing to one of these cities he might save his life: Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland for the Reubenites, and Ramoth €in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manas'sites. @This is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel; these are the testimonies, the statutes, and the ordinances, which €Moses spoke to the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt, beyond the Jordan in the valley opposite Beth-pe'or, in the land of €Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and €the children of Israel defeated when they came out of Egypt. And they took possession of his land and the land of Og the king of €Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who lived to the east beyond the €Jordan; from Aro'er, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, as far as €Mount Si'rion (that is, Hermon), together with all the Arabah on the east side of the Jordan as far as €the Sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.  @And Moses summoned all Israel, and said to them, "Hear, O Israel, the €statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your hearing this day, and €you shall learn them and be careful to do them. The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Not with our fathers did the LORD make this covenant, but with us, who €are all of us here alive this day. The LORD spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the midst €of the fire, while I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you €the word of the LORD; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you €did not go up into the mountain. He said: @"`I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, €out of the house of bondage. @"`You shall have no other gods before me. @"`You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of €anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or €that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God €am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the €children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep €my commandments. @"`You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain: for the €LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. @"`Observe the sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God €commanded you. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; in it you shall €not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your €manservant, or your maidservant, or your ox, or your ass, or any of €your cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your €manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and €the LORD your God brought you out thence with a mighty hand and an €outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the €sabbath day. @"`Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded €you; that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you, €in the land which the LORD your God gives you. @"`You shall not kill. @"`Neither shall you commit adultery. @"`Neither shall you steal. @"`Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor. @"`Neither shall you covet your neighbor's wife; and you shall not €desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant, or his €maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's.' @"These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out €of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a €loud voice; and he added no more. And he wrote them upon two tables of €stone, and gave them to me. And when you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while €the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads €of your tribes, and your elders; and you said, `Behold, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and €greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire; we €have this day seen God speak with man and man still live. Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; €if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, we shall die. For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living €God speaking out of the midst of fire, as we have, and has still lived? Go near, and hear all that the LORD our God will say; and speak to us €all that the LORD our God will speak to you; and we will hear and do €it.' @"And the LORD heard your words, when you spoke to me; and the LORD €said to me, `I have heard the words of this people, which they have €spoken to you; they have rightly said all that they have spoken. Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all €my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their €children for ever! Go and say to them, "Return to your tents." But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you all the commandment and €the statutes and the ordinances which you shall teach them, that they €may do them in the land which I give them to possess.' You shall be careful to do therefore as the LORD your God has commanded €you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded €you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you €may live long in the land which you shall possess.  @"Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the ordinances which €the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in €the land to which you are going over, to possess it; that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's €son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command €you, all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them; that it may go €well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’¦“ƒof your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and €honey. @"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD; and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all €your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of €them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when €you lie down, and when you rise. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as €frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your €gates. @"And when the LORD your God brings you into the land which he swore €to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, with €great and goodly cities, which you did not build, and houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, and €cisterns hewn out, which you did not hew, and vineyards and olive €trees, which you did not plant, and when you eat and are full, then take heed lest you forget the LORD, who brought you out of the €land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve him, and swear by his €name. You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are €round about you; for the LORD your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; lest the €anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you €from off the face of the earth. @"You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him €at Massah. You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and €his testimonies, and his statutes, which he has commanded you. And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that €it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of €the good land which the LORD swore to give to your fathers by thrusting out all your enemies from before you, as the LORD has €promised. @"When your son asks you in time to come, `What is the meaning of the €testimonies and the statutes and the ordinances which the LORD our God €has commanded you?' then you shall say to your son, `We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt; and €the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand; and the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against €Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes; and he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us €the land which he swore to give to our fathers. And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD €our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as at €this day. And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this €commandment before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us.'  @"When the LORD your God brings you into the land which you are €entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before €you, the Hittites, the Gir'gashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the €Per'izzites, the Hivites, and the Jeb'usites, seven nations greater and €mightier than yourselves, and when the LORD your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them; €then you must utterly destroy them; you shall make no covenant with €them, and show no mercy to them. You shall not make marriages with them, giving your daughters to their €sons or taking their daughters for your sons. For they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other €gods; then the anger of the LORD would be kindled against you, and he €would destroy you quickly. But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars, €and dash in pieces their pillars, and hew down their Ashe'rim, and burn €their graven images with fire. @"For you are a people holy to the LORD your God; the LORD your God €has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, out of all the €peoples that are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that €the LORD set his love upon you and chose you, for you were the fewest €of all peoples; but it is because the LORD loves you, and is keeping the oath which he €swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty €hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of €Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who €keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his €commandments, to a thousand generations, and requites to their face those who hate him, by destroying them; he €will not be slack with him who hates him, he will requite him to his €face. You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment, and the statutes, €and the ordinances, which I command you this day. @"And because you hearken to these ordinances, and keep and do them, €the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast €love which he swore to your fathers to keep; he will love you, bless you, and multiply you; he will also bless the €fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your €wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the young of your €flock, in the land which he swore to your fathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be male or €female barren among you, or among your cattle. And the LORD will take away from you all sickness; and none of the evil €diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict upon you, but he €will lay them upon all who hate you. And you shall destroy all the peoples that the LORD your God will give €over to you, your eye shall not pity them; neither shall you serve €their gods, for that would be a snare to you. @"If you say in your heart, `These nations are greater than I; how can €I dispossess them?' you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember what the LORD €your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt, the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the €mighty hand, and the outstretched arm, by which the LORD your God €brought you out; so will the LORD your God do to all the peoples of €whom you are afraid. Moreover the LORD your God will send hornets among them, until those €who are left and hide themselves from you are destroyed. You shall not be in dread of them; for the LORD your God is in the €midst of you, a great and terrible God. The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by €little; you may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts €grow too numerous for you. But the LORD your God will give them over to you, and throw them into €great confusion, until they are destroyed. And he will give their kings into your hand, and you shall make their €name perish from under heaven; not a man shall be able to stand against €you, until you have destroyed them. The graven images of their gods you shall burn with fire; you shall not €covet the silver or the gold that is on them, or take it for €yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it; for it is an abomination to the €LORD your God. And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house, and become €accursed like it; you shall utterly detest and abhor it; for it is an €accursed thing.  @"All the commandment which I command you this day you shall be €careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess €the land which the LORD swore to give to your fathers. And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you €these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing €you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his €commandments, or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you €did not know, nor did your fathers know; that he might make you know €that man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by everything €that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD. Your clothing did not wear out upon you, and your foot did not swell, €these forty years. Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD €your God disciplines you. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’؈–So you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, by walking in €his ways and by fearing him. For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of €brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and €hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a €land of olive trees and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will €lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you €can dig copper. And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God €for the good land he has given you. @"Take heed lest you forget the LORD your God, by not keeping his €commandments and his ordinances and his statutes, which I command you €this day: lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built goodly houses €and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply, and your silver and gold is €multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who €brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery €serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who €brought you water out of the flinty rock, who fed you in the wilderness with manna which your fathers did not €know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. Beware lest you say in your heart, `My power and the might of my hand €have gotten me this wealth.' You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power €to get wealth; that he may confirm his covenant which he swore to your €fathers, as at this day. And if you forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve €them and worship them, I solemnly warn you this day that you shall €surely perish. Like the nations that the LORD makes to perish before you, so shall you €perish, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God.  @"Hear, O Israel; you are to pass over the Jordan this day, to go in €to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourselves, cities €great and fortified up to heaven, a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of €whom you have heard it said, `Who can stand before the sons of Anak?' Know therefore this day that he who goes over before you as a devouring €fire is the LORD your God; he will destroy them and subdue them before €you; so you shall drive them out, and make them perish quickly, as the €LORD has promised you. @"Do not say in your heart, after the LORD your God has thrust them €out before you, `It is because of my righteousness that the LORD has €brought me in to possess this land'; whereas it is because of the €wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out before €you. Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are €you going in to possess their land; but because of the wickedness of €these nations the LORD your God is driving them out from before you, €and that he may confirm the word which the LORD swore to your fathers, €to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. @"Know therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good €land to possess because of your righteousness; for you are a stubborn €people. Remember and do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath €in the wilderness; from the day you came out of the land of Egypt, €until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD. Even at Horeb you provoked the LORD to wrath, and the LORD was so angry €with you that he was ready to destroy you. When I went up the mountain to receive the tables of stone, the tables €of the covenant which the LORD made with you, I remained on the €mountain forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank €water. And the LORD gave me the two tables of stone written with the finger of €God; and on them were all the words which the LORD had spoken with you €on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly. And at the end of forty days and forty nights the LORD gave me the two €tables of stone, the tables of the covenant. Then the LORD said to me, `Arise, go down quickly from here; for your €people whom you have brought from Egypt have acted corruptly; they have €turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them; they have €made themselves a molten image.' @"Furthermore the LORD said to me, `I have seen this people, and €behold, it is a stubborn people; let me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from €under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than €they.' So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain was €burning with fire; and the two tables of the covenant were in my two €hands. And I looked, and behold, you had sinned against the LORD your God; you €had made yourselves a molten calf; you had turned aside quickly from €the way which the LORD had commanded you. So I took hold of the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, €and broke them before your eyes. Then I lay prostrate before the LORD as before, forty days and forty €nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin €which you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the €LORD, to provoke him to anger. For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure which the LORD bore €against you, so that he was ready to destroy you. But the LORD €hearkened to me that time also. And the LORD was so angry with Aaron that he was ready to destroy him; €and I prayed for Aaron also at the same time. Then I took the sinful thing, the calf which you had made, and burned €it with fire and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as €fine as dust; and I threw the dust of it into the brook that descended €out of the mountain. @"At Tab'erah also, and at Massah, and at Kib'roth-hatta'avah, you €provoked the LORD to wrath. And when the LORD sent you from Ka'desh-bar'nea, saying, `Go up and €take possession of the land which I have given you,' then you rebelled €against the commandment of the LORD your God, and did not believe him €or obey his voice. You have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you. @"So I lay prostrate before the LORD for these forty days and forty €nights, because the LORD had said he would destroy you. And I prayed to the LORD, `O Lord GOD, destroy not thy people and thy €heritage, whom thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, whom thou hast €brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not regard the €stubbornness of this people, or their wickedness, or their sin, lest the land from which thou didst bring us say, "Because the LORD was €not able to bring them into the land which he promised them, and €because he hated them, he has brought them out to slay them in the €wilderness." For they are thy people and thy heritage, whom thou didst bring out by €thy great power and by thy outstretched arm.'  @"At that time the LORD said to me, `Hew two tables of stone like the €first, and come up to me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood. And I will write on the tables the words that were on the first tables €which you broke, and you shall put them in the ark.' So I made an ark of acacia wood, and hewed two tables of stone like the €first, and went up the mountain with the two tables in my hand. And he wrote on the tables, as at the first writing, the ten €commandments which the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain out of €the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly; and the LORD gave €them to me. Then I turned and came down from the mountain, and put the tables in €the ark which I had made; and there they are, as the LORD commanded me. @(The people of Israel journeyed from Be-er'oth Bene-ja'akan to €Mose'rah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried; and his son €Elea'zar ministered as priest in his stead. From there they journeyed to Gud'godah, and from Gud'godah to €Jot'bathah, a land with brooks of water. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’؊˜ˆAt that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of €the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to him €and to bless in his name, to this day. Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers; the €LORD is his inheritance, as the LORD your God said to him.) @"I stayed on the mountain, as at the first time, forty days and forty €nights, and the LORD hearkened to me that time also; the LORD was €unwilling to destroy you. And the LORD said to me, `Arise, go on your journey at the head of the €people, that they may go in and possess the land, which I swore to €their fathers to give them.' @"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to €fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve €the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I command €you this day for your good? Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, €the earth with all that is in it; yet the LORD set his heart in love upon your fathers and chose their €descendants after them, you above all peoples, as at this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer €stubborn. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the €mighty, and the terrible God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the €sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner therefore; for you were sojourners in the land of €Egypt. You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve him and cleave to €him, and by his name you shall swear. He is your praise; he is your God, who has done for you these great and €terrible things which your eyes have seen. Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons; and now the LORD your €God has made you as the stars of heaven for multitude.  @"You shall therefore love the LORD your God, and keep his charge, his €statutes, his ordinances, and his commandments always. And consider this day (since I am not speaking to your children who €have not known or seen it), consider the discipline of the LORD your €God, his greatness, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm, his signs and his deeds which he did in Egypt to Pharaoh the king of €Egypt and to all his land; and what he did to the army of Egypt, to their horses and to their €chariots; how he made the water of the Red Sea overflow them as they €pursued after you, and how the LORD has destroyed them to this day; and what he did to you in the wilderness, until you came to this place; and what he did to Dathan and Abi'ram the sons of Eli'ab, son of €Reuben; how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with €their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed €them, in the midst of all Israel; for your eyes have seen all the great work of the LORD which he did. @"You shall therefore keep all the commandment which I command you €this day, that you may be strong, and go in and take possession of the €land which you are going over to possess, and that you may live long in the land which the LORD swore to your €fathers to give to them and to their descendants, a land flowing with €milk and honey. For the land which you are entering to take possession of it is not €like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your €seed and watered it with your feet, like a garden of vegetables; but the land which you are going over to possess is a land of hills and €valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven, a land which the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God €are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the €year. @"And if you will obey my commandments which I command you this day, €to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and €with all your soul, he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and €the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and €your oil. And he will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you shall €eat and be full. Take heed lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve €other gods and worship them, and the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and he shut up the €heavens, so that there be no rain, and the land yield no fruit, and you €perish quickly off the good land which the LORD gives you. @"You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in €your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they €shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are €sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when €you lie down, and when you rise. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your €gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the €land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the €heavens are above the earth. For if you will be careful to do all this commandment which I command €you to do, loving the LORD your God, walking in all his ways, and €cleaving to him, then the LORD will drive out all these nations before you, and you will €dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourselves. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours; your €territory shall be from the wilderness and Lebanon and from the River, €the river Euphra'tes, to the western sea. No man shall be able to stand against you; the LORD your God will lay €the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that you shall €tread, as he promised you. @"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which €I command you this day, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your €God, but turn aside from the way which I command you this day, to go €after other gods which you have not known. And when the LORD your God brings you into the land which you are €entering to take possession of it, you shall set the blessing on Mount €Ger'izim and the curse on Mount Ebal. Are they not beyond the Jordan, west of the road, toward the going down €of the sun, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah, over €against Gilgal, beside the oak of Moreh? For you are to pass over the Jordan to go in to take possession of the €land which the LORD your God gives you; and when you possess it and €live in it, you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the ordinances which I €set before you this day.  @"These are the statutes and ordinances which you shall be careful to €do in the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you €to possess, all the days that you live upon the earth. You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you €shall dispossess served their gods, upon the high mountains and upon €the hills and under every green tree; you shall tear down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and €burn their Ashe'rim with fire; you shall hew down the graven images of €their gods, and destroy their name out of that place. You shall not do so to the LORD your God. But you shall seek the place which the LORD your God will choose out of €all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there; thither €you shall go, and thither you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, €your tithes and the offering that you present, your votive offerings, €your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herd and of your €flock; and there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall €rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which €the LORD your God has blessed you. You shall not do according to all that we are doing here this day, €every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes; for you have not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which €the LORD your God gives you. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’،˜ŠBut when you go over the Jordan, and live in the land which the LORD €your God gives you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from all your €enemies round about, so that you live in safety, then to the place which the LORD your God will choose, to make his name €dwell there, thither you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt €offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the offering that you €present, and all your votive offerings which you vow to the LORD. And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and €your daughters, your menservants and your maidservants, and the Levite €that is within your towns, since he has no portion or inheritance with €you. Take heed that you do not offer your burnt offerings at every place €that you see; but at the place which the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, €there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all €that I am commanding you. @"However, you may slaughter and eat flesh within any of your towns, €as much as you desire, according to the blessing of the LORD your God €which he has given you; the unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of €the gazelle and as of the hart. Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it out upon the earth €like water. You may not eat within your towns the tithe of your grain or of your €wine or of your oil, or the firstlings of your herd or of your flock, €or any of your votive offerings which you vow, or your freewill €offerings, or the offering that you present; but you shall eat them before the LORD your God in the place which the €LORD your God will choose, you and your son and your daughter, your €manservant and your maidservant, and the Levite who is within your €towns; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all that you €undertake. Take heed that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in €your land. @"When the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he has promised €you, and you say, `I will eat flesh,' because you crave flesh, you may €eat as much flesh as you desire. If the place which the LORD your God will choose to put his name there €is too far from you, then you may kill any of your herd or your flock, €which the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat €within your towns as much as you desire. Just as the gazelle or the hart is eaten, so you may eat of it; the €unclean and the clean alike may eat of it. Only be sure that you do not eat the blood; for the blood is the life, €and you shall not eat the life with the flesh. You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out upon the earth like water. You shall not eat it; that all may go well with you and with your €children after you, when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD. But the holy things which are due from you, and your votive offerings, €you shall take, and you shall go to the place which the LORD will €choose, and offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on the altar €of the LORD your God; the blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out €on the altar of the LORD your God, but the flesh you may eat. Be careful to heed all these words which I command you, that it may go €well with you and with your children after you for ever, when you do €what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God. @"When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go €in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take heed that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been €destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, €saying, `How did these nations serve their gods? -- that I also may do €likewise.' You shall not do so to the LORD your God; for every abominable thing €which the LORD hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn €their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. @"Everything that I command you you shall be careful to do; you shall €not add to it or take from it.  @"If a prophet arises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you €a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder which he tells you comes to pass, and if he €says, `Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, `and let €us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer of €dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love €the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him, and keep his €commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and cleave to €him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, €because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought €you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of €bondage, to make you leave the way in which the LORD your God commanded €you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from the midst of you. @"If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your €daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own €soul, entices you secretly, saying, `Let us go and serve other gods,' €which neither you nor your fathers have known, some of the gods of the peoples that are round about you, whether near €you or far off from you, from the one end of the earth to the other, you shall not yield to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity €him, nor shall you spare him, nor shall you conceal him; but you shall kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him €to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. You shall stone him to death with stones, because he sought to draw you €away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, €out of the house of bondage. And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and never again do any such €wickedness as this among you. @"If you hear in one of your cities, which the LORD your God gives you €to dwell there, that certain base fellows have gone out among you and have drawn away €the inhabitants of the city, saying, `Let us go and serve other gods,' €which you have not known, then you shall inquire and make search and ask diligently; and behold, €if it be true and certain that such an abominable thing has been done €among you, you shall surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword, €destroying it utterly, all who are in it and its cattle, with the edge €of the sword. You shall gather all its spoil into the midst of its open square, and €burn the city and all its spoil with fire, as a whole burnt offering to €the LORD your God; it shall be a heap for ever, it shall not be built €again. None of the devoted things shall cleave to your hand; that the LORD may €turn from the fierceness of his anger, and show you mercy, and have €compassion on you, and multiply you, as he swore to your fathers, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, keeping all his €commandments which I command you this day, and doing what is right in €the sight of the LORD your God.  @"You are the sons of the LORD your God; you shall not cut yourselves €or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead. For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen €you to be a people for his own possession, out of all the peoples that €are on the face of the earth. @"You shall not eat any abominable thing. These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the hart, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the €antelope, and the mountain-sheep. Every animal that parts the hoof and has the hoof cloven in two, and €chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. Yet of those that chew the cud or have the hoof cloven you shall not €eat these: the camel, the hare, and the rock badger, because they chew €the cud but do not part the hoof, are unclean for you. And the swine, because it parts the hoof but does not chew the cud, is €unclean for you. Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you €shall not touch. @"Of all that are in the waters you may eat these: whatever has fins €and scales you may eat. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’؎˜ŠAnd whatever does not have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is €unclean for you. @"You may eat all clean birds. But these are the ones which you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, €the osprey, the buzzard, the kite, after their kinds; every raven after its kind; the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk, after their kinds; the little owl and the great owl, the water hen and the pelican, the carrion vulture and the cormorant, the stork, the heron, after their kinds; the hoopoe and the bat. And all winged insects are unclean for you; they shall not be eaten. All clean winged things you may eat. @"You shall not eat anything that dies of itself; you may give it to €the alien who is within your towns, that he may eat it, or you may sell €it to a foreigner; for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. €@"You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk. @"You shall tithe all the yield of your seed, which comes forth from €the field year by year. And before the LORD your God, in the place which he will choose, to €make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of €your wine, and of your oil, and the firstlings of your herd and flock; €that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to bring €the tithe, when the LORD your God blesses you, because the place is too €far from you, which the LORD your God chooses, to set his name there, then you shall turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, €and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses, and spend the money for whatever you desire, oxen, or sheep, or wine or €strong drink, whatever your appetite craves; and you shall eat there €before the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. And you shall not forsake the Levite who is within your towns, for he €has no portion or inheritance with you. @"At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe €of your produce in the same year, and lay it up within your towns; and the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and €the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your €towns, shall come and eat and be filled; that the LORD your God may €bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.  @"At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release. And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release €what he has lent to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his €neighbor, his brother, because the LORD's release has been proclaimed. Of a foreigner you may exact it; but whatever of yours is with your €brother your hand shall release. But there will be no poor among you (for the LORD will bless you in the €land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess), if only you will obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to €do all this commandment which I command you this day. For the LORD your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall €lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; and you shall rule over €many nations, but they shall not rule over you. @"If there is among you a poor man, one of your brethren, in any of €your towns within your land which the LORD your God gives you, you €shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him, and lend him sufficient for his €need, whatever it may be. Take heed lest there be a base thought in your heart, and you say, `The €seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye be hostile to €your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD €against you, and it be sin in you. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when €you give to him; because for this the LORD your God will bless you in €all your work and in all that you undertake. For the poor will never cease out of the land; therefore I command you, €You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the €poor, in the land. @"If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he €shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go €free from you. And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go €empty-handed; you shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your €threshing floor, and out of your wine press; as the LORD your God has €blessed you, you shall give to him. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the €LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today. But if he says to you, `I will not go out from you,' because he loves €you and your household, since he fares well with you, then you shall take an awl, and thrust it through his ear into the €door, and he shall be your bondman for ever. And to your bondwoman you €shall do likewise. It shall not seem hard to you, when you let him go free from you; for €at half the cost of a hired servant he has served you six years. So the €LORD your God will bless you in all that you do. @"All the firstling males that are born of your herd and flock you €shall consecrate to the LORD your God; you shall do no work with the €firstling of your herd, nor shear the firstling of your flock. You shall eat it, you and your household, before the LORD your God year €by year at the place which the LORD will choose. But if it has any blemish, if it is lame or blind, or has any serious €blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God. You shall eat it within your towns; the unclean and the clean alike may €eat it, as though it were a gazelle or a hart. Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground €like water.  @"Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover to the LORD your €God; for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of €Egypt by night. And you shall offer the passover sacrifice to the LORD your God, from €the flock or the herd, at the place which the LORD will choose, to make €his name dwell there. You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat it €with unleavened bread, the bread of affliction -- for you came out of the €land of Egypt in hurried flight -- that all the days of your life you may €remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt. No leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory for seven days; €nor shall any of the flesh which you sacrifice on the evening of the €first day remain all night until morning. You may not offer the passover sacrifice within any of your towns which €the LORD your God gives you; but at the place which the LORD your God will choose, to make his name €dwell in it, there you shall offer the passover sacrifice, in the €evening at the going down of the sun, at the time you came out of Egypt. And you shall boil it and eat it at the place which the LORD your God €will choose; and in the morning you shall turn and go to your tents. For six days you shall eat unleavened bread; and on the seventh day €there shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD your God; you shall do no €work on it. @"You shall count seven weeks; begin to count the seven weeks from the €time you first put the sickle to the standing grain. Then you shall keep the feast of weeks to the LORD your God with the €tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as €the LORD your God blesses you; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and €your daughter, your manservant and your maidservant, the Levite who is €within your towns, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are €among you, at the place which the LORD your God will choose, to make €his name dwell there. You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be €careful to observe these statutes. @"You shall keep the feast of booths seven days, when you make your €ingathering from your threshing floor and your wine press; you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, €your manservant and your maidservant, the Levite, the sojourner, the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’ؐ˜Žƒfatherless, and the widow who are within your towns. For seven days you shall keep the feast to the LORD your God at the €place which the LORD will choose; because the LORD your God will bless €you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you €will be altogether joyful. @"Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your €God at the place which he will choose: at the feast of unleavened €bread, at the feast of weeks, and at the feast of booths. They shall €not appear before the LORD empty-handed; every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the €LORD your God which he has given you. @"You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns which the €LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes; and they shall judge €the people with righteous judgment. You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality; and you €shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and €subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and €inherit the land which the LORD your God gives you. @"You shall not plant any tree as an Ashe'rah beside the altar of the €LORD your God which you shall make. And you shall not set up a pillar, which the LORD your God hates.  @"You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep in €which is a blemish, any defect whatever; for that is an abomination to €the LORD your God. @"If there is found among you, within any of your towns which the LORD €your God gives you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight €of the LORD your God, in transgressing his covenant, and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or €the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden, and it is told you and you hear of it; then you shall inquire €diligently, and if it is true and certain that such an abominable thing €has been done in Israel, then you shall bring forth to your gates that man or woman who has done €this evil thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death with €stones. On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses he that is to €die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the €evidence of one witness. The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to €death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the €evil from the midst of you. @"If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide €and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of €assault and another, any case within your towns which is too difficult €for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the LORD €your God will choose, and coming to the Levitical priests, and to the judge who is in office €in those days, you shall consult them, and they shall declare to you €the decision. Then you shall do according to what they declare to you from that place €which the LORD will choose; and you shall be careful to do according to €all that they direct you; according to the instructions which they give you, and according to the €decision which they pronounce to you, you shall do; you shall not turn €aside from the verdict which they declare to you, either to the right €hand or to the left. The man who acts presumptuously, by not obeying the priest who stands €to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man €shall die; so you shall purge the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear, and fear, and not act presumptuously €again. @"When you come to the land which the LORD your God gives you, and you €possess it and dwell in it, and then say, `I will set a king over me, €like all the nations that are round about me'; you may indeed set as king over you him whom the LORD your God will €choose. One from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; €you may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. Only he must not multiply horses for himself, or cause the people to €return to Egypt in order to multiply horses, since the LORD has said to €you, `You shall never return that way again.' And he shall not multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; €nor shall he greatly multiply for himself silver and gold. @"And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for €himself in a book a copy of this law, from that which is in the charge €of the Levitical priests; and it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his €life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by keeping all the €words of this law and these statutes, and doing them; that his heart may not be lifted up above his brethren, and that he may €not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the €left; so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, €in Israel.  @"The Levitical priests, that is, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no €portion or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings by €fire to the LORD, and his rightful dues. They shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the LORD is their €inheritance, as he promised them. And this shall be the priests' due from the people, from those offering €a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep: they shall give to the priest €the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. The first fruits of your grain, of your wine and of your oil, and the €first of the fleece of your sheep, you shall give him. For the LORD your God has chosen him out of all your tribes, to stand €and minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever. @"And if a Levite comes from any of your towns out of all Israel, €where he lives -- and he may come when he desires -- to the place which the €LORD will choose, then he may minister in the name of the LORD his God, like all his €fellow-Levites who stand to minister there before the LORD. They shall have equal portions to eat, besides what he receives from €the sale of his patrimony. @"When you come into the land which the LORD your God gives you, you €shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one who burns his son or his €daughter as an offering, any one who practices divination, a €soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a medium, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD; and €because of these abominable practices the LORD your God is driving them €out before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For these nations, which you are about to dispossess, give heed to €soothsayers and to diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not €allowed you so to do. @"The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among €you, from your brethren -- him you shall heed --just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the €assembly, when you said, `Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD €my God, or see this great fire any more, lest I die.' And the LORD said to me, `They have rightly said all that they have €spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren; €and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all €that I command him. And whoever will not give heed to my words which he shall speak in my €name, I myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name which I have €not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, €that same prophet shall die.' And if you say in your heart, `How may we know the word which the LORD €has not spoken?' --when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not €come to pass or come true, that is a word which the LORD has not €spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you need not be €afraid of him.  @"When the LORD your God cuts off the nations whose land the LORD your €God gives you, and you dispossess them and dwell in their cities and in €their houses, you shall set apart three cities for you in the land which the LORD žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’ؓ’‚your God gives you to possess. You shall prepare the roads, and divide into three parts the area of €the land which the LORD your God gives you as a possession, so that any €manslayer can flee to them. @"This is the provision for the manslayer, who by fleeing there may €save his life. If any one kills his neighbor unintentionally without €having been at enmity with him in time past --as when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and €his hand swings the axe to cut down a tree, and the head slips from the €handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies -- he may flee to one of €these cities and save his life; lest the avenger of blood in hot anger pursue the manslayer and €overtake him, because the way is long, and wound him mortally, though €the man did not deserve to die, since he was not at enmity with his €neighbor in time past. Therefore I command you, You shall set apart three cities. And if the LORD your God enlarges your border, as he has sworn to your €fathers, and gives you all the land which he promised to give to your €fathers --provided you are careful to keep all this commandment, which I command €you this day, by loving the LORD your God and by walking ever in his €ways -- then you shall add three other cities to these three, lest innocent blood be shed in your land which the LORD your God gives €you for an inheritance, and so the guilt of bloodshed be upon you. @"But if any man hates his neighbor, and lies in wait for him, and €attacks him, and wounds him mortally so that he dies, and the man flees €into one of these cities, then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him from there, and €hand him over to the avenger of blood, so that he may die. Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the guilt of innocent €blood from Israel, so that it may be well with you. @"In the inheritance which you will hold in the land that the LORD €your God gives you to possess, you shall not remove your neighbor's €landmark, which the men of old have set. @"A single witness shall not prevail against a man for any crime or €for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed; €only on the evidence of two witnesses, or of three witnesses, shall a €charge be sustained. If a malicious witness rises against any man to accuse him of €wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before €the priests and the judges who are in office in those days; the judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false €witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother; so you €shall purge the evil from the midst of you. And the rest shall hear, and fear, and shall never again commit any €such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity; it shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth €for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.  @"When you go forth to war against your enemies, and see horses and €chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of €them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up out of the €land of Egypt. And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and €speak to the people, and shall say to them, `Hear, O Israel, you draw near this day to €battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint; do not fear, or €tremble, or be in dread of them; for the LORD your God is he that goes with you, to fight for you €against your enemies, to give you the victory.' Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying, `What man is there €that has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go back to €his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it. And what man is there that has planted a vineyard and has not enjoyed €its fruit? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and €another man enjoy its fruit. And what man is there that has betrothed a wife and has not taken her? €Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man €take her.' And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, 'What man €is there that is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his €house, lest the heart of his fellows melt as his heart.' And when the officers have made an end of speaking to the people, then €commanders shall be appointed at the head of the people. @"When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of €peace to it. And if its answer to you is peace and it opens to you, then all the €people who are found in it shall do forced labor for you and shall €serve you. But if it makes no peace with you, but makes war against you, then you €shall besiege it; and when the LORD your God gives it into your hand you shall put all €its males to the sword, but the women and the little ones, the cattle, and everything else in €the city, all its spoil, you shall take as booty for yourselves; and €you shall enjoy the spoil of your enemies, which the LORD your God has €given you. Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very far from you, which €are not cities of the nations here. But in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God gives you for €an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, but you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittites and the Amorites, the €Canaanites and the Per'izzites, the Hivites and the Jeb'usites, as the €LORD your God has commanded; that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable €practices which they have done in the service of their gods, and so to €sin against the LORD your God. @"When you besiege a city for a long time, making war against it in €order to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe €against them; for you may eat of them, but you shall not cut them down. €Are the trees in the field men that they should be besieged by you? Only the trees which you know are not trees for food you may destroy €and cut down that you may build siegeworks against the city that makes €war with you, until it falls.  @"If in the land which the LORD your God gives you to possess, any one €is found slain, lying in the open country, and it is not known who €killed him, then your elders and your judges shall come forth, and they shall €measure the distance to the cities which are around him that is slain; and the elders of the city which is nearest to the slain man shall take €a heifer which has never been worked and which has not pulled in the €yoke. And the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley €with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break €the heifer's neck there in the valley. And the priests the sons of Levi shall come forward, for the LORD your €God has chosen them to minister to him and to bless in the name of the €LORD, and by their word every dispute and every assault shall be €settled. And all the elders of that city nearest to the slain man shall wash €their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley; and they shall testify, `Our hands did not shed this blood, neither did €our eyes see it shed. Forgive, O LORD, thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and set €not the guilt of innocent blood in the midst of thy people Israel; but €let the guilt of blood be forgiven them.' So you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, when €you do what is right in the sight of the LORD. @"When you go forth to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God €gives them into your hands, and you take them captive, and see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you have desire for €her and would take her for yourself as wife, then you shall bring her home to your house, and she shall shave her €head and pare her nails. And she shall put off her captive's garb, and shall remain in your €house and bewail her father and her mother a full month; after that you €may go in to her, and be her husband, and she shall be your wife. Then, if you have no delight in her, you shall let her go where she €will; but you shall not sell her for money, you shall not treat her as žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’ؕ˜Žƒa slave, since you have humiliated her. @"If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other disliked, and €they have borne him children, both the loved and the disliked, and if €the first-born son is hers that is disliked, then on the day when he assigns his possessions as an inheritance to €his sons, he may not treat the son of the loved as the first-born in €preference to the son of the disliked, who is the first-born, but he shall acknowledge the first-born, the son of the disliked, by €giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the first €issue of his strength; the right of the first-born is his. @"If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son, who will not obey the €voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they €chastise him, will not give heed to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out €to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, `This our son is stubborn €and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a €drunkard.' Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones; so €you shall purge the evil from your midst; and all Israel shall hear, €and fear. @"And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put €to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall bury €him the same day, for a hanged man is accursed by God; you shall not €defile your land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance.  @"You shall not see your brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and €withhold your help from them; you shall take them back to your brother. And if he is not near you, or if you do not know him, you shall bring €it home to your house, and it shall be with you until your brother €seeks it; then you shall restore it to him. And so you shall do with his ass; so you shall do with his garment; so €you shall do with any lost thing of your brother's, which he loses and €you find; you may not withhold your help. You shall not see your brother's ass or his ox fallen down by the way, €and withhold your help from them; you shall help him to lift them up €again. @"A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a €man put on a woman's garment; for whoever does these things is an €abomination to the LORD your God. @"If you chance to come upon a bird's nest, in any tree or on the €ground, with young ones or eggs and the mother sitting upon the young €or upon the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young; you shall let the mother go, but the young you may take to yourself; €that it may go well with you, and that you may live long. @"When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, €that you may not bring the guilt of blood upon your house, if any one €fall from it. @"You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest the €whole yield be forfeited to the sanctuary, the crop which you have sown €and the yield of the vineyard. You shall not plow with an ox and an ass together. You shall not wear a mingled stuff, wool and linen together. @"You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of your cloak €with which you cover yourself. @"If any man takes a wife, and goes in to her, and then spurns her, and charges her with shameful conduct, and brings an evil name upon €her, saying, `I took this woman, and when I came near her, I did not €find in her the tokens of virginity,' then the father of the young woman and her mother shall take and bring €out the tokens of her virginity to the elders of the city in the gate; and the father of the young woman shall say to the elders, `I gave my €daughter to this man to wife, and he spurns her; and lo, he has made shameful charges against her, saying, "I did not €find in your daughter the tokens of virginity." And yet these are the €tokens of my daughter's virginity.' And they shall spread the garment €before the elders of the city. Then the elders of that city shall take the man and whip him; and they shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver, and give them to €the father of the young woman, because he has brought an evil name upon €a virgin of Israel; and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away €all his days. But if the thing is true, that the tokens of virginity were not found €in the young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's €house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, €because she has wrought folly in Israel by playing the harlot in her €father's house; so you shall purge the evil from the midst of you. @"If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them €shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman; so you shall €purge the evil from Israel. @"If there is a betrothed virgin, and a man meets her in the city and €lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you €shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did €not cry for help though she was in the city, and the man because he €violated his neighbor's wife; so you shall purge the evil from the €midst of you. @"But if in the open country a man meets a young woman who is €betrothed, and the man seizes her and lies with her, then only the man €who lay with her shall die. But to the young woman you shall do nothing; in the young woman there €is no offense punishable by death, for this case is like that of a man €attacking and murdering his neighbor; because he came upon her in the open country, and though the betrothed €young woman cried for help there was no one to rescue her. @"If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and €lies with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with her shall give to the father of the young €woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he €has violated her; he may not put her away all his days. @"A man shall not take his father's wife, nor shall he uncover her who €is his father's.  @"He whose testicles are crushed or whose male member is cut off shall €not enter the assembly of the LORD. @"No bastard shall enter the assembly of the LORD; even to the tenth €generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the LORD. @"No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the LORD; even to €the tenth generation none belonging to them shall enter the assembly of €the LORD for ever; because they did not meet you with bread and with water on the way, €when you came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against you €Balaam the son of Be'or from Pethor of Mesopota'mia, to curse you. Nevertheless the LORD your God would not hearken to Balaam; but the €LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the €LORD your God loved you. You shall not seek their peace or their prosperity all your days for €ever. @"You shall not abhor an E'domite, for he is your brother; you shall €not abhor an Egyptian, because you were a sojourner in his land. The children of the third generation that are born to them may enter €the assembly of the LORD. @"When you go forth against your enemies and are in camp, then you €shall keep yourself from every evil thing. @"If there is among you any man who is not clean by reason of what €chances to him by night, then he shall go outside the camp, he shall €not come within the camp; but when evening comes on, he shall bathe himself in water, and when €the sun is down, he may come within the camp. @"You shall have a place outside the camp and you shall go out to it; and you shall have a stick with your weapons; and when you sit down €outside, you shall dig a hole with it, and turn back and cover up your €excrement. Because the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp, to save you €and to give up your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be €holy, that he may not see anything indecent among you, and turn away €from you. @"You shall not give up to his master a slave who has escaped from his €master to you; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’ؗ˜he shall dwell with you, in your midst, in the place which he shall €choose within one of your towns, where it pleases him best; you shall €not oppress him. @"There shall be no cult prostitute of the daughters of Israel, €neither shall there be a cult prostitute of the sons of Israel. You shall not bring the hire of a harlot, or the wages of a dog, into €the house of the LORD your God in payment for any vow; for both of €these are an abomination to the LORD your God. @"You shall not lend upon interest to your brother, interest on money, €interest on victuals, interest on anything that is lent for interest. To a foreigner you may lend upon interest, but to your brother you €shall not lend upon interest; that the LORD your God may bless you in €all that you undertake in the land which you are entering to take €possession of it. @"When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not be slack to €pay it; for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and it €would be sin in you. But if you refrain from vowing, it shall be no sin in you. You shall be careful to perform what has passed your lips, for you have €voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God what you have promised with your €mouth. @"When you go into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat your fill of €grapes, as many as you wish, but you shall not put any in your vessel. When you go into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the ears €with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor's €standing grain.  @"When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor €in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes €her a bill of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his €house, and she departs out of his house, and if she goes and becomes another man's wife, and the latter husband dislikes her and writes her a bill of divorce €and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the €latter husband dies, who took her to be his wife, then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to €be his wife, after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination €before the LORD, and you shall not bring guilt upon the land which the €LORD your God gives you for an inheritance. @"When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be €charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, to be €happy with his wife whom he has taken. @"No man shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge; for he €would be taking a life in pledge. @"If a man is found stealing one of his brethren, the people of €Israel, and if he treats him as a slave or sells him, then that thief €shall die; so you shall purge the evil from the midst of you. @"Take heed, in an attack of leprosy, to be very careful to do €according to all that the Levitical priests shall direct you; as I €commanded them, so you shall be careful to do. Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam on the way as you came €forth out of Egypt. @"When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go €into his house to fetch his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall €bring the pledge out to you. And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge; when the sun goes down, you shall restore to him the pledge that he may €sleep in his cloak and bless you; and it shall be righteousness to you €before the LORD your God. @"You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether €he is one of your brethren or one of the sojourners who are in your €land within your towns; you shall give him his hire on the day he earns it, before the sun goes €down (for he is poor, and sets his heart upon it); lest he cry against €you to the LORD, and it be sin in you. @"The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor shall €the children be put to death for the fathers; every man shall be put to €death for his own sin. @"You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the €fatherless, or take a widow's garment in pledge; but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the LORD your €God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this. @"When you reap your harvest in your field, and have forgotten a sheaf €in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the €sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow; that the LORD your God may €bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; €it shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it €afterward; it shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; €therefore I command you to do this.  @"If there is a dispute between men, and they come into court, and the €judges decide between them, acquitting the innocent and condemning the €guilty, then if the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall cause him €to lie down and be beaten in his presence with a number of stripes in €proportion to his offense. Forty stripes may be given him, but not more; lest, if one should go on €to beat him with more stripes than these, your brother be degraded in €your sight. @"You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain. @"If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the €wife of the dead shall not be married outside the family to a stranger; €her husband's brother shall go in to her, and take her as his wife, and €perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his €brother who is dead, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. And if the man does not wish to take his brother's wife, then his €brother's wife shall go up to the gate to the elders, and say, `My €husband's brother refuses to perpetuate his brother's name in Israel; €he will not perform the duty of a husband's brother to me.' Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak to him: and if he €persists, saying, `I do not wish to take her,' then his brother's wife shall go up to him in the presence of the €elders, and pull his sandal off his foot, and spit in his face; and she €shall answer and say, `So shall it be done to the man who does not €build up his brother's house.' And the name of his house shall be called in Israel, The house of him €that had his sandal pulled off. @"When men fight with one another, and the wife of the one draws near €to rescue her husband from the hand of him who is beating him, and puts €out her hand and seizes him by the private parts, then you shall cut off her hand; your eye shall have no pity. @"You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a €small. You shall not have in your house two kinds of measures, a large and a €small. A full and just weight you shall have, a full and just measure you €shall have; that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD €your God gives you. For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination €to the LORD your God. @"Remember what Am'alek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt, how he attacked you on the way, when you were faint and weary, and cut €off at your rear all who lagged behind you; and he did not fear God. Therefore when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your €enemies round about, in the land which the LORD your God gives you for €an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the remembrance of €Am'alek from under heaven; you shall not forget.  @"When you come into the land which the LORD your God gives you for an €inheritance, and have taken possession of it, and live in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which €you harvest from your land that the LORD your God gives you, and you €shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place which the LORD €your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there. And you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’ؚ“‚to him, `I declare this day to the LORD your God that I have come into €the land which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.' Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand, and set it down €before the altar of the LORD your God. @"And you shall make response before the LORD your God, `A wandering €Aramean was my father; and he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, €few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and €populous. And the Egyptians treated us harshly, and afflicted us, and laid upon €us hard bondage. Then we cried to the LORD the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard €our voice, and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an €outstretched arm, with great terror, with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing €with milk and honey. And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which €thou, O LORD, hast given me.' And you shall set it down before the LORD €your God, and worship before the LORD your God; and you shall rejoice in all the good which the LORD your God has given €to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is €among you. @"When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the €third year, which is the year of tithing, giving it to the Levite, the €sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within your €towns and be filled, then you shall say before the LORD your God, `I have removed the sacred €portion out of my house, and moreover I have given it to the Levite, €the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all thy €commandment which thou hast commanded me; I have not transgressed any €of thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them; I have not eaten of the tithe while I was mourning, or removed any of €it while I was unclean, or offered any of it to the dead; I have obeyed €the voice of the LORD my God, I have done according to all that thou €hast commanded me. Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people €Israel and the ground which thou hast given us, as thou didst swear to €our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.' @"This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and €ordinances; you shall therefore be careful to do them with all your €heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day concerning the LORD that he is your God, and €that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his €commandments and his ordinances, and will obey his voice; and the LORD has declared this day concerning you that you are a people €for his own possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to €keep all his commandments, that he will set you high above all nations that he has made, in praise €and in fame and in honor, and that you shall be a people holy to the €LORD your God, as he has spoken."  @Now Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, €"Keep all the commandment which I command you this day. And on the day you pass over the Jordan to the land which the LORD your €God gives you, you shall set up large stones, and plaster them with €plaster; and you shall write upon them all the words of this law, when you pass €over to enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land €flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has €promised you. And when you have passed over the Jordan, you shall set up these €stones, concerning which I command you this day, on Mount Ebal, and you €shall plaster them with plaster. And there you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of €stones; you shall lift up no iron tool upon them. You shall build an altar to the LORD your God of unhewn stones; and you €shall offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God; and you shall sacrifice peace offerings, and shall eat there; and you €shall rejoice before the LORD your God. And you shall write upon the stones all the words of this law very €plainly." @And Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, "Keep silence €and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the LORD €your God. You shall therefore obey the voice of the LORD your God, keeping his €commandments and his statutes, which I command you this day." @And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, "When you have passed over the Jordan, these shall stand upon Mount €Ger'izim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Is'sachar, Joseph, €and Benjamin. And these shall stand upon Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, €Asher, Zeb'ulun, Dan, and Naph'tali. And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel with a loud €voice: @"`Cursed be the man who makes a graven or molten image, an €abomination to the LORD, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and €sets it up in secret.' And all the people shall answer and say, `Amen.' @"`Cursed be he who dishonors his father or his mother.' And all the €people shall say, `Amen.' @"`Cursed be he who removes his neighbor's landmark.' And all the €people shall say, `Amen.' @"`Cursed be he who misleads a blind man on the road.' And all the €people shall say, `Amen.' @"`Cursed be he who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the €fatherless, and the widow.' And all the people shall say, `Amen.' @"`Cursed be he who lies with his father's wife, because he has €uncovered her who is his father's.' And all the people shall say, €`Amen.' @"`Cursed be he who lies with any kind of beast.' And all the people €shall say, `Amen.' @"`Cursed be he who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his €father or the daughter of his mother.' And all the people shall say, €`Amen.' @"`Cursed be he who lies with his mother-in-law.' And all the people €shall say, `Amen.' @"`Cursed be he who slays his neighbor in secret.' And all the people €shall say, `Amen.' @"`Cursed be he who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person.' And all €the people shall say, `Amen.' @"`Cursed be he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing €them.' And all the people shall say, `Amen.'  @"And if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do €all his commandments which I command you this day, the LORD your God €will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you €obey the voice of the LORD your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, and the fruit of your ground, €and the fruit of your beasts, the increase of your cattle, and the €young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading-trough. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when €you go out. @"The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated €before you; they shall come out against you one way, and flee before €you seven ways. The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns, and in all €that you undertake; and he will bless you in the land which the LORD €your God gives you. The LORD will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has €sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and €walk in his ways. And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the €name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of you. And the LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your €body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your ground, €within the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. The LORD will open to you his good treasury the heavens, to give the €rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your €hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the LORD will make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall €tend upward only, and not downward; if you obey the commandments of the €LORD your God, which I command you this day, being careful to do them, and if you do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’؜˜Ž‚this day, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to €serve them. @"But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be €careful to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command you €this day, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field. Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading-trough. Cursed shall be the fruit of your body, and the fruit of your ground, €the increase of your cattle, and the young of your flock. Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you €go out. @"The LORD will send upon you curses, confusion, and frustration, in €all that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and perish €quickly, on account of the evil of your doings, because you have €forsaken me. The LORD will make the pestilence cleave to you until he has consumed €you off the land which you are entering to take possession of it. The LORD will smite you with consumption, and with fever, inflammation, €and fiery heat, and with drought, and with blasting, and with mildew; €they shall pursue you until you perish. And the heavens over your head shall be brass, and the earth under you €shall be iron. The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust; from heaven €it shall come down upon you until you are destroyed. @"The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you €shall go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them; and €you shall be a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. And your dead body shall be food for all birds of the air, and for the €beasts of the earth; and there shall be no one to frighten them away. The LORD will smite you with the boils of Egypt, and with the ulcers €and the scurvy and the itch, of which you cannot be healed. The LORD will smite you with madness and blindness and confusion of €mind; and you shall grope at noonday, as the blind grope in darkness, and you €shall not prosper in your ways; and you shall be only oppressed and €robbed continually, and there shall be no one to help you. You shall betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her; you shall €build a house, and you shall not dwell in it; you shall plant a €vineyard, and you shall not use the fruit of it. Your ox shall be slain before your eyes, and you shall not eat of it; €your ass shall be violently taken away before your face, and shall not €be restored to you; your sheep shall be given to your enemies, and €there shall be no one to help you. Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, while €your eyes look on and fail with longing for them all the day; and it €shall not be in the power of your hand to prevent it. A nation which you have not known shall eat up the fruit of your ground €and of all your labors; and you shall be only oppressed and crushed €continually; so that you shall be driven mad by the sight which your eyes shall see. The LORD will smite you on the knees and on the legs with grievous €boils of which you cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot to the €crown of your head. @"The LORD will bring you, and your king whom you set over you, to a €nation that neither you nor your fathers have known; and there you €shall serve other gods, of wood and stone. And you shall become a horror, a proverb, and a byword, among all the €peoples where the LORD will lead you away. You shall carry much seed into the field, and shall gather little in; €for the locust shall consume it. You shall plant vineyards and dress them, but you shall neither drink €of the wine nor gather the grapes; for the worm shall eat them. You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall €not anoint yourself with the oil; for your olives shall drop off. You shall beget sons and daughters, but they shall not be yours; for €they shall go into captivity. All your trees and the fruit of your ground the locust shall possess. The sojourner who is among you shall mount above you higher and higher; €and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, and you shall not lend to him; he shall be the €head, and you shall be the tail. All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you, €till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD €your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded €you. They shall be upon you as a sign and a wonder, and upon your €descendants for ever. @"Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and €gladness of heart, by reason of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against €you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and in want of all things; and €he will put a yoke of iron upon your neck, until he has destroyed you. The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the €earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you do not €understand, a nation of stern countenance, who shall not regard the person of the €old or show favor to the young, and shall eat the offspring of your cattle and the fruit of your €ground, until you are destroyed; who also shall not leave you grain, €wine, or oil, the increase of your cattle or the young of your flock, €until they have caused you to perish. They shall besiege you in all your towns, until your high and fortified €walls, in which you trusted, come down throughout all your land; and €they shall besiege you in all your towns throughout all your land, €which the LORD your God has given you. And you shall eat the offspring of your own body, the flesh of your €sons and daughters, whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege €and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you. The man who is the most tender and delicately bred among you will €grudge food to his brother, to the wife of his bosom, and to the last €of the children who remain to him; so that he will not give to any of them any of the flesh of his €children whom he is eating, because he has nothing left him, in the €siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in €all your towns. The most tender and delicately bred woman among you, who would not €venture to set the sole of her foot upon the ground because she is so €delicate and tender, will grudge to the husband of her bosom, to her €son and to her daughter, her afterbirth that comes out from between her feet and her children €whom she bears, because she will eat them secretly, for want of all €things, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall €distress you in your towns. @"If you are not careful to do all the words of this law which are €written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awful name, €the LORD your God, then the LORD will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary €afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous €and lasting. And he will bring upon you again all the diseases of Egypt, which you €were afraid of; and they shall cleave to you. Every sickness also, and every affliction which is not recorded in the €book of this law, the LORD will bring upon you, until you are destroyed. Whereas you were as the stars of heaven for multitude, you shall be €left few in number; because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your €God. And as the LORD took delight in doing you good and multiplying you, so €the LORD will take delight in bringing ruin upon you and destroying €you; and you shall be plucked off the land which you are entering to €take possession of it. And the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the €earth to the other; and there you shall serve other gods, of wood and €stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. And among these nations you shall find no ease, and there shall be no €rest for the sole of your foot; but the LORD will give you there a €trembling heart, and failing eyes, and a languishing soul; your life shall hang in doubt before you; night and day you shall be in žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’؜˜Ā‚dread, and have no assurance of your life. In the morning you shall say, `Would it were evening!' and at evening €you shall say, `Would it were morning!' because of the dread which your €heart shall fear, and the sights which your eyes shall see. And the LORD will bring you back in ships to Egypt, a journey which I €promised that you should never make again; and there you shall offer €yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no €man will buy you."  @These are the words of the covenant which the LORD commanded Moses to €make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the €covenant which he had made with them at Horeb. @And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: "You have seen all €that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and €to all his servants and to all his land, the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs, and those great €wonders; but to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, or €eyes to see, or ears to hear. I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not €worn out upon you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet; you have not eaten bread, and you have not drunk wine or strong drink; €that you may know that I am the LORD your God. And when you came to this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the €king of Bashan came out against us to battle, but we defeated them; we took their land, and gave it for an inheritance to the Reubenites, €the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manas'sites. Therefore be careful to do the words of this covenant, that you may €prosper in all that you do. @"You stand this day all of you before the LORD your God; the heads of €your tribes, your elders, and your officers, all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives, and the sojourner who is in your camp, €both he who hews your wood and he who draws your water, that you may enter into the sworn covenant of the LORD your God, which €the LORD your God makes with you this day; that he may establish you this day as his people, and that he may be €your God, as he promised you, and as he swore to your fathers, to €Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Nor is it with you only that I make this sworn covenant, but with him who is not here with us this day as well as with him who €stands here with us this day before the LORD our God. @"You know how we dwelt in the land of Egypt, and how we came through €the midst of the nations through which you passed; and you have seen their detestable things, their idols of wood and €stone, of silver and gold, which were among them. Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or family or tribe, whose €heart turns away this day from the LORD our God to go and serve the €gods of those nations; lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous €and bitter fruit, one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses €himself in his heart, saying, `I shall be safe, though I walk in the €stubbornness of my heart.' This would lead to the sweeping away of €moist and dry alike. The LORD would not pardon him, but rather the anger of the LORD and his €jealousy would smoke against that man, and the curses written in this €book would settle upon him, and the LORD would blot out his name from €under heaven. And the LORD would single him out from all the tribes of Israel for €calamity, in accordance with all the curses of the covenant written in €this book of the law. And the generation to come, your children who rise up after you, and €the foreigner who comes from a far land, would say, when they see the €afflictions of that land and the sicknesses with which the LORD has €made it sick --the whole land brimstone and salt, and a burnt-out waste, unsown, and €growing nothing, where no grass can sprout, an overthrow like that of €Sodom and Gomor'rah, Admah and Zeboi'im, which the LORD overthrew in €his anger and wrath --yea, all the nations would say, `Why has the LORD done thus to this €land? What means the heat of this great anger?' Then men would say, `It is because they forsook the covenant of the €LORD, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought €them out of the land of Egypt, and went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods whom they had €not known and whom he had not allotted to them; therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, bringing €upon it all the curses written in this book; and the LORD uprooted them from their land in anger and fury and great €wrath, and cast them into another land, as at this day.' @"The secret things belong to the LORD our God; but the things that €are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever, that we may do €all the words of this law.  @"And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, €which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the €nations where the LORD your God has driven you, and return to the LORD your God, you and your children, and obey his €voice in all that I command you this day, with all your heart and with €all your soul; then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes, and have compassion €upon you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the €LORD your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the €LORD your God will gather you, and from there he will fetch you; and the LORD your God will bring you into the land which your fathers €possessed, that you may possess it; and he will make you more €prosperous and numerous than your fathers. And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your €offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart €and with all your soul, that you may live. And the LORD your God will put all these curses upon your foes and €enemies who persecuted you. And you shall again obey the voice of the LORD, and keep all his €commandments which I command you this day. The LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work €of your hand, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your €cattle, and in the fruit of your ground; for the LORD will again take €delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments €and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn €to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. @"For this commandment which I command you this day is not too hard €for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, `Who will go up for us to €heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, `Who will go over €the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, €so that you can do it. @"See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you €this day, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by €keeping his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, then you €shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the €land which you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away €to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you this day, that you shall perish; you shall not live €long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to enter and €possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have €set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose €life, that you and your descendants may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice, and cleaving to him; for €that means life to you and length of days, that you may dwell in the €land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to €Jacob, to give them."  @So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’؟’And he said to them, "I am a hundred and twenty years old this day; I €am no longer able to go out and come in. The LORD has said to me, `You €shall not go over this Jordan.' The LORD your God himself will go over before you; he will destroy €these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them; and Joshua €will go over at your head, as the LORD has spoken. And the LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of €the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. And the LORD will give them over to you, and you shall do to them €according to all the commandment which I have commanded you. Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them: for €it is the LORD your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or €forsake you." @Then Moses summoned Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all €Israel, "Be strong and of good courage; for you shall go with this €people into the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give €them; and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the LORD who goes before you; he will be with you, he will not €fail you or forsake you; do not fear or be dismayed." @And Moses wrote this law, and gave it to the priests the sons of €Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the €elders of Israel. And Moses commanded them, "At the end of every seven years, at the set €time of the year of release, at the feast of booths, when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place €which he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in €their hearing. Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner €within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your €God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to €fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land which you are €going over the Jordan to possess." @And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, the days approach when you must €die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I €may commission him." And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves €in the tent of meeting. And the LORD appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud; and the pillar €of cloud stood by the door of the tent. @And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, you are about to sleep with your €fathers; then this people will rise and play the harlot after the €strange gods of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will €forsake me and break my covenant which I have made with them. Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will €forsake them and hide my face from them, and they will be devoured; and €many evils and troubles will come upon them, so that they will say in €that day, `Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not €among us?' And I will surely hide my face in that day on account of all the evil €which they have done, because they have turned to other gods. Now therefore write this song, and teach it to the people of Israel; €put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against €the people of Israel. For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, €which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are €full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and €despise me and break my covenant. And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall €confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths €of their descendants); for I know the purposes which they are already €forming, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give." So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the people of €Israel. @And the LORD commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said, "Be strong €and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into €the land which I swore to give them: I will be with you." @When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book, to €the very end, Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the €LORD, "Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of the €covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness €against you. For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are; behold, while I am yet €alive with you, today you have been rebellious against the LORD; how €much more after my death! Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I €may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to €witness against them. For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly, and turn €aside from the way which I have commanded you; and in the days to come €evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of €the LORD, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands." @Then Moses spoke the words of this song until they were finished, in €the ears of all the assembly of Israel:  "Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; €@@@and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. @@May my teaching drop as the rain, €@@@my speech distil as the dew, €@@as the gentle rain upon the tender grass, €@@@and as the showers upon the herb. @@For I will proclaim the name of the LORD. €@@@Ascribe greatness to our God! @@"The Rock, his work is perfect; €@@@for all his ways are justice. €@@A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, €@@@just and right is he. @@They have dealt corruptly with him, €@@@they are no longer his children because of their blemish; €@@@they are a perverse and crooked generation. @@Do you thus requite the LORD, €@@@you foolish and senseless people? €@@Is not he your father, who created you, €@@@who made you and established you? @@Remember the days of old, €@@@consider the years of many generations; €@@ask your father, and he will show you; €@@@your elders, and they will tell you. @@When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, €@@@when he separated the sons of men, €@@he fixed the bounds of the peoples €@@@according to the number of the sons of God. @@For the LORD's portion is his people, €@@@Jacob his allotted heritage. @@"He found him in a desert land, €@@@and in the howling waste of the wilderness; €@@he encircled him, he cared for him, €@@@he kept him as the apple of his eye. @@Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, €@@@that flutters over its young, €@@spreading out its wings, catching them, €@@@bearing them on its pinions, @@the LORD alone did lead him, €@@@and there was no foreign god with him. @@He made him ride on the high places of the earth, €@@@and he ate the produce of the field; €@@and he made him suck honey out of the rock, €@@@and oil out of the flinty rock. @@Curds from the herd, and milk from the flock, €@@@with fat of lambs and rams, €@@@herds of Bashan and goats, €@@with the finest of the wheat --€@@@and of the blood of the grape you drank wine. @@"But Jesh'urun waxed fat, and kicked; €@@@you waxed fat, you grew thick, you became sleek; €@@then he forsook God who made him, €@@@and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation. @@They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; €@@@with abominable practices they provoked him to anger. @@They sacrificed to demons which were no gods, €@@@to gods they had never known, €@@to new gods that had come in of late, €@@@whom your fathers had never dreaded. @@You were unmindful of the Rock that begot you, €@@@and you forgot the God who gave you birth. @@"The LORD saw it, and spurned them, €@@@because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters. @@And he said, `I will hide my face from them, €@@@I will see what their end will be, €@@for they are a perverse generation, €@@@children in whom is no faithfulness. @@They have stirred me to jealousy with what is no god; €@@@they have provoked me with their idols. €@@So I will stir them to jealousy with those who are no people; €@@@I will provoke them with a foolish nation. @@For a fire is kindled by my anger, €@@@and it burns to the depths of Sheol, €@@devours the earth and its increase, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’Ø ˜–„@@@and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains. @@"`And I will heap evils upon them; €@@@I will spend my arrows upon them; @@they shall be wasted with hunger, €@@@and devoured with burning heat €@@@and poisonous pestilence; €@@and I will send the teeth of beasts against them, €@@@with venom of crawling things of the dust. @@In the open the sword shall bereave, €@@@and in the chambers shall be terror, €@@destroying both young man and virgin, €@@@the sucking child with the man of gray hairs. @@I would have said, "I will scatter them afar, €@@@I will make the remembrance of them cease from among men," @@had I not feared provocation by the enemy, €@@@lest their adversaries should judge amiss, €@@lest they should say, "Our hand is triumphant, €@@@the LORD has not wrought all this."' @@"For they are a nation void of counsel, €@@@and there is no understanding in them. @@If they were wise, they would understand this, €@@@they would discern their latter end! @@How should one chase a thousand, €@@@and two put ten thousand to flight, €@@unless their Rock had sold them, €@@@and the LORD had given them up? @@For their rock is not as our Rock, €@@@even our enemies themselves being judges. @@For their vine comes from the vine of Sodom, €@@@and from the fields of Gomor'rah; €@@their grapes are grapes of poison, €@@@their clusters are bitter; @@their wine is the poison of serpents, €@@@and the cruel venom of asps. @@"Is not this laid up in store with me, €@@@sealed up in my treasuries? @@Vengeance is mine, and recompense, €@@@for the time when their foot shall slip; €@@for the day of their calamity is at hand, €@@@and their doom comes swiftly. @@For the LORD will vindicate his people €@@@and have compassion on his servants, €@@when he sees that their power is gone, €@@@and there is none remaining, bond or free. @@Then he will say, `Where are their gods, €@@@the rock in which they took refuge, @@who ate the fat of their sacrifices, €@@@and drank the wine of their drink offering? €@@Let them rise up and help you, €@@@let them be your protection! @@"`See now that I, even I, am he, €@@@and there is no god beside me; €@@I kill and I make alive; €@@@I wound and I heal; €@@@and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. @@For I lift up my hand to heaven, €@@@and swear, As I live for ever, @@if I whet my glittering sword, €@@@and my hand takes hold on judgment, €@@I will take vengeance on my adversaries, €@@@and will requite those who hate me. @@I will make my arrows drunk with blood, €@@@and my sword shall devour flesh --€@@with the blood of the slain and the captives, €@@@from the long-haired heads of the enemy.' @@"Praise his people, O you nations; €@@@for he avenges the blood of his servants, €@@and takes vengeance on his adversaries, €@@@and makes expiation for the land of his people." @Moses came and recited all the words of this song in the hearing of €the people, he and Joshua the son of Nun. And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, he said to them, "Lay to heart all the words which I enjoin upon you €this day, that you may command them to your children, that they may be €careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no trifle for you, but it is your life, and thereby you shall €live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to possess." @And the LORD said to Moses that very day, "Ascend this mountain of the Ab'arim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land €of Moab, opposite Jericho; and view the land of Canaan, which I give to €the people of Israel for a possession; and die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your €people, as Aaron your brother died in Mount Hor and was gathered to his €people; because you broke faith with me in the midst of the people of Israel at €the waters of Mer'i-bath-ka'desh, in the wilderness of Zin; because you €did not revere me as holy in the midst of the people of Israel. For you shall see the land before you; but you shall not go there, into €the land which I give to the people of Israel."  @This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the €children of Israel before his death. He said, €@@"The LORD came from Sinai, €@@@and dawned from Se'ir upon us; €@@@he shone forth from Mount Paran, €@@he came from the ten thousands of holy ones, €@@@with flaming fire at his right hand. @@Yea, he loved his people; €@@@all those consecrated to him were in his hand; €@@@so they followed in €@@thy steps, receiving direction from thee, @@when Moses commanded us a law, €@@@as a possession for the assembly of Jacob. @@Thus the LORD became king in Jesh'urun, €@@@when the heads of the people were gathered, €@@@all the tribes of Israel together. @@"Let Reuben live, and not die, €@@@nor let his men be few." @And this he said of Judah: €@@"Hear, O LORD, the voice of Judah, €@@@and bring him in to his people. €@@@With thy hands contend for him, and €@@be a help against his adversaries." @And of Levi he said, €@@"Give to Levi thy Thummim, €@@@and thy Urim to thy godly one, €@@whom thou didst test at Massah, €@@@with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Mer'ibah; @@who said of his father and mother, €@@@`I regard them not'; €@@he disowned his brothers, €@@@and ignored his children. €@@For they observed thy word, €@@@and kept thy covenant. @@They shall teach Jacob thy ordinances, €@@@and Israel thy law; €@@they shall put incense before thee, €@@@and whole burnt offering upon thy altar. @@Bless, O LORD, his substance, €@@@and accept the work of his hands; €@@crush the loins of his adversaries, €@@@of those that hate him, that they rise not again." @Of Benjamin he said, €@@"The beloved of the LORD, €@@@he dwells in safety by him; €@@he encompasses him all the day long, €@@@and makes his dwelling between his shoulders." @And of Joseph he said, €@@"Blessed by the LORD be his land, €@@@with the choicest gifts of heaven above, €@@@and of the deep that couches beneath, @@with the choicest fruits of the sun, €@@@and the rich yield of the months, @@with the finest produce of the ancient mountains, €@@@and the abundance of the everlasting hills, @@with the best gifts of the earth and its fulness, €@@@and the favor of him that dwelt in the bush. €@@Let these come upon the head of Joseph, €@@@and upon the crown of the head of him that is prince among his €@@@@brothers. @@His firstling bull has majesty, €@@@and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; €@@with them he shall push the peoples, €@@@all of them, to the ends of the earth; €@@such are the ten thousands of E'phraim, €@@@and such are the thousands of Manas'seh." @And of Zeb'ulun he said, €@@"Rejoice, Zeb'ulun, in your going out; €@@@and Is'sachar, in your tents. @@They shall call peoples to their mountain; €@@@there they offer right sacrifices; €@@for they suck the affluence of the seas €@@@and the hidden treasures of the sand." @And of Gad he said, €@@"Blessed be he who enlarges Gad! €@@@Gad couches like a lion, €@@@he tears the arm, and the crown of the head. @@He chose the best of the land for himself, €@@@for there a commander's portion was reserved; €@@and he came to the heads of the people, €@@@with Israel he executed the commands €@@@and just decrees of the LORD." @And of Dan he said, €@@"Dan is a lion's whelp, €@@@that leaps forth from Bashan." @And of Naph'tali he said, €@@"O Naph'tali, satisfied with favor, €@@@and full of the blessing of the LORD, €@@@possess the lake and the south." @And of Asher he said, €@@"Blessed above sons be Asher; €@@@let him be the favorite of his brothers, €@@@and let him dip his foot in oil. @@Your bars shall be iron and bronze; €@@@and as your days, so shall your strength be. @@"There is none like God, O Jesh'urun, €@@@who rides through the heavens to your help, €@@@and in his majesty through the skies. @@The eternal God is your dwelling place, €@@@and underneath are the everlasting arms. €@@And he thrust out the enemy before you, €@@@and said, Destroy. @@So Israel dwelt in safety, €@@@the fountain of Jacob alone, €@@in a land of grain and wine; €@@@yea, his heavens drop down dew. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°µ’ļ‚Äåõō’Ø”˜@@Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, €@@@a people saved by the LORD, €@@the shield of your help, €@@@and the sword of your triumph! €@@Your enemies shall come fawning to you; €@@@and you shall tread upon their high places."  @And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top €of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the €land, Gilead as far as Dan, all Naph'tali, the land of E'phraim and Manas'seh, all the land of €Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the valley of Jericho the city of €palm trees, as far as Zo'ar. And the LORD said to him, "This is the land of which I swore to €Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, `I will give it to your descendants.' €I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there." So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, €according to the word of the LORD, and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite €Beth-pe'or; but no man knows the place of his burial to this day. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eye was not €dim, nor his natural force abated. And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty €days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. @And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses €had laid his hands upon him; so the people of Israel obeyed him, and €did as the LORD had commanded Moses. And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the €LORD knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders which the LORD sent him €to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to €all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great and terrible deeds which €Moses wrought in the sight of all Israel. ąļ‚Źļóč’”After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to €Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, "Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, €you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, to €the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to €you, as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the €river Euphra'tes, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward €the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as €I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake €you. Be strong and of good courage; for you shall cause this people to €inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to €all the law which Moses my servant commanded you; turn not from it to €the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever €you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall €meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according €to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way €prosperous, and then you shall have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not €frightened, neither be dismayed; for the LORD your God is with you €wherever you go." @Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, "Pass through the camp, and command the people, `Prepare your €provisions; for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan, to €go in to take possession of the land which the LORD your God gives you €to possess.'" @And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manas'seh €Joshua said, "Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, €saying, `The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest, and will €give you this land.' Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land €which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but all the men of valor among €you shall pass over armed before your brethren and shall help them, until the LORD gives rest to your brethren as well as to you, and they €also take possession of the land which the LORD your God is giving €them; then you shall return to the land of your possession, and shall €possess it, the land which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you €beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise." And they answered Joshua, "All that you have commanded us we will do, €and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may €the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses! Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, €whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of €good courage."  @And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as €spies, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." And they went, €and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged €there. And it was told the king of Jericho, "Behold, certain men of Israel €have come here tonight to search out the land." Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring forth the men €that have come to you, who entered your house; for they have come to €search out all the land." But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them; and she said, €"True, men came to me, but I did not know where they came from; and when the gate was to be closed, at dark, the men went out; where €the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you will overtake €them." But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks €of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the €fords; and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. @Before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men, "I know that the LORD has given you the land, and €that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants €of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before €you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of €the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you €utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no courage €left in any man, because of you; for the LORD your God is he who is God €in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now then, swear to me by the LORD that as I have dealt kindly with you, €you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a sure €sign, and save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all €who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death." And the men said to her, "Our life for yours! If you do not tell this €business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when €the LORD gives us the land." @Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house €was built into the city wall, so that she dwelt in the wall. And she said to them, "Go into the hills, lest the pursuers meet you; €and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers have returned; €then afterward you may go your way." The men said to her, "We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of €yours which you have made us swear. Behold, when we come into the land, you shall bind this scarlet cord in €the window through which you let us down; and you shall gather into €your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's €household. If any one goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his €blood shall be upon his head, and we shall be guiltless; but if a hand €is laid upon any one who is with you in the house, his blood shall be €on our head. But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with €respect to your oath which you have made us swear." And she said, "According to your words, so be it." Then she sent them €away, and they departed; and she bound the scarlet cord in the window. @They departed, and went into the hills, and remained there three žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¶’ļ‚Źļóč’¢˜–‚days, until the pursuers returned; for the pursuers had made search all €along the way and found nothing. Then the two men came down again from the hills, and passed over and €came to Joshua the son of Nun; and they told him all that had befallen €them. And they said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has given all the land into €our hands; and moreover all the inhabitants of the land are €fainthearted because of us."  @Early in the morning Joshua rose and set out from Shittim, with all €the people of Israel; and they came to the Jordan, and lodged there €before they passed over. At the end of three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the €LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall €set out from your place and follow it, that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this €way before. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, a distance €of about two thousand cubits; do not come near it." And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the €LORD will do wonders among you." And Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and €pass on before the people." And they took up the ark of the covenant, €and went before the people. @And the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I will begin to exalt you in €the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, €so I will be with you. And you shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, €`When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall €stand still in the Jordan.'" And Joshua said to the people of Israel, "Come hither, and hear the €words of the LORD your God." And Joshua said, "Hereby you shall know that the living God is among €you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the €Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Per'izzites, the €Gir'gashites, the Amorites, and the Jeb'usites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is to pass €over before you into the Jordan. Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each €tribe a man. And when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the €LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the €Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be stopped from flowing, and the €waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap." @So, when the people set out from their tents, to pass over the Jordan €with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of €the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (the €Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap far off, €at Adam, the city that is beside Zar'ethan, and those flowing down €toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off; and €the people passed over opposite Jericho. And while all Israel were passing over on dry ground, the priests who €bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood on dry ground in the €midst of the Jordan, until all the nation finished passing over the €Jordan.  @When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the LORD €said to Joshua, "Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them, `Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the €Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood, and carry €them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you lodge €tonight.'" Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he €had appointed, a man from each tribe; and Joshua said to them, "Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God €into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his €shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you, when your children ask in time to €come, `What do those stones mean to you?' Then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off €before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over the €Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be €to the people of Israel a memorial for ever." @And the men of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve €stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the €tribes of the people of Israel, as the LORD told Joshua; and they €carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid €them down there. And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the €place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had €stood; and they are there to this day. For the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, €until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to tell €the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. €@The people passed over in haste; and when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the LORD €and the priests passed over before the people. The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manas'seh €passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had bidden them; about forty thousand ready armed for war passed over before the LORD €for battle, to the plains of Jericho. On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and €they stood in awe of him, as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the €days of his life. @And the LORD said to Joshua, "Command the priests who bear the ark of the testimony to come up out €of the Jordan." Joshua therefore commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan." And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came €up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet €were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to €their place and overflowed all its banks, as before. @The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first €month, and they encamped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set €up in Gilgal. And he said to the people of Israel, "When your children ask their €fathers in time to come, `What do these stones mean?' then you shall let your children know, `Israel passed over this Jordan €on dry ground.' For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until €you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he €dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD €is mighty; that you may fear the LORD your God for ever."  @When all the kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan to the €west, and all the kings of the Canaanites that were by the sea, heard €that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of €Israel until they had crossed over, their heart melted, and there was €no longer any spirit in them, because of the people of Israel. @At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and €circumcise the people of Israel again the second time." So Joshua made flint knives, and circumcised the people of Israel at €Gibeath-haaraloth. And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of €the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died on the €way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt. Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the €people that were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come €out of Egypt had not been circumcised. For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all €the nation, the men of war that came forth out of Egypt, perished, €because they did not hearken to the voice of the LORD; to them the LORD €swore that he would not let them see the land which the LORD had sworn €to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. So it was their children, whom he raised up in their stead, that Joshua žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¶’ļ‚Źļóč’„—‚circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been €circumcised on the way. @When the circumcising of all the nation was done, they remained in €their places in the camp till they were healed. And the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach €of Egypt from you." And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to €this day. @While the people of Israel were encamped in Gilgal they kept the €passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening in the plains of €Jericho. And on the morrow after the passover, on that very day, they ate of the €produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. And the manna ceased on the morrow, when they ate of the produce of the €land; and the people of Israel had manna no more, but ate of the fruit €of the land of Canaan that year. @When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and €behold, a man stood before him with his drawn sword in his hand; and €Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our €adversaries?" And he said, "No; but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now €come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshiped, and €said to him, "What does my lord bid his servant?" And the commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Put off your €shoes from your feet; for the place where you stand is holy." And €Joshua did so.  @Now Jericho was shut up from within and from without because of the €people of Israel; none went out, and none came in. And the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have given into your hand Jericho, €with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the €city once. Thus shall you do for six days. And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the €ark; and on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven €times, the priests blowing the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, as soon as you €hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a €great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the €people shall go up every man straight before him." So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up €the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of €rams' horns before the ark of the LORD." And he said to the people, "Go forward; march around the city, and let €the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD." @And as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the €seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the €trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them. And the armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and €the rear guard came after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. But Joshua commanded the people, "You shall not shout or let your voice €be heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I €bid you shout; then you shall shout." So he caused the ark of the LORD to compass the city, going about it €once; and they came into the camp, and spent the night in the camp. @Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the €ark of the LORD. And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before €the ark of the LORD passed on, blowing the trumpets continually; and €the armed men went before them, and the rear guard came after the ark €of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually. And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into €the camp. So they did for six days. @On the seventh day they rose early at the dawn of day, and marched €around the city in the same manner seven times: it was only on that day €that they marched around the city seven times. And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, €Joshua said to the people, "Shout; for the LORD has given you the city. And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for €destruction; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in her €house shall live, because she hid the messengers that we sent. But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest €when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make €the camp of Israel a thing for destruction, and bring trouble upon it. But all silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are sacred to €the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD." So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the €people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people raised a great shout, €and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, €every man straight before him, and they took the city. Then they utterly destroyed all in the city, both men and women, young €and old, oxen, sheep, and asses, with the edge of the sword. @And Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into €the harlot's house, and bring out from it the woman, and all who belong €to her, as you swore to her." So the young men who had been spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and €her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her; and €they brought all her kindred, and set them outside the camp of Israel. And they burned the city with fire, and all within it; only the silver €and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the €treasury of the house of the LORD. But Rahab the harlot, and her father's household, and all who belonged €to her, Joshua saved alive; and she dwelt in Israel to this day, €because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. @Joshua laid an oath upon them at that time, saying, "Cursed before €the LORD be the man that rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. €@@At the cost of his first-born shall he lay its foundation, €@@and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates." @So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was in all the land.  @But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things; €for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of €Judah, took some of the devoted things; and the anger of the LORD €burned against the people of Israel. @Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-a'ven, east of €Bethel, and said to them, "Go up and spy out the land." And the men €went up and spied out Ai. And they returned to Joshua, and said to him, "Let not all the people €go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai; do €not make the whole people toil up there, for they are but few." So about three thousand went up there from the people; and they fled €before the men of Ai, and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six men of them, and chased them €before the gate as far as Sheb'arim, and slew them at the descent. And €the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. @Then Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face €before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of €Israel; and they put dust upon their heads. And Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord GOD, why hast thou brought this people €over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to €destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their €enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, €and will surround us, and cut off our name from the earth; and what €wilt thou do for thy great name?" @The LORD said to Joshua, "Arise, why have you thus fallen upon your €face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant which I commanded €them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, and €lied, and put them among their own stuff. Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they €turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become a thing €for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the €devoted things from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, `Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¶’ļ‚Źļóč’§˜‚for thus says the LORD, God of Israel, "There are devoted things in the €midst of you, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies, until you €take away the devoted things from among you." In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes; and €the tribe which the LORD takes shall come near by families; and the €family which the LORD takes shall come near by households; and the €household which the LORD takes shall come near man by man. And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, €he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the €LORD, and because he has done a shameful thing in Israel.'" @So Joshua rose early in the morning, and brought Israel near tribe by €tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken; and he brought near the families of Judah, and the family of the €Zer'ahites was taken; and he brought near the family of the Zer'ahites €man by man, and Zabdi was taken; and he brought near his household man by man, and Achan the son of €Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD God of €Israel, and render praise to him; and tell me now what you have done; €do not hide it from me." And Achan answered Joshua, "Of a truth I have sinned against the LORD €God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar, and two €hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, €then I coveted them, and took them; and behold, they are hidden in the €earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath." @So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it €was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath. And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and all €the people of Israel; and they laid them down before the LORD. And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the €silver and the mantle and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters, €and his oxen and asses and sheep, and his tent, and all that he had; €and they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. And Joshua said, "Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings €trouble on you today." And all Israel stoned him with stones; they €burned them with fire, and stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this €day; then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore to this day €the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.  @And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear or be dismayed; take all €the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given €into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land; and you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king; €only its spoil and its cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves; €lay an ambush against the city, behind it." @So Joshua arose, and all the fighting men, to go up to Ai; and Joshua €chose thirty thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them forth by night. And he commanded them, "Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the €city, behind it; do not go very far from the city, but hold yourselves €all in readiness; and I, and all the people who are with me, will approach the city. And €when they come out against us, as before, we shall flee before them; and they will come out after us, till we have drawn them away from the €city; for they will say, `They are fleeing from us, as before.' So we €will flee from them; then you shall rise up from the ambush, and seize the city; for the €LORD your God will give it into your hand. And when you have taken the city, you shall set the city on fire, doing €as the LORD has bidden; see, I have commanded you." So Joshua sent them forth; and they went to the place of ambush, and €lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai; but Joshua spent that €night among the people. @And Joshua arose early in the morning and mustered the people, and €went up, with the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai. And all the fighting men who were with him went up, and drew near €before the city, and encamped on the north side of Ai, with a ravine €between them and Ai. And he took about five thousand men, and set them in ambush between €Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. So they stationed the forces, the main encampment which was north of €the city and its rear guard west of the city. But Joshua spent that €night in the valley. And when the king of Ai saw this he and all his people, the men of the €city, made haste and went out early to the descent toward the Arabah to €meet Israel in battle; but he did not know that there was an ambush €against him behind the city. And Joshua and all Israel made a pretense of being beaten before them, €and fled in the direction of the wilderness. So all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue €them, and as they pursued Joshua they were drawn away from the city. There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, who did not go out after €Israel; they left the city open, and pursued Israel. @Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Stretch out the javelin that is in €your hand toward Ai; for I will give it into your hand." And Joshua €stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city. And the ambush rose quickly out of their place, and as soon as he had €stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and took it; and €they made haste to set the city on fire. So when the men of Ai looked back, behold, the smoke of the city went €up to heaven; and they had no power to flee this way or that, for the €people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers. And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, €and that the smoke of the city went up, then they turned back and smote €the men of Ai. And the others came forth from the city against them; so they were in €the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side; and €Israel smote them, until there was left none that survived or escaped. But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua. @When Israel had finished slaughtering all the inhabitants of Ai in €the open wilderness where they pursued them and all of them to the very €last had fallen by the edge of the sword, all Israel returned to Ai, €and smote it with the edge of the sword. And all who fell that day, both men and women, were twelve thousand, €all the people of Ai. For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the €javelin, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took as their booty, €according to the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua. So Joshua burned Ai, and made it for ever a heap of ruins, as it is to €this day. And he hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening; and at the going €down of the sun Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the €tree, and cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raised €over it a great heap of stones, which stands there to this day. @Then Joshua built an altar in Mount Ebal to the LORD, the God of €Israel, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the people of Israel, as €it is written in the book of the law of Moses, "an altar of unhewn €stones, upon which no man has lifted an iron tool"; and they offered on €it burnt offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings. And there, in the presence of the people of Israel, he wrote upon the €stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. And all Israel, sojourner as well as homeborn, with their elders and €officers and their judges, stood on opposite sides of the ark before €the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, €half of them in front of Mount Ger'izim and half of them in front of €Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded at the €first, that they should bless the people of Israel. And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¶’ļ‚Źļóč’؈˜¢‚curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded which Joshua did not €read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little €ones, and the sojourners who lived among them.  @When all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and €in the lowland all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the €Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Per'izzites, the Hivites, €and the Jeb'usites, heard of this, they gathered together with one accord to fight Joshua and Israel. @But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to €Jericho and to Ai, they on their part acted with cunning, and went and made ready €provisions, and took worn-out sacks upon their asses, and wineskins, €worn-out and torn and mended, with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes; and €all their provisions were dry and moldy. And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to €the men of Israel, "We have come from a far country; so now make a €covenant with us." But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you live among us; €then how can we make a covenant with you?" They said to Joshua, "We are your servants." And Joshua said to them, €"Who are you? And where do you come from?" They said to him, "From a very far country your servants have come, €because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard a report of €him, and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond €the Jordan, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt €in Ash'taroth. And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, `Take €provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say €to them, "We are your servants; come now, make a covenant with us."' Here is our bread; it was still warm when we took it from our houses as €our food for the journey, on the day we set forth to come to you, but €now, behold, it is dry and moldy; these wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they are €burst; and these garments and shoes of ours are worn out from the very €long journey." So the men partook of their provisions, and did not ask direction from €the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let €them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore to them. @At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, €they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among €them. And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third €day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephi'rah, Be-er'oth, and €Kir'iath-je'arim. But the people of Israel did not kill them, because the leaders of the €congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Then all €the congregation murmured against the leaders. But all the leaders said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to €them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them. This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath be upon us, €because of the oath which we swore to them." And the leaders said to them, "Let them live." So they became hewers of €wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the leaders had €said of them. @Joshua summoned them, and he said to them, "Why did you deceive us, €saying, `We are very far from you,' when you dwell among us? Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall always be slaves, €hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God." They answered Joshua, "Because it was told to your servants for a €certainty that the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to €give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land €from before you; so we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and €did this thing. And now, behold, we are in your hand: do as it seems good and right in €your sight to do to us." So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the people of €Israel; and they did not kill them. But Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for €the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to continue to this €day, in the place which he should choose.  @When Ado'ni-ze'dek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai, €and had utterly destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done €to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made €peace with Israel and were among them, he feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the €royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were €mighty. So Ado'ni-ze'dek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to €Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhi'a king of Lachish, and to Debir king of €Eglon, saying, "Come up to me, and help me, and let us smite Gibeon; for it has made €peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel." Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of €Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of €Eglon, gathered their forces, and went up with all their armies and €encamped against Gibeon, and made war against it. @And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, €"Do not relax your hand from your servants; come up to us quickly, and €save us, and help us; for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in €the hill country are gathered against us." So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, €and all the mighty men of valor. And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for I have given them €into your hands; there shall not a man of them stand before you." So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from €Gilgal. And the LORD threw them into a panic before Israel, who slew them with €a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the ascent €of Beth-hor'on, and smote them as far as Aze'kah and Makke'dah. And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent €of Beth-hor'on, the LORD threw down great stones from heaven upon them €as far as Aze'kah, and they died; there were more who died because of €the hailstones than the men of Israel killed with the sword. @Then spoke Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD gave the €Amorites over to the men of Israel; and he said in the sight of Israel, €@@"Sun, stand thou still at Gibeon, €@@and thou Moon in the valley of Ai'jalon." @@And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, €@@until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. „Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the €midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD hearkened €to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel. @Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal. @These five kings fled, and hid themselves in the cave at Makke'dah. And it was told Joshua, "The five kings have been found, hidden in the €cave at Makke'dah." And Joshua said, "Roll great stones against the mouth of the cave, and €set men by it to guard them; but do not stay there yourselves, pursue your enemies, fall upon their €rear, do not let them enter their cities; for the LORD your God has €given them into your hand." When Joshua and the men of Israel had finished slaying them with a very €great slaughter, until they were wiped out, and when the remnant which €remained of them had entered into the fortified cities, all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makke'dah; not a €man moved his tongue against any of the people of Israel. @Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave, and bring those five €kings out to me from the cave." And they did so, and brought those five kings out to him from the cave, €the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the €king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. And when they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all €the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¶’ļ‚Źļóč’؊˜˜ƒgone with him, "Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these €kings." Then they came near, and put their feet on their necks. And Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and €of good courage; for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against €whom you fight." And afterward Joshua smote them and put them to death, and he hung them €on five trees. And they hung upon the trees until evening; but at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and €they took them down from the trees, and threw them into the cave where €they had hidden themselves, and they set great stones against the mouth €of the cave, which remain to this very day. @And Joshua took Makke'dah on that day, and smote it and its king with €the edge of the sword; he utterly destroyed every person in it, he left €none remaining; and he did to the king of Makke'dah as he had done to €the king of Jericho. @Then Joshua passed on from Makke'dah, and all Israel with him, to €Libnah, and fought against Libnah; and the LORD gave it also and its king into the hand of Israel; and he €smote it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it; he left €none remaining in it; and he did to its king as he had done to the king €of Jericho. @And Joshua passed on from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to €Lachish, and laid siege to it, and assaulted it: and the LORD gave Lachish into the hand of Israel, and he took it on €the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and every €person in it, as he had done to Libnah. @Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote €him and his people, until he left none remaining. @And Joshua passed on with all Israel from Lachish to Eglon; and they €laid siege to it, and assaulted it; and they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword; €and every person in it he utterly destroyed that day, as he had done to €Lachish. @Then Joshua went up with all Israel from Eglon to Hebron; and they €assaulted it, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and its king and €its towns, and every person in it; he left none remaining, as he had €done to Eglon, and utterly destroyed it with every person in it. @Then Joshua, with all Israel, turned back to Debir and assaulted it, and he took it with its king and all its towns; and they smote them €with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed every person in it; €he left none remaining; as he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its €king, so he did to Debir and to its king. @So Joshua defeated the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and €the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings; he left none €remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of €Israel commanded. And Joshua defeated them from Ka'desh-bar'nea to Gaza, and all the €country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon. And Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time, because the €LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.  @When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of €Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Ach'shaph, and to the kings who were in the northern hill country, and in the €Arabah south of Chin'neroth, and in the lowland, and in Naphoth-dor on €the west, to the Canaanites in the east and the west, the Amorites, the Hittites, €the Per'izzites, and the Jeb'usites in the hill country, and the €Hivites under Hermon in the land of Mizpah. And they came out, with all their troops, a great host, in number like €the sand that is upon the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. And all these kings joined their forces, and came and encamped together €at the waters of Merom, to fight with Israel. @And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow €at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel; you shall €hamstring their horses, and burn their chariots with fire." So Joshua came suddenly upon them with all his people of war, by the €waters of Merom, and fell upon them. And the LORD gave them into the hand of Israel, who smote them and €chased them as far as Great Sidon and Mis'rephoth-ma'im, and eastward €as far as the valley of Mizpeh; and they smote them, until they left €none remaining. And Joshua did to them as the LORD bade him; he hamstrung their horses, €and burned their chariots with fire. @And Joshua turned back at that time, and took Hazor, and smote its €king with the sword; for Hazor formerly was the head of all those €kingdoms. And they put to the sword all who were in it, utterly destroying them; €there was none left that breathed, and he burned Hazor with fire. And all the cities of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua took, €and smote them with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them, as €Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded. But none of the cities that stood on mounds did Israel burn, except €Hazor only; that Joshua burned. And all the spoil of these cities and the cattle, the people of Israel €took for their booty; but every man they smote with the edge of the €sword, until they had destroyed them, and they did not leave any that €breathed. As the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, €and so Joshua did; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD had €commanded Moses. @So Joshua took all that land, the hill country and all the Negeb and €all the land of Goshen and the lowland and the Arabah and the hill €country of Israel and its lowland from Mount Halak, that rises toward Se'ir, as far as Ba'al-gad in the €valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. And he took all their kings, and €smote them, and put them to death. Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. There was not a city that made peace with the people of Israel, except €the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon; they took all in battle. For it was the LORD's doing to harden their hearts that they should €come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be utterly €destroyed, and should receive no mercy but be exterminated, as the LORD €commanded Moses. @And Joshua came at that time, and wiped out the Anakim from the hill €country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill €country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel; Joshua €utterly destroyed them with their cities. There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the people of Israel; €only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, did some remain. So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had €spoken to Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel €according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.  @Now these are the kings of the land, whom the people of Israel €defeated, and took possession of their land beyond the Jordan toward €the sunrising, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon, with all €the Arabah eastward: Sihon king of the Amorites who dwelt at Heshbon, and ruled from Aro'er, €which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and from the middle of €the valley as far as the river Jabbok, the boundary of the Ammonites, €that is, half of Gilead, and the Arabah to the Sea of Chin'neroth eastward, and in the direction €of Beth-jesh'imoth, to the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, southward €to the foot of the slopes of Pisgah; and Og king of Bashan, one of the remnant of the Reph'aim, who dwelt at €Ash'taroth and at Ed're-i and ruled over Mount Hermon and Sal'ecah and all Bashan to the boundary €of the Gesh'urites and the Ma-ac'athites, and over half of Gilead to €the boundary of Sihon king of Heshbon. Moses, the servant of the LORD, and the people of Israel defeated them; €and Moses the servant of the LORD gave their land for a possession to €the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manas'seh. @And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of €Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Ba'al-gad in the €valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, that rises toward Se'ir (and Joshua žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¶’ļ‚Źļóč’،—„gave their land to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to €their allotments, in the hill country, in the lowland, in the Arabah, in the slopes, in €the wilderness, and in the Negeb, the land of the Hittites, the €Amorites, the Canaanites, the Per'izzites, the Hivites, and the €Jeb'usites): the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one; the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one; the king of Makke'dah, one; the king of Bethel, one; the king of Tap'puah, one; the king of Hepher, one; the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lashar'on, one; the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; the king of Shim'ron-me'ron, one; the king of Ach'shaph, one; the king of Ta'anach, one; the king of Megid'do, one; the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jok'ne-am in Carmel, one; the king of Dor in Naphath-dor, one; the king of Goi'im in Galilee, one; the king of Tirzah, one: in all, thirty-one kings.  @Now Joshua was old and advanced in years; and the LORD said to him, €"You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much €land to be possessed. This is the land that yet remains: all the regions of the Philistines, €and all those of the Gesh'urites (from the Shihor, which is east of Egypt, northward to the boundary of €Ekron, it is reckoned as Canaanite; there are five rulers of the €Philistines, those of Gaza, Ashdod, Ash'kelon, Gath, and Ekron), and €those of the Avvim, in the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mear'ah which belongs €to the Sido'nians, to Aphek, to the boundary of the Amorites, and the land of the Geb'alites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, €from Ba'al-gad below Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath, all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to €Mis'rephoth-ma'im, even all the Sido'nians. I will myself drive them €out from before the people of Israel; only allot the land to Israel for €an inheritance, as I have commanded you. Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes €and half the tribe of Manas'seh." @With the other half of the tribe of Manas'seh the Reubenites and the €Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the €Jordan eastward, as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them: from Aro'er, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the €city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the tableland of €Med'eba as far as Dibon; and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in €Heshbon, as far as the boundary of the Ammonites; and Gilead, and the region of the Gesh'urites and Ma-ac'athites, and €all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Sal'ecah; all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ash'taroth and in €Ed're-i (he alone was left of the remnant of the Reph'aim); these Moses €had defeated and driven out. Yet the people of Israel did not drive out the Gesh'urites or the €Ma-ac'athites; but Geshur and Ma'acath dwell in the midst of Israel to €this day. @To the tribe of Levi alone Moses gave no inheritance; the offerings €by fire to the LORD God of Israel are their inheritance, as he said to €him. @And Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of the Reubenites €according to their families. So their territory was from Aro'er, which is on the edge of the valley €of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all €the tableland by Med'eba; with Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the tableland; Dibon, and €Ba'moth-ba'al, and Beth-ba'al-me'on, and Jahaz, and Ked'emoth, and Meph'aath, and Kir'iatha'im, and Sibmah, and Zer'eth-sha'har on the hill of the €valley, and Beth-pe'or, and the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jesh'imoth, that is, all the cities of the tableland, and all the kingdom of Sihon €king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses defeated with €the leaders of Mid'ian, Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the €princes of Sihon, who dwelt in the land. Balaam also, the son of Be'or, the soothsayer, the people of Israel €killed with the sword among the rest of their slain. And the border of the people of Reuben was the Jordan as a boundary. €This was the inheritance of the Reubenites, according to their families €with their cities and villages. @And Moses gave an inheritance also to the tribe of the Gadites, €according to their families. Their territory was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the €land of the Ammonites, to Aro'er, which is east of Rabbah, and from Heshbon to Ra'math-miz'peh and Bet'onim, and from Mahana'im to €the territory of Debir, and in the valley Beth-ha'ram, Beth-nim'rah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the €rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, having the Jordan as a €boundary, to the lower end of the Sea of Chin'nereth, eastward beyond €the Jordan. This is the inheritance of the Gadites according to their families, €with their cities and villages. @And Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manas'seh; it was €allotted to the half-tribe of the Manas'sites according to their €families. Their region extended from Mahana'im, through all Bashan, the whole €kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Ja'ir, which are in €Bashan, sixty cities, and half Gilead, and Ash'taroth, and Ed're-i, the cities of the kingdom €of Og in Bashan; these were allotted to the people of Machir the son of €Manas'seh for the half of the Machirites according to their families. @These are the inheritances which Moses distributed in the plains of €Moab, beyond the Jordan east of Jericho. But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the LORD God of €Israel is their inheritance, as he said to them.  @And these are the inheritances which the people of Israel received in €the land of Canaan, which Elea'zar the priest, and Joshua the son of €Nun, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people €of Israel distributed to them. Their inheritance was by lot, as the LORD had commanded Moses for the €nine and one-half tribes. For Moses had given an inheritance to the two and one-half tribes €beyond the Jordan; but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them. For the people of Joseph were two tribes, Manas'seh and E'phraim; and €no portion was given to the Levites in the land, but only cities to €dwell in, with their pasture lands for their cattle and their substance. The people of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses; they allotted the €land. @Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal; and Caleb the son €of Jephun'neh the Ken'izzite said to him, "You know what the LORD said €to Moses the man of God in Ka'desh-bar'nea concerning you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from €Ka'desh-bar'nea to spy out the land; and I brought him word again as it €was in my heart. But my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; €yet I wholly followed the LORD my God. And Moses swore on that day, saying, `Surely the land on which your €foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children for €ever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.' And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as he said, these €forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, €while Israel walked in the wilderness; and now, lo, I am this day €eighty-five years old. I am still as strong to this day as I was in the day that Moses sent €me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war, and for going €and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day; €for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great €fortified cities: it may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall €drive them out as the LORD said." @Then Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of €Jephun'neh for an inheritance. So Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephun'neh the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¶’ļ‚Źļóč’؎˜Ž‚Ken'izzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of €Israel. Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kir'iath-ar'ba; this Arba was the €greatest man among the Anakim. And the land had rest from war.  @The lot for the tribe of the people of Judah according to their €families reached southward to the boundary of Edom, to the wilderness €of Zin at the farthest south. And their south boundary ran from the end of the Salt Sea, from the bay €that faces southward; it goes out southward of the ascent of Akrab'bim, passes along to Zin, €and goes up south of Ka'desh-bar'nea, along by Hezron, up to Addar, €turns about to Karka, passes along to Azmon, goes out by the Brook of Egypt, and comes to its €end at the sea. This shall be your south boundary. And the east boundary is the Salt Sea, to the mouth of the Jordan. And €the boundary on the north side runs from the bay of the sea at the €mouth of the Jordan; and the boundary goes up to Beth-hoglah, and passes along north of €Beth-arabah; and the boundary goes up to the stone of Bohan the son of €Reuben; and the boundary goes up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, and so €northward, turning toward Gilgal, which is opposite the ascent of €Adum'mim, which is on the south side of the valley; and the boundary €passes along to the waters of En-she'mesh, and ends at En-ro'gel; then the boundary goes up by the valley of the son of Hinnom at the €southern shoulder of the Jeb'usite (that is, Jerusalem); and the €boundary goes up to the top of the mountain that lies over against the €valley of Hinnom, on the west, at the northern end of the valley of €Reph'aim; then the boundary extends from the top of the mountain to the spring of €the Waters of Nephto'ah, and from there to the cities of Mount Ephron; €then the boundary bends round to Ba'alah (that is, Kir'iath-je'arim); and the boundary circles west of Ba'alah to Mount Se'ir, passes along €to the northern shoulder of Mount Je'arim (that is, Ches'alon), and €goes down to Beth-she'mesh, and passes along by Timnah; the boundary goes out to the shoulder of the hill north of Ekron, then €the boundary bends round to Shik'keron, and passes along to Mount €Ba'alah, and goes out to Jabneel; then the boundary comes to an end at €the sea. And the west boundary was the Great Sea with its coast-line. This is €the boundary round about the people of Judah according to their €families. @According to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, he gave to Caleb €the son of Jephun'neh a portion among the people of Judah, €Kir'iath-ar'ba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak). And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak, She'shai and €Ahi'man and Talmai, the descendants of Anak. And he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir; now the €name of Debir formerly was Kir'iath-se'pher. And Caleb said, "Whoever smites Kir'iath-se'pher, and takes it, to him €will I give Achsah my daughter as wife." And Oth'ni-el the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he €gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field; and €she alighted from her ass, and Caleb said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to him, "Give me a present; since you have set me in the land €of the Negeb, give me also springs of water." And Caleb gave her the €upper springs and the lower springs. @This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Judah according €to their families. The cities belonging to the tribe of the people of Judah in the extreme €South, toward the boundary of Edom, were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, Kinah, Dimo'nah, Ada'dah, Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, Ziph, Telem, Be-a'loth, Ha'zor-hadat'tah, Ker'i-oth-hezron (that is, Hazor), Amam, Shema, Mola'dah, Ha'zar-gad'dah, Heshmon, Beth-pel'et, Hazar-shu'al, Beer-sheba, Biziothi'ah, Ba'alah, I'im, Ezem, Elto'lad, Chesil, Hormah, Ziklag, Madman'nah, Sansan'nah, Leba'oth, Shilhim, A'in, and Rimmon: in all, twenty-nine cities, with €their villages. @And in the lowland, Eshta'ol, Zorah, Ashnah, Zano'ah, En-gan'nim, Tap'puah, Enam, Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Aze'kah, Shaara'im, Aditha'im, Gede'rah, Gederotha'im: fourteen cities with €their villages. @Zenan, Hadash'ah, Mig'dal-gad, Di'lean, Mizpeh, Jok'theel, Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish, Gede'roth, Beth-da'gon, Na'amah, and Makke'dah: sixteen cities with €their villages. @Libnah, Ether, Ashan, Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, Kei'lah, Achzib, and Mare'shah: nine cities with their villages. @Ekron, with its towns and its villages; from Ekron to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their €villages. @Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages; €to the Brook of Egypt, and the Great Sea with its coast-line. @And in the hill country, Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, Dannah, Kir'iath-san'nah (that is, Debir), Anab, Esh'temoh, Anim, Goshen, Holon, and Giloh: eleven cities with their villages. @Arab, Dumah, Eshan, Janim, Beth-tap'puah, Aphe'kah, Humtah, Kir'iath-ar'ba (that is, Hebron), and Zi'or: nine cities with €their villages. @Ma'on, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, Jezreel, Jok'de-am, Zano'ah, Kain, Gib'e-ah, and Timnah: ten cities with their villages. @Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor, Ma'arath, Beth-anoth, and El'tekon: six cities with their villages. @Kir'iath-ba'al (that is, Kir'iath-je'arim), and Rabbah: two cities €with their villages. @In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, Seca'cah, Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-ge'di: six cities with their villages. @But the Jeb'usites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah €could not drive out; so the Jeb'usites dwell with the people of Judah €at Jerusalem to this day.  @The allotment of the descendants of Joseph went from the Jordan by €Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, into the wilderness, going up €from Jericho into the hill country to Bethel; then going from Bethel to Luz, it passes along to At'aroth, the €territory of the Archites; then it goes down westward to the territory of the Japh'letites, as far €as the territory of Lower Beth-hor'on, then to Gezer, and it ends at €the sea. @The people of Joseph, Manas'seh and E'phraim, received their €inheritance. @The territory of the E'phraimites by their families was as follows: €the boundary of their inheritance on the east was At'aroth-ad'dar as €far as Upper Beth-hor'on, and the boundary goes thence to the sea; on the north is Mich-me'thath; €then on the east the boundary turns round toward Ta'anath-shi'loh, and €passes along beyond it on the east to Jan-o'ah, then it goes down from Jan-o'ah to At'aroth and to Na'arah, and touches €Jericho, ending at the Jordan. From Tap'puah the boundary goes westward to the brook Kanah, and ends €at the sea. Such is the inheritance of the tribe of the E'phraimites by €their families, together with the towns which were set apart for the E'phraimites €within the inheritance of the Manas'sites, all those towns with their €villages. However they did not drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: so €the Canaanites have dwelt in the midst of E'phraim to this day but have €become slaves to do forced labor.  @Then allotment was made to the tribe of Manas'seh, for he was the €first-born of Joseph. To Machir the first-born of Manas'seh, the father €of Gilead, were allotted Gilead and Bashan, because he was a man of war. And allotments were made to the rest of the tribe of Manas'seh, by €their families, Abi-e'zer, Helek, As'ri-el, Shechem, Hepher, and €Shemi'da; these were the male descendants of Manas'seh the son of €Joseph, by their families. @Now Zeloph'ehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son €of Manas'seh, had no sons, but only daughters; and these are the names €of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They came before Elea'zar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the €leaders, and said, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance €along with our brethren." So according to the commandment of the LORD €he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¶’ļ‚Źļóč’ؑ•Thus there fell to Manas'seh ten portions, besides the land of Gilead €and Bashan, which is on the other side of the Jordan; because the daughters of Manas'seh received an inheritance along with €his sons. The land of Gilead was allotted to the rest of the €Manas'sites. @The territory of Manas'seh reached from Asher to Mich-me'thath, which €is east of Shechem; then the boundary goes along southward to the €inhabitants of En-tap'puah. The land of Tap'puah belonged to Manas'seh, but the town of Tap'puah on €the boundary of Manas'seh belonged to the sons of E'phraim. Then the boundary went down to the brook Kanah. The cities here, to the €south of the brook, among the cities of Manas'seh, belong to E'phraim. €Then the boundary of Manas'seh goes on the north side of the brook and €ends at the sea; the land to the south being E'phraim's and that to the north being €Manas'seh's, with the sea forming its boundary; on the north Asher is €reached, and on the east Is'sachar. Also in Is'sachar and in Asher Manas'seh had Beth-she'an and its €villages, and Ibleam and its villages, and the inhabitants of Dor and €its villages, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its villages, and the €inhabitants of Ta'anach and its villages, and the inhabitants of €Megid'do and its villages; the third is Naphath. Yet the sons of Manas'seh could not take possession of those cities; €but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. But when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to €forced labor, and did not utterly drive them out. @And the tribe of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given €me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a €numerous people, since hitherto the LORD has blessed me?" And Joshua said to them, "If you are a numerous people, go up to the €forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the €Per'izzites and the Reph'aim, since the hill country of E'phraim is too €narrow for you." The tribe of Joseph said, "The hill country is not enough for us; yet €all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both €those in Beth-she'an and its villages and those in the Valley of €Jezreel." Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to E'phraim and Manas'seh, €"You are a numerous people, and have great power; you shall not have €one lot only, but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you €shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders; for you shall €drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though €they are strong."  @Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at €Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there; the land lay subdued €before them. @There remained among the people of Israel seven tribes whose €inheritance had not yet been apportioned. So Joshua said to the people of Israel, "How long will you be slack to €go in and take possession of the land, which the LORD, the God of your €fathers, has given you? Provide three men from each tribe, and I will send them out that they €may set out and go up and down the land, writing a description of it €with a view to their inheritances, and then come to me. They shall divide it into seven portions, Judah continuing in his €territory on the south, and the house of Joseph in their territory on €the north. And you shall describe the land in seven divisions and bring the €description here to me; and I will cast lots for you here before the €LORD our God. The Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of the LORD €is their heritage; and Gad and Reuben and half the tribe of Manas'seh €have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses €the servant of the LORD gave them." @So the men started on their way; and Joshua charged those who went to €write the description of the land, saying, "Go up and down and write a €description of the land, and come again to me; and I will cast lots for €you here before the LORD in Shiloh." So the men went and passed up and down in the land and set down in a €book a description of it by towns in seven divisions; then they came to €Joshua in the camp at Shiloh, and Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD; and there €Joshua apportioned the land to the people of Israel, to each his €portion. @The lot of the tribe of Benjamin according to its families came up, €and the territory allotted to it fell between the tribe of Judah and €the tribe of Joseph. On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan; then the boundary €goes up to the shoulder north of Jericho, then up through the hill €country westward; and it ends at the wilderness of Beth-a'ven. From there the boundary passes along southward in the direction of Luz, €to the shoulder of Luz (the same is Bethel), then the boundary goes €down to At'aroth-ad'dar, upon the mountain that lies south of Lower €Beth-hor'on. Then the boundary goes in another direction, turning on the western €side southward from the mountain that lies to the south, opposite €Beth-hor'on, and it ends at Kir'iath-ba'al (that is, Kir'iath-je'arim), €a city belonging to the tribe of Judah. This forms the western side. And the southern side begins at the outskirts of Kir'iath-je'arim; and €the boundary goes from there to Ephron, to the spring of the Waters of €Nephto'ah; then the boundary goes down to the border of the mountain that €overlooks the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is at the north end of €the valley of Reph'aim; and it then goes down the valley of Hinnom, €south of the shoulder of the Jeb'usites, and downward to En-rogel; then it bends in a northerly direction going on to En-she'mesh, and €thence goes to Geli'loth, which is opposite the ascent of Adum'mim; €then it goes down to the Stone of Bohan the son of Reuben; and passing on to the north of the shoulder of Beth-arabah it goes down €to the Arabah; then the boundary passes on to the north of the shoulder of €Beth-hoglah; and the boundary ends at the northern bay of the Salt Sea, €at the south end of the Jordan: this is the southern border. The Jordan forms its boundary on the eastern side. This is the €inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin, according to its families, €boundary by boundary round about. @Now the cities of the tribe of Benjamin according to their families €were Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-ke'ziz, Beth-arabah, Zemara'im, Bethel, Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, Che'phar-am'moni, Ophni, Geba -- twelve cities with their villages: Gibeon, Ramah, Be-er'oth, Mizpeh, Chephi'rah, Mozah, Rekem, Irpeel, Tar'alah, Zela, Ha-eleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gib'e-ah and €Kir'iath-je'arim -- fourteen cities with their villages. This is the €inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin according to its families.  @The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of Simeon, €according to its families; and its inheritance was in the midst of the €inheritance of the tribe of Judah. And it had for its inheritance Beer-sheba, Sheba, Mola'dah, Hazar-shu'al, Balah, Ezem, Elto'lad, Bethul, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth-mar'caboth, Ha'zar-su'sah, Beth-leba'oth, and Sharu'hen -- thirteen cities with their villages; En-rimmon, Ether, and Ashan -- four cities with their villages; together with all the villages round about these cities as far as €Ba'alath-beer, Ramah of the Negeb. This was the inheritance of the €tribe of Simeon according to its families. The inheritance of the tribe of Simeon formed part of the territory of €Judah; because the portion of the tribe of Judah was too large for €them, the tribe of Simeon obtained an inheritance in the midst of their €inheritance. @The third lot came up for the tribe of Zeb'ulun, according to its €families. And the territory of its inheritance reached as far as Sarid; then its boundary goes up westward, and on to Mar'eal, and touches €Dab'besheth, then the brook which is east of Jok'ne-am; from Sarid it goes in the other direction eastward toward the sunrise €to the boundary of Chis'loth-ta'bor; thence it goes to Dab'erath, then €up to Japhi'a; from there it passes along on the east toward the sunrise to žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¶’ļ‚Źļóč’ؓ˜‚Gath-hepher, to Eth-kazin, and going on to Rimmon it bends toward Ne'ah; then on the north the boundary turns about to Han'nathon, and it ends €at the valley of Iph'tahel; and Kattath, Nahal'al, Shimron, I'dalah, and Bethlehem -- twelve cities €with their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Zeb'ulun, according to its €families -- these cities with their villages. @The fourth lot came out for Is'sachar, for the tribe of Is'sachar, €according to its families. Its territory included Jezreel, Chesul'loth, Shunem, Haph'ara-im, Shion, Ana'harath, Rabbith, Kish'ion, Ebez, Remeth, En-gan'nim, En-had'dah, Beth-paz'zez; the boundary also touches Tabor, Shahazu'mah, and Beth-she'mesh, and €its boundary ends at the Jordan -- sixteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Is'sachar, according to its €families -- the cities with their villages. @The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher according to its €families. Its territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Ach'shaph, Allam'melech, Amad, and Mishal; on the west it touches Carmel and €Shihor-lib'nath, then it turns eastward, it goes to Beth-dagon, and touches Zeb'ulun and €the valley of Iph'tahel northward to Beth-emek and Nei'el; then it €continues in the north to Cabul, Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, Kanah, as far as Sidon the Great; then the boundary turns to Ramah, reaching to the fortified city of €Tyre; then the boundary turns to Hosah, and it ends at the sea; €Mahalab, Achzib, Ummah, Aphek and Rehob -- twenty-two cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Asher according to its €families -- these cities with their villages. @The sixth lot came out for the tribe of Naph'tali, for the tribe of €Naph'tali, according to its families. And its boundary ran from Heleph, from the oak in Za-anan'nim, and €Ad'ami-nekeb, and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum; and it ended at the Jordan; then the boundary turns westward to Az'noth-tabor, and goes from there €to Hukkok, touching Zeb'ulun at the south, and Asher on the west, and €Judah on the east at the Jordan. The fortified cities are Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chin'nereth, Ad'amah, Ramah, Hazor, Kedesh, Ed're-i, En-ha'zor, Yiron, Mig'dal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-she'mesh -- nineteen €cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Naph'tali according to its €families -- the cities with their villages. @The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan, according to its €families. And the territory of its inheritance included Zorah, Esh'ta-ol, €Ir-she'mesh, Sha-alab'bin, Ai'jalon, Ithlah, Elon, Timnah, Ekron, El'tekeh, Gib'bethon, Ba'alath, Jehud, Bene-be'rak, Gath-rim'mon, and Me-jar'kon and Rakkon with the territory over against Joppa. When the territory of the Danites was lost to them, the Danites went up €and fought against Leshem, and after capturing it and putting it to the €sword they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem, €Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, according to their €families -- these cities with their villages. @When they had finished distributing the several territories of the €land as inheritances, the people of Israel gave an inheritance among €them to Joshua the son of Nun. By command of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, €Tim'nath-se'rah in the hill country of E'phraim; and he rebuilt the €city, and settled in it. @These are the inheritances which Elea'zar the priest and Joshua the €son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the €people of Israel distributed by lot at Shiloh before the LORD, at the €door of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.  @Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Say to the people of Israel, `Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I €spoke to you through Moses, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent or unwittingly €may flee there; they shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of €blood. He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of €the gate of the city, and explain his case to the elders of that city; €then they shall take him into the city, and give him a place, and he €shall remain with them. And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the €slayer into his hand; because he killed his neighbor unwittingly, €having had no enmity against him in times past. And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the €congregation for judgment, until the death of him who is high priest at €the time: then the slayer may go again to his own town and his own €home, to the town from which he fled.'" @So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naph'tali, €and Shechem in the hill country of E'phraim, and Kir'iath-ar'ba (that €is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the €wilderness on the tableland, from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in €Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of €Manas'seh. These were the cities designated for all the people of Israel, and for €the stranger sojourning among them, that any one who killed a person €without intent could flee there, so that he might not die by the hand €of the avenger of blood, till he stood before the congregation.  @Then the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites came to Elea'zar €the priest and to Joshua the son of Nun and to the heads of the €fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel; and they said to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, "The LORD €commanded through Moses that we be given cities to dwell in, along with €their pasture lands for our cattle." So by command of the LORD the people of Israel gave to the Levites the €following cities and pasture lands out of their inheritance. @The lot came out for the families of the Ko'hathites. So those €Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest received by lot from €the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, thirteen cities. @And the rest of the Ko'hathites received by lot from the families of €the tribe of E'phraim, from the tribe of Dan and the half-tribe of €Manas'seh, ten cities. @The Gersonites received by lot from the families of the tribe of €Is'sachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naph'tali, and €from the half-tribe of Manas'seh in Bashan, thirteen cities. @The Merar'ites according to their families received from the tribe of €Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the tribe of Zeb'ulun, twelve cities. @These cities and their pasture lands the people of Israel gave by lot €to the Levites, as the LORD had commanded through Moses. @Out of the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Simeon they gave the €following cities mentioned by name, which went to the descendants of Aaron, one of the families of the €Ko'hathites who belonged to the Levites; since the lot fell to them €first. They gave them Kir'iath-ar'ba (Arba being the father of Anak), that is €Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, along with the pasture lands €round about it. But the fields of the city and its villages had been given to Caleb the €son of Jephun'neh as his possession. @And to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city €of refuge for the slayer, with its pasture lands, Libnah with its €pasture lands, Jattir with its pasture lands, Eshtemo'a with its pasture lands, Holon with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands, A'in with its pasture lands, Juttah with its pasture lands, €Beth-she'mesh with its pasture lands -- nine cities out of these two €tribes; then out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its pasture lands, Geba €with its pasture lands, An'athoth with its pasture lands, and Almon with its pasture €lands -- four cities. The cities of the descendants of Aaron, the priests, were in all €thirteen cities with their pasture lands. @As to the rest of the Ko'hathites belonging to the Ko'hathite €families of the Levites, the cities allotted to them were out of the €tribe of E'phraim. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¶’ļ‚Źļóč’ؕ˜•To them were given Shechem, the city of refuge for the slayer, with its €pasture lands in the hill country of E'phraim, Gezer with its pasture €lands, Kib'za-im with its pasture lands, Beth-hor'on with its pasture €lands -- four cities; and out of the tribe of Dan, El'teke with its pasture lands, Gib'bethon €with its pasture lands, Ai'jalon with its pasture lands, Gath-rim'mon with its pasture €lands -- four cities; and out of the half-tribe of Manas'seh, Ta'anach with its pasture €lands, and Gath-rim'mon with its pasture lands -- two cities. The cities of the families of the rest of the Ko'hathites were ten in €all with their pasture lands. @And to the Gershonites, one of the families of the Levites, were €given out of the half-tribe of Manas'seh, Golan in Bashan with its €pasture lands, the city of refuge for the slayer, and Beesh'terah with €its pasture lands -- two cities; and out of the tribe of Is'sachar, Ki'shion with its pasture lands, €Dab'erath with its pasture lands, Jarmuth with its pasture lands, En-gan'nim with its pasture lands -- four €cities; and out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its pasture lands, Abdon €with its pasture lands, Helkath with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands -- four €cities; and out of the tribe of Naph'tali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture €lands, the city of refuge for the slayer, Ham'moth-dor with its pasture €lands, and Kartan with its pasture lands -- three cities. The cities of the several families of the Gershonites were in all €thirteen cities with their pasture lands. @And to the rest of the Levites, the Merar'ite families, were given €out of the tribe of Zeb'ulun, Jok'ne-am with its pasture lands, Kartah €with its pasture lands, Dimnah with its pasture lands, Na'halal with its pasture lands -- four €cities; and out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its pasture lands, Jahaz €with its pasture lands, Ked'emoth with its pasture lands, and Meph'a-ath with its pasture €lands -- four cities; and out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, €the city of refuge for the slayer, Mahana'im with its pasture lands, Heshbon with its pasture lands, Jazer with its pasture lands -- four €cities in all. As for the cities of the several Merar'ite families, that is, the €remainder of the families of the Levites, those allotted to them were €in all twelve cities. @The cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the €people of Israel were in all forty-eight cities with their pasture €lands. These cities had each its pasture lands round about it; so it was with €all these cities. Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land which he swore to give to €their fathers; and having taken possession of it, they settled there. And the LORD gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their €fathers; not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the LORD €had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one of all the good promises which the LORD had made to the house €of Israel had failed; all came to pass.  @Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the €half-tribe of Manas'seh, and said to them, "You have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD €commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded €you; you have not forsaken your brethren these many days, down to this day, €but have been careful to keep the charge of the LORD your God. And now the LORD your God has given rest to your brethren, as he €promised them; therefore turn and go to your home in the land where €your possession lies, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on €the other side of the Jordan. Take good care to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the €servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to €walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave to €him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went to their €homes. @Now to the one half of the tribe of Manas'seh Moses had given a €possession in Bashan; but to the other half Joshua had given a €possession beside their brethren in the land west of the Jordan. And €when Joshua sent them away to their homes and blessed them, he said to them, "Go back to your homes with much wealth, and with very €many cattle, with silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and with much €clothing; divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren." So the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manas'seh €returned home, parting from the people of Israel at Shiloh, which is in €the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, their own land of €which they had possessed themselves by command of the LORD through €Moses. @And when they came to the region about the Jordan, that lies in the €land of Canaan, the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of €Manas'seh built there an altar by the Jordan, an altar of great size. And the people of Israel heard say, "Behold, the Reubenites and the €Gadites and the half-tribe of Manas'seh have built an altar at the €frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region about the Jordan, on the €side that belongs to the people of Israel." And when the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the €people of Israel gathered at Shiloh, to make war against them. @Then the people of Israel sent to the Reubenites and the Gadites and €the half-tribe of Manas'seh, in the land of Gilead, Phin'ehas the son €of Elea'zar the priest, and with him ten chiefs, one from each of the tribal families of €Israel, every one of them the head of a family among the clans of €Israel. And they came to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of €Manas'seh, in the land of Gilead, and they said to them, "Thus says the whole congregation of the LORD, `What is this treachery €which you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away this €day from following the LORD, by building yourselves an altar this day €in rebellion against the LORD? Have we not had enough of the sin at Pe'or from which even yet we have €not cleansed ourselves, and for which there came a plague upon the €congregation of the LORD, that you must turn away this day from following the LORD? And if you €rebel against the LORD today he will be angry with the whole €congregation of Israel tomorrow. But now, if your land is unclean, pass over into the LORD's land where €the LORD's tabernacle stands, and take for yourselves a possession €among us; only do not rebel against the LORD, or make us as rebels by €building yourselves an altar other than the altar of the LORD our God. Did not Achan the son of Zerah break faith in the matter of the devoted €things, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? And he did €not perish alone for his iniquity.'" @Then the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manas'seh €said in answer to the heads of the families of Israel, "The Mighty One, God, the LORD! The Mighty One, God, the LORD! He €knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach €of faith toward the LORD, spare us not today for building an altar to turn away from following the LORD; or if we €did so to offer burnt offerings or cereal offerings or peace offerings €on it, may the LORD himself take vengeance. Nay, but we did it from fear that in time to come your children might €say to our children, `What have you to do with the LORD, the God of €Israel? For the LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you €Reubenites and Gadites; you have no portion in the LORD.' So your €children might make our children cease to worship the LORD. Therefore we said, `Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, €nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you, and between the generations €after us, that we do perform the service of the LORD in his presence €with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and peace offerings; lest your €children say to our children in time to come, "You have no portion in €the LORD."' And we thought, If this should be said to us or to our descendants in žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¶’ļ‚Źļóč’ؖ˜œ‚time to come, we should say, `Behold the copy of the altar of the LORD, €which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifice, but €to be a witness between us and you.' Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn away €this day from following the LORD by building an altar for burnt €offering, cereal offering, or sacrifice, other than the altar of the €LORD our God that stands before his tabernacle!" @When Phin'ehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation, the €heads of the families of Israel who were with him, heard the words that €the Reubenites and the Gadites and the Manas'sites spoke, it pleased €them well. And Phin'ehas the son of Elea'zar the priest said to the Reubenites and €the Gadites and the Manas'sites, "Today we know that the LORD is in the €midst of us, because you have not committed this treachery against the €LORD; now you have saved the people of Israel from the hand of the €LORD." @Then Phin'ehas the son of Elea'zar the priest, and the chiefs, €returned from the Reubenites and the Gadites in the land of Gilead to €the land of Canaan, to the people of Israel, and brought back word to €them. And the report pleased the people of Israel; and the people of Israel €blessed God and spoke no more of making war against them, to destroy €the land where the Reubenites and the Gadites were settled. The Reubenites and the Gadites called the altar Witness; "For," said €they, "it is a witness between us that the LORD is God."  @A long time afterward, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from €all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well advanced in €years, Joshua summoned all Israel, their elders and heads, their judges and €officers, and said to them, "I am now old and well advanced in years; and you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these €nations for your sake, for it is the LORD your God who has fought for €you. Behold, I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those €nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut €off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. The LORD your God will push them back before you, and drive them out of €your sight; and you shall possess their land, as the LORD your God €promised you. Therefore be very steadfast to keep and do all that is written in the €book of the law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right €hand nor to the left, that you may not be mixed with these nations left here among you, or €make mention of the names of their gods, or swear by them, or serve €them, or bow down yourselves to them, but cleave to the LORD your God as you have done to this day. For the LORD has driven out before you great and strong nations; and as €for you, no man has been able to withstand you to this day. One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the LORD your God €who fights for you, as he promised you. Take good heed to yourselves, therefore, to love the LORD your God. For if you turn back, and join the remnant of these nations left here €among you, and make marriages with them, so that you marry their women €and they yours, know assuredly that the LORD your God will not continue to drive out €these nations before you; but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, €a scourge on your sides, and thorns in your eyes, till you perish from €off this good land which the LORD your God has given you. @"And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in €your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one thing has failed of all €the good things which the LORD your God promised concerning you; all €have come to pass for you, not one of them has failed. But just as all the good things which the LORD your God promised €concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the LORD will bring upon €you all the evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good €land which the LORD your God has given you, if you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded €you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger €of the LORD will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly €from off the good land which he has given to you."  @Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and €summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; €and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of €Israel, `Your fathers lived of old beyond the Euphra'tes, Terah, the €father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him €through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him €Isaac; and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave Esau the hill country of €Se'ir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the €midst of it; and afterwards I brought you out. Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and €the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the €Red Sea. And when they cried to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the €Egyptians, and made the sea come upon them and cover them; and your €eyes saw what I did to Egypt; and you lived in the wilderness a long €time. Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other €side of the Jordan; they fought with you, and I gave them into your €hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them €before you. Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against €Israel; and he sent and invited Balaam the son of Be'or to curse you, but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you; so I €delivered you out of his hand. And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and the men of €Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Per'izzites, the €Canaanites, the Hittites, the Gir'gashites, the Hivites, and the €Jeb'usites; and I gave them into your hand. And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the €two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow. I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities which you €had not built, and you dwell therein; you eat the fruit of vineyards €and oliveyards which you did not plant.' @"Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in €faithfulness; put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the €River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you €will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond €the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as €for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." @Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake €the LORD, to serve other gods; for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the €land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and who did those great €signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went, and €among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who €lived in the land; therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our €God." @But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the LORD; for he is €a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your €transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and €do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good." And the people said to Joshua, "Nay; but we will serve the LORD." Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves €that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him." And they said, "We are €witnesses." He said, "Then put away the foreign gods which are among you, and €incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel." And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and his €voice we will obey." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¶’ļ‚Źļóč’ؘ˜™So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes €and ordinances for them at Shechem. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took €a great stone, and set it up there under the oak in the sanctuary of €the LORD. And Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a €witness against us; for it has heard all the words of the LORD which he €spoke to us; therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal €falsely with your God." So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance. @After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, €died, being a hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in his own inheritance at Tim'nath-se'rah, which is €in the hill country of E'phraim, north of the mountain of Ga'ash. @And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days €of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work which the €LORD did for Israel. @The bones of Joseph which the people of Israel brought up from Egypt €were buried at Shechem, in the portion of ground which Jacob bought €from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of €money; it became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph. @And Elea'zar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him at Gib'e-ah, €the town of Phin'ehas his son, which had been given him in the hill €country of E'phraim. ąļ‚Źõäē’”After the death of Joshua the people of Israel inquired of the LORD,of €"Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against €them?" The LORD said, "Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into €his hand." And Judah said to Simeon his brother, "Come up with me into the €territory allotted to me, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and €I likewise will go with you into the territory allotted to you." So €Simeon went with him. Then Judah went up and the LORD gave the Canaanites and the Per'izzites €into their hand; and they defeated ten thousand of them at Bezek. They came upon Ado'ni-be'zek at Bezek, and fought against him, and €defeated the Canaanites and the Per'izzites. Ado'ni-be'zek fled; but they pursued him, and caught him, and cut off €his thumbs and his great toes. And Ado'ni-be'zek said, "Seventy kings with their thumbs and their €great toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table; as I have €done, so God has requited me." And they brought him to Jerusalem, and €he died there. And the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem, and took it, and smote €it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire. And afterward the men of Judah went down to fight against the €Canaanites who dwelt in the hill country, in the Negeb, and in the €lowland. And Judah went against the Canaanites who dwelt in Hebron (now the name €of Hebron was formerly Kir'iath-ar'ba); and they defeated She'shai and €Ahi'man and Talmai. @From there they went against the inhabitants of Debir. The name of €Debir was formerly Kir'iath-se'pher. And Caleb said, "He who attacks Kir'iath-se'pher and takes it, I will €give him Achsah my daughter as wife." And Oth'ni-el the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it; and €he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field; and €she alighted from her ass, and Caleb said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to him, "Give me a present; since you have set me in the land €of the Negeb, give me also springs of water." And Caleb gave her the €upper springs and the lower springs. @And the descendants of the Ken'ite, Moses' father-in-law, went up €with the people of Judah from the city of palms into the wilderness of €Judah, which lies in the Negeb near Arad; and they went and settled €with the people. And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they defeated the €Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. So the name €of the city was called Hormah. Judah also took Gaza with its territory, and Ash'kelon with its €territory, and Ekron with its territory. And the LORD was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill €country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain, €because they had chariots of iron. And Hebron was given to Caleb, as Moses had said; and he drove out from €it the three sons of Anak. But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jeb'usites who dwelt €in Jerusalem; so the Jeb'usites have dwelt with the people of Benjamin €in Jerusalem to this day. @The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel; and the LORD was €with them. And the house of Joseph sent to spy out Bethel. (Now the name of the €city was formerly Luz.) And the spies saw a man coming out of the city, and they said to him, €"Pray, show us the way into the city, and we will deal kindly with you." And he showed them the way into the city; and they smote the city with €the edge of the sword, but they let the man and all his family go. And the man went to the land of the Hittites and built a city, and €called its name Luz; that is its name to this day. @Manas'seh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-she'an and its €villages, or Ta'a-nach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and €its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the €inhabitants of Megid'do and its villages; but the Canaanites persisted €in dwelling in that land. When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but €did not utterly drive them out. @And E'phraim did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but €the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. @Zeb'ulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the €inhabitants of Na'halol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and €became subject to forced labor. @Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants €of Sidon, or of Ahlab, or of Achzib, or of Helbah, or of Aphik, or of €Rehob; but the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the €land; for they did not drive them out. @Naph'tali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-she'mesh, or the €inhabitants of Beth-anath, but dwelt among the Canaanites, the €inhabitants of the land; nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-she'mesh €and of Beth-anath became subject to forced labor for them. @The Amorites pressed the Danites back into the hill country, for they €did not allow them to come down to the plain; the Amorites persisted in dwelling in Har-heres, in Ai'jalon, and in €Sha-al'bim, but the hand of the house of Joseph rested heavily upon €them, and they became subject to forced labor. And the border of the Amorites ran from the ascent of Akrab'bim, from €Sela and upward.  @Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, €"I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you into the land which I €swore to give to your fathers. I said, `I will never break my covenant €with you, and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you €shall break down their altars.' But you have not obeyed my command. €What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you; but they shall €become adversaries to you, and their gods shall be a snare to you." When the angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the people of €Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim; and they sacrificed €there to the LORD. @When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to €his inheritance to take possession of the land. And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days €of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work €which the LORD had done for Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of €one hundred and ten years. And they buried him within the bounds of his inheritance in €Tim'nath-he'res, in the hill country of E'phraim, north of the mountain €of Ga'ash. And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there €arose another generation after them, who did not know the LORD or the €work which he had done for Israel. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°·’ļ‚Źõäē’¢˜‹@And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD €and served the Ba'als; and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought €them out of the land of Egypt; they went after other gods, from among €the gods of the peoples who were round about them, and bowed down to €them; and they provoked the LORD to anger. They forsook the LORD, and served the Ba'als and the Ash'taroth. So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them €over to plunderers, who plundered them; and he sold them into the power €of their enemies round about, so that they could no longer withstand €their enemies. Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for €evil, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them; and €they were in sore straits. @Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the power of €those who plundered them. And yet they did not listen to their judges; for they played the harlot €after other gods and bowed down to them; they soon turned aside from €the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the €commandments of the LORD, and they did not do so. Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the €judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of €the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of €those who afflicted and oppressed them. But whenever the judge died, they turned back and behaved worse than €their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to €them; they did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel; and he said, €"Because this people have transgressed my covenant which I commanded €their fathers, and have not obeyed my voice, I will not henceforth drive out before them any of the nations that €Joshua left when he died, that by them I may test Israel, whether they will take care to walk in €the way of the LORD as their fathers did, or not." So the LORD left those nations, not driving them out at once, and he €did not give them into the power of Joshua.  @Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to test Israel by €them, that is, all in Israel who had no experience of any war in Canaan; it was only that the generations of the people of Israel might know €war, that he might teach war to such at least as had not known it €before. These are the nations: the five lords of the Philistines, and all the €Canaanites, and the Sido'nians, and the Hivites who dwelt on Mount €Lebanon, from Mount Ba'al-her'mon as far as the entrance of Hamath. They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey €the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by Moses. So the people of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the €Amorites, the Per'izzites, the Hivites, and the Jeb'usites; and they took their daughters to themselves for wives, and their own €daughters they gave to their sons; and they served their gods. @And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, €forgetting the LORD their God, and serving the Ba'als and the Ashe'roth. Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold €them into the hand of Cu'shan-rishatha'im king of Mesopota'mia; and the €people of Israel served Cu'shan-rishatha'im eight years. But when the people of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a €deliverer for the people of Israel, who delivered them, Oth'ni-el the €son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel; he went out €to war, and the LORD gave Cu'shan-rishatha'im king of Mesopota'mia into €his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cu'shan-rishatha'im. So the land had rest forty years. Then Oth'ni-el the son of Kenaz died. @And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the €LORD; and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, €because they had done what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amal'ekites, and went and €defeated Israel; and they took possession of the city of palms. And the people of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. @But when the people of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up €for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a €left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the €king of Moab. And Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit in length; €and he girded it on his right thigh under his clothes. And he presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a €very fat man. And when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the €people that carried the tribute. But he himself turned back at the sculptured stones near Gilgal, and €said, "I have a secret message for you, O king." And he commanded, €"Silence." And all his attendants went out from his presence. And Ehud came to him, as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. €And Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you." And he arose from €his seat. And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right €thigh, and thrust it into his belly; and the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the €blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his belly; and the dirt €came out. Then Ehud went out into the vestibule, and closed the doors of the roof €chamber upon him, and locked them. @When he had gone, the servants came; and when they saw that the doors €of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, "He is only relieving €himself in the closet of the cool chamber." And they waited till they were utterly at a loss; but when he still did €not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened €them; and there lay their lord dead on the floor. @Ehud escaped while they delayed, and passed beyond the sculptured €stones, and escaped to Se-i'rah. When he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of €E'phraim; and the people of Israel went down with him from the hill €country, having him at their head. And he said to them, "Follow after me; for the LORD has given your €enemies the Moabites into your hand." So they went down after him, and €seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and allowed not a €man to pass over. And they killed at that time about ten thousand of the Moabites, all €strong, able-bodied men; not a man escaped. So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had €rest for eighty years. @After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred of the €Philistines with an oxgoad; and he too delivered Israel.  @And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the €LORD, after Ehud died. And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who €reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sis'era, who dwelt in €Haro'sheth-ha-goiim. Then the people of Israel cried to the LORD for help; for he had nine €hundred chariots of iron, and oppressed the people of Israel cruelly €for twenty years. @Now Deb'orah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapp'idoth, was judging €Israel at that time. She used to sit under the palm of Deb'orah between Ramah and Bethel in €the hill country of E'phraim; and the people of Israel came up to her €for judgment. She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abin'o-am from Kedesh in €Naph'tali, and said to him, "The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you, €`Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking ten thousand from the tribe €of Naph'tali and the tribe of Zeb'ulun. And I will draw out Sis'era, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you €by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give €him into your hand.'" Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will €not go with me, I will not go." And she said, "I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the road on €which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell €Sis'era into the hand of a woman." Then Deb'orah arose, and went with žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°·’ļ‚Źõäē’¤˜‰„Barak to Kedesh. And Barak summoned Zeb'ulun and Naph'tali to Kedesh; and ten thousand €men went up at his heels; and Deb'orah went up with him. @Now Heber the Ken'ite had separated from the Ken'ites, the €descendants of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his €tent as far away as the oak in Za-anan'nim, which is near Kedesh. @When Sis'era was told that Barak the son of Abin'o-am had gone up to €Mount Tabor, Sis'era called out all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and €all the men who were with him, from Haro'sheth-ha-goiim to the river €Kishon. And Deb'orah said to Barak, "Up! For this is the day in which the LORD €has given Sis'era into your hand. Does not the LORD go out before you?" €So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. And the LORD routed Sis'era and all his chariots and all his army €before Barak at the edge of the sword; and Sis'era alighted from his €chariot and fled away on foot. And Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Haro'sheth-ha-goiim, and €all the army of Sis'era fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was €left. @But Sis'era fled away on foot to the tent of Ja'el, the wife of Heber €the Ken'ite; for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and €the house of Heber the Ken'ite. And Ja'el came out to meet Sis'era, and said to him, "Turn aside, my €lord, turn aside to me; have no fear." So he turned aside to her into €the tent, and she covered him with a rug. And he said to her, "Pray, give me a little water to drink; for I am €thirsty." So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered €him. And he said to her, "Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man €comes and asks you, `Is any one here?' say, No." But Ja'el the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her €hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, till it €went down into the ground, as he was lying fast asleep from weariness. €So he died. And behold, as Barak pursued Sis'era, Ja'el went out to meet him, and €said to him, "Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking." €So he went in to her tent; and there lay Sis'era dead, with the tent €peg in his temple. @So on that day God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the people €of Israel. And the hand of the people of Israel bore harder and harder on Jabin €the king of Canaan, until they destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.  @Then sang Deb'orah and Barak the son of Abin'o-am on that day: @@"That the leaders took the lead in Israel, €@@@that the people offered themselves willingly, €@@@bless the LORD! @@"Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; €@@@to the LORD I will sing, €@@@I will make melody to the LORD, the God of Israel. @@"LORD, when thou didst go forth from Se'ir, €@@@when thou didst march from the region of Edom, €@@the earth trembled, €@@@and the heavens dropped, €@@@yea, the clouds dropped water. @@The mountains quaked before the LORD, €@@@yon Sinai before the LORD, the God of Israel. @@"In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, €@@@in the days of Ja'el, caravans ceased €@@@and travelers kept to the byways. @@The peasantry ceased in Israel, they ceased €@@@until you arose, Deb'orah, €@@@arose as a mother in Israel. @@When new gods were chosen, €@@@then war was in the gates. €@@Was shield or spear to be seen €@@@among forty thousand in Israel? @@My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel €@@@who offered themselves willingly among the people. €@@@Bless the LORD. @@"Tell of it, you who ride on tawny asses, €@@@you who sit on rich carpets €@@@and you who walk by the way. @@To the sound of musicians at the watering places, €@@@there they repeat the triumphs of the LORD, €@@@the triumphs of his peasantry in Israel. €@@"Then down to the gates marched the people of the LORD. @@"Awake, awake, Deb'orah! €@@@Awake, awake, utter a song! €@@Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, €@@@O son of Abin'o-am. @@Then down marched the remnant of the noble; €@@@the people of the LORD marched down for him against the mighty. @@From E'phraim they set out thither into the valley, €@@@following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen; €@@from Machir marched down the commanders, €@@@and from Zeb'ulun those who bear the marshal's staff; @@the princes of Is'sachar came with Deb'orah, €@@@and Is'sachar faithful to Barak; €@@@into the valley they rushed forth at his heels. €@@Among the clans of Reuben €@@@there were great searchings of heart. @@Why did you tarry among the sheepfolds, €@@@to hear the piping for the flocks? €@@Among the clans of Reuben €@@@there were great searchings of heart. @@Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; €@@@and Dan, why did he abide with the ships? €@@Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, €@@@settling down by his landings. @@Zeb'ulun is a people that jeoparded their lives to the death; €@@@Naph'tali too, on the heights of the field. @@"The kings came, they fought; €@@@then fought the kings of Canaan, €@@at Ta'anach, by the waters of Megid'do; €@@@they got no spoils of silver. @@From heaven fought the stars, €@@@from their courses they fought against Sis'era. @@The torrent Kishon swept them away, €@@@the onrushing torrent, the torrent Kishon. €@@@March on, my soul, with might! @@"Then loud beat the horses' hoofs €@@@with the galloping, galloping of his steeds. @@"Curse Meroz, says the angel of the LORD, €@@@curse bitterly its inhabitants, €@@because they came not to the help of the LORD, €@@@to the help of the LORD against the mighty. @@"Most blessed of women be Ja'el, €@@@the wife of Heber the Ken'ite, €@@@of tent-dwelling women most blessed. @@He asked water and she gave him milk, €@@@she brought him curds in a lordly bowl. @@She put her hand to the tent peg €@@@and her right hand to the workmen's mallet; €@@she struck Sis'era a blow, €@@@she crushed his head, €@@@she shattered and pierced his temple. @@He sank, he fell, €@@@he lay still at her feet; €@@at her feet he sank, he fell; €@@@where he sank, there he fell dead. @@"Out of the window she peered, €@@@the mother of Sis'era gazed through the lattice: €@@`Why is his chariot so long in coming? €@@@Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?' @@Her wisest ladies make answer, €@@@nay, she gives answer to herself, @@`Are they not finding and dividing the spoil? --€@@@A maiden or two for every man; €@@spoil of dyed stuffs for Sis'era, €@@@spoil of dyed stuffs embroidered, €@@@two pieces of dyed work embroidered for my neck as spoil?' @@"So perish all thine enemies, O LORD! €@@@But thy friends be like the sun as he rises in his might." €@And the land had rest for forty years.  The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and €the LORD gave them into the hand of Mid'ian seven years. And the hand of Mid'ian prevailed over Israel; and because of Mid'ian €the people of Israel made for themselves the dens which are in the €mountains, and the caves and the strongholds. For whenever the Israelites put in seed the Mid'ianites and the €Amal'ekites and the people of the East would come up and attack them; they would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the land, as €far as the neighborhood of Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel, and €no sheep or ox or ass. For they would come up with their cattle and their tents, coming like €locusts for number; both they and their camels could not be counted; so €that they wasted the land as they came in. And Israel was brought very low because of Mid'ian; and the people of €Israel cried for help to the LORD. @When the people of Israel cried to the LORD on account of the €Mid'ianites, the LORD sent a prophet to the people of Israel; and he said to them, €"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt, and €brought you out of the house of bondage; and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand €of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you, and gave you €their land; and I said to you, `I am the LORD your God; you shall not pay reverence €to the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.' But you have not €given heed to my voice." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°·’ļ‚Źõäē’¦˜‹@Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the oak at Ophrah, which €belonged to Jo'ash the Abiez'rite, as his son Gideon was beating out €wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Mid'ianites. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is €with you, you mighty man of valor." And Gideon said to him, "Pray, sir, if the LORD is with us, why then €has all this befallen us? And where are all his wonderful deeds which €our fathers recounted to us, saying, `Did not the LORD bring us up from €Egypt?' But now the LORD has cast us off, and given us into the hand of €Mid'ian." And the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours and €deliver Israel from the hand of Mid'ian; do not I send you?" And he said to him, "Pray, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Behold, my €clan is the weakest in Manas'seh, and I am the least in my family." And the LORD said to him, "But I will be with you, and you shall smite €the Mid'ianites as one man." And he said to him, "If now I have found favor with thee, then show me €a sign that it is thou who speakest with me. Do not depart from here, I pray thee, until I come to thee, and bring €out my present, and set it before thee." And he said, "I will stay till €you return." @So Gideon went into his house and prepared a kid, and unleavened €cakes from an ephah of flour; the meat he put in a basket, and the €broth he put in a pot, and brought them to him under the oak and €presented them. And the angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened €cakes, and put them on this rock, and pour the broth over them." And he €did so. Then the angel of the LORD reached out the tip of the staff that was in €his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and there €sprang up fire from the rock and consumed the flesh and the unleavened €cakes; and the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight. Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the LORD; and Gideon €said, "Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face €to face." But the LORD said to him, "Peace be to you; do not fear, you shall not €die." Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it, The LORD €is peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the €Abiez'rites. @That night the LORD said to him, "Take your father's bull, the second €bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Ba'al which your €father has, and cut down the Ashe'rah that is beside it; and build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of the stronghold €here, with stones laid in due order; then take the second bull, and €offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Ashe'rah which you €shall cut down." So Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had told €him; but because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the €town to do it by day, he did it by night. @When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar €of Ba'al was broken down, and the Ashe'rah beside it was cut down, and €the second bull was offered upon the altar which had been built. And they said to one another, "Who has done this thing?" And after they €had made search and inquired, they said, "Gideon the son of Jo'ash has €done this thing." Then the men of the town said to Jo'ash, "Bring out your son, that he €may die, for he has pulled down the altar of Ba'al and cut down the €Ashe'rah beside it." But Jo'ash said to all who were arrayed against him, "Will you contend €for Ba'al? Or will you defend his cause? Whoever contends for him shall €be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for €himself, because his altar has been pulled down." Therefore on that day he was called Jerubba'al, that is to say, "Let €Ba'al contend against him," because he pulled down his altar. @Then all the Mid'ianites and the Amal'ekites and the people of the €East came together, and crossing the Jordan they encamped in the Valley €of Jezreel. But the Spirit of the LORD took possession of Gideon; and he sounded €the trumpet, and the Abiez'rites were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers throughout all Manas'seh; and they too were €called out to follow him. And he sent messengers to Asher, Zeb'ulun, €and Naph'tali; and they went up to meet them. @Then Gideon said to God, "If thou wilt deliver Israel by my hand, as €thou hast said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there €is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I €shall know that thou wilt deliver Israel by my hand, as thou hast said." And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, €he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God, "Let not thy anger burn against me, let me €speak but this once; pray, let me make trial only this once with the €fleece; pray, let it be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground €let there be dew." And God did so that night; for it was dry on the fleece only, and on €all the ground there was dew.  @Then Jerubba'al (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with €him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod; and the camp of €Mid'ian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. @The LORD said to Gideon, "The people with you are too many for me to €give the Mid'ianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves €against me, saying, `My own hand has delivered me.' Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, `Whoever is €fearful and trembling, let him return home.'" And Gideon tested them; €twenty-two thousand returned, and ten thousand remained. @And the LORD said to Gideon, "The people are still too many; take €them down to the water and I will test them for you there; and he of €whom I say to you, `This man shall go with you,' shall go with you; and €any of whom I say to you, `This man shall not go with you,' shall not €go." So he brought the people down to the water; and the LORD said to €Gideon, "Every one that laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, €you shall set by himself; likewise every one that kneels down to drink." And the number of those that lapped, putting their hands to their €mouths, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people knelt €down to drink water. And the LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I €will deliver you, and give the Mid'ianites into your hand; and let all €the others go every man to his home." So he took the jars of the people from their hands, and their trumpets; €and he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained €the three hundred men; and the camp of Mid'ian was below him in the €valley. @That same night the LORD said to him, "Arise, go down against the €camp; for I have given it into your hand. But if you fear to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant; and you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be €strengthened to go down against the camp." Then he went down with Purah €his servant to the outposts of the armed men that were in the camp. And the Mid'ianites and the Amal'ekites and all the people of the East €lay along the valley like locusts for multitude; and their camels were €without number, as the sand which is upon the seashore for multitude. When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade; and €he said, "Behold, I dreamed a dream; and lo, a cake of barley bread €tumbled into the camp of Mid'ian, and came to the tent, and struck it €so that it fell, and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat." And his comrade answered, "This is no other than the sword of Gideon €the son of Jo'ash, a man of Israel; into his hand God has given Mid'ian €and all the host." @When Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he €worshiped; and he returned to the camp of Israel, and said, "Arise; for €the LORD has given the host of Mid'ian into your hand." And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and put €trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars, with torches €inside the jars. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°·’ļ‚Źõäē’§˜‘And he said to them, "Look at me, and do likewise; when I come to the €outskirts of the camp, do as I do. When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow the €trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and shout, `For the LORD €and for Gideon.'" @So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts €of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just €set the watch; and they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that €were in their hands. And the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars, holding €in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets €to blow; and they cried, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" They stood every man in his place round about the camp, and all the €army ran; they cried out and fled. When they blew the three hundred trumpets, the LORD set every man's €sword against his fellow and against all the army; and the army fled as €far as Beth-shit'tah toward Zer'erah, as far as the border of €A'bel-meho'lah, by Tabbath. And the men of Israel were called out from Naph'tali and from Asher and €from all Manas'seh, and they pursued after Mid'ian. @And Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of €E'phraim, saying, "Come down against the Mid'ianites and seize the €waters against them, as far as Beth-bar'ah, and also the Jordan." So €all the men of E'phraim were called out, and they seized the waters as €far as Beth-bar'ah, and also the Jordan. And they took the two princes of Mid'ian, Oreb and Zeeb; they killed €Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the wine press of €Zeeb, as they pursued Mid'ian; and they brought the heads of Oreb and €Zeeb to Gideon beyond the Jordan.  @And the men of E'phraim said to him, "What is this that you have done €to us, not to call us when you went to fight with Mid'ian?" And they €upbraided him violently. And he said to them, "What have I done now in comparison with you? Is €not the gleaning of the grapes of E'phraim better than the vintage of €Abi-e'zer? God has given into your hands the princes of Mid'ian, Oreb and Zeeb; €what have I been able to do in comparison with you?" Then their anger €against him was abated, when he had said this. @And Gideon came to the Jordan and passed over, he and the three €hundred men who were with him, faint yet pursuing. So he said to the men of Succoth, "Pray, give loaves of bread to the €people who follow me; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah €and Zalmun'na, the kings of Mid'ian." And the officials of Succoth said, "Are Zebah and Zalmun'na already in €your hand, that we should give bread to your army?" And Gideon said, "Well then, when the LORD has given Zebah and €Zalmun'na into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the €wilderness and with briers." And from there he went up to Penu'el, and spoke to them in the same €way; and the men of Penu'el answered him as the men of Succoth had €answered. And he said to the men of Penu'el, "When I come again in peace, I will €break down this tower." @Now Zebah and Zalmun'na were in Karkor with their army, about fifteen €thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the €East; for there had fallen a hundred and twenty thousand men who drew €the sword. And Gideon went up by the caravan route east of Nobah and Jog'behah, €and attacked the army; for the army was off its guard. And Zebah and Zalmun'na fled; and he pursued them and took the two €kings of Mid'ian, Zebah and Zalmun'na, and he threw all the army into a €panic. @Then Gideon the son of Jo'ash returned from the battle by the ascent €of Heres. And he caught a young man of Succoth, and questioned him; and he wrote €down for him the officials and elders of Succoth, seventy-seven men. And he came to the men of Succoth, and said, "Behold Zebah and €Zalmun'na, about whom you taunted me, saying, `Are Zebah and Zalmun'na €already in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are €faint?'" And he took the elders of the city and he took thorns of the wilderness €and briers and with them taught the men of Succoth. And he broke down the tower of Penu'el, and slew the men of the city. @Then he said to Zebah and Zalmun'na, "Where are the men whom you slew €at Tabor?" They answered, "As you are, so were they, every one of them; €they resembled the sons of a king." And he said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother; as the LORD €lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not slay you." And he said to Jether his first-born, "Rise, and slay them." But the €youth did not draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was still a €youth. Then Zebah and Zalmun'na said, "Rise yourself, and fall upon us; for as €the man is, so is his strength." And Gideon arose and slew Zebah and €Zalmun'na; and he took the crescents that were on the necks of their €camels. @Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us, you and your €son and your grandson also; for you have delivered us out of the hand €of Mid'ian." Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, and my son will not €rule over you; the LORD will rule over you." And Gideon said to them, "Let me make a request of you; give me every €man of you the earrings of his spoil." (For they had golden earrings, €because they were Ish'maelites.) And they answered, "We will willingly give them." And they spread a €garment, and every man cast in it the earrings of his spoil. And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one €thousand seven hundred shekels of gold; besides the crescents and the €pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Mid'ian, and €besides the collars that were about the necks of their camels. And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah; and €all Israel played the harlot after it there, and it became a snare to €Gideon and to his family. So Mid'ian was subdued before the people of Israel, and they lifted up €their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of €Gideon. @Jerubba'al the son of Jo'ash went and dwelt in his own house. Now Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, for he had many wives. And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called €his name Abim'elech. And Gideon the son of Jo'ash died in a good old age, and was buried in €the tomb of Jo'ash his father, at Ophrah of the Abiez'rites. @As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and played €the harlot after the Ba'als, and made Ba'al-be'rith their god. And the people of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had €rescued them from the hand of all their enemies on every side; and they did not show kindness to the family of Jerubba'al (that is, €Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done to Israel.  @Now Abim'elech the son of Jerubba'al went to Shechem to his mother's €kinsmen and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family, "Say in the ears of all the citizens of Shechem, `Which is better for €you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubba'al rule over you, or that €one rule over you?' Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh." And his mother's kinsmen spoke all these words on his behalf in the €ears of all the men of Shechem; and their hearts inclined to follow €Abim'elech, for they said, "He is our brother." And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of €Ba'al-be'rith with which Abim'elech hired worthless and reckless €fellows, who followed him. And he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brothers the €sons of Jerubba'al, seventy men, upon one stone; but Jotham the €youngest son of Jerubba'al was left, for he hid himself. And all the citizens of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and €they went and made Abim'elech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem. @When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount €Ger'izim, and cried aloud and said to them, "Listen to me, you men of €Shechem, that God may listen to you. The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to €the olive tree, `Reign over us.' žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°·’ļ‚Źõäē’؉˜‰But the olive tree said to them, `Shall I leave my fatness, by which €gods and men are honored, and go to sway over the trees?' And the trees said to the fig tree, `Come you, and reign over us.' But the fig tree said to them, `Shall I leave my sweetness and my good €fruit, and go to sway over the trees?' And the trees said to the vine, `Come you, and reign over us.' But the vine said to them, `Shall I leave my wine which cheers gods and €men, and go to sway over the trees?' Then all the trees said to the bramble, `Come you, and reign over us.' And the bramble said to the trees, `If in good faith you are anointing €me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, €let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.' @"Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and honor when you made €Abim'elech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubba'al and his €house, and have done to him as his deeds deserved --for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and rescued you from €the hand of Mid'ian; and you have risen up against my father's house this day, and have €slain his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abim'elech, the €son of his maidservant, king over the citizens of Shechem, because he €is your kinsman --if you then have acted in good faith and honor with Jerubba'al and with €his house this day, then rejoice in Abim'elech, and let him also €rejoice in you; but if not, let fire come out from Abim'elech, and devour the citizens €of Shechem, and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the citizens of €Shechem, and from Beth-millo, and devour Abim'elech." And Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and dwelt there, for €fear of Abim'elech his brother. @Abim'elech ruled over Israel three years. And God sent an evil spirit between Abim'elech and the men of Shechem; €and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abim'elech; that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubba'al might come and €their blood be laid upon Abim'elech their brother, who slew them, and €upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his €brothers. And the men of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountain €tops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way; and it was €told Abim'elech. @And Ga'al the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his kinsmen; and €the men of Shechem put confidence in him. And they went out into the field, and gathered the grapes from their €vineyards and trod them, and held festival, and went into the house of €their god, and ate and drank and reviled Abim'elech. And Ga'al the son of Ebed said, "Who is Abim'elech, and who are we of €Shechem, that we should serve him? Did not the son of Jerubba'al and €Zebul his officer serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem? Why €then should we serve him? Would that this people were under my hand! then I would remove €Abim'elech. I would say to Abim'elech, `Increase your army, and come €out.'" @When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Ga'al the son of €Ebed, his anger was kindled. And he sent messengers to Abim'elech at Aru'mah, saying, "Behold, Ga'al €the son of Ebed and his kinsmen have come to Shechem, and they are €stirring up the city against you. Now therefore, go by night, you and the men that are with you, and lie €in wait in the fields. Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon €the city; and when he and the men that are with him come out against €you, you may do to them as occasion offers." @And Abim'elech and all the men that were with him rose up by night, €and laid wait against Shechem in four companies. And Ga'al the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the €gate of the city; and Abim'elech and the men that were with him rose €from the ambush. And when Ga'al saw the men, he said to Zebul, "Look, men are coming €down from the mountain tops!" And Zebul said to him, "You see the €shadow of the mountains as if they were men." Ga'al spoke again and said, "Look, men are coming down from the center €of the land, and one company is coming from the direction of the €Diviners' Oak." Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your mouth now, you who said, `Who is €Abim'elech, that we should serve him?' Are not these the men whom you €despised? Go out now and fight with them." And Ga'al went out at the head of the men of Shechem, and fought with €Abim'elech. And Abim'elech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell €wounded, up to the entrance of the gate. And Abim'elech dwelt at Aru'mah; and Zebul drove out Ga'al and his €kinsmen, so that they could not live on at Shechem. @On the following day the men went out into the fields. And Abim'elech €was told. He took his men and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in €the fields; and he looked and saw the men coming out of the city, and €he rose against them and slew them. Abim'elech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood €at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed €upon all who were in the fields and slew them. And Abim'elech fought against the city all that day; he took the city, €and killed the people that were in it; and he razed the city and sowed €it with salt. @When all the people of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered €the stronghold of the house of El-be'rith. Abim'elech was told that all the people of the Tower of Shechem were €gathered together. And Abim'elech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the men that were €with him; and Abim'elech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bundle €of brushwood, and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. And he said €to the men that were with him, "What you have seen me do, make haste to €do, as I have done." So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abim'elech €put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over €them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about a €thousand men and women. @Then Abim'elech went to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took €it. But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the people of the €city fled to it, all the men and women, and shut themselves in; and €they went to the roof of the tower. And Abim'elech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near €to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. And a certain woman threw an upper millstone upon Abim'elech's head, €and crushed his skull. Then he called hastily to the young man his armor-bearer, and said to €him, "Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, `A woman killed €him.'" And his young man thrust him through, and he died. And when the men of Israel saw that Abim'elech was dead, they departed €every man to his home. Thus God requited the crime of Abim'elech, which he committed against €his father in killing his seventy brothers; and God also made all the wickedness of the men of Shechem fall back €upon their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of €Jerubba'al.  @After Abim'elech there arose to deliver Israel Tola the son of Pu'ah, €son of Dodo, a man of Is'sachar; and he lived at Shamir in the hill €country of E'phraim. And he judged Israel twenty-three years. Then he died, and was buried €at Shamir. @After him arose Ja'ir the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two €years. And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty asses; and they had thirty €cities, called Hav'voth-ja'ir to this day, which are in the land of €Gilead. And Ja'ir died, and was buried in Kamon. @And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the €LORD, and served the Ba'als and the Ash'taroth, the gods of Syria, the €gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the €gods of the Philistines; and they forsook the LORD, and did not serve €him. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them €into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the Ammonites, and they crushed and oppressed the children of Israel that year. For €eighteen years they oppressed all the people of Israel that were beyond žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°·’ļ‚Źõäē’؊˜ˆƒthe Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah and €against Benjamin and against the house of E'phraim; so that Israel was €sorely distressed. @And the people of Israel cried to the LORD, saying, "We have sinned €against thee, because we have forsaken our God and have served the €Ba'als." And the LORD said to the people of Israel, "Did I not deliver you from €the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the €Philistines? The Sido'nians also, and the Amal'ekites, and the Ma'onites, oppressed €you; and you cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will €deliver you no more. Go and cry to the gods whom you have chosen; let them deliver you in €the time of your distress." And the people of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned; do to us €whatever seems good to thee; only deliver us, we pray thee, this day." So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD; €and he became indignant over the misery of Israel. @Then the Ammonites were called to arms, and they encamped in Gilead; €and the people of Israel came together, and they encamped at Mizpah. And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said one to another, "Who is the €man that will begin to fight against the Ammonites? He shall be head €over all the inhabitants of Gilead."  @Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son €of a harlot. Gilead was the father of Jephthah. And Gilead's wife also bore him sons; and when his wife's sons grew up, €they thrust Jephthah out, and said to him, "You shall not inherit in €our father's house; for you are the son of another woman." Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and dwelt in the land of Tob; and €worthless fellows collected round Jephthah, and went raiding with him. @After a time the Ammonites made war against Israel. And when the Ammonites made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead €went to bring Jephthah from the land of Tob; and they said to Jephthah, "Come and be our leader, that we may fight €with the Ammonites." But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Did you not hate me, and €drive me out of my father's house? Why have you come to me now when you €are in trouble?" And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "That is why we have turned €to you now, that you may go with us and fight with the Ammonites, and €be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead." Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to €fight with the Ammonites, and the LORD gives them over to me, I will be €your head." And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The LORD will be witness €between us; we will surely do as you say." So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him €head and leader over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the €LORD at Mizpah. @Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites and said, €"What have you against me, that you have come to me to fight against my €land?" And the king of the Ammonites answered the messengers of Jephthah, €"Because Israel on coming from Egypt took away my land, from the Arnon €to the Jabbok and to the Jordan; now therefore restore it peaceably." And Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the Ammonites and said to him, "Thus says Jephthah: Israel did not take away the land €of Moab or the land of the Ammonites, but when they came up from Egypt, Israel went through the wilderness to €the Red Sea and came to Kadesh. Israel then sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, `Let us pass, €we pray, through your land'; but the king of Edom would not listen. And €they sent also to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel €remained at Kadesh. Then they journeyed through the wilderness, and went around the land of €Edom and the land of Moab, and arrived on the east side of the land of €Moab, and camped on the other side of the Arnon; but they did not enter €the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the boundary of Moab. Israel then sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of €Heshbon; and Israel said to him, `Let us pass, we pray, through your €land to our country.' But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory; so Sihon €gathered all his people together, and encamped at Jahaz, and fought €with Israel. And the LORD, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the €hand of Israel, and they defeated them; so Israel took possession of €all the land of the Amorites, who inhabited that country. And they took possession of all the territory of the Amorites from the €Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan. So then the LORD, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Amorites from €before his people Israel; and are you to take possession of them? Will you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? And €all that the LORD our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess. Now are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did €he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever go to war with them? While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aro'er and its €villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, €three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time? I therefore have not sinned against you, and you do me wrong by making €war on me; the LORD, the Judge, decide this day between the people of €Israel and the people of Ammon." But the king of the Ammonites did not heed the message of Jephthah €which he sent to him. @Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through €Gilead and Manas'seh, and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from €Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites. And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, "If thou wilt give the €Ammonites into my hand, then whoever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I €return victorious from the Ammonites, shall be the LORD's, and I will €offer him up for a burnt offering." @So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them; and €the LORD gave them into his hand. And he smote them from Aro'er to the neighborhood of Minnith, twenty €cities, and as far as Abel-keramim, with a very great slaughter. So the €Ammonites were subdued before the people of Israel. @Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah; and behold, his daughter €came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances; she was his only €child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. And when he saw her, he rent his clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! €you have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great €trouble to me; for I have opened my mouth to the LORD, and I cannot €take back my vow." And she said to him, "My father, if you have opened your mouth to the €LORD, do to me according to what has gone forth from your mouth, now €that the LORD has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites." And she said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me; let me €alone two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains, and bewail €my virginity, I and my companions." And he said, "Go." And he sent her away for two months; and she €departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the €mountains. And at the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with €her according to his vow which he had made. She had never known a man. €And it became a custom in Israel that the daughters of Israel went year by year to lament the daughter €of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.  @The men of E'phraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon €and said to Jephthah, "Why did you cross over to fight against the €Ammonites, and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house €over you with fire." And Jephthah said to them, "I and my people had a great feud with the €Ammonites; and when I called you, you did not deliver me from their €hand. And when I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°·’ļ‚Źõäē’،“‚hand, and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them €into my hand; why then have you come up to me this day, to fight €against me?" Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought with E'phraim; €and the men of Gilead smote E'phraim, because they said, "You are €fugitives of E'phraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of E'phraim and €Manas'seh." And the Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the €E'phraimites. And when any of the fugitives of E'phraim said, "Let me €go over," the men of Gilead said to him, "Are you an E'phraimite?" When €he said, "No," they said to him, "Then say Shibboleth," and he said, "Sibboleth," for €he could not pronounce it right; then they seized him and slew him at €the fords of the Jordan. And there fell at that time forty-two thousand €of the E'phraimites. @Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died, €and was buried in his city in Gilead. @After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. He had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he gave in marriage outside €his clan, and thirty daughters he brought in from outside for his sons. €And he judged Israel seven years. Then Ibzan died, and was buried at Bethlehem. @After him Elon the Zeb'ulunite judged Israel; and he judged Israel €ten years. Then Elon the Zeb'ulunite died, and was buried at Ai'jalon in the land €of Zeb'ulun. @After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pira'thonite judged Israel. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy asses; and €he judged Israel eight years. Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pira'thonite died, and was buried at €Pira'thon in the land of E'phraim, in the hill country of the €Amal'ekites.  @And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the €LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty €years. @And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, €whose name was Mano'ah; and his wife was barren and had no children. And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, €"Behold, you are barren and have no children; but you shall conceive €and bear a son. Therefore beware, and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing €unclean, for lo, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his €head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from birth; and he shall €begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines." Then the woman came and told her husband, "A man of God came to me, and €his countenance was like the countenance of the angel of God, very €terrible; I did not ask him whence he was, and he did not tell me his €name; but he said to me, `Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son; so then €drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the boy €shall be a Nazirite to God from birth to the day of his death.'" @Then Mano'ah entreated the LORD, and said, "O, LORD, I pray thee, let €the man of God whom thou didst send come again to us, and teach us what €we are to do with the boy that will be born." And God listened to the voice of Mano'ah, and the angel of God came €again to the woman as she sat in the field; but Mano'ah her husband was €not with her. And the woman ran in haste and told her husband, "Behold, the man who €came to me the other day has appeared to me." And Mano'ah arose and went after his wife, and came to the man and said €to him, "Are you the man who spoke to this woman?" And he said, "I am." And Mano'ah said, "Now when your words come true, what is to be the €boy's manner of life, and what is he to do?" And the angel of the LORD said to Mano'ah, "Of all that I said to the €woman let her beware. She may not eat of anything that comes from the vine, neither let her €drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing; all that I €commanded her let her observe." @Mano'ah said to the angel of the LORD, "Pray, let us detain you, and €prepare a kid for you." And the angel of the LORD said to Mano'ah, "If you detain me, I will €not eat of your food; but if you make ready a burnt offering, then €offer it to the LORD." (For Mano'ah did not know that he was the angel €of the LORD.) And Mano'ah said to the angel of the LORD, "What is your name, so that, €when your words come true, we may honor you?" And the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why do you ask my name, seeing €it is wonderful?" So Mano'ah took the kid with the cereal offering, and offered it upon €the rock to the LORD, to him who works wonders. And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of €the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar while Mano'ah and his wife €looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground. @The angel of the LORD appeared no more to Mano'ah and to his wife. €Then Mano'ah knew that he was the angel of the LORD. And Mano'ah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, for we have seen €God." But his wife said to him, "If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would €not have accepted a burnt offering and a cereal offering at our hands, €or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as €these." And the woman bore a son, and called his name Samson; and the boy grew, €and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Ma'haneh-dan, between €Zorah and Esh'ta-ol.  @Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters €of the Philistines. Then he came up, and told his father and mother, "I saw one of the €daughters of the Philistines at Timnah; now get her for me as my wife." But his father and mother said to him, "Is there not a woman among the €daughters of your kinsmen, or among all our people, that you must go to €take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" But Samson said to his €father, "Get her for me; for she pleases me well." @His father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD; for he €was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. At that time the €Philistines had dominion over Israel. @Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and he €came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion roared €against him; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion €asunder as one tears a kid; and he had nothing in his hand. But he did €not tell his father or his mother what he had done. Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson €well. And after a while he returned to take her; and he turned aside to see €the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the €body of the lion, and honey. He scraped it out into his hands, and went on, eating as he went; and €he came to his father and mother, and gave some to them, and they ate. €But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the carcass €of the lion. @And his father went down to the woman, and Samson made a feast there; €for so the young men used to do. And when the people saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with €him. And Samson said to them, "Let me now put a riddle to you; if you can €tell me what it is, within the seven days of the feast, and find it €out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty festal €garments; but if you cannot tell me what it is, then you shall give me thirty €linen garments and thirty festal garments." And they said to him, "Put €your riddle, that we may hear it." And he said to them, €@@"Out of the eater came something to eat. €@@Out of the strong came something sweet." €And they could not in three days tell what the riddle was. @On the fourth day they said to Samson's wife, "Entice your husband to €tell us what the riddle is, lest we burn you and your father's house €with fire. Have you invited us here to impoverish us?" And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, "You only hate me, you do €not love me; you have put a riddle to my countrymen, and you have not €told me what it is." And he said to her, "Behold, I have not told my €father nor my mother, and shall I tell you?" She wept before him the seven days that their feast lasted; and on the €seventh day he told her, because she pressed him hard. Then she told žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°·’ļ‚Źõäē’؎˜‘ƒthe riddle to her countrymen. And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the €sun went down, €@@"What is sweeter than honey? €@@What is stronger than a lion?" €And he said to them, €@@"If you had not plowed with my heifer, €@@you would not have found out my riddle." And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he went down to €Ash'kelon and killed thirty men of the town, and took their spoil and €gave the festal garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger €he went back to his father's house. And Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.  @After a while, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson went to visit his €wife with a kid; and he said, "I will go in to my wife in the chamber." €But her father would not allow him to go in. And her father said, "I really thought that you utterly hated her; so I €gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister fairer than she? €Pray take her instead." And Samson said to them, "This time I shall be blameless in regard to €the Philistines, when I do them mischief." So Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches; and he €turned them tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails. And when he had set fire to the torches, he let the foxes go into the €standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up the shocks and the €standing grain, as well as the olive orchards. Then the Philistines said, "Who has done this?" And they said, "Samson, €the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given €her to his companion." And the Philistines came up, and burned her and €her father with fire. And Samson said to them, "If this is what you do, I swear I will be €avenged upon you, and after that I will quit." And he smote them hip and thigh with great slaughter; and he went down €and stayed in the cleft of the rock of Etam. @Then the Philistines came up and encamped in Judah, and made a raid €on Lehi. And the men of Judah said, "Why have you come up against us?" They €said, "We have come up to bind Samson, to do to him as he did to us." Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of €Etam, and said to Samson, "Do you not know that the Philistines are €rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?" And he €said to them, "As they did to me, so have I done to them." And they said to him, "We have come down to bind you, that we may give €you into the hands of the Philistines." And Samson said to them, "Swear €to me that you will not fall upon me yourselves." They said to him, "No; we will only bind you and give you into their €hands; we will not kill you." So they bound him with two new ropes, and €brought him up from the rock. @When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him; and €the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the ropes which were €on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted €off his hands. And he found a fresh jawbone of an ass, and put out his hand and seized €it, and with it he slew a thousand men. And Samson said, €@@"With the jawbone of an ass, €@@@heaps upon heaps, €@@with the jawbone of an ass €@@@have I slain a thousand men." When he had finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone out of his €hand; and that place was called Ra'math-le'hi. @And he was very thirsty, and he called on the LORD and said, "Thou €hast granted this great deliverance by the hand of thy servant; and €shall I now die of thirst, and fall into the hands of the €uncircumcised?" And God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi, and there came €water from it; and when he drank, his spirit returned, and he revived. €Therefore the name of it was called En-hakkor'e; it is at Lehi to this €day. And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.  @Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a harlot, and he went in to her. The Gazites were told, "Samson has come here," and they surrounded the €place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. They €kept quiet all night, saying, "Let us wait till the light of the €morning; then we will kill him." But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of €the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them €up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the €top of the hill that is before Hebron. @After this he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was €Deli'lah. And the lords of the Philistines came to her and said to her, "Entice €him, and see wherein his great strength lies, and by what means we may €overpower him, that we may bind him to subdue him; and we will each €give you eleven hundred pieces of silver." And Deli'lah said to Samson, "Please tell me wherein your great €strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you." And Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings €which have not been dried, then I shall become weak, and be like any €other man." Then the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings €which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. Now she had men lying in wait in an inner chamber. And she said to him, €"The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he snapped the bowstrings, €as a string of tow snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his €strength was not known. @And Deli'lah said to Samson, "Behold, you have mocked me, and told me €lies; please tell me how you might be bound." And he said to her, "If they bind me with new ropes that have not been €used, then I shall become weak, and be like any other man." So Deli'lah took new ropes and bound him with them, and said to him, €"The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And the men lying in wait were €in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a €thread. @And Deli'lah said to Samson, "Until now you have mocked me, and told €me lies; tell me how you might be bound." And he said to her, "If you €weave the seven locks of my head with the web and make it tight with €the pin, then I shall become weak, and be like any other man." So while he slept, Deli'lah took the seven locks of his head and wove €them into the web. And she made them tight with the pin, and said to €him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he awoke from his €sleep, and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web. @And she said to him, "How can you say, `I love you,' when your heart €is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not €told me wherein your great strength lies." And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged €him, his soul was vexed to death. And he told her all his mind, and said to her, "A razor has never come €upon my head; for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. €If I be shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become €weak, and be like any other man." @When Deli'lah saw that he had told her all his mind, she sent and €called the lords of the Philistines, saying, "Come up this once, for he €has told me all his mind." Then the lords of the Philistines came up to €her, and brought the money in their hands. She made him sleep upon her knees; and she called a man, and had him €shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, €and his strength left him. And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And he awoke from €his sleep, and said, "I will go out as at other times, and shake myself €free." And he did not know that the LORD had left him. And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes, and brought him €down to Gaza, and bound him with bronze fetters; and he ground at the €mill in the prison. But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved. @Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice €to Dagon their god, and to rejoice; for they said, "Our god has given €Samson our enemy into our hand." And when the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said, €"Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°·’ļ‚Źõäē’ؐ˜˜ƒwho has slain many of us." And when their hearts were merry, they said, "Call Samson, that he may €make sport for us." So they called Samson out of the prison, and he €made sport before them. They made him stand between the pillars; and Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, "Let me feel the €pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them." Now the house was full of men and women; all the lords of the €Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about three thousand €men and women, who looked on while Samson made sport. @Then Samson called to the LORD and said, "O Lord GOD, remember me, I €pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that €I may be avenged upon the Philistines for one of my two eyes." And Samson grasped the two middle pillars upon which the house rested, €and he leaned his weight upon them, his right hand on the one and his €left hand on the other. And Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines." Then he bowed with €all his might; and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the €people that were in it. So the dead whom he slew at his death were more €than those whom he had slain during his life. Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought €him up and buried him between Zorah and Esh'ta-ol in the tomb of €Mano'ah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.  @There was a man of the hill country of E'phraim, whose name was Micah. And he said to his mother, "The eleven hundred pieces of silver which €were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it €in my ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it." And his mother €said, "Blessed be my son by the LORD." And he restored the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother; and €his mother said, "I consecrate the silver to the LORD from my hand for €my son, to make a graven image and a molten image; now therefore I will €restore it to you." So when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took two €hundred pieces of silver, and gave it to the silversmith, who made it €into a graven image and a molten image; and it was in the house of €Micah. And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and teraphim, and €installed one of his sons, who became his priest. In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right €in his own eyes. @Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of €Judah, who was a Levite; and he sojourned there. And the man departed from the town of Bethlehem in Judah, to live where €he could find a place; and as he journeyed, he came to the hill country €of E'phraim to the house of Micah. And Micah said to him, "From where do you come?" And he said to him, "I €am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to sojourn where I €may find a place." And Micah said to him, "Stay with me, and be to me a father and a €priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, and a suit of €apparel, and your living." And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man €became to him like one of his sons. And Micah installed the Levite, and the young man became his priest, €and was in the house of Micah. Then Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, because I €have a Levite as priest."  @In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the €tribe of the Danites was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in; €for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to €them. So the Danites sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, €from Zorah and from Esh'ta-ol, to spy out the land and to explore it; €and they said to them, "Go and explore the land." And they came to the €hill country of E'phraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there. When they were by the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the €young Levite; and they turned aside and said to him, "Who brought you €here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?" And he said to them, "Thus and thus has Micah dealt with me: he has €hired me, and I have become his priest." And they said to him, "Inquire of God, we pray thee, that we may know €whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed." And the priest said to them, "Go in peace. The journey on which you go €is under the eye of the LORD." @Then the five men departed, and came to La'ish, and saw the people €who were there, how they dwelt in security, after the manner of the €Sido'nians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing that is in the €earth, and possessing wealth, and how they were far from the Sido'nians €and had no dealings with any one. And when they came to their brethren at Zorah and Esh'ta-ol, their €brethren said to them, "What do you report?" They said, "Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the €land, and behold, it is very fertile. And will you do nothing? Do not €be slow to go, and enter in and possess the land. When you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is €broad; yea, God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no €lack of anything that is in the earth." @And six hundred men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, €set forth from Zorah and Esh'ta-ol, and went up and encamped at Kir'iath-je'arim in Judah. On this account €that place is called Ma'haneh-dan to this day; behold, it is west of €Kir'iath-je'arim. And they passed on from there to the hill country of E'phraim, and came €to the house of Micah. @Then the five men who had gone to spy out the country of La'ish said €to their brethren, "Do you know that in these houses there are an €ephod, teraphim, a graven image, and a molten image? Now therefore €consider what you will do." And they turned aside thither, and came to the house of the young €Levite, at the home of Micah, and asked him of his welfare. Now the six hundred men of the Danites, armed with their weapons of €war, stood by the entrance of the gate; and the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up, and entered €and took the graven image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten €image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six €hundred men armed with weapons of war. And when these went into Micah's house and took the graven image, the €ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image, the priest said to them, €"What are you doing?" And they said to him, "Keep quiet, put your hand upon your mouth, and €come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you €to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and €family in Israel?" And the priest's heart was glad; he took the ephod, and the teraphim, €and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people. @So they turned and departed, putting the little ones and the cattle €and the goods in front of them. When they were a good way from the home of Micah, the men who were in €the houses near Micah's house were called out, and they overtook the €Danites. And they shouted to the Danites, who turned round and said to Micah, €"What ails you that you come with such a company?" And he said, "You take my gods which I made, and the priest, and go €away, and what have I left? How then do you ask me, `What ails you?'" And the Danites said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard among us, €lest angry fellows fall upon you, and you lose your life with the lives €of your household." Then the Danites went their way; and when Micah saw that they were too €strong for him, he turned and went back to his home. @And taking what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, €the Danites came to La'ish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and €smote them with the edge of the sword, and burned the city with fire. And there was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had €no dealings with any one. It was in the valley which belongs to €Beth-rehob. And they rebuilt the city, and dwelt in it. And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who €was born to Israel; but the name of the city was La'ish at the first. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°·’ļ‚Źõäē’ؒ˜žAnd the Danites set up the graven image for themselves; and Jonathan €the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the €tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land. So they set up Micah's graven image which he made, as long as the house €of God was at Shiloh.  @In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was €sojourning in the remote parts of the hill country of E'phraim, who €took to himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. And his concubine became angry with him, and she went away from him to €her father's house at Bethlehem in Judah, and was there some four €months. Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her and €bring her back. He had with him his servant and a couple of asses. And €he came to her father's house; and when the girl's father saw him, he €came with joy to meet him. And his father-in-law, the girl's father, made him stay, and he €remained with him three days; so they ate and drank, and lodged there. And on the fourth day they arose early in the morning, and he prepared €to go; but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, "Strengthen your €heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you may go." So the two men sat and ate and drank together; and the girl's father €said to the man, "Be pleased to spend the night, and let your heart be €merry." And when the man rose up to go, his father-in-law urged him, till he €lodged there again. And on the fifth day he arose early in the morning to depart; and the €girl's father said, "Strengthen your heart, and tarry until the day €declines." So they ate, both of them. And when the man and his concubine and his servant rose up to depart, €his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, "Behold, now the day €has waned toward evening; pray tarry all night. Behold, the day draws €to its close; lodge here and let your heart be merry; and tomorrow you €shall arise early in the morning for your journey, and go home." @But the man would not spend the night; he rose up and departed, and €arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). He had with him a couple €of saddled asses, and his concubine was with him. When they were near Jebus, the day was far spent, and the servant said €to his master, "Come now, let us turn aside to this city of the €Jeb'usites, and spend the night in it." And his master said to him, "We will not turn aside into the city of €foreigners, who do not belong to the people of Israel; but we will pass €on to Gib'e-ah." And he said to his servant, "Come and let us draw near to one of these €places, and spend the night at Gib'e-ah or at Ramah." So they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down on them €near Gib'e-ah, which belongs to Benjamin, and they turned aside there, to go in and spend the night at Gib'e-ah. €And he went in and sat down in the open square of the city; for no man €took them into his house to spend the night. @And behold, an old man was coming from his work in the field at €evening; the man was from the hill country of E'phraim, and he was €sojourning in Gib'e-ah; the men of the place were Benjaminites. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfarer in the open square of €the city; and the old man said, "Where are you going? and whence do you €come?" And he said to him, "We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah to the €remote parts of the hill country of E'phraim, from which I come. I went €to Bethlehem in Judah; and I am going to my home; and nobody takes me €into his house. We have straw and provender for our asses, with bread and wine for me €and your maidservant and the young man with your servants; there is no €lack of anything." And the old man said, "Peace be to you; I will care for all your wants; €only, do not spend the night in the square." So he brought him into his house, and gave the asses provender; and €they washed their feet, and ate and drank. @As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, €base fellows, beset the house round about, beating on the door; and €they said to the old man, the master of the house, "Bring out the man €who came into your house, that we may know him." And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to €them, "No, my brethren, do not act so wickedly; seeing that this man €has come into my house, do not do this vile thing. Behold, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine; let me bring €them out now. Ravish them and do with them what seems good to you; but €against this man do not do so vile a thing." But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine, €and put her out to them; and they knew her, and abused her all night €until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go. And as morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of €the man's house where her master was, till it was light. @And her master rose up in the morning, and when he opened the doors €of the house and went out to go on his way, behold, there was his €concubine lying at the door of the house, with her hands on the €threshold. He said to her, "Get up, let us be going." But there was no answer. €Then he put her upon the ass; and the man rose up and went away to his €home. And when he entered his house, he took a knife, and laying hold of his €concubine he divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent €her throughout all the territory of Israel. And all who saw it said, "Such a thing has never happened or been seen €from the day that the people of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt €until this day; consider it, take counsel, and speak."  @Then all the people of Israel came out, from Dan to Beer-sheba, €including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled as one man €to the LORD at Mizpah. And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, €presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred €thousand men on foot that drew the sword. (Now the Benjaminites heard that the people of Israel had gone up to €Mizpah.) And the people of Israel said, "Tell us, how was this €wickedness brought to pass?" And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and €said, "I came to Gib'e-ah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, €to spend the night. And the men of Gib'e-ah rose against me, and beset the house round €about me by night; they meant to kill me, and they ravished my €concubine, and she is dead. And I took my concubine and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout €all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed €abomination and wantonness in Israel. Behold, you people of Israel, all of you, give your advice and counsel €here." @And all the people arose as one man, saying, "We will not any of us €go to his tent, and none of us will return to his house. But now this is what we will do to Gib'e-ah: we will go up against it €by lot, and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of €Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to €bring provisions for the people, that when they come they may requite €Gib'e-ah of Benjamin, for all the wanton crime which they have €committed in Israel." So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one man. @And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, €saying, "What wickedness is this that has taken place among you? Now therefore give up the men, the base fellows in Gib'e-ah, that we €may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel." But the €Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brethren, the €people of Israel. And the Benjaminites came together out of the cities to Gib'e-ah, to go €out to battle against the people of Israel. And the Benjaminites mustered out of their cities on that day €twenty-six thousand men that drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of €Gib'e-ah, who mustered seven hundred picked men. Among all these were seven hundred picked men who were left-handed; €every one could sling a stone at a hair, and not miss. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°·’ļ‚Źõäē’ؔ˜‘And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred €thousand men that drew sword; all these were men of war. @The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel, and inquired of €God, "Which of us shall go up first to battle against the €Benjaminites?" And the LORD said, "Judah shall go up first." @Then the people of Israel rose in the morning, and encamped against €Gib'e-ah. And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men €of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gib'e-ah. The Benjaminites came out of Gib'e-ah, and felled to the ground on that €day twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites. But the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and again formed the €battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day. And the people of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until the €evening; and they inquired of the LORD, "Shall we again draw near to €battle against our brethren the Benjaminites?" And the LORD said, "Go €up against them." @So the people of Israel came near against the Benjaminites the second €day. And Benjamin went against them out of Gib'e-ah the second day, and €felled to the ground eighteen thousand men of the people of Israel; all €these were men who drew the sword. Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to €Bethel and wept; they sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day €until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before €the LORD. And the people of Israel inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the €covenant of God was there in those days, and Phin'ehas the son of Elea'zar, son of Aaron, ministered before it €in those days), saying, "Shall we yet again go out to battle against €our brethren the Benjaminites, or shall we cease?" And the LORD said, €"Go up; for tomorrow I will give them into your hand." @So Israel set men in ambush round about Gib'e-ah. And the people of Israel went up against the Benjaminites on the third €day, and set themselves in array against Gib'e-ah, as at other times. And the Benjaminites went out against the people, and were drawn away €from the city; and as at other times they began to smite and kill some €of the people, in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the €other to Gib'e-ah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel. And the Benjaminites said, "They are routed before us, as at the €first." But the men of Israel said, "Let us flee, and draw them away €from the city to the highways." And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and set €themselves in array at Ba'al-ta'mar; and the men of Israel who were in €ambush rushed out of their place west of Geba. And there came against Gib'e-ah ten thousand picked men out of all €Israel, and the battle was hard; but the Benjaminites did not know that €disaster was close upon them. And the LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel; and the men of Israel €destroyed twenty-five thousand one hundred men of Benjamin that day; €all these were men who drew the sword. So the Benjaminites saw that they were defeated. €@The men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin, because they trusted to €the men in ambush whom they had set against Gib'e-ah. And the men in ambush made haste and rushed upon Gib'e-ah; the men in €ambush moved out and smote all the city with the edge of the sword. Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in €ambush was that when they made a great cloud of smoke rise up out of €the city the men of Israel should turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to €smite and kill about thirty men of Israel; they said, "Surely they are €smitten down before us, as in the first battle." But when the signal began to rise out of the city in a column of smoke, €the Benjaminites looked behind them; and behold, the whole of the city €went up in smoke to heaven. Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed, €for they saw that disaster was close upon them. Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the €direction of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them, and those €who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of them. Cutting down the Benjaminites, they pursued them and trod them down €from Nohah as far as opposite Gib'e-ah on the east. Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell, all of them men of valor. And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon; €five thousand men of them were cut down in the highways, and they were €pursued hard to Gidom, and two thousand men of them were slain. So all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men that €drew the sword, all of them men of valor. But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock €of Rimmon, and abode at the rock of Rimmon four months. And the men of Israel turned back against the Benjaminites, and smote €them with the edge of the sword, men and beasts and all that they €found. And all the towns which they found they set on fire.  @Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, "No one of us shall give €his daughter in marriage to Benjamin." And the people came to Bethel, and sat there till evening before God, €and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. And they said, "O LORD, the God of Israel, why has this come to pass in €Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel?" And on the morrow the people rose early, and built there an altar, and €offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the people of Israel said, "Which of all the tribes of Israel did €not come up in the assembly to the LORD?" For they had taken a great €oath concerning him who did not come up to the LORD to Mizpah, saying, €"He shall be put to death." And the people of Israel had compassion for Benjamin their brother, and €said, "One tribe is cut off from Israel this day. What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn €by the LORD that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?" @And they said, "What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did €not come up to the LORD to Mizpah?" And behold, no one had come to the €camp from Ja'besh-gil'ead, to the assembly. For when the people were mustered, behold, not one of the inhabitants €of Ja'besh-gil'ead was there. So the congregation sent thither twelve thousand of their bravest men, €and commanded them, "Go and smite the inhabitants of Ja'besh-gil'ead €with the edge of the sword; also the women and the little ones. This is what you shall do; every male and every woman that has lain €with a male you shall utterly destroy." And they found among the inhabitants of Ja'besh-gil'ead four hundred €young virgins who had not known man by lying with him; and they brought €them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan. @Then the whole congregation sent word to the Benjaminites who were at €the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace to them. And Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom €they had saved alive of the women of Ja'besh-gil'ead; but they did not €suffice for them. And the people had compassion on Benjamin because the LORD had made a €breach in the tribes of Israel. @Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives €for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?" And they said, "There must be an inheritance for the survivors of €Benjamin, that a tribe be not blotted out from Israel. Yet we cannot give them wives of our daughters." For the people of €Israel had sworn, "Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin." So they said, "Behold, there is the yearly feast of the LORD at Shiloh, €which is north of Bethel, on the east of the highway that goes up from €Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebo'nah." And they commanded the Benjaminites, saying, "Go and lie in wait in the €vineyards, and watch; if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, €then come out of the vineyards and seize each man his wife from the €daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°·’ļ‚Źõäē’ؕ˜–And when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we €will say to them, `Grant them graciously to us; because we did not take €for each man of them his wife in battle, neither did you give them to €them, else you would now be guilty.'" And the Benjaminites did so, and took their wives, according to their €number, from the dancers whom they carried off; then they went and €returned to their inheritance, and rebuilt the towns, and dwelt in them. And the people of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to €his tribe and family, and they went out from there every man to his €inheritance. @In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was €right in his own eyes. ąļ‚Ņõōč’”In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a €certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of €Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elim'elech and the name of his wife Na'omi, and €the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chil'ion; they were €Eph'rathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of €Moab and remained there. But Elim'elech, the husband of Na'omi, died, and she was left with her €two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of €the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years; and both Mahlon and Chil'ion died, so that the woman was bereft of her €two sons and her husband. @Then she started with her daughters-in-law to return from the country €of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had €visited his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she was, with her two €daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of €Judah. But Na'omi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to €her mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have €dealt with the dead and with me. The LORD grant that you may find a home, each of you in the house of €her husband!" Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and €wept. And they said to her, "No, we will return with you to your people." But Na'omi said, "Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? €Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a €husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband €this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore €refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter €to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone forth against €me." Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her €mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. @And she said, "See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people €and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." But Ruth said, "Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following €you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your €people shall be my people, and your God my God; where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do €so to me and more also if even death parts me from you." And when Na'omi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no €more. @So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when €they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them; and €the women said, "Is this Na'omi?" She said to them, "Do not call me Na'omi, call me Mara, for the €Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me €Na'omi, when the LORD has afflicted me and the Almighty has brought €calamity upon me?" @So Na'omi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with €her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem €at the beginning of barley harvest.  @Now Na'omi had a kinsman of her husband's, a man of wealth, of the €family of Elim'elech, whose name was Bo'az. And Ruth the Moabitess said to Na'omi, "Let me go to the field, and €glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find €favor." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter." So she set forth and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; €and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Bo'az, €who was of the family of Elim'elech. And behold, Bo'az came from Bethlehem; and he said to the reapers, "The €LORD be with you!" And they answered, "The LORD bless you." Then Bo'az said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose €maiden is this?" And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, "It is the €Moabite maiden, who came back with Na'omi from the country of Moab. She said, `Pray, let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the €reapers.' So she came, and she has continued from early morning until €now, without resting even for a moment." @Then Bo'az said to Ruth, "Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to €glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my maidens. Let your eyes be upon the field which they are reaping, and go after €them. Have I not charged the young men not to molest you? And when you €are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn." Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, "Why €have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, €when I am a foreigner?" But Bo'az answered her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law €since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you €left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people €that you did not know before. The LORD recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be €given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have €come to take refuge!" Then she said, "You are most gracious to me, my lord, for you have €comforted me and spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not one €of your maidservants." @And at mealtime Bo'az said to her, "Come here, and eat some bread, €and dip your morsel in the wine." So she sat beside the reapers, and he €passed to her parched grain; and she ate until she was satisfied, and €she had some left over. When she rose to glean, Bo'az instructed his young men, saying, "Let €her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. And also pull out some from the bundles for her, and leave it for her €to glean, and do not rebuke her." @So she gleaned in the field until evening; then she beat out what she €had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. And she took it up and went into the city; she showed her mother-in-law €what she had gleaned, and she also brought out and gave her what food €she had left over after being satisfied. And her mother-in-law said to her, "Where did you glean today? And €where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you." So €she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, "The €man's name with whom I worked today is Bo'az." And Na'omi said to her daughter-in-law, "Blessed be he by the LORD, €whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!" Na'omi also €said to her, "The man is a relative of ours, one of our nearest kin." And Ruth the Moabitess said, "Besides, he said to me, `You shall keep €close by my servants, till they have finished all my harvest.'" And Na'omi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, "It is well, my daughter, €that you go out with his maidens, lest in another field you be €molested." So she kept close to the maidens of Bo'az, gleaning until the end of €the barley and wheat harvests; and she lived with her mother-in-law.  @Then Na'omi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not €seek a home for you, that it may be well with you? Now is not Bo'az our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? See, he is €winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go €down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man €until he has finished eating and drinking. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°ø’ļ‚Ņõōč’£”But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and €uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do." And she replied, "All that you say I will do." @So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her €mother-in-law had told her. And when Bo'az had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to €lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly, and €uncovered his feet, and lay down. At midnight the man was startled, and turned over, and behold, a woman €lay at his feet! He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant; €spread your skirt over your maidservant, for you are next of kin." And he said, "May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter; you have €made this last kindness greater than the first, in that you have not €gone after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not fear, I will do for you all that you ask, €for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of worth. And now it is true that I am a near kinsman, yet there is a kinsman €nearer than I. Remain this night, and in the morning, if he will do the part of the €next of kin for you, well; let him do it; but if he is not willing to €do the part of the next of kin for you, then, as the LORD lives, I will €do the part of the next of kin for you. Lie down until the morning." @So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could €recognize another; and he said, "Let it not be known that the woman €came to the threshing floor." And he said, "Bring the mantle you are wearing and hold it out." So she €held it, and he measured out six measures of barley, and laid it upon €her; then she went into the city. And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "How did you fare, my €daughter?" Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, "These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, `You €must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.'" She replied, "Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns €out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today."  @And Bo'az went up to the gate and sat down there; and behold, the €next of kin, of whom Bo'az had spoken, came by. So Bo'az said, "Turn €aside, friend; sit down here"; and he turned aside and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, "Sit down €here"; so they sat down. Then he said to the next of kin, "Na'omi, who has come back from the €country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land which belonged to our €kinsman Elim'elech. So I thought I would tell you of it, and say, Buy it in the presence of €those sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If €you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not, tell me, that I may €know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after €you." And he said, "I will redeem it." Then Bo'az said, "The day you buy the field from the hand of Na'omi, €you are also buying Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the dead, in order €to restore the name of the dead to his inheritance." Then the next of kin said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I €impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I €cannot redeem it." @Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning €redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off €his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of €attesting in Israel. So when the next of kin said to Bo'az, "Buy it for yourself," he drew €off his sandal. Then Bo'az said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses €this day that I have bought from the hand of Na'omi all that belonged €to Elim'elech and all that belonged to Chil'ion and to Mahlon. Also Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my €wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the €name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from €the gate of his native place; you are witnesses this day." Then all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, "We are €witnesses. May the LORD make the woman, who is coming into your house, €like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May €you prosper in Eph'rathah and be renowned in Bethlehem; and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to €Judah, because of the children that the LORD will give you by this €young woman." @So Bo'az took Ruth and she became his wife; and he went in to her, €and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Na'omi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left €you this day without next of kin; and may his name be renowned in €Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; €for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven €sons, has borne him." Then Na'omi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his €nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has €been born to Na'omi." They named him Obed; he was the father of Jesse, €the father of David. @Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of €Hezron, Hezron of Ram, Ram of Ammin'adab, Ammin'adab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, Salmon of Bo'az, Bo'az of Obed, Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David. ąļ‚±Óįķ’”There was a certain man of Ramatha'im-zo'phim of the hill country of €E'phraim, whose name was Elka'nah the son of Jero'ham, son of Eli'hu, €son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an E'phraimite. He had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the €other Penin'nah. And Penin'nah had children, but Hannah had no children. @Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and €to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, €Hophni and Phin'ehas, were priests of the LORD. On the day when Elka'nah sacrificed, he would give portions to €Penin'nah his wife and to all her sons and daughters; and, although he loved Hannah, he would give Hannah only one portion, €because the LORD had closed her womb. And her rival used to provoke her sorely, to irritate her, because the €LORD had closed her womb. So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the €LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. And Elka'nah, her husband, said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? And €why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you €than ten sons?" @After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the €priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the €LORD. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed €look on the affliction of thy maidservant, and remember me, and not €forget thy maidservant, but wilt give to thy maidservant a son, then I €will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall €touch his head." @As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice €was not heard; therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunken? Put away your wine €from you." But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman sorely troubled; I have €drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my €soul before the LORD. Do not regard your maidservant as a base woman, for all along I have €been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation." Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your €petition which you have made to him." And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your eyes." Then the €woman went her way and ate, and her countenance was no longer sad. @They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then €they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elka'nah knew Hannah his €wife, and the LORD remembered her; and in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’”˜”‚name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked him of the LORD." @And the man Elka'nah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD €the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "As soon as the €child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence €of the LORD, and abide there for ever." Elka'nah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you, wait €until you have weaned him; only, may the LORD establish his word." So €the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a €three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine; and she €brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh; and the child was young. Then they slew the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who €was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed; and the LORD has granted me my petition which €I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he is lent €to the LORD." €@And they worshiped the LORD there.  @Hannah also prayed and said, €@@"My heart exults in the LORD; €@@@my strength is exalted in the LORD. €@@My mouth derides my enemies, €@@@because I rejoice in thy salvation. @@"There is none holy like the LORD, €@@@there is none besides thee; €@@@there is no rock like our God. @@Talk no more so very proudly, €@@@let not arrogance come from your mouth; €@@for the LORD is a God of knowledge, €@@@and by him actions are weighed. @@The bows of the mighty are broken, €@@@but the feeble gird on strength. @@Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, €@@@but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. €@@The barren has borne seven, €@@@but she who has many children is forlorn. @@The LORD kills and brings to life; €@@@he brings down to Sheol and raises up. @@The LORD makes poor and makes rich; €@@@he brings low, he also exalts. @@He raises up the poor from the dust; €@@@he lifts the needy from the ash heap, €@@to make them sit with princes €@@@and inherit a seat of honor. €@@For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, €@@@and on them he has set the world. @@"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones; €@@@but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; €@@@for not by might shall a man prevail. @@The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; €@@@against them he will thunder in heaven. €@@The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; €@@@he will give strength to his king, €@@@and exalt the power of his anointed." @Then Elka'nah went home to Ramah. And the boy ministered to the LORD, €in the presence of Eli the priest. @Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they had no regard for the €LORD. The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered €sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, €with a three-pronged fork in his hand, and he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all €that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. So they did €at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come €and say to the man who was sacrificing, "Give meat for the priest to €roast; for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but raw." And if the man said to him, "Let them burn the fat first, and then take €as much as you wish," he would say, "No, you must give it now; and if €not, I will take it by force." Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD; €for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt. @Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy girded with a linen €ephod. And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him €each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly €sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elka'nah and his wife, and say, "The LORD give you €children by this woman for the loan which she lent to the LORD"; so €then they would return to their home. @And the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons €and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD. @Now Eli was very old, and he heard all that his sons were doing to €all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the entrance €to the tent of meeting. And he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your €evil dealings from all the people. No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD €spreading abroad. If a man sins against a man, God will mediate for him; but if a man €sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" But they would not €listen to the voice of their father; for it was the will of the LORD to €slay them. @Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor €with the LORD and with men. @And there came a man of God to Eli, and said to him, "Thus the LORD €has said, `I revealed myself to the house of your father when they were €in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh. And I chose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go €up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me; and I gave €to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the people of €Israel. Why then look with greedy eye at my sacrifices and my offerings which I €commanded, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves upon €the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?' Therefore the LORD the God of Israel declares: `I promised that your €house and the house of your father should go in and out before me for €ever'; but now the LORD declares: `Far be it from me; for those who €honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly €esteemed. Behold, the days are coming, when I will cut off your strength and the €strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man €in your house. Then in distress you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity €which shall be bestowed upon Israel; and there shall not be an old man €in your house for ever. The man of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared €to weep out his eyes and grieve his heart; and all the increase of your €house shall die by the sword of men. And this which shall befall your two sons, Hophni and Phin'ehas, shall €be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day. And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do €according to what is in my heart and in my mind; and I will build him a €sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed for ever. And every one who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a €piece of silver or a loaf of bread, and shall say, "Put me, I pray you, €in one of the priest's places, that I may eat a morsel of bread."'"  @Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. And the €word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. @At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim, so that he €could not see, was lying down in his own place; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down within €the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, €"I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. And the LORD called again, "Samuel!" And Samuel arose and went to Eli, €and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, €my son; lie down again." Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not €yet been revealed to him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went €to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived €that the LORD was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you €shall say, `Speak, LORD, for thy servant hears.'" So Samuel went and €lay down in his place. @And the LORD came and stood forth, calling as at other times, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’£˜Š‚"Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for thy servant hears." Then the LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, I am about to do a thing in €Israel, at which the two ears of every one that hears it will tingle. On that day I will fulfil against Eli all that I have spoken concerning €his house, from beginning to end. And I tell him that I am about to punish his house for ever, for the €iniquity which he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he €did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house €shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering for ever." @Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of €the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." And he said, "Here I €am." And Eli said, "What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. €May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all €that he told you." So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, €"It is the LORD; let him do what seems good to him." @And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words €fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established €as a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to €Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.  And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. €@Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines; they encamped €at Ebene'zer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle €spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who slew about four €thousand men on the field of battle. And when the troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why €has the LORD put us to rout today before the Philistines? Let us bring €the ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, that he may come €among us and save us from the power of our enemies." So the people sent to Shiloh, and brought from there the ark of the €covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim; and €the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phin'ehas, were there with the ark of €the covenant of God. @When the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all €Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, €"What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" And €when they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp, the Philistines were afraid; for they said, "A god has come into the €camp." And they said, "Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened €before. Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? €These are the gods who smote the Egyptians with every sort of plague in €the wilderness. Take courage, and acquit yourselves like men, O Philistines, lest you €become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; acquit €yourselves like men and fight." @So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, €every man to his home; and there was a very great slaughter, for there €fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. And the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and €Phin'ehas, were slain. @A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line, and came to Shiloh the €same day, with his clothes rent and with earth upon his head. When he arrived, Eli was sitting upon his seat by the road watching, €for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into €the city and told the news, all the city cried out. When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, "What is this uproar?" €Then the man hastened and came and told Eli. Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set, so that he €could not see. And the man said to Eli, "I am he who has come from the battle; I fled €from the battle today." And he said, "How did it go, my son?" He who brought the tidings answered and said, "Israel has fled before €the Philistines, and there has also been a great slaughter among the €people; your two sons also, Hophni and Phin'ehas, are dead, and the ark €of God has been captured." When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat €by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for he €was an old man, and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years. @Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phin'ehas, was with child, about €to give birth. And when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was €captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she €bowed and gave birth; for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, €"Fear not, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer or give €heed. And she named the child Ich'abod, saying, "The glory has departed from €Israel!" because the ark of God had been captured and because of her €father-in-law and her husband. And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God €has been captured."  @When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they carried it from €Ebene'zer to Ashdod; then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house €of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon €had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD. So €they took Dagon and put him back in his place. But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen €face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD, and the head of €Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off upon the threshold; only €the trunk of Dagon was left to him. This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon €do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. @The hand of the LORD was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and he €terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, "The ark of €the God of Israel must not remain with us; for his hand is heavy upon €us and upon Dagon our god." So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, €and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" They €answered, "Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath." €So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there. But after they had brought it around, the hand of the LORD was against €the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the €city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out upon them. So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But when the ark of God came to €Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, "They have brought around to us €the ark of the God of Israel to slay us and our people." They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the €Philistines, and said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let €it return to its own place, that it may not slay us and our people." €For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of €God was very heavy there; the men who did not die were stricken with tumors, and the cry of the €city went up to heaven.  @The ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven €months. And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, €"What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us with what we shall €send it to its place." They said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send €it empty, but by all means return him a guilt offering. Then you will €be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand does not turn away €from you." And they said, "What is the guilt offering that we shall return to €him?" They answered, "Five golden tumors and five golden mice, €according to the number of the lords of the Philistines; for the same €plague was upon all of you and upon your lords. So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that €ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps he will žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’¦•ƒlighten his hand from off you and your gods and your land. Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened €their hearts? After he had made sport of them, did not they let the €people go, and they departed? Now then, take and prepare a new cart and two milch cows upon which €there has never come a yoke, and yoke the cows to the cart, but take €their calves home, away from them. And take the ark of the LORD and place it on the cart, and put in a box €at its side the figures of gold, which you are returning to him as a €guilt offering. Then send it off, and let it go its way. And watch; if it goes up on the way to its own land, to Beth-she'mesh, €then it is he who has done us this great harm; but if not, then we €shall know that it is not his hand that struck us, it happened to us by €chance." @The men did so, and took two milch cows and yoked them to the cart, €and shut up their calves at home. And they put the ark of the LORD on the cart, and the box with the €golden mice and the images of their tumors. And the cows went straight in the direction of Beth-she'mesh along one €highway, lowing as they went; they turned neither to the right nor to €the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as €the border of Beth-she'mesh. Now the people of Beth-she'mesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the €valley; and when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they €rejoiced to see it. The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-she'mesh, and stopped €there. A great stone was there; and they split up the wood of the cart €and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the box that was €beside it, in which were the golden figures, and set them upon the €great stone; and the men of Beth-she'mesh offered burnt offerings and €sacrificed sacrifices on that day to the LORD. And when the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned that €day to Ekron. @These are the golden tumors, which the Philistines returned as a €guilt offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for €Ash'kelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron; also the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the €Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and €unwalled villages. The great stone, beside which they set down the ark €of the LORD, is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of €Beth-she'mesh. @And he slew some of the men of Beth-she'mesh, because they looked €into the ark of the LORD; he slew seventy men of them, and the people €mourned because the LORD had made a great slaughter among the people. Then the men of Beth-she'mesh said, "Who is able to stand before the €LORD, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?" So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kir'iath-je'arim, saying, €"The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take €it up to you."  And the men of Kir'iath-je'arim came and took up the ark of the LORD, €and brought it to the house of Abin'adab on the hill; and they €consecrated his son, Elea'zar, to have charge of the ark of the LORD. From the day that the ark was lodged at Kir'iath-je'arim, a long time €passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after €the LORD. @Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, "If you are returning to €the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the €Ash'taroth from among you, and direct your heart to the LORD, and serve €him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." So Israel put away the Ba'als and the Ash'taroth, and they served the €LORD only. @Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to €the LORD for you." So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the €LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, "We have sinned against €the LORD." And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah. Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered €at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And €when the people of Israel heard of it they were afraid of the €Philistines. And the people of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry to the €LORD our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the €Philistines." So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering €to the LORD; and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD €answered him. As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near €to attack Israel; but the LORD thundered with a mighty voice that day €against the Philistines and threw them into confusion; and they were €routed before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, €and smote them, as far as below Beth-car. @Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jesha'nah, €and called its name Ebene'zer; for he said, "Hitherto the LORD has €helped us." So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory €of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the €days of Samuel. The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to €Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel rescued their territory from the €hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the €Amorites. @Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; €and he judged Israel in all these places. Then he would come back to Ramah, for his home was there, and there €also he administered justice to Israel. And he built there an altar to €the LORD.  @When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his first-born son was Jo'el, and the name of his second, €Abi'jah; they were judges in Beer-sheba. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after gain; €they took bribes and perverted justice. @Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at €Ramah, and said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your €ways; now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations." But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to €govern us." And Samuel prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, "Hearken to the voice of the people in all €that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have €rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds which they have done to me, from the day I €brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving €other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, hearken to their voice; only, you shall solemnly warn them, €and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them." @So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were €asking a king from him. He said, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: €he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his €horsemen, and to run before his chariots; and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders €of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to €make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards €and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it €to his officers and to his servants. He will take your menservants and maidservants, and the best of your €cattle and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have €chosen for yourselves; but the LORD will not answer you in that day." @But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they €said, "No! but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may govern €us and go out before us and fight our battles." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’؈˜•And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them €in the ears of the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, "Hearken to their voice, and make them a €king." Samuel then said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his €city."  @There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abi'el, €son of Zeror, son of Beco'rath, son of Aphi'ah, a Benjaminite, a man of €wealth; and he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was €not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; from his €shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people. @Now the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul €his son, "Take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for €the asses." And they passed through the hill country of E'phraim and passed through €the land of Shal'ishah, but they did not find them. And they passed €through the land of Sha'alim, but they were not there. Then they passed €through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them. @When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was €with him, "Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the €asses and become anxious about us." But he said to him, "Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he €is a man that is held in honor; all that he says comes true. Let us go €there; perhaps he can tell us about the journey on which we have set €out." Then Saul said to his servant, "But if we go, what can we bring the €man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to €bring to the man of God. What have we?" The servant answered Saul again, "Here, I have with me the fourth part €of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God, to tell us €our way." (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, "Come, €let us go to the seer"; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly €called a seer.) And Saul said to his servant, "Well said; come, let us go." So they €went to the city where the man of God was. @As they went up the hill to the city, they met young maidens coming €out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?" They answered, "He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Make haste; he €has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice €today on the high place. As soon as you enter the city, you will find him, before he goes up to €the high place to eat; for the people will not eat till he comes, since €he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those eat who are invited. Now €go up, for you will meet him immediately." So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw €Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place. @Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed to Samuel: "Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of €Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. €He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have €seen the affliction of my people, because their cry has come to me." When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, "Here is the man of whom I €spoke to you! He it is who shall rule over my people." Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate, and said, "Tell me where is €the house of the seer?" Samuel answered Saul, "I am the seer; go up before me to the high €place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let €you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. As for your asses that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind €on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is €desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?" Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of €Israel? And is not my family the humblest of all the families of the €tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?" @Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall €and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who €were about thirty persons. And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion I gave you, of which I €said to you, `Put it aside.'" So the cook took up the leg and the upper portion and set them before €Saul; and Samuel said, "See, what was kept is set before you. Eat; €because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might €eat with the guests." €@So Saul ate with Samuel that day. And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was €spread for Saul upon the roof, and he lay down to sleep. Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul upon the roof, "Up, €that I may send you on your way." So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel €went out into the street. @As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to €Saul, "Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on €stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word €of God."  @Then Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed €him and said, "Has not the LORD anointed you to be prince over his €people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the LORD and you €will save them from the hand of their enemies round about. And this €shall be the sign to you that the LORD has anointed you to be prince €over his heritage. When you depart from me today you will meet two men by Rachel's tomb in €the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, `The €asses which you went to seek are found, and now your father has ceased €to care about the asses and is anxious about you, saying, "What shall I €do about my son?"' Then you shall go on from there further and come to the oak of Tabor; €three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying €three kids, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another €carrying a skin of wine. And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you €shall accept from their hand. After that you shall come to Gib'e-ath-elo'him, where there is a €garrison of the Philistines; and there, as you come to the city, you €will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, €tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. Then the spirit of the LORD will come mightily upon you, and you shall €prophesy with them and be turned into another man. Now when these signs meet you, do whatever your hand finds to do, for €God is with you. And you shall go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I am coming to €you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven €days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall €do." @When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart; €and all these signs came to pass that day. When they came to Gib'e-ah, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the €spirit of God came mightily upon him, and he prophesied among them. And when all who knew him before saw how he prophesied with the €prophets, the people said to one another, "What has come over the son €of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?" And a man of the place answered, "And who is their father?" Therefore €it became a proverb, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place. @Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, "Where did you go?" And €he said, "To seek the asses; and when we saw they were not to be found, €we went to Samuel." And Saul's uncle said, "Pray, tell me what Samuel said to you." And Saul said to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the asses had been €found." But about the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel had €spoken, he did not tell him anything. @Now Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah; and he said to the people of Israel, "Thus says the LORD, the God of €Israel, `I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the €hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were €oppressing you.' But you have this day rejected your God, who saves you from all your €calamities and your distresses; and you have said, `No! but set a king žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’؊˜“ƒover us.' Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your €tribes and by your thousands." @Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of €Benjamin was taken by lot. He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family €of the Matrites was taken by lot; finally he brought the family of the €Matrites near man by man, and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. €But when they sought him, he could not be found. So they inquired again of the LORD, "Did the man come hither?" and the €LORD said, "Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage." Then they ran and fetched him from there; and when he stood among the €people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. And Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the LORD has €chosen? There is none like him among all the people." And all the €people shouted, "Long live the king!" @Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship; €and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the LORD. Then Samuel €sent all the people away, each one to his home. Saul also went to his home at Gib'e-ah, and with him went men of valor €whose hearts God had touched. But some worthless fellows said, "How can this man save us?" And they €despised him, and brought him no present. But he held his peace.  @Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Ja'besh-gil'ead; and €all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a treaty with us, and we €will serve you." But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "On this condition I will make a €treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus put €disgrace upon all Israel." The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days respite that we €may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there €is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you." When the messengers came to Gib'e-ah of Saul, they reported the matter €in the ears of the people; and all the people wept aloud. @Now Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen; and Saul said, €"What ails the people, that they are weeping?" So they told him the €tidings of the men of Jabesh. And the spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard these €words, and his anger was greatly kindled. He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout €all the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, "Whoever €does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his €oxen!" Then the dread of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came €out as one man. When he mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel were three hundred €thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. And they said to the messengers who had come, "Thus shall you say to €the men of Ja'besh-gil'ead: `Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you €shall have deliverance.'" When the messengers came and told the men of €Jabesh, they were glad. Therefore the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will give ourselves up €to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you." And on the morrow Saul put the people in three companies; and they came €into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and cut down the €Ammonites until the heat of the day; and those who survived were €scattered, so that no two of them were left together. @Then the people said to Samuel, "Who is it that said, `Shall Saul €reign over us?' Bring the men, that we may put them to death." But Saul said, "Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the €LORD has wrought deliverance in Israel." Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and there €renew the kingdom." So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before €the LORD in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the €LORD, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.  @And Samuel said to all Israel, "Behold, I have hearkened to your €voice in all that you have said to me, and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the king walks before you; and I am old and gray, and €behold, my sons are with you; and I have walked before you from my €youth until this day. Here I am; testify against me before the LORD and before his anointed. €Whose ox have I taken? Or whose ass have I taken? Or whom have I €defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a €bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore €it to you." They said, "You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything €from any man's hand." And he said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed €is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And €they said, "He is witness." @And Samuel said to the people, "The LORD is witness, who appointed €Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before the LORD €concerning all the saving deeds of the LORD which he performed for you €and for your fathers. When Jacob went into Egypt and the Egyptians oppressed them, then your €fathers cried to the LORD and the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who €brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this €place. But they forgot the LORD their God; and he sold them into the hand of €Sis'era, commander of the army of Jabin king of Hazor, and into the €hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and €they fought against them. And they cried to the LORD, and said, `We have sinned, because we have €forsaken the LORD, and have served the Ba'als and the Ash'taroth; but €now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.' And the LORD sent Jerubba'al and Barak, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and €delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you €dwelt in safety. And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against €you, you said to me, `No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the €LORD your God was your king. And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; €behold, the LORD has set a king over you. If you will fear the LORD and serve him and hearken to his voice and €not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the €king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well; but if you will not hearken to the voice of the LORD, but rebel against €the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against €you and your king. Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which the LORD will €do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, that he may €send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that your wickedness €is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for €yourselves a king." So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that €day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. @And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the €LORD your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins €this evil, to ask for ourselves a king." And Samuel said to the people, "Fear not; you have done all this evil, €yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with €all your heart; and do not turn aside after vain things which cannot profit or save, €for they are vain. For the LORD will not cast away his people, for his great name's sake, €because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself. Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the €LORD by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good €and the right way. Only fear the LORD, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for €consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and €your king."  @Saul was . . . years old when he began to reign; and he reigned . . . €and two years over Israel. @Saul chose three thousand men of Israel; two thousand were with Saul žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’؍’‚in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with €Jonathan in Gib'e-ah of Benjamin; the rest of the people he sent home, €every man to his tent. Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines which was at Geba; €and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout €all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear." And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the €Philistines, and also that Israel had become odious to the Philistines. €And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal. @And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand €chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and troops like the sand on the €seashore in multitude; they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the €east of Beth-a'ven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in straits (for the people €were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and €in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, or crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul €was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. @He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel; but Samuel did €not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, "Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace €offerings." And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel €came; and Saul went out to meet him and salute him. Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "When I saw that the €people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the €days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, `Now the Philistines will come down upon me at Gilgal, and I €have not entreated the favor of the LORD'; so I forced myself, and €offered the burnt offering." And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly; you have not kept €the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you; for now €the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for ever. But now your kingdom shall not continue; the LORD has sought out a man €after his own heart; and the LORD has appointed him to be prince over €his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you." And Samuel arose, and went up from Gilgal to Gib'e-ah of Benjamin. And €Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred €men. And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with €them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin; but the Philistines encamped in €Michmash. And raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies; €one company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shu'al, another company turned toward Beth-hor'on, and another company turned €toward the border that looks down upon the valley of Zebo'im toward the €wilderness. @Now there was no smith to be found throughout all the land of Israel; €for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or €spears"; but every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen €his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle; and the charge was a pim for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a €third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads. So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in €the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and €Jonathan his son had them. And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.  @One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his €armor, "Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on yonder €side." But he did not tell his father. Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gib'e-ah under the pomegranate €tree which is at Migron; the people who were with him were about six €hundred men, and Ahi'jah the son of Ahi'tub, Ich'abod's brother, son of Phin'ehas, €son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the €people did not know that Jonathan had gone. In the pass, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine €garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on €the other side; the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the €other Seneh. The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on €the south in front of Geba. @And Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us €go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD €will work for us; for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many €or by few." And his armor-bearer said to him, "Do all that your mind inclines to; €behold, I am with you, as is your mind so is mine." Then said Jonathan, "Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will €show ourselves to them. If they say to us, `Wait until we come to you,' then we will stand €still in our place, and we will not go up to them. But if they say, `Come up to us,' then we will go up; for the LORD has €given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us." So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines; €and the Philistines said, "Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes €where they have hid themselves." And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer, and €said, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing." And Jonathan said €to his armor-bearer, "Come up after me; for the LORD has given them €into the hand of Israel." Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer €after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed €them after him; and that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, was €of about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre €of land. And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the €people; the garrison and even the raiders trembled; the earth quaked; €and it became a very great panic. @And the watchmen of Saul in Gib'e-ah of Benjamin looked; and behold, €the multitude was surging hither and thither. Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Number and see who has €gone from us." And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his €armor-bearer were not there. And Saul said to Ahi'jah, "Bring hither the ark of God." For the ark of €God went at that time with the people of Israel. And while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the €Philistines increased more and more; and Saul said to the priest, €"Withdraw your hand." Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into €the battle; and behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and €there was very great confusion. Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and €who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be €with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hid themselves in the hill €country of E'phraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too €followed hard after them in the battle. So the LORD delivered Israel that day; and the battle passed beyond €Beth-a'ven. @And the men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul laid an oath €on the people, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food until it is €evening and I am avenged on my enemies." So none of the people tasted €food. And all the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the €ground. And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, €but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; €so he put forth the tip of the staff that was in his hand, and dipped €it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes became €bright. Then one of the people said, "Your father strictly charged the people €with an oath, saying, `Cursed be the man who eats food this day.'" And €the people were faint. Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land; see how my eyes €have become bright, because I tasted a little of this honey. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’؎˜žHow much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of €their enemies which they found; for now the slaughter among the €Philistines has not been great." @They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Ai'jalon. €And the people were very faint; the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and €slew them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. Then they told Saul, "Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD, €by eating with the blood." And he said, "You have dealt treacherously; €roll a great stone to me here." And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, €`Let every man bring his ox or his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; €and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.'" So every €one of the people brought his ox with him that night, and slew them €there. And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he €built to the LORD. @Then Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and €despoil them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them." €And they said, "Do whatever seems good to you." But the priest said, €"Let us draw near hither to God." And Saul inquired of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Wilt €thou give them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him that €day. And Saul said, "Come hither, all you leaders of the people; and know €and see how this sin has arisen today. For as the LORD lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my €son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people €that answered him. Then he said to all Israel, "You shall be on one side, and I and €Jonathan my son will be on the other side." And the people said to €Saul, "Do what seems good to you." Therefore Saul said, "O LORD God of Israel, why hast thou not answered €thy servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O €LORD, God of Israel, give Urim; but if this guilt is in thy people €Israel, give Thummim." And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people €escaped. Then Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan." And €Jonathan was taken. @Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And €Jonathan told him, "I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff €that was in my hand; here I am, I will die." And Saul said, "God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, €Jonathan." Then the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has wrought this €great victory in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall €not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has wrought with €God this day." So the people ransomed Jonathan, that he did not die. Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines; and the Philistines €went to their own place. @When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all €his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against €Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines; wherever €he turned he put them to the worse. And he did valiantly, and smote the Amal'ekites, and delivered Israel €out of the hands of those who plundered them. @Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Mal'chishu'a; and the €names of his two daughters were these: the name of the first-born was €Merab, and the name of the younger Michal; and the name of Saul's wife was Ahin'o-am the daughter of Ahim'a-az. €And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, €Saul's uncle; Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of €Abi'el. @There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul; €and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him €to himself.  @And Samuel said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over €his people Israel; now therefore hearken to the words of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts, `I will punish what Am'alek did to Israel €in opposing them on the way, when they came up out of Egypt. Now go and smite Am'alek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do €not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox €and sheep, camel and ass.'" @So Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Tela'im, two €hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. And Saul came to the city of Am'alek, and lay in wait in the valley. And Saul said to the Ken'ites, "Go, depart, go down from among the €Amal'ekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to €all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt." So the €Ken'ites departed from among the Amal'ekites. And Saul defeated the Amal'ekites, from Hav'ilah as far as Shur, which €is east of Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amal'ekites alive, and utterly €destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and of €the oxen and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and €would not utterly destroy them; all that was despised and worthless €they utterly destroyed. @The word of the LORD came to Samuel: "I repent that I have made Saul king; for he has turned back from €following me, and has not performed my commandments." And Samuel was €angry; and he cried to the LORD all night. And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and it was told €Samuel, "Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for €himself and turned, and passed on, and went down to Gilgal." And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed be you to the €LORD; I have performed the commandment of the LORD." And Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, €and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?" Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amal'ekites; for the people €spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD €your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed." @Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! I will tell you what the LORD said €to me this night." And he said to him, "Say on." @And Samuel said, "Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not €the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over €Israel. And the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, `Go, utterly destroy the €sinners, the Amal'ekites, and fight against them until they are €consumed.' Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop on €the spoil, and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?" And Saul said to Samuel, "I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, I have €gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, I have brought Agag the €king of Am'alek, and I have utterly destroyed the Amal'ekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the €things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in €Gilgal." And Samuel said, €@@"Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, €@@@as in obeying the voice of the LORD? €@@Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, €@@@and to hearken than the fat of rams. @@For rebellion is as the sin of divination, €@@@and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. €@@Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, €@@@he has also rejected you from being king." @And Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned; for I have transgressed the €commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and €obeyed their voice. Now therefore, I pray, pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may €worship the LORD." And Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you; for you have €rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being €king over Israel." As Samuel turned to go away, Saul laid hold upon the skirt of his robe, €and it tore. And Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from €you this day, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better €than you. And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or repent; for he is not a €man, that he should repent." Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’؏˜ž‚people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the €LORD your God." So Samuel turned back after Saul; and Saul worshiped the LORD. @Then Samuel said, "Bring here to me Agag the king of the €Amal'ekites." And Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, "Surely the €bitterness of death is past." And Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your €mother be childless among women." And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces €before the LORD in Gilgal. @Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gib'e-ah €of Saul. And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but €Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD repented that he had made Saul €king over Israel.  @The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, seeing €I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with €oil, and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have €provided for myself a king among his sons." And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." And €the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, `I have come to €sacrifice to the LORD.' And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall €do; and you shall anoint for me him whom I name to you." Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders €of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come €peaceably?" And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; €consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." And he €consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. @When they came, he looked on Eli'ab and thought, "Surely the LORD'S €anointed is before him." But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the €height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD sees €not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD €looks on the heart." Then Jesse called Abin'adab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he €said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD €chosen this one." And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to €Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There €remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And €Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down €till he comes here." And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful €eyes, and was handsome. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this €is he." Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his €brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that €day forward. And Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. @Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit €from the LORD tormented him. And Saul's servants said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God €is tormenting you. Let our lord now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out €a man who is skilful in playing the lyre; and when the evil spirit from €God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well." So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me a man who can play well, €and bring him to me." One of the young men answered, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the €Bethlehemite, who is skilful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, €prudent in speech, and a man of good presence; and the LORD is with €him." Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me David your €son, who is with the sheep." And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a skin of wine and a kid, €and sent them by David his son to Saul. And David came to Saul, and entered his service. And Saul loved him €greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David remain in my service, for he €has found favor in my sight." And whenever the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the €lyre and played it with his hand; so Saul was refreshed, and was well, €and the evil spirit departed from him.  @Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were €gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh €and Aze'kah, in E'phes-dam'mim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the €valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel €stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named €Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of €mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had greaves of bronze upon his legs, and a javelin of bronze €slung between his shoulders. And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's €head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went €before him. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to €draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of €Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your €servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be €our servants and serve us." And the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me €a man, that we may fight together." When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were €dismayed and greatly afraid. @Now David was the son of an Eph'rathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named €Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old €and advanced in years. The three eldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle; and the €names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eli'ab the €first-born, and next to him Abin'adab, and the third Shammah. David was the youngest; the three eldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at €Bethlehem. For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning €and evening. @And Jesse said to David his son, "Take for your brothers an ephah of €this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the €camp to your brothers; also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See how €your brothers fare, and bring some token from them." @Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of €Elah, fighting with the Philistines. And David rose early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, €and took the provisions, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he €came to the encampment as the host was going forth to the battle line, €shouting the war cry. And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage, and €ran to the ranks, and went and greeted his brothers. As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, €Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke €the same words as before. And David heard him. @All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were €much afraid. And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? €Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and the man who kills him, the €king will enrich with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and €make his father's house free in Israel." And David said to the men who stood by him, "What shall be done for the €man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? €For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the €armies of the living God?" And the people answered him in the same way, "So shall it be done to €the man who kills him." @Now Eli'ab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and €Eli'ab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why have you žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’ؑ˜œƒcome down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the €wilderness? I know your presumption, and the evil of your heart; for €you have come down to see the battle." And David said, "What have I done now? Was it not but a word?" And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way; €and the people answered him again as before. @When the words which David spoke were heard, they repeated them €before Saul; and he sent for him. And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your €servant will go and fight with this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine €to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of €war from his youth." But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his €father; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the €flock, I went after him and smote him and delivered it out of his mouth; and €if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him and €killed him. Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised €Philistine shall be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies €of the living God." And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and €from the paw of the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this €Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!" Then Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a helmet of bronze on €his head, and clothed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword over his armor, and he tried in vain to go, €for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, "I cannot go with €these; for I am not used to them." And David put them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from €the brook, and put them in his shepherd's bag or wallet; his sling was €in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine. @And the Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his €shield-bearer in front of him. And when the Philistine looked, and saw David, he disdained him; for he €was but a youth, ruddy and comely in appearance. And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with €sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh €to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field." Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and €with a spear and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of the €LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you €down, and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the €host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the €wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a €God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword €and spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and he will give you into our €hand." @When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David €ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone, and slung it, €and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his €forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. @So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, €and struck the Philistine, and killed him; there was no sword in the €hand of David. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword and €drew it out of its sheath, and killed him, and cut off his head with €it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the €Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded €Philistines fell on the way from Sha-ara'im as far as Gath and Ekron. And the Israelites came back from chasing the Philistines, and they €plundered their camp. And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem; €but he put his armor in his tent. @When Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said to €Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And €Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I cannot tell." And the king said, "Inquire whose son the stripling is." And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took €him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his €hand. And Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David €answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."  @When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit €to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would not let him return to his €father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his €own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave €it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his €girdle. And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; so that €Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all €the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. @As they were coming home, when David returned from slaying the €Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and €dancing, to meet King Saul, with timbrels, with songs of joy, and with €instruments of music. And the women sang to one another as they made merry, €@@"Saul has slain his thousands, €@@and David his ten thousands." And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him; he said, "They €have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed €thousands; and what more can he have but the kingdom?" And Saul eyed David from that day on. @And on the morrow an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he €raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day €by day. Saul had his spear in his hand; and Saul cast the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the €wall." But David evaded him twice. @Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him but had €departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of a €thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertakings; for the LORD was with €him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in €before them. @Then Saul said to David, "Here is my elder daughter Merab; I will €give her to you for a wife; only be valiant for me and fight the LORD'S €battles." For Saul thought, "Let not my hand be upon him, but let the €hand of the Philistines be upon him." And David said to Saul, "Who am I, and who are my kinsfolk, my father's €family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?" But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to €David, she was given to A'driel the Meho'lathite for a wife. @Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David; and they told Saul, and the €thing pleased him. Saul thought, "Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him, €and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore €Saul said to David a second time, "You shall now be my son-in-law." And Saul commanded his servants, "Speak to David in private and say, €`Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you; €now then become the king's son-in-law.'" @And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David €said, "Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's €son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and of no repute?" And the servants of Saul told him, "Thus and so did David speak." Then Saul said, "Thus shall you say to David, `The king desires no €marriage present except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he €may be avenged of the king's enemies.'" Now Saul thought to make David žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’ؒ˜™„fall by the hand of the Philistines. And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to €be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired, David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the €Philistines; and David brought their foreskins, which were given in €full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. €And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. But when Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that all €Israel loved him, Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy €continually. @Then the princes of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often €as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul; €so that his name was highly esteemed.  @And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they €should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David. And Jonathan told David, "Saul my father seeks to kill you; therefore €take heed to yourself in the morning, stay in a secret place and hide €yourself; and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you €are, and I will speak to my father about you; and if I learn anything I €will tell you." And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, €"Let not the king sin against his servant David; because he has not €sinned against you, and because his deeds have been of good service to €you; for he took his life in his hand and he slew the Philistine, and the €LORD wrought a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced; €why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without €cause?" And Saul hearkened to the voice of Jonathan; Saul swore, "As the LORD €lives, he shall not be put to death." And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all these things. €And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as €before. @And there was war again; and David went out and fought with the €Philistines, and made a great slaughter among them, so that they fled €before him. Then an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his €house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing the lyre. And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear; but he eluded €Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled, and €escaped. @That night Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, that €he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, told him, €"If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed." So Michal let David down through the window; and he fled away and €escaped. Michal took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goats' €hair at its head, and covered it with the clothes. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick." Then Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, "Bring him up to me €in the bed, that I may kill him." And when the messengers came in, behold, the image was in the bed, with €the pillow of goats' hair at its head. Saul said to Michal, "Why have you deceived me thus, and let my enemy €go, so that he has escaped?" And Michal answered Saul, "He said to me, €`Let me go; why should I kill you?'" @Now David fled and escaped, and he came to Samuel at Ramah, and told €him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt at €Nai'oth. And it was told Saul, "Behold, David is at Nai'oth in Ramah." Then Saul sent messengers to take David; and when they saw the company €of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the €Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also €prophesied. When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also €prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they €also prophesied. Then he himself went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is in €Secu; and he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" And one said, €"Behold, they are at Nai'oth in Ramah." And he went from there to Nai'oth in Ramah; and the Spirit of God came €upon him also, and as he went he prophesied, until he came to Nai'oth €in Ramah. And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before €Samuel, and lay naked all that day and all that night. Hence it is €said, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"  @Then David fled from Nai'oth in Ramah, and came and said before €Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin €before your father, that he seeks my life?" And he said to him, "Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father €does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me; and why €should my father hide this from me? It is not so." But David replied, "Your father knows well that I have found favor in €your eyes; and he thinks, `Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be €grieved.' But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is €but a step between me and death." Then said Jonathan to David, "Whatever you say, I will do for you." David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should €not fail to sit at table with the king; but let me go, that I may hide €myself in the field till the third day at evening. If your father misses me at all, then say, `David earnestly asked leave €of me to run to Bethlehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice €there for all the family.' If he says, `Good!' it will be well with your servant; but if he is €angry, then know that evil is determined by him. Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your €servant into a sacred covenant with you. But if there is guilt in me, €slay me yourself; for why should you bring me to your father?" And Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! If I knew that it was €determined by my father that evil should come upon you, would I not €tell you?" Then said David to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers €you roughly?" And Jonathan said to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." So €they both went out into the field. @And Jonathan said to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! €When I have sounded my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third €day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send €and disclose it to you? But should it please my father to do you harm, the LORD do so to €Jonathan, and more also, if I do not disclose it to you, and send you €away, that you may go in safety. May the LORD be with you, as he has €been with my father. If I am still alive, show me the loyal love of the LORD, that I may not €die; and do not cut off your loyalty from my house for ever. When the LORD €cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth, let not the name of Jonathan be cut off from the house of David. And €may the LORD take vengeance on David's enemies." And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him; for he loved €him as he loved his own soul. @Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon; and you will be €missed, because your seat will be empty. And on the third day you will be greatly missed; then go to the place €where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain beside €yonder stone heap. And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a €mark. And behold, I will send the lad, saying, `Go, find the arrows.' If I €say to the lad, `Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,' €then you are to come, for, as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and €there is no danger. But if I say to the youth, `Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then go; €for the LORD has sent you away. And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the LORD €is between you and me for ever." @So David hid himself in the field; and when the new moon came, the €king sat down to eat food. The king sat upon his seat, as at other times, upon the seat by the €wall; Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's €place was empty. @Yet Saul did not say anything that day; for he thought, "Something €has befallen him; he is not clean, surely he is not clean." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’ؔ˜›But on the second day, the morrow after the new moon, David's place was €empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why has not the son of Jesse €come to the meal, either yesterday or today?" Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to €Bethlehem; he said, `Let me go; for our family holds a sacrifice in the city, and €my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor €in your eyes, let me get away, and see my brothers.' For this reason he €has not come to the king's table." @Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, €"You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have €chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your €mother's nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, neither you nor €your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and fetch him to me, €for he shall surely die." Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, "Why should he be put to death? €What has he done?" But Saul cast his spear at him to smite him; so Jonathan knew that his €father was determined to put David to death. And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the €second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his €father had disgraced him. @In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment €with David, and with him a little lad. And he said to his lad, "Run and find the arrows which I shoot." As the €lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the lad came to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had €shot, Jonathan called after the lad and said, "Is not the arrow beyond €you?" And Jonathan called after the lad, "Hurry, make haste, stay not." So €Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. But the lad knew nothing; only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, and said to him, "Go and €carry them to the city." And as soon as the lad had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap €and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed three times; and they €kissed one another, and wept with one another, until David recovered €himself. Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn €both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, `The LORD shall be between €me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants, for €ever.'" And he rose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.  @Then came David to Nob to Ahim'elech the priest; and Ahim'elech came €to meet David trembling, and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no €one with you?" And David said to Ahim'elech the priest, "The king has charged me with €a matter, and said to me, `Let no one know anything of the matter about €which I send you, and with which I have charged you.' I have made an €appointment with the young men for such and such a place. Now then, what have you at hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or €whatever is here." And the priest answered David, "I have no common bread at hand, but €there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from €women." And David answered the priest, "Of a truth women have been kept from us €as always when I go on an expedition; the vessels of the young men are €holy, even when it is a common journey; how much more today will their €vessels be holy?" So the priest gave him the holy bread; for there was no bread there but €the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the LORD, to be €replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away. @Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, €detained before the LORD; his name was Do'eg the E'domite, the chief of €Saul's herdsmen. @And David said to Ahim'elech, "And have you not here a spear or a €sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with €me, because the king's business required haste." And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you €killed in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth €behind the ephod; if you will take that, take it, for there is none but €that here." And David said, "There is none like that; give it to me." @And David rose and fled that day from Saul, and went to A'chish the €king of Gath. And the servants of A'chish said to him, "Is not this David the king €of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in €dances, €@@`Saul has slain his thousands, €@@and David his ten thousands'?" And David took these words to heart, and was much afraid of A'chish the €king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in €their hands, and made marks on the doors of the gate, and let his €spittle run down his beard. Then said A'chish to his servants, "Lo, you see the man is mad; why €then have you brought him to me? Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman €in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?"  @David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and €when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down €there to him. And every one who was in distress, and every one who was in debt, and €every one who was discontented, gathered to him; and he became captain €over them. And there were with him about four hundred men. @And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab; and he said to the king €of Moab, "Pray let my father and my mother stay with you, till I know €what God will do for me." And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all €the time that David was in the stronghold. Then the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not remain in the stronghold; €depart, and go into the land of Judah." So David departed, and went €into the forest of Hereth. @Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with €him. Saul was sitting at Gib'e-ah, under the tamarisk tree on the €height, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing €about him. And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, "Hear now, you €Benjaminites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and €vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders €of hundreds, that all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when €my son makes a league with the son of Jesse, none of you is sorry for €me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, €to lie in wait, as at this day." Then answered Do'eg the E'domite, who stood by the servants of Saul, "I €saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahim'elech the son of Ahi'tub, and he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him provisions, and gave €him the sword of Goliath the Philistine." @Then the king sent to summon Ahim'elech the priest, the son of €Ahi'tub, and all his father's house, the priests who were at Nob; and €all of them came to the king. And Saul said, "Hear now, son of Ahi'tub." And he answered, "Here I am, €my lord." And Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the €son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword, and have €inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in €wait, as at this day?" Then Ahim'elech answered the king, "And who among all your servants is €so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and captain over €your bodyguard, and honored in your house? Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let €not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my €father; for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little." And the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahim'elech, you and all your €father's house." And the king said to the guard who stood about him, "Turn and kill the €priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and they €knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me." But the servants of €the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the €LORD. Then the king said to Do'eg, "You turn and fall upon the priests." And €Do'eg the E'domite turned and fell upon the priests, and he killed on žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’ؖ˜’ƒthat day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both men and €women, children and sucklings, oxen, asses and sheep, he put to the €sword. @But one of the sons of Ahim'elech the son of Ahi'tub, named €Abi'athar, escaped and fled after David. And Abi'athar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. And David said to Abi'athar, "I knew on that day, when Do'eg the €E'domite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned €the death of all the persons of your father's house. Stay with me, fear not; for he that seeks my life seeks your life; with €me you shall be in safekeeping."  @Now they told David, "Behold, the Philistines are fighting against €Kei'lah, and are robbing the threshing floors." Therefore David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go and attack these €Philistines?" And the LORD said to David, "Go and attack the €Philistines and save Kei'lah." But David's men said to him, "Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how €much more then if we go to Kei'lah against the armies of the €Philistines?" Then David inquired of the LORD again. And the LORD answered him, €"Arise, go down to Kei'lah; for I will give the Philistines into your €hand." And David and his men went to Kei'lah, and fought with the Philistines, €and brought away their cattle, and made a great slaughter among them. €So David delivered the inhabitants of Kei'lah. @When Abi'athar the son of Ahim'elech fled to David to Kei'lah, he €came down with an ephod in his hand. Now it was told Saul that David had come to Kei'lah. And Saul said, €"God has given him into my hand; for he has shut himself in by entering €a town that has gates and bars." And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Kei'lah, to €besiege David and his men. David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; and he said to €Abi'athar the priest, "Bring the ephod here." Then said David, "O LORD, the God of Israel, thy servant has surely €heard that Saul seeks to come to Kei'lah, to destroy the city on my €account. Will the men of Kei'lah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come €down, as thy servant has heard? O LORD, the God of Israel, I beseech €thee, tell thy servant." And the LORD said, "He will come down." Then said David, "Will the men of Kei'lah surrender me and my men into €the hand of Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will surrender you." Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed €from Kei'lah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told €that David had escaped from Kei'lah, he gave up the expedition. And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill €country of the Wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but €God did not give him into his hand. @And David was afraid because Saul had come out to seek his life. €David was in the Wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose, and went to David at Horesh, and €strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, "Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not €find you; you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you; €Saul my father also knows this." And the two of them made a covenant before the LORD; David remained at €Horesh, and Jonathan went home. @Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gib'e-ah, saying, "Does not €David hide among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of €Hachi'lah, which is south of Jeshi'mon? Now come down, O king, according to all your heart's desire to come €down; and our part shall be to surrender him into the king's hand." And Saul said, "May you be blessed by the LORD; for you have had €compassion on me. Go, make yet more sure; know and see the place where his haunt is, and €who has seen him there; for it is told me that he is very cunning. See therefore, and take note of all the lurking places where he hides, €and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you; and €if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of €Judah." And they arose, and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. €@Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Ma'on, in the Arabah €to the south of Jeshi'mon. And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told; therefore he €went down to the rock which is in the wilderness of Ma'on. And when €Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Ma'on. Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the €other side of the mountain; and David was making haste to get away from €Saul, as Saul and his men were closing in upon David and his men to €capture them, when a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Make haste and come; for the €Philistines have made a raid upon the land." So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the €Philistines; therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape. And David went up from there, and dwelt in the strongholds of En-ge'di.  @When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, €"Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-ge'di." Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to €seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks. And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave; and €Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in €the innermost parts of the cave. And the men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the LORD €said to you, `Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you €shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose and €stealthily cut off the skirt of Saul's robe. And afterward David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's €skirt. He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my €lord, the LORD'S anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he €is the LORD'S anointed." So David persuaded his men with these words, and did not permit them to €attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave, and went upon his way. @Afterward David also arose, and went out of the cave, and called €after Saul, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David €bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance. And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, €`Behold, David seeks your hurt'? Lo, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my €hand in the cave; and some bade me kill you, but I spared you. I said, €`I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S €anointed.' See, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for by the fact €that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and did not kill you, you may €know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not €sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me upon you; €but my hand shall not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, `Out of the wicked comes forth €wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you. After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? €After a dead dog! After a flea! May the LORD therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, €and see to it, and plead my cause, and deliver me from your hand." @When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is €this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid €me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that €you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the €LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the €kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my €descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my €father's house." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’ؘ˜–And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home; but David and his €men went up to the stronghold.  @Now Samuel died; and all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and €they buried him in his house at Ramah. €@Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. And there was a man in Ma'on, whose business was in Carmel. The man was €very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was €shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Ab'igail. €The woman was of good understanding and beautiful, but the man was €churlish and ill-behaved; he was a Calebite. David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. So David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, "Go up to €Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. And thus you shall salute him: `Peace be to you, and peace be to your €house, and peace be to all that you have. I hear that you have shearers; now your shepherds have been with us, €and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing, all the time they €were in Carmel. Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men €find favor in your eyes; for we come on a feast day. Pray, give €whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.'" @When David's young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name €of David; and then they waited. And Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is David? Who is the son of €Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who are breaking away from €their masters. Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for €my shearers, and give it to men who come from I do not know where?" So David's young men turned away, and came back and told him all this. And David said to his men, "Every man gird on his sword!" And every man €of them girded on his sword; David also girded on his sword; and about €four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with €the baggage. @But one of the young men told Ab'igail, Nabal's wife, "Behold, David €sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he €railed at them. Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did €not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with €them; they were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were €with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore know this and consider what you should do; for evil is €determined against our master and against all his house, and he is so €ill-natured that one cannot speak to him." @Then Ab'igail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two skins €of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched €grain, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of €figs, and laid them on asses. And she said to her young men, "Go on before me; behold, I come after €you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal. And as she rode on the ass, and came down under cover of the mountain, €behold, David and his men came down toward her; and she met them. Now David had said, "Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow €has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged €to him; and he has returned me evil for good. God do so to David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one €male of all who belong to him." @When Ab'igail saw David, she made haste, and alighted from the ass, €and fell before David on her face, and bowed to the ground. She fell at his feet and said, "Upon me alone, my lord, be the guilt; €pray let your handmaid speak in your ears, and hear the words of your €handmaid. Let not my lord regard this ill-natured fellow, Nabal; for as his name €is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I your €handmaid did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, seeing €the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt, and from taking vengeance €with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do €evil to my lord be as Nabal. And now let this present which your servant has brought to my lord be €given to the young men who follow my lord. Pray forgive the trespass of your handmaid; for the LORD will certainly €make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of €the LORD; and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord €shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the LORD your €God; and the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the €hollow of a sling. And when the LORD has done to my lord according to all the good that he €has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you prince over Israel, my lord shall have no cause of grief, or pangs of conscience, for €having shed blood without cause or for my lord taking vengeance €himself. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember €your handmaid." @And David said to Ab'igail, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, €who sent you this day to meet me! Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this €day from bloodguilt and from avenging myself with my own hand! For as surely as the LORD the God of Israel lives, who has restrained €me from hurting you, unless you had made haste and come to meet me, €truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male." Then David received from her hand what she had brought him; and he said €to her, "Go up in peace to your house; see, I have hearkened to your €voice, and I have granted your petition." @And Ab'igail came to Nabal; and, lo, he was holding a feast in his €house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within €him, for he was very drunk; so she told him nothing at all until the €morning light. And in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told €him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a €stone. And about ten days later the LORD smote Nabal; and he died. @When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD €who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal, and has €kept back his servant from evil; the LORD has returned the evil-doing €of Nabal upon his own head." Then David sent and wooed Ab'igail, to €make her his wife. And when the servants of David came to Ab'igail at Carmel, they said to €her, "David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife." And she rose and bowed with her face to the ground, and said, "Behold, €your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord." And Ab'igail made haste and rose and mounted on an ass, and her five €maidens attended her; she went after the messengers of David, and €became his wife. @David also took Ahin'o-am of Jezreel; and both of them became his €wives. Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son of €La'ish, who was of Gallim.  @Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gib'e-ah, saying, "Is not David €hiding himself on the hill of Hachi'lah, which is on the east of €Jeshi'mon?" So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, with three €thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachi'lah, which is beside the road on €the east of Jeshi'mon. But David remained in the wilderness; and when €he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, David sent out spies, and learned of a certainty that Saul had come. Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and €David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the €commander of his army; Saul was lying within the encampment, while the €army was encamped around him. @Then David said to Ahim'elech the Hittite, and to Jo'ab's brother €Abi'shai the son of Zeru'iah, "Who will go down with me into the camp €to Saul?" And Abi'shai said, "I will go down with you." So David and Abi'shai went to the army by night; and there lay Saul €sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’ؚ—ƒhis head; and Abner and the army lay around him. Then said Abi'shai to David, "God has given your enemy into your hand €this day; now therefore let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of €the spear, and I will not strike him twice." But David said to Abi'shai, "Do not destroy him; for who can put forth €his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?" And David said, "As the LORD lives, the LORD will smite him; or his day €shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish. The LORD forbid that I should put forth my hand against the LORD'S €anointed; but take now the spear that is at his head, and the jar of €water, and let us go." So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head; and they €went away. No man saw it, or knew it, nor did any awake; for they were €all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them. @Then David went over to the other side, and stood afar off on the top €of the mountain, with a great space between them; and David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, €"Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered, "Who are you that €calls to the king?" And David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? €Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of €the people came in to destroy the king your lord. This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you €deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the €LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the jar of €water that was at his head." @Saul recognized David's voice, and said, "Is this your voice, my son €David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king." And he said, "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have €I done? What guilt is on my hands? Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it €is the LORD who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an €offering; but if it is men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for €they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the €heritage of the LORD, saying, `Go, serve other gods.' Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the €presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel has come out to seek my €life, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains." @Then Saul said, "I have done wrong; return, my son David, for I will €no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this €day; behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly." And David made answer, "Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young €men come over and fetch it. The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; €for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put forth my €hand against the LORD'S anointed. Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life €be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may he deliver me out of all €tribulation." Then Saul said to David, "Blessed be you, my son David! You will do €many things and will succeed in them." So David went his way, and Saul €returned to his place.  @And David said in his heart, "I shall now perish one day by the hand €of Saul; there is nothing better for me than that I should escape to €the land of the Philistines; then Saul will despair of seeking me any €longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his €hand." So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with €him, to A'chish the son of Ma'och, king of Gath. And David dwelt with A'chish at Gath, he and his men, every man with €his household, and David with his two wives, Ahin'o-am of Jezreel, and €Ab'igail of Carmel, Nabal's widow. And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he sought for €him no more. @Then David said to A'chish, "If I have found favor in your eyes, let €a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell €there; for why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?" So that day A'chish gave him Ziklag; therefore Ziklag has belonged to €the kings of Judah to this day. And the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the €Philistines was a year and four months. @Now David and his men went up, and made raids upon the Gesh'urites, €the Gir'zites, and the Amal'ekites; for these were the inhabitants of €the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, but €took away the sheep, the oxen, the asses, the camels, and the garments, €and came back to A'chish. When A'chish asked, "Against whom have you made a raid today?" David €would say, "Against the Negeb of Judah," or "Against the Negeb of the €Jerah'meelites," or, "Against the Negeb of the Ken'ites." And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, €thinking, "Lest they should tell about us, and say, `So David has €done.'" Such was his custom all the while he dwelt in the country of €the Philistines. And A'chish trusted David, thinking, "He has made himself utterly €abhorred by his people Israel; therefore he shall be my servant always."  @In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight €against Israel. And A'chish said to David, "Understand that you and €your men are to go out with me in the army." David said to A'chish, "Very well, you shall know what your servant can €do." And A'chish said to David, "Very well, I will make you my €bodyguard for life." @Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried €him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the €wizards out of the land. The Philistines assembled, and came and encamped at Shunem; and Saul €gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilbo'a. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart €trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either €by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek out for me a woman who is a €medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said €to him, "Behold, there is a medium at Endor." @So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and went, he and €two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, €"Divine for me by a spirit, and bring up for me whomever I shall name €to you." The woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has €cut off the mediums and the wizards from the land. Why then are you €laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?" But Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As the LORD lives, no punishment €shall come upon you for this thing." Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring €up Samuel for me." When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the €woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul." The king said to her, "Have no fear; what do you see?" And the woman €said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth." He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is €coming up; and he is wrapped in a robe." And Saul knew that it was €Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance. @Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me €up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress; for the Philistines are €warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no €more, either by prophets or by dreams; therefore I have summoned you to €tell me what I shall do." And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned €from you and become your enemy? The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me; for the LORD has torn the €kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD, and did not carry out €his fierce wrath against Am'alek, therefore the LORD has done this €thing to you this day. Moreover the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the €Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; the LORD žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’؜˜“ƒwill give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines." @Then Saul fell at once full length upon the ground, filled with fear €because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him, for €he had eaten nothing all day and all night. And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she €said to him, "Behold, your handmaid has hearkened to you; I have taken €my life in my hand, and have hearkened to what you have said to me. Now therefore, you also hearken to your handmaid; let me set a morsel €of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on €your way." He refused, and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with €the woman, urged him; and he hearkened to their words. So he arose from €the earth, and sat upon the bed. Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she quickly killed €it, and she took flour, and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, and she put it before Saul and his servants; and they ate. Then they €rose and went away that night.  @Now the Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek; and the €Israelites were encamped by the fountain which is in Jezreel. As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by €thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with €A'chish, the commanders of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing €here?" And A'chish said to the commanders of the Philistines, "Is not €this David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me €now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no €fault in him to this day." But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him; and the €commanders of the Philistines said to him, "Send the man back, that he €may return to the place to which you have assigned him; he shall not go €down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to €us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it €not be with the heads of the men here? Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, €@@`Saul has slain his thousands, €@@and David his ten thousands'?" @Then A'chish called David and said to him, "As the LORD lives, you €have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out €and in with me in the campaign; for I have found nothing wrong in you €from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless the lords €do not approve of you. So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords €of the Philistines." And David said to A'chish, "But what have I done? What have you found €in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I €may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?" And A'chish made answer to David, "I know that you are as blameless in €my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the €Philistines have said, `He shall not go up with us to the battle.' Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who €came with you; and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as €you have light." So David set out with his men early in the morning, to return to the €land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.  @Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the €Amal'ekites had made a raid upon the Negeb and upon Ziklag. They had €overcome Ziklag, and burned it with fire, and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and €great; they killed no one, but carried them off, and went their way. And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with €fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and €wept, until they had no more strength to weep. David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahin'o-am of Jezreel, €and Ab'igail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, €because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and €daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. @And David said to Abi'athar the priest, the son of Ahim'elech, "Bring €me the ephod." So Abi'athar brought the ephod to David. And David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I pursue after this band? Shall €I overtake them?" He answered him, "Pursue; for you shall surely €overtake and shall surely rescue." So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they €came to the brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. But David went on with the pursuit, he and four hundred men; two €hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor. @They found an Egyptian in the open country, and brought him to David; €and they gave him bread and he ate, they gave him water to drink, and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of €raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived; for he had not €eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. And David said to him, "To whom do you belong? And where are you from?" €He said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amal'ekite; and my €master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago. We had made a raid upon the Negeb of the Cher'ethites and upon that €which belongs to Judah and upon the Negeb of Caleb; and we burned €Ziklag with fire." And David said to him, "Will you take me down to this band?" And he €said, "Swear to me by God, that you will not kill me, or deliver me €into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this band." @And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over €all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great €spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land €of Judah. And David smote them from twilight until the evening of the next day; €and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who €mounted camels and fled. David recovered all that the Amal'ekites had taken; and David rescued €his two wives. Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil €or anything that had been taken; David brought back all. David also captured all the flocks and herds; and the people drove €those cattle before him, and said, "This is David's spoil." @Then David came to the two hundred men, who had been too exhausted to €follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor; and they went €out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him; and when €David drew near to the people he saluted them. Then all the wicked and base fellows among the men who had gone with €David said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any €of the spoil which we have recovered, except that each man may lead €away his wife and children, and depart." But David said, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD €has given us; he has preserved us and given into our hand the band that €came against us. Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes €down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; €they shall share alike." And from that day forward he made it a statute and an ordinance for €Israel to this day. @When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, €the elders of Judah, saying, "Here is a present for you from the spoil €of the enemies of the LORD"; it was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir, in Aro'er, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemo'a, in Racal, in the cities of the Jerah'meelites, in the cities of the €Ken'ites, in Hormah, in Borash'an, in A'thach, in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.  @Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled €before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilbo'a. And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines €slew Jonathan and Abin'adab and Mal'chishu'a, the sons of Saul. The battle pressed hard upon Saul, and the archers found him; and he €was badly wounded by the archers. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°°¹’ļ‚±Óįķ’؟”Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me €through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, €and make sport of me." But his armor-bearer would not; for he feared €greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword, and fell upon it. And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his €sword, and died with him. Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his €men, on the same day together. And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and €those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that €Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; and €the Philistines came and dwelt in them. @On the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they €found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilbo'a. And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent €messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good €news to their idols and to the people. They put his armor in the temple of Ash'taroth; and they fastened his €body to the wall of Beth-shan. But when the inhabitants of Ja'besh-gil'ead heard what the Philistines €had done to Saul, all the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of €Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan; and they €came to Jabesh and burnt them there. And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in €Jabesh, and fasted seven days. ļ°±°’ļ‚²Óįķ’”After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of €the Amal'ekites, David remained two days in Ziklag; and on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp, with his €clothes rent and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he €fell to the ground and did obeisance. David said to him, "Where do you come from?" And he said to him, "I €have escaped from the camp of Israel." And David said to him, "How did it go? Tell me." And he answered, "The €people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have €fallen and are dead; and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead." Then David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that €Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?" And the young man who told him said, "By chance I happened to be on €Mount Gilbo'a; and there was Saul leaning upon his spear; and lo, the €chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I €answered, `Here I am.' And he said to me, `Who are you?' I answered him, `I am an Amal'ekite.' And he said to me, `Stand beside me and slay me; for anguish has seized €me, and yet my life still lingers.' So I stood beside him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could €not live after he had fallen; and I took the crown which was on his €head and the armlet which was on his arm, and I have brought them here €to my lord." @Then David took hold of his clothes, and rent them; and so did all €the men who were with him; and they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for €Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD and for the house of €Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. And David said to the young man who told him, "Where do you come from?" €And he answered, "I am the son of a sojourner, an Amal'ekite." David said to him, "How is it you were not afraid to put forth your €hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?" Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go, fall upon him." €And he smote him so that he died. And David said to him, "Your blood be upon your head; for your own €mouth has testified against you, saying, `I have slain the LORD'S €anointed.'" @And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his €son, and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is €written in the Book of Jashar. He said: @@"Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! €@@@How are the mighty fallen! @@Tell it not in Gath, €@@@publish it not in the streets of Ash'kelon; €@@lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, €@@@lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. @@"Ye mountains of Gilbo'a, €@@@let there be no dew or rain upon you, €@@@nor upsurging of the deep! €@@For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, €@@@the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. @@"From the blood of the slain, €@@@from the fat of the mighty, €@@the bow of Jonathan turned not back, €@@@and the sword of Saul returned not empty. @@"Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! €@@@In life and in death they were not divided; €@@they were swifter than eagles, €@@@they were stronger than lions. @@"Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, €@@@who clothed you daintily in scarlet, €@@@who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel. @@"How are the mighty fallen €@@@in the midst of the battle! €@@"Jonathan lies slain upon thy high places. @@@I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; €@@very pleasant have you been to me; €@@@your love to me was wonderful, €@@@passing the love of women. @@"How are the mighty fallen, €@@@and the weapons of war perished!"  @After this David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go up into any of the €cities of Judah?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up." David said, "To €which shall I go up?" And he said, "To Hebron." So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahin'o-am of Jezreel, €and Ab'igail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. And David brought up his men who were with him, every one with his €household; and they dwelt in the towns of Hebron. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the €house of Judah. €@When they told David, "It was the men of Ja'besh-gil'ead who buried €Saul," David sent messengers to the men of Ja'besh-gil'ead, and said to them, €"May you be blessed by the LORD, because you showed this loyalty to €Saul your lord, and buried him! Now may the LORD show steadfast love and faithfulness to you! And I €will do good to you because you have done this thing. Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your €lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them." @Now Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, had taken €Ish-bo'sheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahana'im; and he made him king over Gilead and the Ash'urites and Jezreel and €E'phraim and Benjamin and all Israel. Ish-bo'sheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign €over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed €David. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was €seven years and six months. @Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bo'sheth the son of €Saul, went out from Mahana'im to Gibeon. And Jo'ab the son of Zeru'iah, and the servants of David, went out and €met them at the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one €side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. And Abner said to Jo'ab, "Let the young men arise and play before us." €And Jo'ab said, "Let them arise." Then they arose and passed over by number, twelve for Benjamin and €Ish-bo'sheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. And each caught his opponent by the head, and thrust his sword in his €opponent's side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was €called Hel'kath-hazzu'rim, which is at Gibeon. And the battle was very fierce that day; and Abner and the men of €Israel were beaten before the servants of David. @And the three sons of Zeru'iah were there, Jo'ab, Abi'shai, and €As'ahel. Now As'ahel was as swift of foot as a wild gazelle; and As'ahel pursued Abner, and as he went he turned neither to the €right hand nor to the left from following Abner. Then Abner looked behind him and said, "Is it you, As'ahel?" And he €answered, "It is I." Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and €seize one of the young men, and take his spoil." But As'ahel would not €turn aside from following him. And Abner said again to As'ahel, "Turn aside from following me; why žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±°’ļ‚²Óįķ’¢˜–‚should I smite you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to €your brother Jo'ab?" But he refused to turn aside; therefore Abner smote him in the belly €with the butt of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back; and €he fell there, and died where he was. And all who came to the place €where As'ahel had fallen and died, stood still. @But Jo'ab and Abi'shai pursued Abner; and as the sun was going down €they came to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Gi'ah on the way to €the wilderness of Gibeon. And the Benjaminites gathered themselves together behind Abner, and €became one band, and took their stand on the top of a hill. Then Abner called to Jo'ab, "Shall the sword devour for ever? Do you €not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you €bid your people turn from the pursuit of their brethren?" And Jo'ab said, "As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely the men €would have given up the pursuit of their brethren in the morning." So Jo'ab blew the trumpet; and all the men stopped, and pursued Israel €no more, nor did they fight any more. @And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; they €crossed the Jordan, and marching the whole forenoon they came to €Mahana'im. Jo'ab returned from the pursuit of Abner; and when he had gathered all €the people together, there were missing of David's servants nineteen €men besides As'ahel. But the servants of David had slain of Benjamin three hundred and sixty €of Abner's men. And they took up As'ahel, and buried him in the tomb of his father, €which was at Bethlehem. And Jo'ab and his men marched all night, and €the day broke upon them at Hebron.  @There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of €David; and David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul €became weaker and weaker. @And sons were born to David at Hebron: his first-born was Amnon, of €Ahin'o-am of Jezreel; and his second, Chil'e-ab, of Ab'igail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; €and the third, Ab'salom the son of Ma'acah the daughter of Talmai king €of Geshur; and the fourth, Adoni'jah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, €Shephati'ah the son of Abi'tal; and the sixth, Ith're-am, of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to €David in Hebron. @While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, €Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Ai'ah; €and Ish-bo'sheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's €concubine?" Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bo'sheth, and said, "Am €I a dog's head of Judah? This day I keep showing loyalty to the house €of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not €given you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me today with a €fault concerning a woman. God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not accomplish for David €what the LORD has sworn to him, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne €of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beer-sheba." And Ish-bo'sheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared €him. @And Abner sent messengers to David at Hebron, saying, "To whom does €the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall €be with you to bring over all Israel to you." And he said, "Good; I will make a covenant with you; but one thing I €require of you; that is, you shall not see my face, unless you first €bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face." Then David sent messengers to Ish-bo'sheth Saul's son, saying, "Give me €my wife Michal, whom I betrothed at the price of a hundred foreskins of €the Philistines." And Ish-bo'sheth sent, and took her from her husband Pal'ti-el the son €of La'ish. But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to €Bahu'rim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return"; and he returned. @And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time €past you have been seeking David as king over you. Now then bring it about; for the LORD has promised David, saying, `By €the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand €of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.'" Abner also spoke to Benjamin; and then Abner went to tell David at €Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to €do. @When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a €feast for Abner and the men who were with him. And Abner said to David, "I will arise and go, and will gather all €Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and €that you may reign over all that your heart desires." So David sent €Abner away; and he went in peace. @Just then the servants of David arrived with Jo'ab from a raid, €bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, €for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. When Jo'ab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Jo'ab, €"Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he €has gone in peace." Then Jo'ab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Behold, €Abner came to you; why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is €gone? You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, and to know €your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing." @When Jo'ab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after €Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah; but David €did not know about it. And when Abner returned to Hebron, Jo'ab took him aside into the midst €of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he smote him in the €belly, so that he died, for the blood of As'ahel his brother. Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are for €ever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. May it fall upon the head of Jo'ab, and upon all his father's house; €and may the house of Jo'ab never be without one who has a discharge, or €who is leprous, or who holds a spindle, or who is slain by the sword, €or who lacks bread!" So Jo'ab and Abi'shai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed €their brother As'ahel in the battle at Gibeon. @Then David said to Jo'ab and to all the people who were with him, €"Rend your clothes, and gird on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner." And €King David followed the bier. They buried Abner at Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept €at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. And the king lamented for Abner, saying, €@@"Should Abner die as a fool dies? @@Your hands were not bound, €@@@your feet were not fettered; €@@as one falls before the wicked €@@@you have fallen." €And all the people wept again over him. Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was €yet day; but David swore, saying, "God do so to me and more also, if I €taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!" And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as €everything that the king did pleased all the people. So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not €been the king's will to slay Abner the son of Ner. And the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a €great man has fallen this day in Israel? And I am this day weak, though anointed king; these men the sons of €Zeru'iah are too hard for me. The LORD requite the evildoer according €to his wickedness!"  @When Ish-bo'sheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, €his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed. Now Saul's son had two men who were captains of raiding bands; the name €of the one was Ba'anah, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of €Rimmon a man of Benjamin from Be-er'oth (for Be-er'oth also is reckoned €to Benjamin; the Be-er'othites fled to Gitta'im, and have been sojourners there to €this day). @Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He €was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±°’ļ‚²Óįķ’¤”ƒJezreel; and his nurse took him up, and fled; and, as she fled in her €haste, he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephib'osheth. @Now the sons of Rimmon the Be-er'othite, Rechab and Ba'anah, set out, €and about the heat of the day they came to the house of Ish-bo'sheth, €as he was taking his noonday rest. And behold, the doorkeeper of the house had been cleaning wheat, but €she grew drowsy and slept; so Rechab and Ba'anah his brother slipped in. When they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, €they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him. They took his head, and €went by the way of the Arabah all night, and brought the head of Ish-bo'sheth to David at Hebron. And they said €to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-bo'sheth, the son of Saul, your €enemy, who sought your life; the LORD has avenged my lord the king this €day on Saul and on his offspring." But David answered Rechab and Ba'anah his brother, the sons of Rimmon €the Be-er'othite, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life out of €every adversity, when one told me, `Behold, Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing €good news, I seized him and slew him at Ziklag, which was the reward I €gave him for his news. How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous man in his own €house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand, and €destroy you from the earth?" And David commanded his young men, and they killed them, and cut off €their hands and feet, and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But €they took the head of Ish-bo'sheth, and buried it in the tomb of Abner €at Hebron.  @Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, €"Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you that led out and €brought in Israel; and the LORD said to you, `You shall be shepherd of €my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'" So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David €made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed €David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty €years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at €Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. @And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jeb'usites, €the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, "You will not come in €here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off" -- thinking, "David €cannot come in here." Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of €David. And David said on that day, "Whoever would smite the Jeb'usites, let €him get up the water shaft to attack the lame and the blind, who are €hated by David's soul." Therefore it is said, "The blind and the lame €shall not come into the house." And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And €David built the city round about from the Millo inward. And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, €was with him. @And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, €also carpenters and masons who built David a house. And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, €and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. @And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he €came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David. And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: €Sham'mu-a, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Eli'shu-a, Nepheg, Japhi'a, Eli'shama, Eli'ada, and Eliph'elet. @When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over €Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; but David heard €of it and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the valley of Reph'aim. And David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? €Wilt thou give them into my hand?" And the LORD said to David, "Go up; €for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand." And David came to Ba'al-pera'zim, and David defeated them there; and he €said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a €bursting flood." Therefore the name of that place is called €Ba'al-pera'zim. And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men €carried them away. @And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread out in the valley €of Reph'aim. And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, "You shall not go up; go €around to their rear, and come upon them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam €trees, then bestir yourself; for then the LORD has gone out before you €to smite the army of the Philistines." And David did as the LORD commanded him, and smote the Philistines from €Geba to Gezer.  @David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from €Ba'ale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by €the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. And they carried the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of €the house of Abin'adab which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahi'o, the €sons of Abin'adab, were driving the new cart with the ark of God; and Ahi'o went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel were making merry before the LORD €with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines €and castanets and cymbals. @And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his €hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him €there because he put forth his hand to the ark; and he died there €beside the ark of God. And David was angry because the LORD had broken forth upon Uzzah; and €that place is called Pe'rez-uz'zah, to this day. And David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, "How can the €ark of the LORD come to me?" So David was not willing to take the ark of the LORD into the city of €David; but David took it aside to the house of O'bed-e'dom the Gittite. And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of O'bed-e'dom the €Gittite three months; and the LORD blessed O'bed-e'dom and all his €household. @And it was told King David, "The LORD has blessed the household of €O'bed-e'dom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So €David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of O'bed-e'dom €to the city of David with rejoicing; and when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he €sacrificed an ox and a fatling. And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was €girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD €with shouting, and with the sound of the horn. @As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal the €daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping €and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place, €inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt €offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace €offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts, and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, €both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a €cake of raisins. Then all the people departed, each to his house. @And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of €Saul came out to meet David, and said, "How the king of Israel honored €himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his €servants' maids, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers €himself!" And David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me above €your father, and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±°’ļ‚²Óįķ’¦˜•ƒIsrael, the people of the LORD -- and I will make merry before the LORD. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be €abased in your eyes; but by the maids of whom you have spoken, by them €I shall be held in honor." And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.  @Now when the king dwelt in his house, and the LORD had given him rest €from all his enemies round about, the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of €cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent." And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart; for the €LORD is with you." @But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, `Thus says the LORD: Would you build me €a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the people of €Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent €for my dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I €speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to €shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house €of cedar?"' Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David, `Thus says the €LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, €that you should be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your €enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the €name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, €that they may dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and €violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will €give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you €that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will €raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, €and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of €his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When he commits iniquity, €I will chasten him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of €men; but I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from Saul, €whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; €your throne shall be established for ever.'" In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this €vision, Nathan spoke to David. @Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and said, "Who am I, €O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in thy eyes, O Lord GOD; thou hast €spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast €shown me future generations, O Lord GOD! And what more can David say to thee? For thou knowest thy servant, O €Lord GOD! Because of thy promise, and according to thy own heart, thou hast €wrought all this greatness, to make thy servant know it. Therefore thou art great, O LORD God; for there is none like thee, and €there is no God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with €our ears. What other nation on earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to €redeem to be his people, making himself a name, and doing for them €great and terrible things, by driving out before his people a nation €and its gods? And thou didst establish for thyself thy people Israel to be thy people €for ever; and thou, O LORD, didst become their God. And now, O LORD God, confirm for ever the word which thou hast spoken €concerning thy servant and concerning his house, and do as thou hast €spoken; and thy name will be magnified for ever, saying, `The LORD of hosts is €God over Israel,' and the house of thy servant David will be €established before thee. For thou, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, hast made this revelation €to thy servant, saying, `I will build you a house'; therefore thy €servant has found courage to pray this prayer to thee. And now, O Lord GOD, thou art God, and thy words are true, and thou €hast promised this good thing to thy servant; now therefore may it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, €that it may continue for ever before thee; for thou, O Lord GOD, hast €spoken, and with thy blessing shall the house of thy servant be blessed €for ever."  @After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David €took Meth'eg-am'mah out of the hand of the Philistines. @And he defeated Moab, and measured them with a line, making them lie €down on the ground; two lines he measured to be put to death, and one €full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and €brought tribute. @David also defeated Hadade'zer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he €went to restore his power at the river Euphra'tes. And David took from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and €twenty thousand foot soldiers; and David hamstrung all the chariot €horses, but left enough for a hundred chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadade'zer king of Zobah, €David slew twenty-two thousand men of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus; and the Syrians became €servants to David and brought tribute. And the LORD gave victory to €David wherever he went. And David took the shields of gold which were carried by the servants €of Hadade'zer, and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah and from Bero'thai, cities of Hadade'zer, King David €took very much bronze. @When To'i king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army €of Hadade'zer, To'i sent his son Joram to King David, to greet him, and to €congratulate him because he had fought against Hadade'zer and defeated €him; for Hadade'zer had often been at war with To'i. And Joram brought €with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze; these also King David dedicated to the LORD, together with the silver €and gold which he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Am'alek, and from the €spoil of Hadade'zer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah. @And David won a name for himself. When he returned, he slew eighteen €thousand E'domites in the Valley of Salt. And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and €all the E'domites became David's servants. And the LORD gave victory to €David wherever he went. @So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and €equity to all his people. And Jo'ab the son of Zeru'iah was over the army; and Jehosh'aphat the €son of Ahi'lud was recorder; and Zadok the son of Ahi'tub and Ahim'elech the son of Abi'athar were €priests; and Serai'ah was secretary; and Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada was over the Cher'ethites and the €Pel'ethites; and David's sons were priests.  @And David said, "Is there still any one left of the house of Saul, €that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and €they called him to David; and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" And €he said, "Your servant is he." And the king said, "Is there not still some one of the house of Saul, €that I may show the kindness of God to him?" Ziba said to the king, €"There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet." The king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "He is €in the house of Machir the son of Am'miel, at Lo-debar." Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son €of Am'miel, at Lo-debar. And Mephib'osheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David, and €fell on his face and did obeisance. And David said, "Mephib'osheth!" €And he answered, "Behold, your servant." And David said to him, "Do not fear; for I will show you kindness for €the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the €land of Saul your father; and you shall eat at my table always." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±°’ļ‚²Óįķ’؉˜ˆAnd he did obeisance, and said, "What is your servant, that you should €look upon a dead dog such as I?" @Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "All that €belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's son. And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him, €and shall bring in the produce, that your master's son may have bread €to eat; but Mephib'osheth your master's son shall always eat at my €table." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king €commands his servant, so will your servant do." So Mephib'osheth ate at €David's table, like one of the king's sons. And Mephib'osheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who €dwelt in Ziba's house became Mephib'osheth's servants. So Mephib'osheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he ate always at the king's €table. Now he was lame in both his feet.  @After this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned €in his stead. And David said, "I will deal loyally with Hanun the son of Nahash, as €his father dealt loyally with me." So David sent by his servants to €console him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the €land of the Ammonites. But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, "Do you €think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring €your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city, €and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?" So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off half the beard of each, €and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them €away. When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly €ashamed. And the king said, "Remain at Jericho until your beards have €grown, and then return." @When the Ammonites saw that they had become odious to David, the €Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-re'hob, and the Syrians of €Zobah, twenty thousand foot soldiers, and the king of Ma'acah with a €thousand men, and the men of Tob, twelve thousand men. And when David heard of it, he sent Jo'ab and all the host of the €mighty men. And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance €of the gate; and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob €and Ma'acah, were by themselves in the open country. @When Jo'ab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and €in the rear, he chose some of the picked men of Israel, and arrayed €them against the Syrians; the rest of his men he put in the charge of Abi'shai his brother, and €he arrayed them against the Ammonites. And he said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help €me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and €help you. Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the €cities of our God; and may the LORD do what seems good to him." So Jo'ab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against €the Syrians; and they fled before him. And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled €before Abi'shai, and entered the city. Then Jo'ab returned from €fighting against the Ammonites, and came to Jerusalem. @But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they €gathered themselves together. And Hadade'zer sent, and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the €Euphra'tes; and they came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the €army of Hadade'zer at their head. And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and €crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians arrayed €themselves against David, and fought with him. And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians the €men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and wounded €Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. And when all the kings who were servants of Hadade'zer saw that they €had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel, and became €subject to them. So the Syrians feared to help the Ammonites any more.  @In the spring of the year, the time when kings go forth to battle, €David sent Jo'ab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they €ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at €Jerusalem. @It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and €was walking upon the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the €roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is not this €Bathshe'ba, the daughter of Eli'am, the wife of Uri'ah the Hittite?" So David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay €with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then €she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; and she sent and told David, "I am with child." @So David sent word to Jo'ab, "Send me Uri'ah the Hittite." And Jo'ab €sent Uri'ah to David. When Uri'ah came to him, David asked how Jo'ab was doing, and how the €people fared, and how the war prospered. Then David said to Uri'ah, "Go down to your house, and wash your feet." €And Uri'ah went out of the king's house, and there followed him a €present from the king. But Uri'ah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants €of his lord, and did not go down to his house. When they told David, "Uri'ah did not go down to his house," David said €to Uri'ah, "Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down €to your house?" Uri'ah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths; €and my lord Jo'ab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open €field; shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie €with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this €thing." Then David said to Uri'ah, "Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will €let you depart." So Uri'ah remained in Jerusalem that day, and the next. And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he €made him drunk; and in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with €the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house. @In the morning David wrote a letter to Jo'ab, and sent it by the hand €of Uri'ah. In the letter he wrote, "Set Uri'ah in the forefront of the hardest €fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and €die." And as Jo'ab was besieging the city, he assigned Uri'ah to the place €where he knew there were valiant men. And the men of the city came out and fought with Jo'ab; and some of the €servants of David among the people fell. Uri'ah the Hittite was slain €also. Then Jo'ab sent and told David all the news about the fighting; and he instructed the messenger, "When you have finished telling all €the news about the fighting to the king, then, if the king's anger rises, and if he says to you, `Why did you go €so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from €the wall? Who killed Abim'elech the son of Jerub'besheth? Did not a woman cast an €upper millstone upon him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why €did you go so near the wall?' then you shall say, `Your servant Uri'ah €the Hittite is dead also.'" @So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Jo'ab had €sent him to tell. The messenger said to David, "The men gained an advantage over us, and €came out against us in the field; but we drove them back to the €entrance of the gate. Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall; some of the €king's servants are dead; and your servant Uri'ah the Hittite is dead €also." David said to the messenger, "Thus shall you say to Jo'ab, `Do not let €this matter trouble you, for the sword devours now one and now another; €strengthen your attack upon the city, and overthrow it.' And encourage €him." @When the wife of Uri'ah heard that Uri'ah her husband was dead, she €made lamentation for her husband. And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his €house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±°’ļ‚²Óįķ’؋˜›ƒDavid had done displeased the LORD.  @And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, €"There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had €bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his €children; it used to eat of his morsel, and drink from his cup, and lie €in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take €one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come €to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared it for the man €who had come to him." Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to €Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and €because he had no pity." @Nathan said to David, "You are the man. Thus says the LORD, the God €of Israel, `I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of €the hand of Saul; and I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your €bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if this were €too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his €sight? You have smitten Uri'ah the Hittite with the sword, and have €taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of €the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you €have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uri'ah the Hittite to be €your wife.' Thus says the LORD, `Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of €your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give €them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of €this sun. For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, €and before the sun.'" David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said €to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, €the child that is born to you shall die." Then Nathan went to his house. €@And the LORD struck the child that Uri'ah's wife bore to David, and €it became sick. David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went €in and lay all night upon the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the €ground; but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David feared to €tell him that the child was dead; for they said, "Behold, while the €child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us; how €then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm." But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David €perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, "Is €the child dead?" They said, "He is dead." Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and €changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD, and €worshiped; he then went to his own house; and when he asked, they set €food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? €You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive; but when the €child died, you arose and ate food." He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I €said, `Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the €child may live?' But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I €shall go to him, but he will not return to me." @Then David comforted his wife, Bathshe'ba, and went in to her, and €lay with her; and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And €the LORD loved him, and sent a message by Nathan the prophet; so he called his name €Jedidi'ah, because of the LORD. @Now Jo'ab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and took the royal €city. And Jo'ab sent messengers to David, and said, "I have fought against €Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters. Now, then, gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against €the city, and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called by my €name." So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, and €fought against it and took it. And he took the crown of their king from his head; the weight of it was €a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was placed on €David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city, a very great €amount. And he brought forth the people who were in it, and set them to labor €with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them toil at the €brickkilns; and thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then €David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.  @Now Ab'salom, David's son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was €Tamar; and after a time Amnon, David's son, loved her. And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his €sister Tamar; for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon €to do anything to her. But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jon'adab, the son of Shim'e-ah, €David's brother; and Jon'adab was a very crafty man. And he said to him, "O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning €after morning? Will you not tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, €my brother Ab'salom's sister." Jon'adab said to him, "Lie down on your bed, and pretend to be ill; and €when your father comes to see you, say to him, `Let my sister Tamar €come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I €may see it, and eat it from her hand.'" So Amnon lay down, and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to €see him, Amnon said to the king, "Pray let my sister Tamar come and €make a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand." @Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, "Go to your brother Amnon's €house, and prepare food for him." So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, where he was lying down. €And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and €baked the cakes. And she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to €eat. And Amnon said, "Send out every one from me." So every one went €out from him. Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the chamber, that I may €eat from your hand." And Tamar took the cakes she had made, and brought €them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her, and €said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister." She answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me; for such a thing is €not done in Israel; do not do this wanton folly. As for me, where could I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be €as one of the wanton fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray you, speak €to the king; for he will not withhold me from you." But he would not listen to her; and being stronger than she, he forced €her, and lay with her. @Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred; so that the hatred with €which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved €her. And Amnon said to her, "Arise, be gone." But she said to him, "No, my brother; for this wrong in sending me away €is greater than the other which you did to me." But he would not listen €to her. He called the young man who served him and said, "Put this woman out of €my presence, and bolt the door after her." Now she was wearing a long robe with sleeves; for thus were the virgin €daughters of the king clad of old. So his servant put her out, and €bolted the door after her. And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent the long robe which she wore; €and she laid her hand on her head, and went away, crying aloud as she €went. @And her brother Ab'salom said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been €with you? Now hold your peace, my sister; he is your brother; do not €take this to heart." So Tamar dwelt, a desolate woman, in her brother žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±°’ļ‚²Óįķ’؍˜”„Ab'salom's house. When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. But Ab'salom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Ab'salom hated €Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. @After two full years Ab'salom had sheepshearers at Ba'al-ha'zor, €which is near E'phraim, and Ab'salom invited all the king's sons. And Ab'salom came to the king, and said, "Behold, your servant has €sheepshearers; pray let the king and his servants go with your servant." But the king said to Ab'salom, "No, my son, let us not all go, lest we €be burdensome to you." He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him €his blessing. Then Ab'salom said, "If not, pray let my brother Amnon go with us." And €the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?" But Ab'salom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king's sons go €with him. Then Ab'salom commanded his servants, "Mark when Amnon's heart is merry €with wine, and when I say to you, `Strike Amnon,' then kill him. Fear €not; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant." So the servants of Ab'salom did to Amnon as Ab'salom had commanded. €Then all the king's sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled. @While they were on the way, tidings came to David, "Ab'salom has €slain all the king's sons, and not one of them is left." Then the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the earth; and €all his servants who were standing by rent their garments. But Jon'adab the son of Shim'e-ah, David's brother, said, "Let not my €lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons, €for Amnon alone is dead, for by the command of Ab'salom this has been €determined from the day he forced his sister Tamar. Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to €suppose that all the king's sons are dead; for Amnon alone is dead." @But Ab'salom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his €eyes, and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the €Horona'im road by the side of the mountain. And Jon'adab said to the king, "Behold, the king's sons have come; as €your servant said, so it has come about." And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came, €and lifted up their voice and wept; and the king also and all his €servants wept very bitterly. @But Ab'salom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammi'hud, king of €Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. So Ab'salom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. And the spirit of the king longed to go forth to Ab'salom; for he was €comforted about Amnon, seeing he was dead.  @Now Jo'ab the son of Zeru'iah perceived that the king's heart went €out to Ab'salom. And Jo'ab sent to Teko'a, and fetched from there a wise woman, and said €to her, "Pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning garments; do not €anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning €many days for the dead; and go to the king, and speak thus to him." So Jo'ab put the words in €her mouth. @When the woman of Teko'a came to the king, she fell on her face to €the ground, and did obeisance, and said, "Help, O king." And the king said to her, "What is your trouble?" She answered, "Alas, €I am a widow; my husband is dead. And your handmaid had two sons, and they quarreled with one another in €the field; there was no one to part them, and one struck the other and €killed him. And now the whole family has risen against your handmaid, and they say, €`Give up the man who struck his brother, that we may kill him for the €life of his brother whom he slew'; and so they would destroy the heir €also. Thus they would quench my coal which is left, and leave to my €husband neither name nor remnant upon the face of the earth." @Then the king said to the woman, "Go to your house, and I will give €orders concerning you." And the woman of Teko'a said to the king, "On me be the guilt, my lord €the king, and on my father's house; let the king and his throne be €guiltless." The king said, "If any one says anything to you, bring him to me, and €he shall never touch you again." Then she said, "Pray let the king invoke the LORD your God, that the €avenger of blood slay no more, and my son be not destroyed." He said, €"As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground." @Then the woman said, "Pray let your handmaid speak a word to my lord €the king." He said, "Speak." And the woman said, "Why then have you planned such a thing against the €people of God? For in giving this decision the king convicts himself, €inasmuch as the king does not bring his banished one home again. We must all die, we are like water spilt on the ground, which cannot be €gathered up again; but God will not take away the life of him who €devises means not to keep his banished one an outcast. Now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have €made me afraid; and your handmaid thought, `I will speak to the king; €it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant. For the king will hear, and deliver his servant from the hand of the €man who would destroy me and my son together from the heritage of God.' And your handmaid thought, `The word of my lord the king will set me at €rest'; for my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good €and evil. The LORD your God be with you!" @Then the king answered the woman, "Do not hide from me anything I ask €you." And the woman said, "Let my lord the king speak." The king said, "Is the hand of Jo'ab with you in all this?" The woman €answered and said, "As surely as you live, my lord the king, one cannot €turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the €king has said. It was your servant Jo'ab who bade me; it was he who put €all these words in the mouth of your handmaid. In order to change the course of affairs your servant Jo'ab did this. €But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all €things that are on the earth." @Then the king said to Jo'ab, "Behold now, I grant this; go, bring €back the young man Ab'salom." And Jo'ab fell on his face to the ground, and did obeisance, and €blessed the king; and Jo'ab said, "Today your servant knows that I have €found favor in your sight, my lord the king, in that the king has €granted the request of his servant." So Jo'ab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Ab'salom to Jerusalem. And the king said, "Let him dwell apart in his own house; he is not to €come into my presence." So Ab'salom dwelt apart in his own house, and €did not come into the king's presence. @Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his €beauty as Ab'salom; from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head €there was no blemish in him. And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he €used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the €hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king's weight. There were born to Ab'salom three sons, and one daughter whose name was €Tamar; she was a beautiful woman. @So Ab'salom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, without coming into €the king's presence. Then Ab'salom sent for Jo'ab, to send him to the king; but Jo'ab would €not come to him. And he sent a second time, but Jo'ab would not come. Then he said to his servants, "See, Jo'ab's field is next to mine, and €he has barley there; go and set it on fire." So Ab'salom's servants set €the field on fire. Then Jo'ab arose and went to Ab'salom at his house, and said to him, €"Why have your servants set my field on fire?" Ab'salom answered Jo'ab, "Behold, I sent word to you, `Come here, that €I may send you to the king, to ask, "Why have I come from Geshur? It €would be better for me to be there still." Now therefore let me go into €the presence of the king; and if there is guilt in me, let him kill €me.'" Then Jo'ab went to the king, and told him; and he summoned Ab'salom. So €he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before €the king; and the king kissed Ab'salom.  @After this Ab'salom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±°’ļ‚²Óįķ’؏‚to run before him. And Ab'salom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate; €and when any man had a suit to come before the king for judgment, €Ab'salom would call to him, and say, "From what city are you?" And when €he said, "Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel," Ab'salom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right; but €there is no man deputed by the king to hear you." Ab'salom said moreover, "Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every €man with a suit or cause might come to me, and I would give him €justice." And whenever a man came near to do obeisance to him, he would put out €his hand, and take hold of him, and kiss him. Thus Ab'salom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment; €so Ab'salom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. @And at the end of four years Ab'salom said to the king, "Pray let me €go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron. For your servant vowed a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Aram, saying, €`If the LORD will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer €worship to the LORD.'" The king said to him, "Go in peace." So he arose, and went to Hebron. But Ab'salom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of €Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then €say, `Ab'salom is king at Hebron!'" With Ab'salom went two hundred men from Jerusalem who were invited €guests, and they went in their simplicity, and knew nothing. And while Ab'salom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahith'ophel €the Gi'lonite, David's counselor, from his city Giloh. And the €conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Ab'salom kept increasing. @And a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of €Israel have gone after Ab'salom." Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, €"Arise, and let us flee; or else there will be no escape for us from €Ab'salom; go in haste, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil €upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword." And the king's servants said to the king, "Behold, your servants are €ready to do whatever my lord the king decides." So the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king €left ten concubines to keep the house. And the king went forth, and all the people after him; and they halted €at the last house. And all his servants passed by him; and all the Cher'ethites, and all €the Pel'ethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him €from Gath, passed on before the king. @Then the king said to It'tai the Gittite, "Why do you also go with €us? Go back, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner, and also €an exile from your home. You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with €us, seeing I go I know not where? Go back, and take your brethren with €you; and may the LORD show steadfast love and faithfulness to you." But It'tai answered the king, "As the LORD lives, and as my lord the €king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or €for life, there also will your servant be." And David said to It'tai, "Go then, pass on." So It'tai the Gittite €passed on, with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. And all the country wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the €king crossed the brook Kidron, and all the people passed on toward the €wilderness. @And Abi'athar came up, and lo, Zadok came also, with all the Levites, €bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of €God, until the people had all passed out of the city. Then the king said to Zadok, "Carry the ark of God back into the city. €If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back and let €me see both it and his habitation; but if he says, `I have no pleasure in you,' behold, here I am, let him €do to me what seems good to him." The king also said to Zadok the priest, "Look, go back to the city in €peace, you and Abi'athar, with your two sons, Ahim'a-az your son, and €Jonathan the son of Abi'athar. See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from €you to inform me." So Zadok and Abi'athar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem; and €they remained there. @But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he €went, barefoot and with his head covered; and all the people who were €with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went. And it was told David, "Ahith'ophel is among the conspirators with €Ab'salom." And David said, "O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of €Ahith'ophel into foolishness." @When David came to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, €Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent and earth upon €his head. David said to him, "If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me. But if you return to the city, and say to Ab'salom, `I will be your €servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so €now I will be your servant,' then you will defeat for me the counsel of €Ahith'ophel. Are not Zadok and Abi'athar the priests with you there? So whatever you €hear from the king's house, tell it to Zadok and Abi'athar the priests. Behold, their two sons are with them there, Ahim'a-az, Zadok's son, and €Jonathan, Abi'athar's son; and by them you shall send to me everything €you hear." So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city, just as Ab'salom was €entering Jerusalem.  @When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of €Mephib'osheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, bearing two €hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of €summer fruits, and a skin of wine. And the king said to Ziba, "Why have you brought these?" Ziba answered, €"The asses are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and €summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint €in the wilderness to drink." And the king said, "And where is your master's son?" Ziba said to the €king, "Behold, he remains in Jerusalem; for he said, `Today the house €of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.'" Then the king said to Ziba, "Behold, all that belonged to Mephib'osheth €is now yours." And Ziba said, "I do obeisance; let me ever find favor €in your sight, my lord the king." @When King David came to Bahu'rim, there came out a man of the family €of the house of Saul, whose name was Shim'e-i, the son of Gera; and as €he came he cursed continually. And he threw stones at David, and at all the servants of King David; €and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on €his left. And Shim'e-i said as he cursed, "Begone, begone, you man of blood, you €worthless fellow! The LORD has avenged upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in €whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into €the hand of your son Ab'salom. See, your ruin is on you; for you are a €man of blood." @Then Abi'shai the son of Zeru'iah said to the king, "Why should this €dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head." But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeru'iah? €If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, `Curse David,' who €then shall say, `Why have you done so?'" And David said to Abi'shai and to all his servants, "Behold, my own son €seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone, €and let him curse; for the LORD has bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look upon my affliction, and that the LORD €will repay me with good for this cursing of me today." So David and his men went on the road, while Shim'e-i went along on the €hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him €and flung dust. And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at €the Jordan; and there he refreshed himself. @Now Ab'salom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to €Jerusalem, and Ahith'ophel with him. And when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Ab'salom, Hushai €said to Ab'salom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±°’ļ‚²Óįķ’ؐ˜‘And Ab'salom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why €did you not go with your friend?" And Hushai said to Ab'salom, "No; for whom the LORD and this people and €all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will €remain. And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have €served your father, so I will serve you." @Then Ab'salom said to Ahith'ophel, "Give your counsel; what shall we €do?" Ahith'ophel said to Ab'salom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom €he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you have €made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with €you will be strengthened." So they pitched a tent for Ab'salom upon the roof; and Ab'salom went in €to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. Now in those days the counsel which Ahith'ophel gave was as if one €consulted the oracle of God; so was all the counsel of Ahith'ophel €esteemed, both by David and by Ab'salom.  @Moreover Ahith'ophel said to Ab'salom, "Let me choose twelve thousand €men, and I will set out and pursue David tonight. I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged, and throw him €into a panic; and all the people who are with him will flee. I will €strike down the king only, and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to €her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will €be at peace." And the advice pleased Ab'salom and all the elders of Israel. @Then Ab'salom said, "Call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear €what he has to say." And when Hushai came to Ab'salom, Ab'salom said to him, "Thus has €Ahith'ophel spoken; shall we do as he advises? If not, you speak." Then Hushai said to Ab'salom, "This time the counsel which Ahith'ophel €has given is not good." Hushai said moreover, "You know that your father and his men are mighty €men, and that they are enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the €field. Besides, your father is expert in war; he will not spend the €night with the people. Behold, even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits, or in some €other place. And when some of the people fall at the first attack, €whoever hears it will say, `There has been a slaughter among the people €who follow Ab'salom.' Then even the valiant man, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, €will utterly melt with fear; for all Israel knows that your father is a €mighty man, and that those who are with him are valiant men. But my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan to €Beer-sheba, as the sand by the sea for multitude, and that you go to €battle in person. So we shall come upon him in some place where he is to be found, and we €shall light upon him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and all €the men with him not one will be left. If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that €city, and we shall drag it into the valley, until not even a pebble is €to be found there." And Ab'salom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai the €Archite is better than the counsel of Ahith'ophel." For the LORD had €ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahith'ophel, so that the LORD €might bring evil upon Ab'salom. @Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abi'athar the priests, "Thus and so did €Ahith'ophel counsel Ab'salom and the elders of Israel; and thus and so €have I counseled. Now therefore send quickly and tell David, `Do not lodge tonight at the €fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king and €all the people who are with him be swallowed up.'" Now Jonathan and Ahim'a-az were waiting at En-ro'gel; a maidservant €used to go and tell them, and they would go and tell King David; for €they must not be seen entering the city. But a lad saw them, and told Ab'salom; so both of them went away €quickly, and came to the house of a man at Bahu'rim, who had a well in €his courtyard; and they went down into it. And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and €scattered grain upon it; and nothing was known of it. When Ab'salom's servants came to the woman at the house, they said, €"Where are Ahim'a-az and Jonathan?" And the woman said to them, "They €have gone over the brook of water." And when they had sought and could €not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. @After they had gone, the men came up out of the well, and went and €told King David. They said to David, "Arise, and go quickly over the €water; for thus and so has Ahith'ophel counseled against you." Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they €crossed the Jordan; by daybreak not one was left who had not crossed €the Jordan. @When Ahith'ophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled €his ass, and went off home to his own city. And he set his house in €order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of €his father. @Then David came to Mahana'im. And Ab'salom crossed the Jordan with €all the men of Israel. Now Ab'salom had set Ama'sa over the army instead of Jo'ab. Ama'sa was €the son of a man named Ithra the Ish'maelite, who had married Ab'igal €the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeru'iah, Jo'ab's mother. And Israel and Ab'salom encamped in the land of Gilead. @When David came to Mahana'im, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of €the Ammonites, and Machir the son of Am'miel from Lo-debar, and €Barzil'lai the Gileadite from Ro'gelim, brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, meal, parched €grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and the €people with him to eat; for they said, "The people are hungry and weary €and thirsty in the wilderness."  @Then David mustered the men who were with him, and set over them €commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. And David sent forth the army, one third under the command of Jo'ab, €one third under the command of Abi'shai the son of Zeru'iah, Jo'ab's €brother, and one third under the command of It'tai the Gittite. And the €king said to the men, "I myself will also go out with you." But the men said, "You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not €care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you €are worth ten thousand of us; therefore it is better that you send us €help from the city." The king said to them, "Whatever seems best to you I will do." So the €king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by €hundreds and by thousands. And the king ordered Jo'ab and Abi'shai and It'tai, "Deal gently for my €sake with the young man Ab'salom." And all the people heard when the €king gave orders to all the commanders about Ab'salom. @So the army went out into the field against Israel; and the battle €was fought in the forest of E'phraim. And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and €the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. The battle spread over the face of all the country; and the forest €devoured more people that day than the sword. @And Ab'salom chanced to meet the servants of David. Ab'salom was €riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a €great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging €between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. And a certain man saw it, and told Jo'ab, "Behold, I saw Ab'salom €hanging in an oak." Jo'ab said to the man who told him, "What, you saw him! Why then did €you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give €you ten pieces of silver and a girdle." But the man said to Jo'ab, "Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a €thousand pieces of silver, I would not put forth my hand against the €king's son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abi'shai and €It'tai, `For my sake protect the young man Ab'salom.' On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and €there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have €stood aloof." Jo'ab said, "I will not waste time like this with you." And he took žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±°’ļ‚²Óįķ’ؒ˜Ž‚three darts in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Ab'salom, €while he was still alive in the oak. And ten young men, Jo'ab's armor-bearers, surrounded Ab'salom and €struck him, and killed him. @Then Jo'ab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing €Israel; for Jo'ab restrained them. And they took Ab'salom, and threw him into a great pit in the forest, €and raised over him a very great heap of stones; and all Israel fled €every one to his own home. Now Ab'salom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the €pillar which is in the King's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to €keep my name in remembrance"; he called the pillar after his own name, €and it is called Ab'salom's monument to this day. @Then said Ahi'ma-az the son of Zadok, "Let me run, and carry tidings €to the king that the LORD has delivered him from the power of his €enemies." And Jo'ab said to him, "You are not to carry tidings today; you may €carry tidings another day, but today you shall carry no tidings, €because the king's son is dead." Then Jo'ab said to the Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." €The Cushite bowed before Jo'ab, and ran. Then Ahi'ma-az the son of Zadok said again to Jo'ab, "Come what may, €let me also run after the Cushite." And Jo'ab said, "Why will you run, €my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the tidings?" "Come what may," he said, "I will run." So he said to him, "Run." Then €Ahi'ma-az ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite. @Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up €to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and €looked, he saw a man running alone. And the watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, "If €he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth." And he came apace, and €drew near. And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to €the gate and said, "See, another man running alone!" The king said, "He €also brings tidings." And the watchman said, "I think the running of the foremost is like the €running of Ahi'ma-az the son of Zadok." And the king said, "He is a €good man, and comes with good tidings." @Then Ahi'ma-az cried out to the king, "All is well." And he bowed €before the king with his face to the earth, and said, "Blessed be the €LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand €against my lord the king." And the king said, "Is it well with the young man Ab'salom?" Ahi'ma-az €answered, "When Jo'ab sent your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do €not know what it was." And the king said, "Turn aside, and stand here." So he turned aside, €and stood still. @And behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, "Good tidings for €my lord the king! For the LORD has delivered you this day from the €power of all who rose up against you." The king said to the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Ab'salom?" €And the Cushite answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king, and all €who rise up against you for evil, be like that young man." And the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the €gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, "O my son Ab'salom, my son, my €son Ab'salom! Would I had died instead of you, O Ab'salom, my son, my €son!"  @It was told Jo'ab, "Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for €Ab'salom." So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people; €for the people heard that day, "The king is grieving for his son." And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are €ashamed when they flee in battle. The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, "O my €son Ab'salom, O Ab'salom, my son, my son!" Then Jo'ab came into the house to the king, and said, "You have today €covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day €saved your life, and the lives of your sons and your daughters, and the €lives of your wives and your concubines, because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For €you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing €to you; for today I perceive that if Ab'salom were alive and all of us €were dead today, then you would be pleased. Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants; for I €swear by the LORD, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this €night; and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come €upon you from your youth until now." Then the king arose, and took his seat in the gate. And the people were €all told, "Behold, the king is sitting in the gate"; and all the people €came before the king. €@Now Israel had fled every man to his own home. And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, €saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies, and saved €us from the hand of the Philistines; and now he has fled out of the €land from Ab'salom. But Ab'salom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now €therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?" @And King David sent this message to Zadok and Abi'athar the priests, €"Say to the elders of Judah, `Why should you be the last to bring the €king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the €king? You are my kinsmen, you are my bone and my flesh; why then should you €be the last to bring back the king?' And say to Ama'sa, `Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, €and more also, if you are not commander of my army henceforth in place €of Jo'ab.'" And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man; so that €they sent word to the king, "Return, both you and all your servants." So the king came back to the Jordan; and Judah came to Gilgal to meet €the king and to bring the king over the Jordan. @And Shim'e-i the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, from Bahu'rim, made €haste to come down with the men of Judah to meet King David; and with him were a thousand men from Benjamin. And Ziba the servant of €the house of Saul, with his fifteen sons and his twenty servants, €rushed down to the Jordan before the king, and they crossed the ford to bring over the king's household, and to do €his pleasure. And Shim'e-i the son of Gera fell down before the king, €as he was about to cross the Jordan, and said to the king, "Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how €your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem; let €not the king bear it in mind. For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore, behold, I have €come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to €meet my lord the king." Abi'shai the son of Zeru'iah answered, "Shall not Shim'e-i be put to €death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?" But David said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeru'iah, that €you should this day be as an adversary to me? Shall any one be put to €death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king €over Israel?" And the king said to Shim'e-i, "You shall not die." And the king gave €him his oath. @And Mephib'osheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; he had €neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his €clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came back in €safety. And when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, €"Why did you not go with me, Mephib'osheth?" He answered, "My lord, O king, my servant deceived me; for your servant €said to him, `Saddle an ass for me, that I may ride upon it and go with €the king.' For your servant is lame. He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king €is like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you. For all my father's house were but men doomed to death before my lord €the king; but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. €What further right have I, then, to cry to the king?" And the king said to him, "Why speak any more of your affairs? I have €decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land." And Mephib'osheth said to the king, "Oh, let him take it all, since my žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±°’ļ‚²Óįķ’ؓ˜ž‚lord the king has come safely home." @Now Barzil'lai the Gileadite had come down from Ro'gelim; and he went €on with the king to the Jordan, to escort him over the Jordan. Barzil'lai was a very aged man, eighty years old; and he had provided €the king with food while he stayed at Mahana'im; for he was a very €wealthy man. And the king said to Barzil'lai, "Come over with me, and I will provide €for you with me in Jerusalem." But Barzil'lai said to the king, "How many years have I still to live, €that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? I am this day eighty years old; can I discern what is pleasant and what €is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I €still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then €should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king. Why €should the king recompense me with such a reward? Pray let your servant return, that I may die in my own city, near the €grave of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let €him go over with my lord the king; and do for him whatever seems good €to you." And the king answered, "Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do €for him whatever seems good to you; and all that you desire of me I €will do for you." Then all the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over; and €the king kissed Barzil'lai and blessed him, and he returned to his own €home. The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; all the €people of Judah, and also half the people of Israel, brought the king €on his way. @Then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, €"Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen you away, and brought €the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David's men with €him?" All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "Because the king is €near of kin to us. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we €eaten at all at the king's expense? Or has he given us any gift?" And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, "We have ten shares in €the king, and in David also we have more than you. Why then did you €despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?" €But the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the €men of Israel.  @Now there happened to be there a worthless fellow, whose name was €Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite; and he blew the €trumpet, and said, €@@"We have no portion in David, €@@and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; €@@every man to his tents, O Israel!" So all the men of Israel withdrew from David, and followed Sheba the €son of Bichri; but the men of Judah followed their king steadfastly €from the Jordan to Jerusalem. @And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten €concubines whom he had left to care for the house, and put them in a €house under guard, and provided for them, but did not go in to them. So €they were shut up until the day of their death, living as if in €widowhood. @Then the king said to Ama'sa, "Call the men of Judah together to me €within three days, and be here yourself." So Ama'sa went to summon Judah; but he delayed beyond the set time €which had been appointed him. And David said to Abi'shai, "Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us €more harm than Ab'salom; take your lord's servants and pursue him, lest €he get himself fortified cities, and cause us trouble." And there went out after Abi'shai, Jo'ab and the Cher'ethites and the €Pel'ethites, and all the mighty men; they went out from Jerusalem to €pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Ama'sa came to €meet them. Now Jo'ab was wearing a soldier's garment, and over it was a €girdle with a sword in its sheath fastened upon his loins, and as he €went forward it fell out. And Jo'ab said to Ama'sa, "Is it well with you, my brother?" And Jo'ab €took Ama'sa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. But Ama'sa did not observe the sword which was in Jo'ab's hand; so €Jo'ab struck him with it in the body, and shed his bowels to the €ground, without striking a second blow; and he died. €@Then Jo'ab and Abi'shai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri. And one of Jo'ab's men took his stand by Ama'sa, and said, "Whoever €favors Jo'ab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Jo'ab." And Ama'sa lay wallowing in his blood in the highway. And any one who €came by, seeing him, stopped; and when the man saw that all the people €stopped, he carried Ama'sa out of the highway into the field, and threw €a garment over him. When he was taken out of the highway, all the people went on after €Jo'ab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. @And Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of €Beth-ma'acah; and all the Bichrites assembled, and followed him in. And all the men who were with Jo'ab came and besieged him in Abel of €Beth-ma'acah; they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood €against the rampart; and they were battering the wall, to throw it down. Then a wise woman called from the city, "Hear! Hear! Tell Jo'ab, `Come €here, that I may speak to you.'" And he came near her; and the woman said, "Are you Jo'ab?" He answered, €"I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your €maidservant." And he answered, "I am listening." Then she said, "They were wont to say in old time, `Let them but ask €counsel at Abel'; and so they settled a matter. I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel; you seek to €destroy a city which is a mother in Israel; why will you swallow up the €heritage of the LORD?" Jo'ab answered, "Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up €or destroy! That is not true. But a man of the hill country of E'phraim, called €Sheba the son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David; €give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city." And the woman €said to Jo'ab, "Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall." Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off €the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Jo'ab. So he €blew the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, every man to his €home. And Jo'ab returned to Jerusalem to the king. @Now Jo'ab was in command of all the army of Israel; and Benai'ah the €son of Jehoi'ada was in command of the Cher'ethites and the Pel'ethites; and Ador'am was in charge of the forced labor; and Jehosh'aphat the son €of Ahi'lud was the recorder; and Sheva was secretary; and Zadok and Abi'athar were priests; and Ira the Ja'irite was also David's priest.  @Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year €after year; and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, €"There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the €Gib'eonites to death." So the king called the Gib'eonites. Now the Gib'eonites were not of the €people of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; although the €people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had sought to slay them €in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah. And David said to the Gib'eonites, "What shall I do for you? And how €shall I make expiation, that you may bless the heritage of the LORD?" The Gib'eonites said to him, "It is not a matter of silver or gold €between us and Saul or his house; neither is it for us to put any man €to death in Israel." And he said, "What do you say that I shall do for €you?" They said to the king, "The man who consumed us and planned to destroy €us, so that we should have no place in all the territory of Israel, let seven of his sons be given to us, so that we may hang them up €before the LORD at Gibeon on the mountain of the LORD." And the king €said, "I will give them." @But the king spared Mephib'osheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, €because of the oath of the LORD which was between them, between David €and Jonathan the son of Saul. The king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Ai'ah, whom she €bore to Saul, Armo'ni and Mephib'osheth; and the five sons of Merab the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±°’ļ‚²Óįķ’ؕ˜ˆƒdaughter of Saul, whom she bore to A'dri-el the son of Barzil'lai the €Meho'lathite; and he gave them into the hands of the Gib'eonites, and they hanged €them on the mountain before the LORD, and the seven of them perished €together. They were put to death in the first days of harvest, at the €beginning of barley harvest. @Then Rizpah the daughter of Ai'ah took sackcloth, and spread it for €herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until rain fell upon €them from the heavens; and she did not allow the birds of the air to €come upon them by day, or the beasts of the field by night. When David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Ai'ah, the concubine of €Saul, had done, David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan €from the men of Ja'besh-gil'ead, who had stolen them from the public €square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, on the day €the Philistines killed Saul on Gilbo'a; and he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of his son €Jonathan; and they gathered the bones of those who were hanged. And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of €Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father; and they did all that €the king commanded. And after that God heeded supplications for the €land. @The Philistines had war again with Israel, and David went down €together with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines; €and David grew weary. And Ish'bi-be'nob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear €weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was girded with a new €sword, thought to kill David. But Abi'shai the son of Zeru'iah came to his aid, and attacked the €Philistine and killed him. Then David's men adjured him, "You shall no €more go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel." @After this there was again war with the Philistines at Gob; then €Sib'becai the Hu'shathite slew Saph, who was one of the descendants of €the giants. And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elha'nan the €son of Ja'areor'egim, the Bethlehemite, slew Goliath the Gittite, the €shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great €stature, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, €twenty-four in number; and he also was descended from the giants. And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shim'e-i, David's €brother, slew him. These four were descended from the giants in Gath; and they fell by the €hand of David and by the hand of his servants.  @And David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day when €the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the €hand of Saul. He said, €@@"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, @@@my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, €@@my shield and the horn of my salvation, €@@@my stronghold and my refuge, €@@@my savior; thou savest me from violence. @@I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, €@@@and I am saved from my enemies. @@"For the waves of death encompassed me, €@@@the torrents of perdition assailed me; @@the cords of Sheol entangled me, €@@@the snares of death confronted me. @@"In my distress I called upon the LORD; €@@@to my God I called. €@@From his temple he heard my voice, €@@@and my cry came to his ears. @@"Then the earth reeled and rocked; €@@@the foundations of the heavens trembled €@@@and quaked, because he was angry. @@Smoke went up from his nostrils, €@@@and devouring fire from his mouth; €@@@glowing coals flamed forth from him. @@He bowed the heavens, and came down; €@@@thick darkness was under his feet. @@He rode on a cherub, and flew; €@@@he was seen upon the wings of the wind. @@He made darkness around him €@@@his canopy, thick clouds, a gathering of water. @@Out of the brightness before him €@@@coals of fire flamed forth. @@The LORD thundered from heaven, €@@@and the Most High uttered his voice. @@And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; €@@@lightning, and routed them. @@Then the channels of the sea were seen, €@@@the foundations of the world were laid bare, €@@at the rebuke of the LORD, €@@@at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. @@"He reached from on high, he took me, €@@@he drew me out of many waters. @@He delivered me from my strong enemy, €@@@from those who hated me; €@@@for they were too mighty for me. @@They came upon me in the day of my calamity; €@@@but the LORD was my stay. @@He brought me forth into a broad place; €@@@he delivered me, because he delighted in me. @@"The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; €@@@according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me. @@For I have kept the ways of the LORD, €@@@and have not wickedly departed from my God. @@For all his ordinances were before me, €@@@and from his statutes I did not turn aside. @@I was blameless before him, €@@@and I kept myself from guilt. @@Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, €@@@according to my cleanness in his sight. @@"With the loyal thou dost show thyself loyal; €@@@with the blameless man thou dost show thyself blameless; @@with the pure thou dost show thyself pure, €@@@and with the crooked thou dost show thyself perverse. @@Thou dost deliver a humble people, €@@@but thy eyes are upon the haughty to bring them down. @@Yea, thou art my lamp, O LORD, €@@@and my God lightens my darkness. @@Yea, by thee I can crush a troop, €@@@and by my God I can leap over a wall. @@This God -- his way is perfect; €@@@the promise of the LORD proves true; €@@@he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. @@"For who is God, but the LORD? €@@@And who is a rock, except our God? @@This God is my strong refuge, €@@@and has made my way safe. @@He made my feet like hinds' feet, €@@@and set me secure on the heights. @@He trains my hands for war, €@@@so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. @@Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation, €@@@and thy help made me great. @@Thou didst give a wide place for my steps under me, €@@@and my feet did not slip; @@I pursued my enemies and destroyed them, €@@@and did not turn back until they were consumed. @@I consumed them; I thrust them through, so that they did not rise; €@@@they fell under my feet. @@For thou didst gird me with strength for the battle; €@@@thou didst make my assailants sink under me. @@Thou didst make my enemies turn their backs to me, €@@@those who hated me, and I destroyed them. @@They looked, but there was none to save; €@@@they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them. @@I beat them fine as the dust of the earth, €@@@I crushed them and stamped them down like the mire of the streets. @@"Thou didst deliver me from strife with the peoples; €@@@thou didst keep me as the head of the nations; €@@@people whom I had not known served me. @@Foreigners came cringing to me; €@@@as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me. @@Foreigners lost heart, €@@@and came trembling out of their fastnesses. @@"The LORD lives; and blessed be my rock, €@@@and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation, @@the God who gave me vengeance €@@@and brought down peoples under me, @@who brought me out from my enemies; €@@@thou didst exalt me above my adversaries, €@@@thou didst deliver me from men of violence. @@"For this I will extol thee, O LORD, among the nations, €@@@and sing praises to thy name. @@Great triumphs he gives to his king, €@@@and shows steadfast love to his anointed, €@@@to David, and his descendants for ever."  @Now these are the last words of David: €@@@The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, €@@@the oracle of the man who was raised on high, €@@the anointed of the God of Jacob, €@@@the sweet psalmist of Israel: @@"The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me, €@@@his word is upon my tongue. @@The God of Israel has spoken, €@@@the Rock of Israel has said to me: €@@When one rules justly over men, €@@@ruling in the fear of God, @@he dawns on them like the morning light, €@@@like the sun shining forth upon a cloudless morning, €@@@like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±°’ļ‚²Óįķ’ؗ•@@Yea, does not my house stand so with God? €@@@For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, €@@@ordered in all things and secure. €@@For will he not cause to prosper €@@@all my help and my desire? @@But godless men are all like thorns that are thrown away; €@@@for they cannot be taken with the hand; @@but the man who touches them €@@@arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, €@@@and they are utterly consumed with fire." @These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: €Josheb-basshe'beth a Tah-che'monite; he was chief of the three; he €wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he slew at one time. @And next to him among the three mighty men was Elea'zar the son of €Dodo, son of Aho'hi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines €who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and €his hand cleaved to the sword; and the LORD wrought a great victory €that day; and the men returned after him only to strip the slain. @And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Har'arite. The €Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground €full of lentils; and the men fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and €slew the Philistines; and the LORD wrought a great victory. @And three of the thirty chief men went down, and came about harvest €time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was €encamped in the valley of Reph'aim. David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines €was then at Bethlehem. And David said longingly, "O that some one would give me water to drink €from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!" Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, €and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and €took and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it; he poured €it out to the LORD, and said, "Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I €drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?" €Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men. @Now Abi'shai, the brother of Jo'ab, the son of Zeru'iah, was chief of €the thirty. And he wielded his spear against three hundred men and slew €them, and won a name beside the three. He was the most renowned of the thirty, and became their commander; but €he did not attain to the three. @And Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a €doer of great deeds; he smote two ariels of Moab. He also went down and €slew a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. And he slew an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in €his hand; but Benai'ah went down to him with a staff, and snatched the €spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear. These things did Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada, and won a name beside €the three mighty men. He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. €And David set him over his bodyguard. @As'ahel the brother of Jo'ab was one of the thirty; Elha'nan the son €of Dodo of Bethlehem, Shammah of Harod, Eli'ka of Harod, Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Teko'a, Abi-e'zer, of An'athoth, Mebun'nai the Hu'shathite, Zalmon the Aho'hite, Ma'harai of Netoph'ah, Heleb the son of Ba'anah of Netoph'ah, It'tai the son of Ri'bai of €Gib'e-ah of the Benjaminites, Benai'ah of Pira'thon, Hid'dai of the brooks of Ga'ash, Abi-al'bon the Ar'bathite, Az'maveth of Bahu'rim, Eli'ahba of Sha-al'bon, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, Shammah the Har'arite, Ahi'am the son of Sharar the Har'arite, Eliph'elet the son of Ahas'bai of Ma'acah, Eli'am the son of €Ahith'ophel of Gilo, Hezro of Carmel, Pa'arai the Arbite, Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, Zelek the Ammonite, Na'harai of Be-er'oth, the armor-bearer of Jo'ab €the son of Zeru'iah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, Uri'ah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.  @Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he €incited David against them, saying, "Go, number Israel and Judah." So the king said to Jo'ab and the commanders of the army, who were with €him, "Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and €number the people, that I may know the number of the people." But Jo'ab said to the king, "May the LORD your God add to the people a €hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king €still see it; but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?" But the king's word prevailed against Jo'ab and the commanders of the €army. So Jo'ab and the commanders of the army went out from the €presence of the king to number the people of Israel. They crossed the Jordan, and began from Aro'er, and from the city that €is in the middle of the valley, toward Gad and on to Jazer. Then they came to Gilead, and to Kadesh in the land of the Hittites; €and they came to Dan, and from Dan they went around to Sidon, and came to the fortress of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites €and Canaanites; and they went out to the Negeb of Judah at Beer-sheba. So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at €the end of nine months and twenty days. And Jo'ab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in €Israel there were eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the €sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand. @But David's heart smote him after he had numbered the people. And €David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But €now, O LORD, I pray thee, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I €have done very foolishly." And when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the €prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, "Go and say to David, `Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer you; €choose one of them, that I may do it to you." So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, "Shall three years €of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months €before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' €pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall €return to him who sent me." Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; let us fall into the €hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the €hand of man." @So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the €appointed time; and there died of the people from Dan to Beer-sheba €seventy thousand men. And when the angel stretched forth his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy €it, the LORD repented of the evil, and said to the angel who was €working destruction among the people, "It is enough; now stay your €hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Arau'nah €the Jeb'usite. Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was smiting the €people, and said, "Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but €these sheep, what have they done? Let thy hand, I pray thee, be against €me and against my father's house." @And Gad came that day to David, and said to him, "Go up, rear an €altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Arau'nah the Jeb'usite." So David went up at Gad's word, as the LORD commanded. And when Arau'nah looked down, he saw the king and his servants coming €on toward him; and Arau'nah went forth, and did obeisance to the king €with his face to the ground. And Arau'nah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" €David said, "To buy the threshing floor of you, in order to build an €altar to the LORD, that the plague may be averted from the people." Then Arau'nah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up €what seems good to him; here are the oxen for the burnt offering, and €the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. All this, O king, Arau'nah gives to the king." And Arau'nah said to the €king, "The LORD your God accept you." But the king said to Arau'nah, "No, but I will buy it of you for a žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±°’ļ‚²Óįķ’ؘ˜˜‚price; I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost €me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty €shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings €and peace offerings. So the LORD heeded supplications for the land, and €the plague was averted from Israel. ąļ‚±Ėēó’”Now King David was old and advanced in years; and although they covered €him with clothes, he could not get warm. Therefore his servants said to him, "Let a young maiden be sought for €my lord the king, and let her wait upon the king, and be his nurse; let €her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may be warm." So they sought for a beautiful maiden throughout all the territory of €Israel, and found Ab'ishag the Shu'nammite, and brought her to the king. The maiden was very beautiful; and she became the king's nurse and €ministered to him; but the king knew her not. @Now Adoni'jah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be €king"; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men €to run before him. His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, "Why have €you done thus and so?" He was also a very handsome man; and he was born €next after Ab'salom. He conferred with Jo'ab the son of Zeru'iah and with Abi'athar the €priest; and they followed Adoni'jah and helped him. But Zadok the priest, and Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada, and Nathan the €prophet, and Shim'e-i, and Re'i, and David's mighty men were not with €Adoni'jah. @Adoni'jah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fatlings by the Serpent's €Stone, which is beside En-ro'gel, and he invited all his brothers, the €king's sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benai'ah or the mighty men €or Solomon his brother. @Then Nathan said to Bathshe'ba the mother of Solomon, "Have you not €heard that Adoni'jah the son of Haggith has become king and David our €lord does not know it? Now therefore come, let me give you counsel, that you may save your own €life and the life of your son Solomon. Go in at once to King David, and say to him, `Did you not, my lord the €king, swear to your maidservant, saying, "Solomon your son shall reign €after me, and he shall sit upon my throne"? Why then is Adoni'jah king?' Then while you are still speaking with the king, I also will come in €after you and confirm your words." @So Bathshe'ba went to the king into his chamber (now the king was €very old, and Ab'ishag the Shu'nammite was ministering to the king). Bathshe'ba bowed and did obeisance to the king, and the king said, €"What do you desire?" She said to him, "My lord, you swore to your maidservant by the LORD €your God, saying, `Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall €sit upon my throne.' And now, behold, Adoni'jah is king, although you, my lord the king, do €not know it. He has sacrificed oxen, fatlings, and sheep in abundance, and has €invited all the sons of the king, Abi'athar the priest, and Jo'ab the €commander of the army; but Solomon your servant he has not invited. And now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you, to tell €them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his €fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted offenders." @While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came €in. And they told the king, "Here is Nathan the prophet." And when he came €in before the king, he bowed before the king, with his face to the €ground. And Nathan said, "My lord the king, have you said, `Adoni'jah shall €reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne'? For he has gone down this day, and has sacrificed oxen, fatlings, and €sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king's sons, Jo'ab the €commander of the army, and Abi'athar the priest; and behold, they are €eating and drinking before him, and saying, `Long live King Adoni'jah!' But me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benai'ah the son of €Jehoi'ada, and your servant Solomon, he has not invited. Has this thing been brought about by my lord the king and you have not €told your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king €after him?" @Then King David answered, "Call Bathshe'ba to me." So she came into €the king's presence, and stood before the king. And the king swore, saying, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my €soul out of every adversity, as I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, saying, `Solomon your €son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead'; €even so will I do this day." Then Bathshe'ba bowed with her face to the ground, and did obeisance to €the king, and said, "May my lord King David live for ever!" @King David said, "Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, €and Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada." So they came before the king. And the king said to them, "Take with you the servants of your lord, €and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to €Gihon; and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king €over Israel; then blow the trumpet, and say, `Long live King Solomon!' You shall then come up after him, and he shall come and sit upon my €throne; for he shall be king in my stead; and I have appointed him to €be ruler over Israel and over Judah." And Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada answered the king, "Amen! May the €LORD, the God of my lord the king, say so. As the LORD has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with €Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King €David." @So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benai'ah the son of €Jehoi'ada, and the Cher'ethites and the Pel'ethites, went down and €caused Solomon to ride on King David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. There Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent, and anointed €Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, "Long €live King Solomon!" And all the people went up after him, playing on pipes, and rejoicing €with great joy, so that the earth was split by their noise. @Adoni'jah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they €finished feasting. And when Jo'ab heard the sound of the trumpet, he €said, "What does this uproar in the city mean?" While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abi'athar the €priest came; and Adoni'jah said, "Come in, for you are a worthy man and €bring good news." Jonathan answered Adoni'jah, "No, for our lord King David has made €Solomon king; and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, €and Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada, and the Cher'ethites and the €Pel'ethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king's mule; and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at €Gihon; and they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is €in an uproar. This is the noise that you have heard. Solomon sits upon the royal throne. Moreover the king's servants came to congratulate our lord King David, €saying, `Your God make the name of Solomon more famous than yours, and €make his throne greater than your throne.' And the king bowed himself €upon the bed. And the king also said, `Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who €has granted one of my offspring to sit on my throne this day, my own €eyes seeing it.'" @Then all the guests of Adoni'jah trembled, and rose, and each went €his own way. And Adoni'jah feared Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold €of the horns of the altar. And it was told Solomon, "Behold, Adoni'jah fears King Solomon; for, €lo, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, `Let King €Solomon swear to me first that he will not slay his servant with the €sword.'" And Solomon said, "If he prove to be a worthy man, not one of his hairs €shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall €die." So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he €came and did obeisance to King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, "Go to €your house." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±±’ļ‚±Ėēó’¢@When David's time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, €saying, "I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show €yourself a man, and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and €keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his €testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper €in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the LORD may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, €saying, `If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before me in €faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall €not fail you a man on the throne of Israel.' @"Moreover you know also what Jo'ab the son of Zeru'iah did to me, how €he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son €of Ner, and Ama'sa the son of Jether, whom he murdered, avenging in €time of peace blood which had been shed in war, and putting innocent €blood upon the girdle about my loins, and upon the sandals on my feet. Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go €down to Sheol in peace. But deal loyally with the sons of Barzil'lai the Gileadite, and let €them be among those who eat at your table; for with such loyalty they €met me when I fled from Ab'salom your brother. And there is also with you Shim'e-i the son of Gera, the Benjaminite €from Bahu'rim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I €went to Mahana'im; but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I €swore to him by the LORD, saying, `I will not put you to death with the €sword.' Now therefore hold him not guiltless, for you are a wise man; you will €know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head €down with blood to Sheol." @Then David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of €David. And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned €seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was €firmly established. @Then Adoni'jah the son of Haggith came to Bathshe'ba the mother of €Solomon. And she said, "Do you come peaceably?" He said, "Peaceably." Then he said, "I have something to say to you." She said, "Say on." He said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully €expected me to reign; however the kingdom has turned about and become €my brother's, for it was his from the LORD. And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me." She said €to him, "Say on." And he said, "Pray ask King Solomon -- he will not refuse you -- to give me €Ab'ishag the Shu'nammite as my wife." Bathshe'ba said, "Very well; I will speak for you to the king." @So Bathshe'ba went to King Solomon, to speak to him on behalf of €Adoni'jah. And the king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then €he sat on his throne, and had a seat brought for the king's mother; and €she sat on his right. Then she said, "I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse €me." And the king said to her, "Make your request, my mother; for I €will not refuse you." She said, "Let Ab'ishag the Shu'nammite be given to Adoni'jah your €brother as his wife." King Solomon answered his mother, "And why do you ask Ab'ishag the €Shu'nammite for Adoni'jah? Ask for him the kingdom also; for he is my €elder brother, and on his side are Abi'athar the priest and Jo'ab the €son of Zeru'iah." Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, "God do so to me and more €also if this word does not cost Adoni'jah his life! Now therefore as the LORD lives, who has established me, and placed me €on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he €promised, Adoni'jah shall be put to death this day." So King Solomon sent Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada; and he struck him €down, and he died. @And to Abi'athar the priest the king said, "Go to An'athoth, to your €estate; for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to €death, because you bore the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, €and because you shared in all the affliction of my father." So Solomon expelled Abi'athar from being priest to the LORD, thus €fulfilling the word of the LORD which he had spoken concerning the €house of Eli in Shiloh. @When the news came to Jo'ab -- for Jo'ab had supported Adoni'jah €although he had not supported Ab'salom -- Jo'ab fled to the tent of the €LORD and caught hold of the horns of the altar. And when it was told King Solomon, "Jo'ab has fled to the tent of the €LORD, and behold, he is beside the altar," Solomon sent Benai'ah the €son of Jehoi'ada, saying, "Go, strike him down." So Benai'ah came to the tent of the LORD, and said to him, "The king €commands, `Come forth.'" But he said, "No, I will die here." Then €Benai'ah brought the king word again, saying, "Thus said Jo'ab, and €thus he answered me." The king replied to him, "Do as he has said, strike him down and bury €him; and thus take away from me and from my father's house the guilt €for the blood which Jo'ab shed without cause. The LORD will bring back his bloody deeds upon his own head, because, €without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and slew with the €sword two men more righteous and better than himself, Abner the son of €Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Ama'sa the son of Jether, €commander of the army of Judah. So shall their blood come back upon the head of Jo'ab and upon the head €of his descendants for ever; but to David, and to his descendants, and €to his house, and to his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD for €evermore." Then Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada went up, and struck him down and €killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. The king put Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada over the army in place of €Jo'ab, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abi'athar. @Then the king sent and summoned Shim'e-i, and said to him, "Build €yourself a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and do not go forth €from there to any place whatever. For on the day you go forth, and cross the brook Kidron, know for €certain that you shall die; your blood shall be upon your own head." And Shim'e-i said to the king, "What you say is good; as my lord the €king has said, so will your servant do." So Shim'e-i dwelt in Jerusalem €many days. @But it happened at the end of three years that two of Shim'e-i's €slaves ran away to Achish, son of Ma'acah, king of Gath. And when it €was told Shim'e-i, "Behold, your slaves are in Gath," Shim'e-i arose and saddled an ass, and went to Gath to Achish, to seek €his slaves; Shim'e-i went and brought his slaves from Gath. And when Solomon was told that Shim'e-i had gone from Jerusalem to Gath €and returned, the king sent and summoned Shim'e-i, and said to him, "Did I not make €you swear by the LORD, and solemnly admonish you, saying, `Know for €certain that on the day you go forth and go to any place whatever, you €shall die'? And you said to me, `What you say is good; I obey.' Why then have you not kept your oath to the LORD and the commandment €with which I charged you?" The king also said to Shim'e-i, "You know in your own heart all the €evil that you did to David my father; so the LORD will bring back your €evil upon your own head. But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be €established before the LORD for ever." Then the king commanded Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada; and he went out €and struck him down, and he died. €@So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.  @Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt; he took €Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he €had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the €wall around Jerusalem. The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no €house had yet been built for the name of the LORD. @Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father; €only, he sacrificed and burnt incense at the high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±±’ļ‚±Ėēó’£”‚high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings upon that €altar. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God €said, "Ask what I shall give you." And Solomon said, "Thou hast shown great and steadfast love to thy €servant David my father, because he walked before thee in faithfulness, €in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward thee; and thou €hast kept for him this great and steadfast love, and hast given him a €son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king in place of €David my father, although I am but a little child; I do not know how to €go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people whom thou hast chosen, a €great people, that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude. Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy people, €that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern €this thy great people?" @It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked €for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have €asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and €discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none €like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that €no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my €commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your €days." @And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to €Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and €offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for €all his servants. @Then two harlots came to the king, and stood before him. The one woman said, "Oh, my lord, this woman and I dwell in the same €house; and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. Then on the third day after I was delivered, this woman also gave €birth; and we were alone; there was no one else with us in the house, €only we two were in the house. And this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your €maidservant slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead son in €my bosom. When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, it was dead; but €when I looked at it closely in the morning, behold, it was not the €child that I had borne." But the other woman said, "No, the living child is mine, and the dead €child is yours." The first said, "No, the dead child is yours, and the €living child is mine." Thus they spoke before the king. @Then the king said, "The one says, `This is my son that is alive, and €your son is dead'; and the other says, `No; but your son is dead, and €my son is the living one.'" And the king said, "Bring me a sword." So a sword was brought before €the king. And the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to €the one, and half to the other." Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because her heart €yearned for her son, "Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no €means slay it." But the other said, "It shall be neither mine nor €yours; divide it." Then the king answered and said, "Give the living child to the first €woman, and by no means slay it; she is its mother." And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and €they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom €of God was in him, to render justice.  @King Solomon was king over all Israel, and these were his high officials: Azari'ah the son of Zadok was the €priest; Elihor'eph and Ahi'jah the sons of Shisha were secretaries; €Jehosh'aphat the son of Ahi'lud was recorder; Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada was in command of the army; Zadok and €Abi'athar were priests; Azari'ah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of €Nathan was priest and king's friend; Ahi'shar was in charge of the palace; and Adoni'ram the son of Abda was €in charge of the forced labor. @Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for €the king and his household; each man had to make provision for one €month in the year. These were their names: Ben-hur, in the hill country of E'phraim; Ben-deker, in Makaz, Sha-al'bim, Beth-she'mesh, and E'lonbeth-ha'nan; Ben-hesed, in Arub'both (to him belonged Socoh and all the land of €Hepher); Ben-abin'adab, in all Naphath-dor (he had Taphath the daughter of €Solomon as his wife); Ba'ana the son of Ahi'lud, in Ta'anach, Megid'do, and all Beth-she'an €which is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, and from Beth-she'an to €A'bel-meho'lah, as far as the other side of Jok'meam; Ben-geber, in Ra'moth-gil'ead (he had the villages of Ja'ir the son of €Manas'seh, which are in Gilead, and he had the region of Argob, which €is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars); Ahin'adab the son of Iddo, in Mahana'im; Ahi'ma-az, in Naph'tali (he had taken Bas'emath the daughter of Solomon €as his wife); Ba'ana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth; Jehosh'aphat the son of Paru'ah, in Is'sachar; Shim'e-i the son of Ela, in Benjamin; Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king €of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. And there was one officer in €the land of Judah. @Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea; they ate and €drank and were happy. Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphra'tes to the land of €the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and €served Solomon all the days of his life. @Solomon's provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour, and €sixty cors of meal, ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep, besides €harts, gazelles, roebucks, and fatted fowl. For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphra'tes from €Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphra'tes; and he had €peace on all sides round about him. And Judah and Israel dwelt in safety, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, €every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of €Solomon. Solomon also had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and €twelve thousand horsemen. And those officers supplied provisions for King Solomon, and for all €who came to King Solomon's table, each one in his month; they let €nothing be lacking. Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds they brought to €the place where it was required, each according to his charge. @And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and €largeness of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the €east, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ez'rahite, €and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in €all the nations round about. He also uttered three thousand proverbs; and his songs were a thousand €and five. He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that €grows out of the wall; he spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of €reptiles, and of fish. And men came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from €all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.  @Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, when he heard €that they had anointed him king in place of his father; for Hiram €always loved David. And Solomon sent word to Hiram, "You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of €the LORD his God because of the warfare with which his enemies €surrounded him, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is €neither adversary nor misfortune. And so I purpose to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as €the LORD said to David my father, `Your son, whom I will set upon your žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±±’ļ‚±Ėēó’„•ƒthrone in your place, shall build the house for my name.' Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me; and my €servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants €such wages as you set; for you know that there is no one among us who €knows how to cut timber like the Sido'nians." @When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and said, €"Blessed be the LORD this day, who has given to David a wise son to be €over this great people." And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, "I have heard the message which you €have sent to me; I am ready to do all you desire in the matter of cedar €and cypress timber. My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon; and I will €make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct, and I will €have them broken up there, and you shall receive it; and you shall meet €my wishes by providing food for my household." So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the timber of cedar and cypress that €he desired, while Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his €household, and twenty thousand cors of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to €Hiram year by year. And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him; and there was €peace between Hiram and Solomon; and the two of them made a treaty. @King Solomon raised a levy of forced labor out of all Israel; and the €levy numbered thirty thousand men. And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in relays; they would €be a month in Lebanon and two months at home; Adoni'ram was in charge €of the levy. Solomon also had seventy thousand burden-bearers and eighty thousand €hewers of stone in the hill country, besides Solomon's three thousand three hundred chief officers who were €over the work, who had charge of the people who carried on the work. At the king's command, they quarried out great, costly stones in order €to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones. So Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the men of Gebal did the €hewing and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.  @In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel €came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign €over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began €to build the house of the LORD. The house which King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, €twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, €equal to the width of the house, and ten cubits deep in front of the €house. And he made for the house windows with recessed frames. He also built a structure against the wall of the house, running round €the walls of the house, both the nave and the inner sanctuary; and he €made side chambers all around. The lowest story was five cubits broad, the middle one was six cubits €broad, and the third was seven cubits broad; for around the outside of €the house he made offsets on the wall in order that the supporting €beams should not be inserted into the walls of the house. @When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry; €so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the €temple, while it was being built. @The entrance for the lowest story was on the south side of the house; €and one went up by stairs to the middle story, and from the middle €story to the third. So he built the house, and finished it; and he made the ceiling of the €house of beams and planks of cedar. He built the structure against the whole house, each story five cubits €high, and it was joined to the house with timbers of cedar. @Now the word of the LORD came to Solomon, "Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in my €statutes and obey my ordinances and keep all my commandments and walk €in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David €your father. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my €people Israel." @So Solomon built the house, and finished it. He lined the walls of the house on the inside with boards of cedar; €from the floor of the house to the rafters of the ceiling, he covered €them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house €with boards of cypress. He built twenty cubits of the rear of the house with boards of cedar €from the floor to the rafters, and he built this within as an inner €sanctuary, as the most holy place. The house, that is, the nave in front of the inner sanctuary, was forty €cubits long. The cedar within the house was carved in the form of gourds and open €flowers; all was cedar, no stone was seen. The inner sanctuary he prepared in the innermost part of the house, to €set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD. The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and €twenty cubits high; and he overlaid it with pure gold. He also made an €altar of cedar. And Solomon overlaid the inside of the house with pure gold, and he €drew chains of gold across, in front of the inner sanctuary, and €overlaid it with gold. And he overlaid the whole house with gold, until all the house was €finished. Also the whole altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary he €overlaid with gold. @In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olivewood, each ten €cubits high. Five cubits was the length of one wing of the cherub, and five cubits €the length of the other wing of the cherub; it was ten cubits from the €tip of one wing to the tip of the other. The other cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same €measure and the same form. The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and so was that of the other €cherub. He put the cherubim in the innermost part of the house; and the wings €of the cherubim were spread out so that a wing of one touched the one €wall, and a wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; their €other wings touched each other in the middle of the house. And he overlaid the cherubim with gold. @He carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures €of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, in the inner and outer €rooms. The floor of the house he overlaid with gold in the inner and outer €rooms. @For the entrance to the inner sanctuary he made doors of olivewood; €the lintel and the doorposts formed a pentagon. He covered the two doors of olivewood with carvings of cherubim, palm €trees, and open flowers; he overlaid them with gold, and spread gold €upon the cherubim and upon the palm trees. @So also he made for the entrance to the nave doorposts of olivewood, €in the form of a square, and two doors of cypress wood; the two leaves of the one door were €folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding. On them he carved cherubim and palm trees and open flowers; and he €overlaid them with gold evenly applied upon the carved work. He built the inner court with three courses of hewn stone and one €course of cedar beams. @In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid, €in the month of Ziv. And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth €month, the house was finished in all its parts, and according to all €its specifications. He was seven years in building it.  @Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished €his entire house. @He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon; its length was a hundred €cubits, and its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits, and €it was built upon three rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon €the pillars. And it was covered with cedar above the chambers that were upon the €forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row. There were window frames in three rows, and window opposite window in €three tiers. All the doorways and windows had square frames, and window was opposite €window in three tiers. @And he made the Hall of Pillars; its length was fifty cubits, and its €breadth thirty cubits; there was a porch in front with pillars, and a €canopy before them. @And he made the Hall of the Throne where he was to pronounce žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±±’ļ‚±Ėēó’§—‚judgment, even the Hall of Judgment; it was finished with cedar from €floor to rafters. @His own house where he was to dwell, in the other court back of the €hall, was of like workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall €for Pharaoh's daughter whom he had taken in marriage. @All these were made of costly stones, hewn according to measure, €sawed with saws, back and front, even from the foundation to the €coping, and from the court of the house of the LORD to the great court. The foundation was of costly stones, huge stones, stones of eight and €ten cubits. And above were costly stones, hewn according to measurement, and cedar. The great court had three courses of hewn stone round about, and a €course of cedar beams; so had the inner court of the house of the LORD, €and the vestibule of the house. @And King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre. He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naph'tali, and his father was €a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze; and he was full of wisdom, €understanding, and skill, for making any work in bronze. He came to €King Solomon, and did all his work. @He cast two pillars of bronze. Eighteen cubits was the height of one €pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured its circumference; it was €hollow, and its thickness was four fingers; the second pillar was the €same. He also made two capitals of molten bronze, to set upon the tops of the €pillars; the height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height €of the other capital was five cubits. Then he made two nets of checker work with wreaths of chain work for €the capitals upon the tops of the pillars; a net for the one capital, €and a net for the other capital. Likewise he made pomegranates; in two rows round about upon the one €network, to cover the capital that was upon the top of the pillar; and €he did the same with the other capital. Now the capitals that were upon the tops of the pillars in the €vestibule were of lily-work, four cubits. The capitals were upon the two pillars and also above the rounded €projection which was beside the network; there were two hundred €pomegranates, in two rows round about; and so with the other capital. He set up the pillars at the vestibule of the temple; he set up the €pillar on the south and called its name Jachin; and he set up the €pillar on the north and called its name Bo'az. And upon the tops of the pillars was lily-work. Thus the work of the €pillars was finished. @Then he made the molten sea; it was round, ten cubits from brim to €brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its €circumference. Under its brim were gourds, for thirty cubits, compassing the sea round €about; the gourds were in two rows, cast with it when it was cast. It stood upon twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three €facing south, and three facing east; the sea was set upon them, and all €their hinder parts were inward. Its thickness was a handbreadth; and its brim was made like the brim of €a cup, like the flower of a lily; it held two thousand baths. @He also made the ten stands of bronze; each stand was four cubits €long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high. This was the construction of the stands: they had panels, and the €panels were set in the frames and on the panels that were set in the frames were lions, oxen, and €cherubim. Upon the frames, both above and below the lions and oxen, €there were wreaths of beveled work. Moreover each stand had four bronze wheels and axles of bronze; and at €the four corners were supports for a laver. The supports were cast, €with wreaths at the side of each. Its opening was within a crown which projected upward one cubit; its €opening was round, as a pedestal is made, a cubit and a half deep. At €its opening there were carvings; and its panels were square, not round. And the four wheels were underneath the panels; the axles of the wheels €were of one piece with the stands; and the height of a wheel was a €cubit and a half. The wheels were made like a chariot wheel; their axles, their rims, €their spokes, and their hubs, were all cast. There were four supports at the four corners of each stand; the €supports were of one piece with the stands. And on the top of the stand there was a round band half a cubit high; €and on the top of the stand its stays and its panels were of one piece €with it. And on the surfaces of its stays and on its panels, he carved cherubim, €lions, and palm trees, according to the space of each, with wreaths €round about. After this manner he made the ten stands; all of them were cast alike, €of the same measure and the same form. @And he made ten lavers of bronze; each laver held forty baths, each €laver measured four cubits, and there was a laver for each of the ten €stands. And he set the stands, five on the south side of the house, and five on €the north side of the house; and he set the sea on the southeast corner €of the house. @Hiram also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram €finished all the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of the €LORD: the two pillars, the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of €the pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the €capitals that were on the tops of the pillars; and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of €pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals €that were upon the pillars; the ten stands, and the ten lavers upon the stands; and the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath the sea. @Now the pots, the shovels, and the basins, all these vessels in the €house of the LORD, which Hiram made for King Solomon, were of burnished €bronze. In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground €between Succoth and Zarethan. And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because there were so many €of them; the weight of the bronze was not found out. @So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of the LORD: €the golden altar, the golden table for the bread of the Presence, the lampstands of pure gold, five on the south side and five on the €north, before the inner sanctuary; the flowers, the lamps, and the €tongs, of gold; the cups, snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and firepans, of pure €gold; and the sockets of gold, for the doors of the innermost part of €the house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the nave of the €temple. @Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the LORD was €finished. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had €dedicated, the silver, the gold, and the vessels, and stored them in €the treasuries of the house of the LORD.  @Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the €tribes, the leaders of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel, €before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant €of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. And all the men of Israel assembled to King Solomon at the feast in the €month Eth'anim, which is the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. And they brought up the ark of the LORD, the tent of meeting, and all €the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites €brought them up. And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled €before him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and €oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its €place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, €underneath the wings of the cherubim. For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so €that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles. And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from €the holy place before the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen €from outside; and they are there to this day. There was nothing in the ark except the two tables of stone which Moses žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±±’ļ‚±Ėēó’؈˜‰‚put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of €Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the €house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; €for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. @Then Solomon said, €@@"The LORD has set the sun in the heavens, €@@@but has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. @@I have built thee an exalted house, €@@@a place for thee to dwell in for ever." Then the king faced about, and blessed all the assembly of Israel, €while all the assembly of Israel stood. And he said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand €has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, €saying, `Since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no €city in all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my €name might be there; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.' Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the €name of the LORD, the God of Israel. But the LORD said to David my father, `Whereas it was in your heart to €build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart; nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be €born to you shall build the house for my name.' Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise which he made; for I have risen €in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as €the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD, €the God of Israel. And there I have provided a place for the ark, in which is the covenant €of the LORD which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of €the land of Egypt." @Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of €all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven; and said, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven €above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love €to thy servants who walk before thee with all their heart; who hast kept with thy servant David my father what thou didst declare €to him; yea, thou didst speak with thy mouth, and with thy hand hast €fulfilled it this day. Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my €father what thou hast promised him, saying, `There shall never fail you €a man before me to sit upon the throne of Israel, if only your sons €take heed to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.' Now therefore, O God of Israel, let thy word be confirmed, which thou €hast spoken to thy servant David my father. @"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the €highest heaven cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I €have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of thy servant and to his supplication, O €LORD my God, hearkening to the cry and to the prayer which thy servant €prays before thee this day; that thy eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of €which thou hast said, `My name shall be there,' that thou mayest €hearken to the prayer which thy servant offers toward this place. And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant and of thy people €Israel, when they pray toward this place; yea, hear thou in heaven thy €dwelling place; and when thou hearest, forgive. @"If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath, and €comes and swears his oath before thine altar in this house, then hear thou in heaven, and act, and judge thy servants, condemning €the guilty by bringing his conduct upon his own head, and vindicating €the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness. @"When thy people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they €have sinned against thee, if they turn again to thee, and acknowledge €thy name, and pray and make supplication to thee in this house; then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and €bring them again to the land which thou gavest to their fathers. @"When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned €against thee, if they pray toward this place, and acknowledge thy name, €and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them, then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, thy €people Israel, when thou dost teach them the good way in which they €should walk; and grant rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy €people as an inheritance. @"If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or €mildew or locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in any of €their cities; whatever plague, whatever sickness there is; whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by any man or by all thy €people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and €stretching out his hands toward this house; then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and €render to each whose heart thou knowest, according to all his ways (for €thou, thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men); that they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which €thou gavest to our fathers. @"Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of thy people Israel, comes €from a far country for thy name's sake (for they shall hear of thy great name, and thy mighty hand, and of thy €outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all for €which the foreigner calls to thee; in order that all the peoples of the €earth may know thy name and fear thee, as do thy people Israel, and €that they may know that this house which I have built is called by thy €name. @"If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way €thou shalt send them, and they pray to the LORD toward the city which €thou hast chosen and the house which I have built for thy name, then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and €maintain their cause. @"If they sin against thee -- for there is no man who does not sin -- and €thou art angry with them, and dost give them to an enemy, so that they €are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near; yet if they lay it to heart in the land to which they have been carried €captive, and repent, and make supplication to thee in the land of their €captors, saying, `We have sinned, and have acted perversely and €wickedly'; if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land €of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to thee toward €their land, which thou gavest to their fathers, the city which thou €hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name; then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place their prayer and their €supplication, and maintain their cause and forgive thy people who have sinned against thee, and all their €transgressions which they have committed against thee; and grant them €compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they €may have compassion on them (for they are thy people, and thy heritage, which thou didst bring out €of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace). Let thy eyes be open to the supplication of thy servant, and to the €supplication of thy people Israel, giving ear to them whenever they €call to thee. For thou didst separate them from among all the peoples of the earth, €to be thy heritage, as thou didst declare through Moses, thy servant, €when thou didst bring our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD." @Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and supplication to €the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had €knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven; and he stood, and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, €saying, "Blessed be the LORD who has given rest to his people Israel, according €to all that he promised; not one word has failed of all his good €promise, which he uttered by Moses his servant. The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers; may he not €leave us or forsake us; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±±’ļ‚±Ėēó’؈˜ŗthat he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways, and to €keep his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances, which he €commanded our fathers. Let these words of mine, wherewith I have made supplication before the €LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, and may he maintain €the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel, as each €day requires; that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there €is no other. Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in €his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day." @Then the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the €LORD. Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD twenty-two thousand oxen €and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people €of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD. The same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was €before the house of the LORD; for there he offered the burnt offering €and the cereal offering and the fat pieces of the peace offerings, €because the bronze altar that was before the LORD was too small to €receive the burnt offering and the cereal offering and the fat pieces €of the peace offerings. @So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a €great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt, €before the LORD our God, seven days. On the eighth day he sent the people away; and they blessed the king, €and went to their homes joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness €that the LORD had shown to David his servant and to Israel his people.  @When Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD and the €king's house and all that Solomon desired to build, the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him €at Gibeon. And the LORD said to him, "I have heard your prayer and your €supplication, which you have made before me; I have consecrated this €house which you have built, and put my name there for ever; my eyes and €my heart will be there for all time. And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father €walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all €that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my ordinances, then I will establish your royal throne over Israel for ever, as I €promised David your father, saying, `There shall not fail you a man €upon the throne of Israel.' But if you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do €not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, €but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and €the house which I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my €sight; and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And this house will become a heap of ruins; everyone passing by it will €be astonished, and will hiss; and they will say, `Why has the LORD done €thus to this land and to this house?' Then they will say, `Because they forsook the LORD their God who €brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other €gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore the LORD has €brought all this evil upon them.'" @At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two €houses, the house of the LORD and the king's house, and Hiram king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress €timber and gold, as much as he desired, King Solomon gave to Hiram €twenty cities in the land of Galilee. But when Hiram came from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given €him, they did not please him. Therefore he said, "What kind of cities are these which you have given €me, my brother?" So they are called the land of Cabul to this day. Hiram had sent to the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold. @And this is the account of the forced labor which King Solomon levied €to build the house of the LORD and his own house and the Millo and the €wall of Jerusalem and Hazor and Megid'do and Gezer (Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and captured Gezer and burnt it with €fire, and had slain the Canaanites who dwelt in the city, and had given €it as dowry to his daughter, Solomon's wife; so Solomon rebuilt Gezer) and Lower Beth-hor'on and Ba'alath and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land of Judah, and all the store-cities that Solomon had, and the cities for his €chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever Solomon desired €to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. All the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the €Per'izzites, the Hivites, and the Jeb'usites, who were not of the €people of Israel --their descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the people €of Israel were unable to destroy utterly -- these Solomon made a forced €levy of slaves, and so they are to this day. But of the people of Israel Solomon made no slaves; they were the €soldiers, they were his officials, his commanders, his captains, his €chariot commanders and his horsemen. @These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work: five €hundred and fifty, who had charge of the people who carried on the work. @But Pharaoh's daughter went up from the city of David to her own €house which Solomon had built for her; then he built the Millo. @Three times a year Solomon used to offer up burnt offerings and peace €offerings upon the altar which he built to the LORD, burning incense €before the LORD. So he finished the house. @King Solomon built a fleet of ships at E'zion-ge'ber, which is near €Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. And Hiram sent with the fleet his servants, seamen who were familiar €with the sea, together with the servants of Solomon; and they went to Ophir, and brought from there gold, to the amount of €four hundred and twenty talents; and they brought it to King Solomon.  @Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning €the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing €spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to €Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from €the king which he could not explain to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the €house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance €of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt €offerings which he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more €spirit in her. @And she said to the king, "The report was true which I heard in my €own land of your affairs and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen €it; and, behold, the half was not told me; your wisdom and prosperity €surpass the report which I heard. Happy are your wives! Happy are these your servants, who continually €stand before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on €the throne of Israel! Because the LORD loved Israel for ever, he has €made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness." Then she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and a very €great quantity of spices, and precious stones; never again came such an €abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to King €Solomon. @Moreover the fleet of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought €from Ophir a very great amount of almug wood and precious stones. And the king made of the almug wood supports for the house of the LORD, €and for the king's house, lyres also and harps for the singers; no such €almug wood has come or been seen, to this day. @And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, €whatever she asked besides what was given her by the bounty of King €Solomon. So she turned and went back to her own land, with her servants. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±±’ļ‚±Ėēó’؊˜Ž@Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six €hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, besides that which came from the traders and from the traffic of the €merchants, and from all the kings of Arabia and from the governors of €the land. King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold; six hundred €shekels of gold went into each shield. And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold €went into each shield; and the king put them in the House of the Forest €of Lebanon. The king also made a great ivory throne, and overlaid it with the €finest gold. The throne had six steps, and at the back of the throne was a calf's €head, and on each side of the seat were arm rests and two lions €standing beside the arm rests, while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six €steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom. All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels €of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of €silver, it was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon. For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of €Hiram. Once every three years the fleet of ships of Tarshish used to €come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. @Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and €in wisdom. And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, €which God had put into his mind. Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and gold, €garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year. @And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen; he had fourteen €hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the €chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made €cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephe'lah. And Solomon's import of horses was from Egypt and Ku'e, and the king's €traders received them from Ku'e at a price. A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of €silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty; and so through the king's €traders they were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the €kings of Syria.  @Now King Solomon loved many foreign women: the daughter of Pharaoh, €and Moabite, Ammonite, E'domite, Sido'nian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of €Israel, "You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall €they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their €gods"; Solomon clung to these in love. He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; €and his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other €gods; and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the €heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ash'toreth the goddess of the Sido'nians, and €after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not €wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, €and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east €of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and €sacrificed to their gods. @And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned €away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go €after other gods; but he did not keep what the LORD commanded. Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this has been your mind and €you have not kept my covenant and my statutes which I have commanded €you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your €servant. Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, €but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. However I will not tear away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe €to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of €Jerusalem which I have chosen." @And the LORD raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the €E'domite; he was of the royal house in Edom. For when David was in Edom, and Jo'ab the commander of the army went up €to bury the slain, he slew every male in Edom (for Jo'ab and all Israel remained there six months, until he had cut €off every male in Edom); but Hadad fled to Egypt, together with certain E'domites of his €father's servants, Hadad being yet a little child. They set out from Mid'ian and came to Paran, and took men with them €from Paran and came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a €house, and assigned him an allowance of food, and gave him land. And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave €him in marriage the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tah'penes the €queen. And the sister of Tah'penes bore him Genu'bath his son, whom Tah'penes €weaned in Pharaoh's house; and Genu'bath was in Pharaoh's house among €the sons of Pharaoh. But when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers and €that Jo'ab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, €"Let me depart, that I may go to my own country." But Pharaoh said to him, "What have you lacked with me that you are now €seeking to go to your own country?" And he said to him, "Only let me €go." @God also raised up as an adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eli'ada, €who had fled from his master Hadade'zer king of Zobah. And he gathered men about him and became leader of a marauding band, €after the slaughter by David; and they went to Damascus, and dwelt €there, and made him king in Damascus. He was an adversary of Israel all the days of Solomon, doing mischief €as Hadad did; and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria. @Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, an E'phraimite of Zer'edah, a servant of €Solomon, whose mother's name was Zeru'ah, a widow, also lifted up his €hand against the king. And this was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king. €Solomon built the Millo, and closed up the breach of the city of David €his father. The man Jerobo'am was very able, and when Solomon saw that the young €man was industrious he gave him charge over all the forced labor of the €house of Joseph. And at that time, when Jerobo'am went out of Jerusalem, the prophet €Ahi'jah the Shi'lonite found him on the road. Now Ahi'jah had clad €himself with a new garment; and the two of them were alone in the open €country. Then Ahi'jah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it €into twelve pieces. And he said to Jerobo'am, "Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says €the LORD, the God of Israel, `Behold, I am about to tear the kingdom €from the hand of Solomon, and will give you ten tribes (but he shall have one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for €the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen out of all the €tribes of Israel), because he has forsaken me, and worshiped Ash'toreth the goddess of the €Sido'nians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the €Ammonites, and has not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my €sight and keeping my statutes and my ordinances, as David his father €did. Nevertheless I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; but I €will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of David my €servant whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes; but I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it to €you, ten tribes. Yet to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always €have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put €my name. And I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your soul €desires, and you shall be king over Israel. And if you will hearken to all that I command you, and will walk in my €ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±±’ļ‚±Ėēó’؋˜¦ƒcommandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you, and will €build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to €you. And I will for this afflict the descendants of David, but not for €ever.'" Solomon sought therefore to kill Jerobo'am; but Jerobo'am arose, and €fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the €death of Solomon. @Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his €wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was €forty years. And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David €his father; and Rehobo'am his son reigned in his stead.  @Rehobo'am went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make €him king. And when Jerobo'am the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was still in €Egypt, whither he had fled from King Solomon), then Jerobo'am returned €from Egypt. And they sent and called him; and Jerobo'am and all the assembly of €Israel came and said to Rehobo'am, "Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard €service of your father and his heavy yoke upon us, and we will serve €you." He said to them, "Depart for three days, then come again to me." So the €people went away. @Then King Rehobo'am took counsel with the old men, who had stood €before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, "How do you €advise me to answer this people?" And they said to him, "If you will be a servant to this people today €and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then €they will be your servants for ever." But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel €with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. And he said to them, "What do you advise that we answer this people who €have said to me, `Lighten the yoke that your father put upon us'?" And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, "Thus shall €you speak to this people who said to you, `Your father made our yoke €heavy, but do you lighten it for us'; thus shall you say to them, `My €little finger is thicker than my father's loins. And now, whereas my father laid upon you a heavy yoke, I will add to €your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you €with scorpions.'" @So Jerobo'am and all the people came to Rehobo'am the third day, as €the king said, "Come to me again the third day." And the king answered the people harshly, and forsaking the counsel €which the old men had given him, he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, "My €father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father €chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." So the king did not hearken to the people; for it was a turn of affairs €brought about by the LORD that he might fulfil his word, which the LORD €spoke by Ahi'jah the Shi'lonite to Jerobo'am the son of Nebat. @And when all Israel saw that the king did not hearken to them, the €people answered the king, €@@"What portion have we in David? €@@@We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. €@@To your tents, O Israel! €@@@Look now to your own house, David." €So Israel departed to their tents. But Rehobo'am reigned over the people of Israel who dwelt in the cities €of Judah. Then King Rehobo'am sent Ador'am, who was taskmaster over the forced €labor, and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King €Rehobo'am made haste to mount his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. And when all Israel heard that Jerobo'am had returned, they sent and €called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was €none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. @When Rehobo'am came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of €Judah, and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen €warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to restore the kingdom €to Rehobo'am the son of Solomon. But the word of God came to Shemai'ah the man of God: "Say to Rehobo'am the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the €house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, `Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up or fight against your kinsmen €the people of Israel. Return every man to his home, for this thing is €from me.'" So they hearkened to the word of the LORD, and went home €again, according to the word of the LORD. @Then Jerobo'am built Shechem in the hill country of E'phraim, and €dwelt there; and he went out from there and built Penu'el. And Jerobo'am said in his heart, "Now the kingdom will turn back to the €house of David; if this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at €Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, €to Rehobo'am king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to €Rehobo'am king of Judah." So the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold. And he said to €the people, "You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your €gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt." And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. And this thing became a sin, for the people went to the one at Bethel €and to the other as far as Dan. He also made houses on high places, and appointed priests from among €all the people, who were not of the Levites. And Jerobo'am appointed a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth €month like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices upon €the altar; so he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had €made. And he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he €had made. He went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth €day in the eighth month, in the month which he had devised of his own €heart; and he ordained a feast for the people of Israel, and went up to €the altar to burn incense.  @And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the LORD to €Bethel. Jerobo'am was standing by the altar to burn incense. And the man cried against the altar by the word of the LORD, and said, €"O altar, altar, thus says the LORD: `Behold, a son shall be born to €the house of David, Josi'ah by name; and he shall sacrifice upon you €the priests of the high places who burn incense upon you, and men's €bones shall be burned upon you.'" And he gave a sign the same day, saying, "This is the sign that the €LORD has spoken: `Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes €that are upon it shall be poured out.'" And when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried €against the altar at Bethel, Jerobo'am stretched out his hand from the €altar, saying, "Lay hold of him." And his hand, which he stretched out €against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself. The altar also was torn down, and the ashes poured out from the altar, €according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the €LORD. And the king said to the man of God, "Entreat now the favor of the LORD €your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me." And the €man of God entreated the LORD; and the king's hand was restored to him, €and became as it was before. And the king said to the man of God, "Come home with me, and refresh €yourself, and I will give you a reward." And the man of God said to the king, "If you give me half your house, I €will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in €this place; for so was it commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, `You shall €neither eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the way that you €came.'" So he went another way, and did not return by the way that he came to €Bethel. @Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel. And his sons came and told €him all that the man of God had done that day in Bethel; the words also €which he had spoken to the king, they told to their father. And their father said to them, "Which way did he go?" And his sons žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±±’ļ‚±Ėēó’؍˜Œ‚showed him the way which the man of God who came from Judah had gone. And he said to his sons, "Saddle the ass for me." So they saddled the €ass for him and he mounted it. And he went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak; €and he said to him, "Are you the man of God who came from Judah?" And €he said, "I am." Then he said to him, "Come home with me and eat bread." And he said, "I may not return with you, or go in with you; neither €will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place; for it was said to me by the word of the LORD, `You shall neither eat €bread nor drink water there, nor return by the way that you came.'" And he said to him, "I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke €to me by the word of the LORD, saying, `Bring him back with you into €your house that he may eat bread and drink water.'" But he lied to him. So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water. @And as they sat at the table, the word of the LORD came to the €prophet who had brought him back; and he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, "Thus says the €LORD, `Because you have disobeyed the word of the LORD, and have not €kept the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you, but have come back, and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place €of which he said to you, "Eat no bread, and drink no water"; your body €shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.'" And after he had eaten bread and drunk, he saddled the ass for the €prophet whom he had brought back. And as he went away a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his €body was thrown in the road, and the ass stood beside it; the lion also €stood beside the body. And behold, men passed by, and saw the body thrown in the road, and the €lion standing by the body. And they came and told it in the city where €the old prophet dwelt. @And when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard of €it, he said, "It is the man of God, who disobeyed the word of the LORD; €therefore the LORD has given him to the lion, which has torn him and €slain him, according to the word which the LORD spoke to him." And he said to his sons, "Saddle the ass for me." And they saddled it. And he went and found his body thrown in the road, and the ass and the €lion standing beside the body. The lion had not eaten the body or torn €the ass. And the prophet took up the body of the man of God and laid it upon the €ass, and brought it back to the city, to mourn and to bury him. And he laid the body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, €saying, "Alas, my brother!" And after he had buried him, he said to his sons, "When I die, bury me €in the grave in which the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his €bones. For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar €in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in €the cities of Sama'ria, shall surely come to pass." @After this thing Jerobo'am did not turn from his evil way, but made €priests for the high places again from among all the people; any who €would, he consecrated to be priests of the high places. And this thing became sin to the house of Jerobo'am, so as to cut it €off and to destroy it from the face of the earth.  @At that time Abi'jah the son of Jerobo'am fell sick. And Jerobo'am said to his wife, "Arise, and disguise yourself, that it €be not known that you are the wife of Jerobo'am, and go to Shiloh; €behold, Ahi'jah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be €king over this people. Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to €him; he will tell you what shall happen to the child." @Jerobo'am's wife did so; she arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to €the house of Ahi'jah. Now Ahi'jah could not see, for his eyes were dim €because of his age. And the LORD said to Ahi'jah, "Behold, the wife of Jerobo'am is coming €to inquire of you concerning her son; for he is sick. Thus and thus €shall you say to her." €@When she came, she pretended to be another woman. But when Ahi'jah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the €door, he said, "Come in, wife of Jerobo'am; why do you pretend to be €another? For I am charged with heavy tidings for you. Go, tell Jerobo'am, `Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: "Because I €exalted you from among the people, and made you leader over my people €Israel, and tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you; €and yet you have not been like my servant David, who kept my €commandments, and followed me with all his heart, doing only that which €was right in my eyes, but you have done evil above all that were before you and have gone and €made for yourself other gods, and molten images, provoking me to anger, €and have cast me behind your back; therefore behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jerobo'am, and €will cut off from Jerobo'am every male, both bond and free in Israel, €and will utterly consume the house of Jerobo'am, as a man burns up dung €until it is all gone. Any one belonging to Jerobo'am who dies in the city the dogs shall eat; €and any one who dies in the open country the birds of the air shall €eat; for the LORD has spoken it."' Arise therefore, go to your house. When your feet enter the city, the €child shall die. And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him; for he only of €Jerobo'am shall come to the grave, because in him there is found €something pleasing to the LORD, the God of Israel, in the house of €Jerobo'am. Moreover the LORD will raise up for himself a king over Israel, who €shall cut off the house of Jerobo'am today. And henceforth the LORD will smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and root €up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and €scatter them beyond the Euphra'tes, because they have made their €Ashe'rim, provoking the LORD to anger. And he will give Israel up because of the sins of Jerobo'am, which he €sinned and which he made Israel to sin." @Then Jerobo'am's wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah. And as €she came to the threshold of the house, the child died. And all Israel buried him and mourned for him, according to the word of €the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Ahi'jah the prophet. Now the rest of the acts of Jerobo'am, how he warred and how he €reigned, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the €Kings of Israel. And the time that Jerobo'am reigned was twenty-two years; and he slept €with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead. @Now Rehobo'am the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehobo'am was €forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen €years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the €tribes of Israel, to put his name there. His mother's name was Na'amah €the Ammonitess. And Judah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked €him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, more than all €that their fathers had done. For they also built for themselves high places, and pillars, and €Ashe'rim on every high hill and under every green tree; and there were also male cult prostitutes in the land. They did €according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD drove €out before the people of Israel. @In the fifth year of King Rehobo'am, Shishak king of Egypt came up €against Jerusalem; he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures €of the king's house; he took away everything. He also took away all the €shields of gold which Solomon had made; and King Rehobo'am made in their stead shields of bronze, and committed €them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of €the king's house. And as often as the king went into the house of the LORD, the guard €bore them and brought them back to the guardroom. @Now the rest of the acts of Rehobo'am, and all that he did, are they €not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there was war between Rehobo'am and Jerobo'am continually. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±±’ļ‚±Ėēó’؎˜ŸAnd Rehobo'am slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in €the city of David. His mother's name was Na'amah the Ammonitess. And €Abi'jam his son reigned in his stead.  @Now in the eighteenth year of King Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, €Abi'jam began to reign over Judah. He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Ma'acah €the daughter of Abish'alom. And he walked in all the sins which his father did before him; and his €heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as the heart of David €his father. Nevertheless for David's sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in €Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem; because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and did not €turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his €life, except in the matter of Uri'ah the Hittite. Now there was war between Rehobo'am and Jerobo'am all the days of his €life. The rest of the acts of Abi'jam, and all that he did, are they not €written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there €was war between Abi'jam and Jerobo'am. And Abi'jam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of €David. And Asa his son reigned in his stead. @In the twentieth year of Jerobo'am king of Israel Asa began to reign €over Judah, and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was €Ma'acah the daughter of Abish'alom. And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as David his father €had done. He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land, and removed all €the idols that his fathers had made. He also removed Ma'acah his mother from being queen mother because she €had an abominable image made for Ashe'rah; and Asa cut down her image €and burned it at the brook Kidron. But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa €was wholly true to the LORD all his days. And he brought into the house of the LORD the votive gifts of his €father and his own votive gifts, silver, and gold, and vessels. @And there was war between Asa and Ba'asha king of Israel all their €days. Ba'asha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he €might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the €treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's €house, and gave them into the hands of his servants; and King Asa sent €them to Ben-ha'dad the son of Tabrim'mon, the son of He'zi-on, king of €Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying, "Let there be a league between me and you, as between my father and €your father: behold, I am sending to you a present of silver and gold; €go, break your league with Ba'asha king of Israel, that he may withdraw €from me." And Ben-ha'dad hearkened to King Asa, and sent the commanders of his €armies against the cities of Israel, and conquered Ijon, Dan, €A'bel-beth-ma'acah, and all Chin'neroth, with all the land of Naph'tali. And when Ba'asha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and he dwelt €in Tirzah. Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah, none was exempt, and €they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which €Ba'asha had been building; and with them King Asa built Geba of €Benjamin and Mizpah. Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, and all that he €did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the Book of €the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But in his old age he was €diseased in his feet. And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the €city of David his father; and Jehosh'aphat his son reigned in his stead. @Nadab the son of Jerobo'am began to reign over Israel in the second €year of Asa king of Judah; and he reigned over Israel two years. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of €his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin. @Ba'asha the son of Ahi'jah, of the house of Is'sachar, conspired €against him; and Ba'asha struck him down at Gib'bethon, which belonged €to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to €Gib'bethon. So Ba'asha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah, and €reigned in his stead. And as soon as he was king, he killed all the house of Jerobo'am; he €left to the house of Jerobo'am not one that breathed, until he had €destroyed it, according to the word of the LORD which he spoke by his €servant Ahi'jah the Shi'lonite; it was for the sins of Jerobo'am which he sinned and which he made €Israel to sin, and because of the anger to which he provoked the LORD, €the God of Israel. @Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not €written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? And there was war between Asa and Ba'asha king of Israel all their days. @In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Ba'asha the son of Ahi'jah €began to reign over all Israel at Tirzah, and reigned twenty-four years. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of €Jerobo'am and in his sin which he made Israel to sin.  @And the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hana'ni against €Ba'asha, saying, "Since I exalted you out of the dust and made you leader over my people €Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jerobo'am, and have made my €people Israel to sin, provoking me to anger with their sins, behold, I will utterly sweep away Ba'asha and his house, and I will €make your house like the house of Jerobo'am the son of Nebat. Any one belonging to Ba'asha who dies in the city the dogs shall eat; €and any one of his who dies in the field the birds of the air shall €eat." @Now the rest of the acts of Ba'asha, and what he did, and his might, €are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of €Israel? And Ba'asha slept with his fathers, and was buried at Tirzah; and Elah €his son reigned in his stead. Moreover the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu the son of €Hana'ni against Ba'asha and his house, both because of all the evil €that he did in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger with the €work of his hands, in being like the house of Jerobo'am, and also €because he destroyed it. @In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of €Ba'asha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah, and reigned two years. But his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired €against him. When he was at Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house €of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah, Zimri came in and struck him down and killed him, in the twenty-seventh €year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead. @When he began to reign, as soon as he had seated himself on his €throne, he killed all the house of Ba'asha; he did not leave him a €single male of his kinsmen or his friends. Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Ba'asha, according to the word of €the LORD, which he spoke against Ba'asha by Jehu the prophet, for all the sins of Ba'asha and the sins of Elah his son which they €sinned, and which they made Israel to sin, provoking the LORD God of €Israel to anger with their idols. Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not €written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? @In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven €days in Tirzah. Now the troops were encamped against Gib'bethon, which €belonged to the Philistines, and the troops who were encamped heard it said, "Zimri has conspired, €and he has killed the king"; therefore all Israel made Omri, the €commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. So Omri went up from Gib'bethon, and all Israel with him, and they €besieged Tirzah. And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of €the king's house, and burned the king's house over him with fire, and €died, because of his sins which he committed, doing evil in the sight of the €LORD, walking in the way of Jerobo'am, and for his sin which he €committed, making Israel to sin. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±±’ļ‚±Ėēó’ؐ˜”Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and the conspiracy which he made, €are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of €Israel? @Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts; half of the €people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half €followed Omri. But the people who followed Omri overcame the people who followed Tibni €the son of Ginath; so Tibni died, and Omri became king. In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over €Israel, and reigned for twelve years; six years he reigned in Tirzah. He bought the hill of Sama'ria from Shemer for two talents of silver; €and he fortified the hill, and called the name of the city which he €built, Sama'ria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill. @Omri did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did more evil €than all who were before him. For he walked in all the way of Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, and in the €sins which he made Israel to sin, provoking the LORD, the God of €Israel, to anger by their idols. Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and the might that he €showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings €of Israel? And Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Sama'ria; and Ahab €his son reigned in his stead. @In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri €began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over €Israel in Sama'ria twenty-two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than €all that were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of €Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, he took for wife Jez'ebel the daughter of €Ethba'al king of the Sido'nians, and went and served Ba'al, and €worshiped him. He erected an altar for Ba'al in the house of Ba'al, which he built in €Sama'ria. And Ahab made an Ashe'rah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God €of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. In his days Hi'el of Bethel built Jericho; he laid its foundation at €the cost of Abi'ram his first-born, and set up its gates at the cost of €his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he €spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.  @Now Eli'jah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the €LORD the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be €neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." And the word of the LORD came to him, "Depart from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook €Cherith, that is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed €you there." So he went and did according to the word of the LORD; he went and dwelt €by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and €meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the €land. @Then the word of the LORD came to him, "Arise, go to Zar'ephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. €Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you." So he arose and went to Zar'ephath; and when he came to the gate of the €city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her €and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink." And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me €a morsel of bread in your hand." And she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a €handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a cruse; and now, I am €gathering a couple of sticks, that I may go in and prepare it for €myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." And Eli'jah said to her, "Fear not; go and do as you have said; but €first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward €make for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD the God of Israel, `The jar of meal shall not be €spent, and the cruse of oil shall not fail, until the day that the LORD €sends rain upon the earth.'" And she went and did as Eli'jah said; and she, and he, and her €household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not spent, neither did the cruse of oil fail, €according to the word of the LORD which he spoke by Eli'jah. @After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became €ill; and his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. And she said to Eli'jah, "What have you against me, O man of God? You €have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death €of my son!" And he said to her, "Give me your son." And he took him from her bosom, €and carried him up into the upper chamber, where he lodged, and laid €him upon his own bed. And he cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, hast thou brought calamity €even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?" Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried to the €LORD, "O LORD my God, let this child's soul come into him again." And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Eli'jah; and the soul of the €child came into him again, and he revived. And Eli'jah took the child, and brought him down from the upper chamber €into the house, and delivered him to his mother; and Eli'jah said, €"See, your son lives." And the woman said to Eli'jah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, €and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth."  @After many days the word of the LORD came to Eli'jah, in the third €year, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the €earth." So Eli'jah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in €Sama'ria. And Ahab called Obadi'ah, who was over the household. (Now Obadi'ah €revered the LORD greatly; and when Jez'ebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadi'ah took a €hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and fed them with €bread and water.) And Ahab said to Obadi'ah, "Go through the land to all the springs of €water and to all the valleys; perhaps we may find grass and save the €horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals." So they divided the land between them to pass through it; Ahab went in €one direction by himself, and Obadi'ah went in another direction by €himself. @And as Obadi'ah was on the way, behold, Eli'jah met him; and Obadi'ah €recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, "Is it you, my lord €Eli'jah?" And he answered him, "It is I. Go, tell your lord, `Behold, Eli'jah is €here.'" And he said, "Wherein have I sinned, that you would give your servant €into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom whither my €lord has not sent to seek you; and when they would say, `He is not €here,' he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had €not found you. And now you say, `Go, tell your lord, "Behold, Eli'jah is here."' And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry €you whither I know not; and so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot €find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have revered the €LORD from my youth. Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jez'ebel killed the €prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by €fifties in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? And now you say, `Go, tell your lord, "Behold, Eli'jah is here"'; and €he will kill me." And Eli'jah said, "As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I €will surely show myself to him today." So Obadi'ah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet €Eli'jah. @When Ahab saw Eli'jah, Ahab said to him, "Is it you, you troubler of €Israel?" And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel; but you have, and your €father's house, because you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD €and followed the Ba'als. Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the €four hundred and fifty prophets of Ba'al and the four hundred prophets €of Ashe'rah, who eat at Jez'ebel's table." @So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel, and gathered the prophets žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±±’ļ‚±Ėēó’ؒ˜”‚together at Mount Carmel. And Eli'jah came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you €go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; €but if Ba'al, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a €word. Then Eli'jah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of €the LORD; but Ba'al's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let two bulls be given to us; and let them choose one bull for €themselves, and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no €fire to it; and I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, €and put no fire to it. And you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the €LORD; and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people €answered, "It is well spoken." Then Eli'jah said to the prophets of Ba'al, "Choose for yourselves one €bull and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of €your god, but put no fire to it." And they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and €called on the name of Ba'al from morning until noon, saying, "O Ba'al, €answer us!" But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they €limped about the altar which they had made. And at noon Eli'jah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; €either he is musing, or he has gone aside, or he is on a journey, or €perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their custom with swords €and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of €the oblation, but there was no voice; no one answered, no one heeded. @Then Eli'jah said to all the people, "Come near to me"; and all the €people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had €been thrown down; Eli'jah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of €the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, "Israel €shall be your name"; and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he €made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures €of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on €the wood. And he said, "Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the €burnt offering, and on the wood." And he said, "Do it a second time"; and they did it a second time. And €he said, "Do it a third time"; and they did it a third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and filled the trench also €with water. @And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Eli'jah the prophet €came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it €be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy €servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that thou, O €LORD, art God, and that thou hast turned their hearts back." Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and €the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that €was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they €said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God." And Eli'jah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Ba'al; let not one of €them escape." And they seized them; and Eli'jah brought them down to €the brook Kishon, and killed them there. @And Eli'jah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is a sound €of the rushing of rain." So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Eli'jah went up to the top of €Carmel; and he bowed himself down upon the earth, and put his face €between his knees. And he said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." And he €went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And he said, "Go €again seven times." And at the seventh time he said, "Behold, a little cloud like a man's €hand is rising out of the sea." And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, €`Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.'" And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and €there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Eli'jah; and he girded up his loins and €ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.  @Ahab told Jez'ebel all that Eli'jah had done, and how he had slain €all the prophets with the sword. Then Jez'ebel sent a messenger to Eli'jah, saying, "So may the gods do €to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of €them by this time tomorrow." Then he was afraid, and he arose and went for his life, and came to €Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. @But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and €sat down under a broom tree; and he asked that he might die, saying, €"It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am no better than €my fathers." And he lay down and slept under a broom tree; and behold, an angel €touched him, and said to him, "Arise and eat." And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot €stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the LORD came again a second time, and touched him, €and said, "Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you." And he arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food €forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. @And there he came to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word €of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, €Eli'jah?" He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for €the people of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thy €altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am €left; and they seek my life, to take it away." And he said, "Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD." And €behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the €mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD €was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was €not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and €after the fire a still small voice. And when Eli'jah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went €out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a €voice to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Eli'jah?" He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for €the people of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thy €altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am €left; and they seek my life, to take it away." And the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of €Damascus; and when you arrive, you shall anoint Haz'ael to be king over €Syria; and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel; and €Eli'sha the son of Shaphat of A'bel-meho'lah you shall anoint to be €prophet in your place. And him who escapes from the sword of Haz'ael shall Jehu slay; and him €who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Eli'sha slay. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not €bowed to Ba'al, and every mouth that has not kissed him." @So he departed from there, and found Eli'sha the son of Shaphat, who €was plowing, with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the €twelfth. Eli'jah passed by him and cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen, and ran after Eli'jah, and said, "Let me kiss my €father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him, €"Go back again; for what have I done to you?" And he returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and slew €them, and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen, and gave it to €the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Eli'jah, and €ministered to him.  @Ben-ha'dad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; €thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots; and he went up €and besieged Sama'ria, and fought against it. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±±’ļ‚±Ėēó’ؔ’And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said €to him, "Thus says Ben-ha'dad: `Your silver and your gold are mine; your fairest wives and children €also are mine.'" And the king of Israel answered, "As you say, my lord, O king, I am €yours, and all that I have." The messengers came again, and said, "Thus says Ben-ha'dad: `I sent to €you, saying, "Deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and €your children"; nevertheless I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, €and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants, and €lay hands on whatever pleases them, and take it away.'" @Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, €"Mark, now, and see how this man is seeking trouble; for he sent to me €for my wives and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did €not refuse him." And all the elders and all the people said to him, "Do not heed or €consent." So he said to the messengers of Ben-ha'dad, "Tell my lord the king, €`All that you first demanded of your servant I will do; but this thing €I cannot do.'" And the messengers departed and brought him word again. Ben-ha'dad sent to him and said, "The gods do so to me, and more also, €if the dust of Sama'ria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people €who follow me." And the king of Israel answered, "Tell him, `Let not him that girds on €his armor boast himself as he that puts it off.'" When Ben-ha'dad heard this message as he was drinking with the kings in €the booths, he said to his men, "Take your positions." And they took €their positions against the city. @And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, €"Thus says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I €will give it into your hand this day; and you shall know that I am the €LORD." And Ahab said, "By whom?" He said, "Thus says the LORD, By the servants €of the governors of the districts." Then he said, "Who shall begin the €battle?" He answered, "You." Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and €they were two hundred and thirty-two; and after them he mustered all €the people of Israel, seven thousand. @And they went out at noon, while Ben-ha'dad was drinking himself €drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him. The servants of the governors of the districts went out first. And €Ben-ha'dad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, "Men are coming €out from Sama'ria." He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they €have come out for war, take them alive." @So these went out of the city, the servants of the governors of the €districts, and the army which followed them. And each killed his man; the Syrians fled and Israel pursued them, but €Ben-ha'dad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. And the king of Israel went out, and captured the horses and chariots, €and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter. @Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel, and said to him, €"Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do; for €in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you." @And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, "Their gods are €gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we; but let us fight €against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And do this: remove the kings, each from his post, and put commanders €in their places; and muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, €and chariot for chariot; then we will fight against them in the plain, €and surely we shall be stronger than they." And he hearkened to their €voice, and did so. @In the spring Ben-ha'dad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, €to fight against Israel. And the people of Israel were mustered, and were provisioned, and went €against them; the people of Israel encamped before them like two little €flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the country. And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, "Thus says €the LORD, `Because the Syrians have said, "The LORD is a god of the €hills but he is not a god of the valleys," therefore I will give all €this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the €LORD.'" And they encamped opposite one another seven days. Then on the seventh €day the battle was joined; and the people of Israel smote of the €Syrians a hundred thousand foot soldiers in one day. And the rest fled into the city of Aphek; and the wall fell upon €twenty-seven thousand men that were left. €@Ben-ha'dad also fled, and entered an inner chamber in the city. And his servants said to him, "Behold now, we have heard that the kings €of the house of Israel are merciful kings; let us put sackcloth on our €loins and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; €perhaps he will spare your life." So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, €and went to the king of Israel and said, "Your servant Ben-ha'dad says, €`Pray, let me live.'" And he said, "Does he still live? He is my €brother." Now the men were watching for an omen, and they quickly took it up from €him and said, "Yes, your brother Ben-ha'dad." Then he said, "Go and €bring him." Then Ben-ha'dad came forth to him; and he caused him to €come up into the chariot. And Ben-ha'dad said to him, "The cities which my father took from your €father I will restore; and you may establish bazaars for yourself in €Damascus, as my father did in Sama'ria." And Ahab said, "I will let you €go on these terms." So he made a covenant with him and let him go. @And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at €the command of the LORD, "Strike me, I pray." But the man refused to €strike him. Then he said to him, "Because you have not obeyed the voice of the €LORD, behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall kill you." €And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion met him and killed him. Then he found another man, and said, "Strike me, I pray." And the man €struck him, smiting and wounding him. So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, disguising €himself with a bandage over his eyes. And as the king passed, he cried to the king and said, "Your servant €went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a soldier turned and €brought a man to me, and said, `Keep this man; if by any means he be €missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a €talent of silver.' And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone." The king of €Israel said to him, "So shall your judgment be; you yourself have €decided it." Then he made haste to take the bandage away from his eyes; and the king €of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. And he said to him, "Thus says the LORD, `Because you have let go out €of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your €life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.'" And the king of Israel went to his house resentful and sullen, and came €to Sama'ria.  @Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the €palace of Ahab king of Sama'ria. And after this Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard, that I may €have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; and I will €give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will €give you its value in money." But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that I should give you the €inheritance of my fathers." And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth €the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, "I will not give you €the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed, and turned €away his face, and would eat no food. @But Jez'ebel his wife came to him, and said to him, "Why is your €spirit so vexed that you eat no food?" And he said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said €to him, `Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it please you, I €will give you another vineyard for it'; and he answered, `I will not €give you my vineyard.'" žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±±’ļ‚±Ėēó’ؕ—And Jez'ebel his wife said to him, "Do you now govern Israel? Arise, €and eat bread, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the €vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." @So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal, €and she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who dwelt with €Naboth in his city. And she wrote in the letters, "Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high €among the people; and set two base fellows opposite him, and let them bring a charge €against him, saying, `You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him €out, and stone him to death." And the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who dwelt in his €city, did as Jez'ebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the €letters which she had sent to them, they proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. And the two base fellows came in and sat opposite him; and the base €fellows brought a charge against Naboth, in the presence of the people, €saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king." So they took him outside the €city, and stoned him to death with stones. Then they sent to Jez'ebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned; he is €dead." @As soon as Jez'ebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, €Jez'ebel said to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of €Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for €Naboth is not alive, but dead." And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down €to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. @Then the word of the LORD came to Eli'jah the Tishbite, saying, "Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Sama'ria; €behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take €possession. And you shall say to him, `Thus says the LORD, "Have you killed, and €also taken possession?"' And you shall say to him, `Thus says the LORD: €"In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick €your own blood."'" @Ahab said to Eli'jah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" He answered, €"I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in €the sight of the LORD. Behold, I will bring evil upon you; I will utterly sweep you away, and €will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel; and I will make your house like the house of Jerobo'am the son of €Nebat, and like the house of Ba'asha the son of Ahi'jah, for the anger €to which you have provoked me, and because you have made Israel to sin. And of Jez'ebel the LORD also said, `The dogs shall eat Jez'ebel within €the bounds of Jezreel.' Any one belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat; and €any one of his who dies in the open country the birds of the air shall €eat." @(There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of €the LORD like Ahab, whom Jez'ebel his wife incited. He did very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, €whom the LORD cast out before the people of Israel.) @And when Ahab heard those words, he rent his clothes, and put €sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went €about dejectedly. And the word of the LORD came to Eli'jah the Tishbite, saying, "Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has €humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but €in his son's days I will bring the evil upon his house."  @For three years Syria and Israel continued without war. But in the third year Jehosh'aphat the king of Judah came down to the €king of Israel. And the king of Israel said to his servants, "Do you know that €Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out €of the hand of the king of Syria?" And he said to Jehosh'aphat, "Will you go with me to battle at €Ramoth-gilead?" And Jehosh'aphat said to the king of Israel, "I am as €you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses." @And Jehosh'aphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first for the €word of the LORD." Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four €hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go to battle against €Ramoth-gilead, or shall I forbear?" And they said, "Go up; for the Lord €will give it into the hand of the king." But Jehosh'aphat said, "Is there not here another prophet of the LORD €of whom we may inquire?" And the king of Israel said to Jehosh'aphat, "There is yet one man by €whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micai'ah the son of Imlah; but I hate €him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil." And €Jehosh'aphat said, "Let not the king say so." Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, "Bring quickly €Micai'ah the son of Imlah." Now the king of Israel and Jehosh'aphat the king of Judah were sitting €on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the €entrance of the gate of Sama'ria; and all the prophets were prophesying €before them. And Zedeki'ah the son of Chena'anah made for himself horns of iron, and €said, "Thus says the LORD, `With these you shall push the Syrians until €they are destroyed.'" And all the prophets prophesied so, and said, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead €and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king." @And the messenger who went to summon Micai'ah said to him, "Behold, €the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king; €let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably." But Micai'ah said, "As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I €will speak." And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micai'ah, €shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear?" And he €answered him, "Go up and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand €of the king." But the king said to him, "How many times shall I adjure you that you €speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?" And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep €that have no shepherd; and the LORD said, `These have no master; let €each return to his home in peace.'" And the king of Israel said to Jehosh'aphat, "Did I not tell you that €he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?" And Micai'ah said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD €sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him €on his right hand and on his left; and the LORD said, `Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at €Ramoth-gilead?' And one said one thing, and another said another. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, `I will €entice him.' And the LORD said to him, `By what means?' And he said, `I will go €forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' €And he said, `You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go forth €and do so.' Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of €all these your prophets; the LORD has spoken evil concerning you." @Then Zedeki'ah the son of Chena'anah came near and struck Micai'ah on €the cheek, and said, "How did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to €speak to you?" And Micai'ah said, "Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into €an inner chamber to hide yourself." And the king of Israel said, "Seize Micai'ah, and take him back to Amon €the governor of the city and to Jo'ash the king's son; and say, `Thus says the king, "Put this fellow in prison, and feed him €with scant fare of bread and water, until I come in peace."'" And Micai'ah said, "If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by €me." And he said, "Hear, all you peoples!" @So the king of Israel and Jehosh'aphat the king of Judah went up to €Ramoth-gilead. And the king of Israel said to Jehosh'aphat, "I will disguise myself €and go into battle, but you wear your robes." And the king of Israel €disguised himself and went into battle. Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his €chariots, "Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king €of Israel." And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehosh'aphat, they said, "It žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±±’ļ‚±Ėēó’ؖ˜ ‚is surely the king of Israel." So they turned to fight against him; and €Jehosh'aphat cried out. And when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of €Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. But a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of €Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate; therefore he said €to the driver of his chariot, "Turn about, and carry me out of the €battle, for I am wounded." And the battle grew hot that day, and the king was propped up in his €chariot facing the Syrians, until at evening he died; and the blood of €the wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot. And about sunset a cry went through the army, "Every man to his city, €and every man to his country!" @So the king died, and was brought to Sama'ria; and they buried the €king in Sama'ria. And they washed the chariot by the pool of Sama'ria, and the dogs €licked up his blood, and the harlots washed themselves in it, according €to the word of the LORD which he had spoken. Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory €house which he built, and all the cities that he built, are they not €written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahazi'ah his son reigned in his €stead. @Jehosh'aphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth €year of Ahab king of Israel. Jehosh'aphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he €reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azu'bah €the daughter of Shilhi. He walked in all the way of Asa his father; he did not turn aside from €it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD; yet the high places €were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and burned incense €on the high places. Jehosh'aphat also made peace with the king of Israel. @Now the rest of the acts of Jehosh'aphat, and his might that he €showed, and how he warred, are they not written in the Book of the €Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And the remnant of the male cult prostitutes who remained in the days €of his father Asa, he exterminated from the land. @There was no king in Edom; a deputy was king. Jehosh'aphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold; but they €did not go, for the ships were wrecked at E'zion-ge'ber. Then Ahazi'ah the son of Ahab said to Jehosh'aphat, "Let my servants go €with your servants in the ships," but Jehosh'aphat was not willing. And Jehosh'aphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his €fathers in the city of David his father; and Jeho'ram his son reigned €in his stead. @Ahazi'ah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Sama'ria in €the seventeenth year of Jehosh'aphat king of Judah, and he reigned two €years over Israel. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of €his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jerobo'am €the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. He served Ba'al and worshiped him, and provoked the LORD, the God of €Israel, to anger in every way that his father had done. ąļ‚²Ėēó’”After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel. @Now Ahazi'ah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in €Sama'ria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, "Go, €inquire of Ba'al-ze'bub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from €this sickness." But the angel of the LORD said to Eli'jah the Tishbite, "Arise, go up €to meet the messengers of the king of Sama'ria, and say to them, `Is it €because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of €Ba'al-ze'bub, the god of Ekron?' Now therefore thus says the LORD, `You shall not come down from the bed €to which you have gone, but you shall surely die.'" So Eli'jah went. @The messengers returned to the king, and he said to them, "Why have €you returned?" And they said to him, "There came a man to meet us, and said to us, `Go €back to the king who sent you, and say to him, Thus says the LORD, Is €it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of €Ba'al-ze'bub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from €the bed to which you have gone, but shall surely die.'" He said to them, "What kind of man was he who came to meet you and told €you these things?" They answered him, "He wore a garment of haircloth, with a girdle of €leather about his loins." And he said, "It is Eli'jah the Tishbite." @Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty men with his fifty. He €went up to Eli'jah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to €him, "O man of God, the king says, `Come down.'" But Eli'jah answered the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, let €fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then fire €came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. @Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his €fifty. And he went up and said to him, "O man of God, this is the €king's order, `Come down quickly!'" But Eli'jah answered them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down €from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then the fire of God came €down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. @Again the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And €the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees €before Eli'jah, and entreated him, "O man of God, I pray you, let my €life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in €your sight. Lo, fire came down from heaven, and consumed the two former captains of €fifty men with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your €sight." Then the angel of the LORD said to Eli'jah, "Go down with him; do not €be afraid of him." So he arose and went down with him to the king, and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, `Because you have sent messengers €to inquire of Ba'al-ze'bub, the god of Ekron, -- is it because there is €no God in Israel to inquire of his word? -- therefore you shall not come €down from the bed to which you have gone, but you shall surely die.'" @So he died according to the word of the LORD which Eli'jah had €spoken. Jeho'ram, his brother, became king in his stead in the second €year of Jeho'ram the son of Jehosh'aphat, king of Judah, because €Ahazi'ah had no son. Now the rest of the acts of Ahazi'ah which he did, are they not written €in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  @Now when the LORD was about to take Eli'jah up to heaven by a €whirlwind, Eli'jah and Eli'sha were on their way from Gilgal. And Eli'jah said to Eli'sha, "Tarry here, I pray you; for the LORD has €sent me as far as Bethel." But Eli'sha said, "As the LORD lives, and as €you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Eli'sha, €and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take away your €master from over you?" And he said, "Yes, I know it; hold your peace." @Eli'jah said to him, "Eli'sha, tarry here, I pray you; for the LORD €has sent me to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you €yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Eli'sha, and €said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take away your €master from over you?" And he answered, "Yes, I know it; hold your €peace." @Then Eli'jah said to him, "Tarry here, I pray you; for the LORD has €sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you €yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went, and stood at some €distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Eli'jah took his mantle, and rolled it up, and struck the water, €and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two €of them could go over on dry ground. @When they had crossed, Eli'jah said to Eli'sha, "Ask what I shall do €for you, before I am taken from you." And Eli'sha said, "I pray you, €let me inherit a double share of your spirit." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±²’ļ‚²Ėē󒢘ŠAnd he said, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am €being taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if you do not see me, €it shall not be so." And as they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and €horses of fire separated the two of them. And Eli'jah went up by a €whirlwind into heaven. And Eli'sha saw it and he cried, "My father, my father! the chariots of €Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more. €@Then he took hold of his own clothes and rent them in two pieces. And he took up the mantle of Eli'jah that had fallen from him, and went €back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Eli'jah that had fallen from him, and struck €the water, saying, "Where is the LORD, the God of Eli'jah?" And when he €had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the €other; and Eli'sha went over. @Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him over €against them, they said, "The spirit of Eli'jah rests on Eli'sha." And €they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him. And they said to him, "Behold now, there are with your servants fifty €strong men; pray, let them go, and seek your master; it may be that the €Spirit of the LORD has caught him up and cast him upon some mountain or €into some valley." And he said, "You shall not send." But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, "Send." They sent €therefore fifty men; and for three days they sought him but did not €find him. And they came back to him, while he tarried at Jericho, and he said to €them, "Did I not say to you, Do not go?" @Now the men of the city said to Eli'sha, "Behold, the situation of €this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the €land is unfruitful." He said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it €to him. Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it, and said, €"Thus says the LORD, I have made this water wholesome; henceforth €neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it." So the water has been wholesome to this day, according to the word €which Eli'sha spoke. @He went up from there to Bethel; and while he was going up on the €way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, €"Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!" And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name €of the LORD. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two €of the boys. From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and thence he returned to €Sama'ria.  @In the eighteenth year of Jehosh'aphat king of Judah, Jeho'ram the €son of Ahab became king over Israel in Sama'ria, and he reigned twelve €years. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, though not like his €father and mother, for he put away the pillar of Ba'al which his father €had made. Nevertheless he clung to the sin of Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, which €he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from it. @Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder; and he had to deliver €annually to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs, and the wool €of a hundred thousand rams. But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of €Israel. So King Jeho'ram marched out of Sama'ria at that time and mustered all €Israel. And he went and sent word to Jehosh'aphat king of Judah, "The king of €Moab has rebelled against me; will you go with me to battle against €Moab?" And he said, "I will go; I am as you are, my people as your €people, my horses as your horses." Then he said, "By which way shall we march?" Jeho'ram answered, "By the €way of the wilderness of Edom." @So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of €Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there €was no water for the army or for the beasts which followed them. Then the king of Israel said, "Alas! The LORD has called these three €kings to give them into the hand of Moab." And Jehosh'aphat said, "Is there no prophet of the LORD here, through €whom we may inquire of the LORD?" Then one of the king of Israel's €servants answered, "Eli'sha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured €water on the hands of Eli'jah." And Jehosh'aphat said, "The word of the LORD is with him." So the king €of Israel and Jehosh'aphat and the king of Edom went down to him. @And Eli'sha said to the king of Israel, "What have I to do with you? €Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother." But €the king of Israel said to him, "No; it is the LORD who has called €these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab." And Eli'sha said, "As the LORD of hosts lives, whom I serve, were it €not that I have regard for Jehosh'aphat the king of Judah, I would €neither look at you, nor see you. But now bring me a minstrel." And when the minstrel played, the power €of the LORD came upon him. And he said, "Thus says the LORD, `I will make this dry stream-bed full €of pools.' For thus says the LORD, `You shall not see wind or rain, but that €stream-bed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, €your cattle, and your beasts.' This is a light thing in the sight of the LORD; he will also give the €Moabites into your hand, and you shall conquer every fortified city, and every choice city, and €shall fell every good tree, and stop up all springs of water, and ruin €every good piece of land with stones." The next morning, about the time of offering the sacrifice, behold, €water came from the direction of Edom, till the country was filled with €water. @When all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight €against them, all who were able to put on armor, from the youngest to €the oldest, were called out, and were drawn up at the frontier. And when they rose early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the €water, the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood. And they said, "This is blood; the kings have surely fought together, €and slain one another. Now then, Moab, to the spoil!" But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose and €attacked the Moabites, till they fled before them; and they went €forward, slaughtering the Moabites as they went. And they overthrew the cities, and on every good piece of land every €man threw a stone, until it was covered; they stopped every spring of €water, and felled all the good trees; till only its stones were left in €Kir-har'eseth, and the slingers surrounded and conquered it. When the king of Moab saw that the battle was going against him, he €took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through, opposite the €king of Edom; but they could not. Then he took his eldest son who was to reign in his stead, and offered €him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there came great wrath upon €Israel; and they withdrew from him and returned to their own land.  @Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Eli'sha, €"Your servant my husband is dead; and you know that your servant feared €the LORD, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his €slaves." And Eli'sha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have €you in the house?" And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the €house, except a jar of oil." Then he said, "Go outside, borrow vessels of all your neighbors, empty €vessels and not too few. Then go in, and shut the door upon yourself and your sons, and pour €into all these vessels; and when one is full, set it aside." So she went from him and shut the door upon herself and her sons; and €as she poured they brought the vessels to her. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another €vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another." Then the oil €stopped flowing. She came and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and €pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest." @One day Eli'sha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who €urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would €turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, "Behold now, I perceive that this is a žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±²’ļ‚²Ėē󒤘‰‚holy man of God, who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small roof chamber with walls, and put there for him a €bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he €can go in there." @One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested €there. And he said to Geha'zi his servant, "Call this Shu'nammite." When he €had called her, she stood before him. And he said to him, "Say now to her, See, you have taken all this €trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word €spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?" She €answered, "I dwell among my own people." And he said, "What then is to be done for her?" Geha'zi answered, €"Well, she has no son, and her husband is old." He said, "Call her." And when he had called her, she stood in the €doorway. And he said, "At this season, when the time comes round, you shall €embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to €your maidservant." But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the €following spring, as Eli'sha had said to her. @When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the €reapers. And he said to his father, "Oh, my head, my head!" The father said to €his servant, "Carry him to his mother." And when he had lifted him, and brought him to his mother, the child €sat on her lap till noon, and then he died. And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the €door upon him, and went out. Then she called to her husband, and said, "Send me one of the servants €and one of the asses, that I may quickly go to the man of God, and come €back again." And he said, "Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor €sabbath." She said, "It will be well." Then she saddled the ass, and she said to her servant, "Urge the beast €on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you." So she set out, and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. €@When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Geha'zi his servant, €"Look, yonder is the Shu'nammite; run at once to meet her, and say to her, Is it well with you? Is it €well with your husband? Is it well with the child?" And she answered, €"It is well." And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of €his feet. And Geha'zi came to thrust her away. But the man of God said, €"Let her alone, for she is in bitter distress; and the LORD has hidden €it from me, and has not told me." Then she said, "Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, Do not €deceive me?" He said to Geha'zi, "Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your €hand, and go. If you meet any one, do not salute him; and if any one €salutes you, do not reply; and lay my staff upon the face of the child." Then the mother of the child said, "As the LORD lives, and as you €yourself live, I will not leave you." So he arose and followed her. Geha'zi went on ahead and laid the staff upon the face of the child, €but there was no sound or sign of life. Therefore he returned to meet €him, and told him, "The child has not awaked." @When Eli'sha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his €bed. So he went in and shut the door upon the two of them, and prayed to the €LORD. Then he went up and lay upon the child, putting his mouth upon his €mouth, his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands; and as he €stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. Then he got up again, and walked once to and fro in the house, and went €up, and stretched himself upon him; the child sneezed seven times, and €the child opened his eyes. Then he summoned Geha'zi and said, "Call this Shu'nammite." So he €called her. And when she came to him, he said, "Take up your son." She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground; then she took up €her son and went out. @And Eli'sha came again to Gilgal when there was a famine in the land. €And as the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his €servant, "Set on the great pot, and boil pottage for the sons of the €prophets." One of them went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild €vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and cut €them up into the pot of pottage, not knowing what they were. And they poured out for the men to eat. But while they were eating of €the pottage, they cried out, "O man of God, there is death in the pot!" €And they could not eat it. He said, "Then bring meal." And he threw it into the pot, and said, €"Pour out for the men, that they may eat." And there was no harm in the €pot. @A man came from Ba'al-shal'ishah, bringing the man of God bread of €the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in €his sack. And Eli'sha said, "Give to the men, that they may eat." But his servant said, "How am I to set this before a hundred men?" So €he repeated, "Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says €the LORD, `They shall eat and have some left.'" So he set it before them. And they ate, and had some left, according to €the word of the LORD.  @Na'aman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man €with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given €victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little maid €from the land of Israel, and she waited on Na'aman's wife. She said to her mistress, "Would that my lord were with the prophet who €is in Sama'ria! He would cure him of his leprosy." So Na'aman went in and told his lord, "Thus and so spoke the maiden €from the land of Israel." And the king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the €king of Israel." €@So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand €shekels of gold, and ten festal garments. And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, "When this €letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Na'aman my servant, €that you may cure him of his leprosy." And when the king of Israel read the letter, he rent his clothes and €said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to €me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is €seeking a quarrel with me." @But when Eli'sha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had €rent his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you rent your €clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a €prophet in Israel." So Na'aman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the door of €Eli'sha's house. And Eli'sha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan €seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean." But Na'aman was angry, and went away, saying, "Behold, I thought that €he would surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the €LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and cure the leper. Are not Aba'na and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the €waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?" So he turned €and went away in a rage. But his servants came near and said to him, "My father, if the prophet €had commanded you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? €How much rather, then, when he says to you, `Wash, and be clean'?" So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according €to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the €flesh of a little child, and he was clean. @Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he €came and stood before him; and he said, "Behold, I know that there is €no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from €your servant." But he said, "As the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will receive none." €And he urged him to take it, but he refused. Then Na'aman said, "If not, I pray you, let there be given to your €servant two mules' burden of earth; for henceforth your servant will €not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD. In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±²’ļ‚²Ėē󒄘’‚into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow €myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of €Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter." He said to him, "Go in peace." €@But when Na'aman had gone from him a short distance, Geha'zi, the servant of Eli'sha the man of God, said, "See, my master €has spared this Na'aman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what €he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him, and get something €from him." So Geha'zi followed Na'aman. And when Na'aman saw some one running €after him, he alighted from the chariot to meet him, and said, "Is all €well?" And he said, "All is well. My master has sent me to say, `There have €just now come to me from the hill country of E'phraim two young men of €the sons of the prophets; pray, give them a talent of silver and two €festal garments.'" And Na'aman said, "Be pleased to accept two talents." And he urged him, €and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two festal €garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they carried them €before Geha'zi. And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand, and put €them in the house; and he sent the men away, and they departed. He went in, and stood before his master, and Eli'sha said to him, €"Where have you been, Geha'zi?" And he said, "Your servant went €nowhere." But he said to him, "Did I not go with you in spirit when the man €turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and €garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and €maidservants? Therefore the leprosy of Na'aman shall cleave to you, and to your €descendants for ever." So he went out from his presence a leper, as €white as snow.  @Now the sons of the prophets said to Eli'sha, "See, the place where €we dwell under your charge is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make €a place for us to dwell there." And he answered, "Go." Then one of them said, "Be pleased to go with your servants." And he €answered, "I will go." So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down €trees. But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water; and he €cried out, "Alas, my master! It was borrowed." Then the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the €place, he cut off a stick, and threw it in there, and made the iron €float. And he said, "Take it up." So he reached out his hand and took it. @Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took €counsel with his servants, saying, "At such and such a place shall be €my camp." But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, "Beware that you do €not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there." And the king of Israel sent to the place of which the man of God told €him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than €once or twice. @And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of €this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not €show me who of us is for the king of Israel?" And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Eli'sha, the €prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you €speak in your bedchamber." And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him." €It was told him, "Behold, he is in Dothan." So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army; and they came by €night, and surrounded the city. @When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went €out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was round about the city. €And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" He said, "Fear not, for those who are with us are more than those who €are with them." Then Eli'sha prayed, and said, "O LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes that €he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw; €and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round €about Eli'sha. And when the Syrians came down against him, Eli'sha prayed to the LORD, €and said, "Strike this people, I pray thee, with blindness." So he €struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Eli'sha. And Eli'sha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the €city; follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he €led them to Sama'ria. As soon as they entered Sama'ria, Eli'sha said, "O LORD, open the eyes €of these men, that they may see." So the LORD opened their eyes, and €they saw; and lo, they were in the midst of Sama'ria. When the king of Israel saw them he said to Eli'sha, "My father, shall €I slay them? Shall I slay them?" He answered, "You shall not slay them. Would you slay those whom you €have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and €water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master." So he prepared for them a great feast; and when they had eaten and €drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the €Syrians came no more on raids into the land of Israel. @Afterward Ben-ha'dad king of Syria mustered his entire army, and went €up, and besieged Sama'ria. And there was a great famine in Sama'ria, as they besieged it, until an €ass's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and the fourth part €of a kab of dove's dung for five shekels of silver. Now as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, a woman cried €out to him, saying, "Help, my lord, O king!" And he said, "If the LORD will not help you, whence shall I help you? €From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?" And the king asked her, "What is your trouble?" She answered, "This €woman said to me, `Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we €will eat my son tomorrow.' So we boiled my son, and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, €`Give your son, that we may eat him'; but she has hidden her son." When the king heard the words of the woman he rent his clothes -- now he €was passing by upon the wall -- and the people looked, and behold, he had €sackcloth beneath upon his body --and he said, "May God do so to me, and more also, if the head of €Eli'sha the son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today." @Eli'sha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with €him. Now the king had dispatched a man from his presence; but before €the messenger arrived Eli'sha said to the elders, "Do you see how this €murderer has sent to take off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, €shut the door, and hold the door fast against him. Is not the sound of €his master's feet behind him?" And while he was still speaking with them, the king came down to him €and said, "This trouble is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the €LORD any longer?"  @But Eli'sha said, "Hear the word of the LORD: thus says the LORD, €Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine meal shall be sold for a €shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, at the gate of €Sama'ria." Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, €"If the LORD himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing €be?" But he said, "You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall €not eat of it." @Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate; €and they said to one another, "Why do we sit here till we die? If we say, `Let us enter the city,' the famine is in the city, and we €shall die there; and if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us €go over to the camp of the Syrians; if they spare our lives we shall €live, and if they kill us we shall but die." So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; but when €they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no €one there. For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of €chariots, and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said €to one another, "Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the €kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come upon us." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±²’ļ‚²Ėēó’§—So they fled away in the twilight and forsook their tents, their €horses, and their asses, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for their €lives. And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a €tent, and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and €clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back, and entered €another tent, and carried off things from it, and went and hid them. @Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a €day of good news; if we are silent and wait until the morning light, €punishment will overtake us; now therefore come, let us go and tell the €king's household." So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, €"We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no one to be €seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied, and the asses tied, €and the tents as they were." Then the gatekeepers called out, and it was told within the king's €household. And the king rose in the night, and said to his servants, "I will tell €you what the Syrians have prepared against us. They know that we are €hungry; therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in €the open country, thinking, `When they come out of the city, we shall €take them alive and get into the city.'" And one of his servants said, "Let some men take five of the remaining €horses, seeing that those who are left here will fare like the whole €multitude of Israel that have already perished; let us send and see." So they took two mounted men, and the king sent them after the army of €the Syrians, saying, "Go and see." So they went after them as far as the Jordan; and, lo, all the way was €littered with garments and equipment which the Syrians had thrown away €in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king. @Then the people went out, and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a €measure of fine meal was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley €for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. Now the king had appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to have €charge of the gate; and the people trod upon him in the gate, so that €he died, as the man of God had said when the king came down to him. For when the man of God had said to the king, "Two measures of barley €shall be sold for a shekel, and a measure of fine meal for a shekel, €about this time tomorrow in the gate of Sama'ria," the captain had answered the man of God, "If the LORD himself should €make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?" And he had said, "You €shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it." And so it happened to him, for the people trod upon him in the gate and €he died.  @Now Eli'sha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, €"Arise, and depart with your household, and sojourn wherever you can; €for the LORD has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land €for seven years." So the woman arose, and did according to the word of the man of God; €she went with her household and sojourned in the land of the €Philistines seven years. And at the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the €land of the Philistines, she went forth to appeal to the king for her €house and her land. Now the king was talking with Geha'zi the servant of the man of God, €saying, "Tell me all the great things that Eli'sha has done." And while he was telling the king how Eli'sha had restored the dead to €life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to €the king for her house and her land. And Geha'zi said, "My lord, O €king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Eli'sha restored to €life." And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed €an official for her, saying, "Restore all that was hers, together with €all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until €now." @Now Eli'sha came to Damascus. Ben-ha'dad the king of Syria was sick; €and when it was told him, "The man of God has come here," the king said to Haz'ael, "Take a present with you and go to meet the €man of God, and inquire of the LORD through him, saying, `Shall I €recover from this sickness?'" So Haz'ael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of €goods of Damascus, forty camel loads. When he came and stood before €him, he said, "Your son Ben-ha'dad king of Syria has sent me to you, €saying, `Shall I recover from this sickness?'" And Eli'sha said to him, "Go, say to him, `You shall certainly €recover'; but the LORD has shown me that he shall certainly die." And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was ashamed. And the €man of God wept. And Haz'ael said, "Why does my lord weep?" He answered, "Because I know €the evil that you will do to the people of Israel; you will set on fire €their fortresses, and you will slay their young men with the sword, and €dash in pieces their little ones, and rip up their women with child." And Haz'ael said, "What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he €should do this great thing?" Eli'sha answered, "The LORD has shown me €that you are to be king over Syria." Then he departed from Eli'sha, and came to his master, who said to him, €"What did Eli'sha say to you?" And he answered, "He told me that you €would certainly recover." But on the morrow he took the coverlet and dipped it in water and €spread it over his face, till he died. And Haz'ael became king in his €stead. @In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Jeho'ram €the son of Jehosh'aphat, king of Judah, began to reign. He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight €years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab €had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was €evil in the sight of the LORD. Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah, for the sake of David his €servant, since he promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons for €ever. @In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah, and set up a king €of their own. Then Joram passed over to Za'ir with all his chariots, and rose by €night, and he and his chariot commanders smote the E'domites who had €surrounded him; but his army fled home. So Edom revolted from the rule of Judah to this day. Then Libnah €revolted at the same time. Now the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not €written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? So Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the €city of David; and Ahazi'ah his son reigned in his stead. @In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, €Ahazi'ah the son of Jeho'ram, king of Judah, began to reign. Ahazi'ah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he €reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athali'ah; she was €a granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. He also walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did what was evil €in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was €son-in-law to the house of Ahab. @He went with Joram the son of Ahab to make war against Haz'ael king €of Syria at Ramoth-gilead, where the Syrians wounded Joram. And King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the €Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Haz'ael king of €Syria. And Ahazi'ah the son of Jeho'ram king of Judah went down to see €Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.  @Then Eli'sha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and €said to him, "Gird up your loins, and take this flask of oil in your €hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. And when you arrive, look there for Jehu the son of Jehosh'aphat, son €of Nimshi; and go in and bid him rise from among his fellows, and lead €him to an inner chamber. Then take the flask of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, `Thus €says the LORD, I anoint you king over Israel.' Then open the door and €flee; do not tarry." @So the young man, the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. And when he came, behold, the commanders of the army were in council; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±²’ļ‚²Ėēó’؉•‚and he said, "I have an errand to you, O commander." And Jehu said, "To €which of us all?" And he said, "To you, O commander." So he arose, and went into the house; and the young man poured the oil €on his head, saying to him, "Thus says the LORD the God of Israel, I €anoint you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel. And you shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, that I may €avenge on Jez'ebel the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood €of all the servants of the LORD. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab €every male, bond or free, in Israel. And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jerobo'am the son €of Nebat, and like the house of Ba'asha the son of Ahi'jah. And the dogs shall eat Jez'ebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none €shall bury her." Then he opened the door, and fled. @When Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they said to him, €"Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?" And he said to €them, "You know the fellow and his talk." And they said, "That is not true; tell us now." And he said, "Thus and €so he spoke to me, saying, `Thus says the LORD, I anoint you king over €Israel.'" Then in haste every man of them took his garment, and put it under him €on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet, and proclaimed, "Jehu is €king." @Thus Jehu the son of Jehosh'aphat the son of Nimshi conspired against €Joram. (Now Joram with all Israel had been on guard at Ramoth-gilead €against Haz'ael king of Syria; but King Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which €the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Haz'ael king of Syria.) €So Jehu said, "If this is your mind, then let no one slip out of the €city to go and tell the news in Jezreel." Then Jehu mounted his chariot, and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay €there. And Ahazi'ah king of Judah had come down to visit Joram. @Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied €the company of Jehu as he came, and said, "I see a company." And Joram €said, "Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, `Is it €peace?'" So a man on horseback went to meet him, and said, "Thus says the king, €`Is it peace?'" And Jehu said, "What have you to do with peace? Turn €round and ride behind me." And the watchman reported, saying, "The €messenger reached them, but he is not coming back." Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them, and said, "Thus €the king has said, `Is it peace?'" And Jehu answered, "What have you to €do with peace? Turn round and ride behind me." Again the watchman reported, "He reached them, but he is not coming €back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; €for he drives furiously." @Joram said, "Make ready." And they made ready his chariot. Then Joram €king of Israel and Ahazi'ah king of Judah set out, each in his chariot, €and went to meet Jehu, and met him at the property of Naboth the €Jezreelite. And when Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" He answered, €"What peace can there be, so long as the harlotries and the sorceries €of your mother Jez'ebel are so many?" Then Joram reined about and fled, saying to Ahazi'ah, "Treachery, O €Ahazi'ah!" And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and shot Joram between €the shoulders, so that the arrow pierced his heart, and he sank in his €chariot. Jehu said to Bidkar his aide, "Take him up, and cast him on the plot of €ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when you and I €rode side by side behind Ahab his father, how the LORD uttered this €oracle against him: `As surely as I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his €sons -- says the LORD -- I will requite you on this plot of ground.' Now €therefore take him up and cast him on the plot of ground, in accordance €with the word of the LORD." @When Ahazi'ah the king of Judah saw this, he fled in the direction of €Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him, and said, "Shoot him also"; and they €shot him in the chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And €he fled to Megid'do, and died there. @His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in €his tomb with his fathers in the city of David. In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahazi'ah began to reign €over Judah. When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jez'ebel heard of it; and she painted her €eyes, and adorned her head, and looked out of the window. And as Jehu entered the gate, she said, "Is it peace, you Zimri, €murderer of your master?" And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, "Who is on my side? €Who?" Two or three eunuchs looked out at him. He said, "Throw her down." So they threw her down; and some of her €blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her. Then he went in and ate and drank; and he said, "See now to this cursed €woman, and bury her; for she is a king's daughter." But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the €skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. When they came back and told him, he said, "This is the word of the €LORD, which he spoke by his servant Eli'jah the Tishbite, `In the €territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jez'ebel; and the corpse of Jez'ebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field €in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jez'ebel.'"  @Now Ahab had seventy sons in Sama'ria. So Jehu wrote letters, and €sent them to Sama'ria, to the rulers of the city, to the elders, and to €the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying, "Now then, as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master's €sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, €fortified cities also, and weapons, select the best and fittest of your master's sons and set him on his €father's throne, and fight for your master's house." But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, "Behold, the two kings €could not stand before him; how then can we stand?" So he who was over the palace, and he who was over the city, together €with the elders and the guardians, sent to Jehu, saying, "We are your €servants, and we will do all that you bid us. We will not make any one €king; do whatever is good in your eyes." Then he wrote to them a second letter, saying, "If you are on my side, €and if you are ready to obey me, take the heads of your master's sons, €and come to me at Jezreel tomorrow at this time." Now the king's sons, €seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were bringing €them up. And when the letter came to them, they took the king's sons, and slew €them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to €him at Jezreel. When the messenger came and told him, "They have brought the heads of €the king's sons," he said, "Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of €the gate until the morning." Then in the morning, when he went out, he stood, and said to all the €people, "You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master, €and slew him; but who struck down all these? Know then that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the €LORD, which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab; for the LORD €has done what he said by his servant Eli'jah." So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, all his €great men, and his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him €none remaining. @Then he set out and went to Sama'ria. On the way, when he was at €Beth-eked of the Shepherds, Jehu met the kinsmen of Ahazi'ah king of Judah, and he said, "Who are €you?" And they answered, "We are the kinsmen of Ahazi'ah, and we came €down to visit the royal princes and the sons of the queen mother." He said, "Take them alive." And they took them alive, and slew them at €the pit of Beth-eked, forty-two persons, and he spared none of them. @And when he departed from there, he met Jehon'adab the son of Rechab €coming to meet him; and he greeted him, and said to him, "Is your heart €true to my heart as mine is to yours?" And Jehon'adab answered, "It žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±²’ļ‚²Ėēó’؊˜„is." Jehu said, "If it is, give me your hand." So he gave him his hand. €And Jehu took him up with him into the chariot. And he said, "Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD." So he had €him ride in his chariot. And when he came to Sama'ria, he slew all that remained to Ahab in €Sama'ria, till he had wiped them out, according to the word of the LORD €which he spoke to Eli'jah. @Then Jehu assembled all the people, and said to them, "Ahab served €Ba'al a little; but Jehu will serve him much. Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Ba'al, all his worshipers €and all his priests; let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice €to offer to Ba'al; whoever is missing shall not live." But Jehu did it €with cunning in order to destroy the worshipers of Ba'al. And Jehu ordered, "Sanctify a solemn assembly for Ba'al." So they €proclaimed it. And Jehu sent throughout all Israel; and all the worshipers of Ba'al €came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. And they €entered the house of Ba'al, and the house of Ba'al was filled from one €end to the other. He said to him who was in charge of the wardrobe, "Bring out the €vestments for all the worshipers of Ba'al." So he brought out the €vestments for them. Then Jehu went into the house of Ba'al with Jehon'adab the son of €Rechab; and he said to the worshipers of Ba'al, "Search, and see that €there is no servant of the LORD here among you, but only the worshipers €of Ba'al." Then he went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. €@Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside, and said, "The man who €allows any of those whom I give into your hands to escape shall forfeit €his life." So as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu €said to the guard and to the officers, "Go in and slay them; let not a €man escape." So when they put them to the sword, the guard and the €officers cast them out and went into the inner room of the house of €Ba'al and they brought out the pillar that was in the house of Ba'al, and €burned it. And they demolished the pillar of Ba'al, and demolished the house of €Ba'al, and made it a latrine to this day. @Thus Jehu wiped out Ba'al from Israel. But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jerobo'am the son of €Nebat, which he made Israel to sin, the golden calves that were in €Bethel, and in Dan. And the LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in carrying out €what is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according €to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall €sit on the throne of Israel." But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD the God of €Israel with all his heart; he did not turn from the sins of Jerobo'am, €which he made Israel to sin. @In those days the LORD began to cut off parts of Israel. Haz'ael €defeated them throughout the territory of Israel: from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the €Reubenites, and the Manas'sites, from Aro'er, which is by the valley of €the Arnon, that is, Gilead and Bashan. Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his €might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings €of Israel? So Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Sama'ria. And €Jeho'ahaz his son reigned in his stead. The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Sama'ria was twenty-eight €years.  @Now when Athali'ah the mother of Ahazi'ah saw that her son was dead, €she arose and destroyed all the royal family. But Jehosh'eba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahazi'ah, took €Jo'ash the son of Ahazi'ah, and stole him away from among the king's €sons who were about to be slain, and she put him and his nurse in a €bedchamber. Thus she hid him from Athali'ah, so that he was not slain; and he remained with her six years, hid in the house of the LORD, while €Athali'ah reigned over the land. @But in the seventh year Jehoi'ada sent and brought the captains of €the Carites and of the guards, and had them come to him in the house of €the LORD; and he made a covenant with them and put them under oath in €the house of the LORD, and he showed them the king's son. And he commanded them, "This is the thing that you shall do: one third €of you, those who come off duty on the sabbath and guard the king's €house (another third being at the gate Sur and a third at the gate behind the €guards), shall guard the palace; and the two divisions of you, which come on duty in force on the €sabbath and guard the house of the LORD, shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; and whoever €approaches the ranks is to be slain. Be with the king when he goes out €and when he comes in." @The captains did according to all that Jehoi'ada the priest €commanded, and each brought his men who were to go off duty on the €sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the sabbath, and came €to Jehoi'ada the priest. And the priest delivered to the captains the spears and shields that €had been King David's, which were in the house of the LORD; and the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the €south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the €altar and the house. Then he brought out the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and €gave him the testimony; and they proclaimed him king, and anointed him; €and they clapped their hands, and said, "Long live the king!" @When Athali'ah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she €went into the house of the LORD to the people; and when she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar, €according to the custom, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the €king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. €And Athali'ah rent her clothes, and cried, "Treason! Treason!" Then Jehoi'ada the priest commanded the captains who were set over the €army, "Bring her out between the ranks; and slay with the sword any one €who follows her." For the priest said, "Let her not be slain in the €house of the LORD." So they laid hands on her; and she went through the horses' entrance to €the king's house, and there she was slain. @And Jehoi'ada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and €people, that they should be the LORD's people; and also between the €king and the people. Then all the people of the land went to the house of Ba'al, and tore it €down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they slew €Mattan the priest of Ba'al before the altars. And the priest posted €watchmen over the house of the LORD. And he took the captains, the Carites, the guards, and all the people €of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD, €marching through the gate of the guards to the king's house. And he €took his seat on the throne of the kings. So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet after €Athali'ah had been slain with the sword at the king's house. @Jeho'ash was seven years old when he began to reign.  @In the seventh year of Jehu Jeho'ash began to reign, and he reigned €forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zib'iah of Beer-sheba. And Jeho'ash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all his days, €because Jehoi'ada the priest instructed him. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away; the people continued €to sacrifice and burn incense on the high places. @Jeho'ash said to the priests, "All the money of the holy things which €is brought into the house of the LORD, the money for which each man is €assessed -- the money from the assessment of persons -- and the money which €a man's heart prompts him to bring into the house of the LORD, let the priests take, each from his acquaintance; and let them repair €the house wherever any need of repairs is discovered." But by the twenty-third year of King Jeho'ash the priests had made no €repairs on the house. Therefore King Jeho'ash summoned Jehoi'ada the priest and the other €priests and said to them, "Why are you not repairing the house? Now €therefore take no more money from your acquaintances, but hand it over €for the repair of the house." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±²’ļ‚²Ėēó’،˜ˆSo the priests agreed that they should take no more money from the €people, and that they should not repair the house. @Then Jehoi'ada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid €of it, and set it beside the altar on the right side as one entered the €house of the LORD; and the priests who guarded the threshold put in it €all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD. And whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, the €king's secretary and the high priest came up and they counted and tied €up in bags the money that was found in the house of the LORD. Then they would give the money that was weighed out into the hands of €the workmen who had the oversight of the house of the LORD; and they €paid it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked upon the €house of the LORD, and to the masons and the stonecutters, as well as to buy timber and €quarried stone for making repairs on the house of the LORD, and for any €outlay upon the repairs of the house. But there were not made for the house of the LORD basins of silver, €snuffers, bowls, trumpets, or any vessels of gold, or of silver, from €the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, for that was given to the workmen who were repairing the house of the €LORD with it. And they did not ask an accounting from the men into whose hand they €delivered the money to pay out to the workmen, for they dealt honestly. The money from the guilt offerings and the money from the sin offerings €was not brought into the house of the LORD; it belonged to the priests. @At that time Haz'ael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath, €and took it. But when Haz'ael set his face to go up against Jerusalem, Jeho'ash king of Judah took all the votive gifts that Jehosh'aphat and €Jeho'ram and Ahazi'ah, his fathers, the kings of Judah, had dedicated, €and his own votive gifts, and all the gold that was found in the €treasuries of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent €these to Haz'ael king of Syria. Then Haz'ael went away from Jerusalem. @Now the rest of the acts of Jo'ash, and all that he did, are they not €written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? His servants arose and made a conspiracy, and slew Jo'ash in the house €of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla. It was Jo'zacar the son of Shim'e-ath and Jeho'zabad the son of Shomer, €his servants, who struck him down, so that he died. And they buried him €with his fathers in the city of David, and Amazi'ah his son reigned in €his stead.  @In the twenty-third year of Jo'ash the son of Ahazi'ah, king of €Judah, Jeho'ahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in €Sama'ria, and he reigned seventeen years. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of €Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not €depart from them. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them €continually into the hand of Haz'ael king of Syria and into the hand of €Ben-ha'dad the son of Haz'ael. Then Jeho'ahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened to him; for he €saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them. (Therefore the LORD gave Israel a savior, so that they escaped from the €hand of the Syrians; and the people of Israel dwelt in their homes as €formerly. Nevertheless they did not depart from the sins of the house of €Jerobo'am, which he made Israel to sin, but walked in them; and the €Ashe'rah also remained in Sama'ria.) For there was not left to Jeho'ahaz an army of more than fifty horsemen €and ten chariots and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had €destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing. Now the rest of the acts of Jeho'ahaz and all that he did, and his €might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings €of Israel? So Jeho'ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Sama'ria; €and Jo'ash his son reigned in his stead. @In the thirty-seventh year of Jo'ash king of Judah Jeho'ash the son €of Jeho'ahaz began to reign over Israel in Sama'ria, and he reigned €sixteen years. He also did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart €from all the sins of Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, which he made Israel €to sin, but he walked in them. Now the rest of the acts of Jo'ash, and all that he did, and the might €with which he fought against Amazi'ah king of Judah, are they not €written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? So Jo'ash slept with his fathers, and Jerobo'am sat upon his throne; €and Jo'ash was buried in Sama'ria with the kings of Israel. @Now when Eli'sha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to €die, Jo'ash king of Israel went down to him, and wept before him, €crying, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And Eli'sha said to him, "Take a bow and arrows"; so he took a bow and €arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, "Draw the bow"; and he drew it. And €Eli'sha laid his hands upon the king's hands. And he said, "Open the window eastward"; and he opened it. Then Eli'sha €said, "Shoot"; and he shot. And he said, "The LORD's arrow of victory, €the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in €Aphek until you have made an end of them." And he said, "Take the arrows"; and he took them. And he said to the €king of Israel, "Strike the ground with them"; and he struck three €times, and stopped. Then the man of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have €struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until €you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only €three times." @So Eli'sha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to €invade the land in the spring of the year. And as a man was being buried, lo, a marauding band was seen and the €man was cast into the grave of Eli'sha; and as soon as the man touched €the bones of Eli'sha, he revived, and stood on his feet. @Now Haz'ael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jeho'ahaz. But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he €turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and €Jacob, and would not destroy them; nor has he cast them from his €presence until now. @When Haz'ael king of Syria died, Ben-ha'dad his son became king in €his stead. Then Jeho'ash the son of Jeho'ahaz took again from Ben-ha'dad the son €of Haz'ael the cities which he had taken from Jeho'ahaz his father in €war. Three times Jo'ash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.  @In the second year of Jo'ash the son of Jo'ahaz, king of Israel, €Amazi'ah the son of Jo'ash, king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jeho-ad'din of €Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not like David €his father; he did in all things as Jo'ash his father had done. But the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and €burned incense on the high places. And as soon as the royal power was firmly in his hand he killed his €servants who had slain the king his father. But he did not put to death the children of the murderers; according to €what is written in the book of the law of Moses, where the LORD €commanded, "The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, or €the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall die €for his own sin." @He killed ten thousand E'domites in the Valley of Salt and took Sela €by storm, and called it Jok'the-el, which is its name to this day. @Then Amazi'ah sent messengers to Jeho'ash the son of Jeho'ahaz, son €of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us look one another in the €face." And Jeho'ash king of Israel sent word to Amazi'ah king of Judah, "A €thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, `Give your €daughter to my son for a wife'; and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by €and trampled down the thistle. You have indeed smitten Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±²’ļ‚²Ėēó’؎˜Š‚content with your glory, and stay at home; for why should you provoke €trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?" @But Amazi'ah would not listen. So Jeho'ash king of Israel went up, €and he and Amazi'ah king of Judah faced one another in battle at €Beth-she'mesh, which belongs to Judah. And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his home. And Jeho'ash king of Israel captured Amazi'ah king of Judah, the son of €Jeho'ash, son of Ahazi'ah, at Beth-she'mesh, and came to Jerusalem, and €broke down the wall of Jerusalem for four hundred cubits, from the €E'phraim Gate to the Corner Gate. And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were €found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king's €house, also hostages, and he returned to Sama'ria. @Now the rest of the acts of Jeho'ash which he did, and his might, and €how he fought with Amazi'ah king of Judah, are they not written in the €Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? And Jeho'ash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Sama'ria with €the kings of Israel; and Jerobo'am his son reigned in his stead. @Amazi'ah the son of Jo'ash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after €the death of Jeho'ash son of Jeho'ahaz, king of Israel. Now the rest of the deeds of Amazi'ah, are they not written in the Book €of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to €Lachish. But they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there. And they brought him upon horses; and he was buried in Jerusalem with €his fathers in the city of David. And all the people of Judah took Azari'ah, who was sixteen years old, €and made him king instead of his father Amazi'ah. He built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his €fathers. @In the fifteenth year of Amazi'ah the son of Jo'ash, king of Judah, €Jerobo'am the son of Jo'ash, king of Israel, began to reign in €Sama'ria, and he reigned forty-one years. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart €from all the sins of Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, which he made Israel €to sin. He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as €the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD, the God of €Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amit'tai, the €prophet, who was from Gath-he'pher. For the LORD saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter, for €there was none left, bond or free, and there was none to help Israel. But the LORD had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel €from under heaven, so he saved them by the hand of Jerobo'am the son of €Jo'ash. @Now the rest of the acts of Jerobo'am, and all that he did, and his €might, how he fought, and how he recovered for Israel Damascus and €Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, are they not written in the Book €of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? And Jerobo'am slept with his fathers, the kings of Israel, and €Zechari'ah his son reigned in his stead.  @In the twenty-seventh year of Jerobo'am king of Israel Azari'ah the €son of Amazi'ah, king of Judah, began to reign. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoli'ah of €Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all €that his father Amazi'ah had done. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away; the people still €sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his €death, and he dwelt in a separate house. And Jotham the king's son was €over the household, governing the people of the land. Now the rest of the acts of Azari'ah, and all that he did, are they not €written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And Azari'ah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his €fathers in the city of David, and Jotham his son reigned in his stead. @In the thirty-eighth year of Azari'ah king of Judah Zechari'ah the €son of Jerobo'am reigned over Israel in Sama'ria six months. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had €done. He did not depart from the sins of Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, €which he made Israel to sin. Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him down at €Ibleam, and killed him, and reigned in his stead. Now the rest of the deeds of Zechari'ah, behold, they are written in €the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. (This was the promise of the LORD which he gave to Jehu, "Your sons €shall sit upon the throne of Israel to the fourth generation." And so €it came to pass.) @Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of €Uzzi'ah king of Judah, and he reigned one month in Sama'ria. Then Men'ahem the son of Gadi came up from Tirzah and came to Sama'ria, €and he struck down Shallum the son of Jabesh in Sama'ria and slew him, €and reigned in his stead. Now the rest of the deeds of Shallum, and the conspiracy which he made, €behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of €Israel. At that time Men'ahem sacked Tappuah and all who were in it and its €territory from Tirzah on; because they did not open it to him, €therefore he sacked it, and he ripped up all the women in it who were €with child. @In the thirty-ninth year of Azari'ah king of Judah Men'ahem the son €of Gadi began to reign over Israel, and he reigned ten years in €Sama'ria. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart €all his days from all the sins of Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, which he €made Israel to sin. Pul the king of Assyria came against the land; and Men'ahem gave Pul a €thousand talents of silver, that he might help him to confirm his hold €of the royal power. Men'ahem exacted the money from Israel, that is, from all the wealthy €men, fifty shekels of silver from every man, to give to the king of €Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and did not stay there in €the land. Now the rest of the deeds of Men'ahem, and all that he did, are they €not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? And Men'ahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahi'ah his son reigned in €his stead. @In the fiftieth year of Azari'ah king of Judah Pekahi'ah the son of €Men'ahem began to reign over Israel in Sama'ria, and he reigned two €years. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not turn away €from the sins of Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to €sin. And Pekah the son of Remali'ah, his captain, conspired against him with €fifty men of the Gileadites, and slew him in Sama'ria, in the citadel €of the king's house; he slew him, and reigned in his stead. Now the rest of the deeds of Pekahi'ah, and all that he did, behold, €they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. @In the fifty-second year of Azari'ah king of Judah Pekah the son of €Remali'ah began to reign over Israel in Sama'ria, and reigned twenty €years. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart €from the sins of Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to €sin. @In the days of Pekah king of Israel Tig'lath-pile'ser king of Assyria €came and captured I'jon, A'bel-beth-ma'acah, Jan-o'ah, Kedesh, Hazor, €Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naph'tali; and he carried the €people captive to Assyria. Then Hoshe'a the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of €Remali'ah, and struck him down, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, €in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzzi'ah. Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they €are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. @In the second year of Pekah the son of Remali'ah, king of Israel, €Jotham the son of Uzzi'ah, king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jeru'sha the daughter €of Zadok. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±²’ļ‚²Ėēó’؏˜¢‚that his father Uzzi'ah had done. Nevertheless the high places were not removed; the people still €sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. He built the upper €gate of the house of the LORD. Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not €written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? In those days the LORD began to send Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah €the son of Remali'ah against Judah. Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the €city of David his father; and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.  @In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remali'ah, Ahaz the son €of Jotham, king of Judah, began to reign. Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the €eyes of the LORD his God, as his father David had done, but he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even burned his son €as an offering, according to the abominable practices of the nations €whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, and on the €hills, and under every green tree. @Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remali'ah, king of €Israel, came up to wage war on Jerusalem, and they besieged Ahaz but €could not conquer him. At that time the king of Edom recovered Elath for Edom, and drove the €men of Judah from Elath; and the E'domites came to Elath, where they €dwell to this day. So Ahaz sent messengers to Tig'lath-pile'ser king of Assyria, saying, €"I am your servant and your son. Come up, and rescue me from the hand €of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are €attacking me." Ahaz also took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the €LORD and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent a present to €the king of Assyria. And the king of Assyria hearkened to him; the king of Assyria marched €up against Damascus, and took it, carrying its people captive to Kir, €and he killed Rezin. @When King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tig'lath-pile'ser king of €Assyria, he saw the altar that was at Damascus. And King Ahaz sent to €Uri'ah the priest a model of the altar, and its pattern, exact in all €its details. And Uri'ah the priest built the altar; in accordance with all that King €Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so Uri'ah the priest made it, before King €Ahaz arrived from Damascus. And when the king came from Damascus, the king viewed the altar. Then €the king drew near to the altar, and went up on it, and burned his burnt offering and his cereal offering, and poured his €drink offering, and threw the blood of his peace offerings upon the €altar. And the bronze altar which was before the LORD he removed from the €front of the house, from the place between his altar and the house of €the LORD, and put it on the north side of his altar. And King Ahaz commanded Uri'ah the priest, saying, "Upon the great €altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening cereal offering, €and the king's burnt offering, and his cereal offering, with the burnt €offering of all the people of the land, and their cereal offering, and €their drink offering; and throw upon it all the blood of the burnt €offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice; but the bronze altar €shall be for me to inquire by." Uri'ah the priest did all this, as King Ahaz commanded. @And King Ahaz cut off the frames of the stands, and removed the laver €from them, and he took down the sea from off the bronze oxen that were €under it, and put it upon a pediment of stone. And the covered way for the sabbath which had been built inside the €palace, and the outer entrance for the king he removed from the house €of the LORD, because of the king of Assyria. Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in €the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the €city of David; and Hezeki'ah his son reigned in his stead.  @In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah Hoshe'a the son of Elah €began to reign in Sama'ria over Israel, and he reigned nine years. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, yet not as the kings €of Israel who were before him. Against him came up Shalmane'ser king of Assyria; and Hoshe'a became €his vassal, and paid him tribute. But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshe'a; for he had sent €messengers to So, king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of €Assyria, as he had done year by year; therefore the king of Assyria €shut him up, and bound him in prison. Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Sama'ria, and €for three years he besieged it. In the ninth year of Hoshe'a the king of Assyria captured Sama'ria, and €he carried the Israelites away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah, €and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. @And this was so, because the people of Israel had sinned against the €LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from €under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD drove out before €the people of Israel, and in the customs which the kings of Israel had €introduced. And the people of Israel did secretly against the LORD their God things €that were not right. They built for themselves high places at all their €towns, from watchtower to fortified city; they set up for themselves pillars and Ashe'rim on every high hill and €under every green tree; and there they burned incense on all the high places, as the nations €did whom the LORD carried away before them. And they did wicked things, €provoking the LORD to anger, and they served idols, of which the LORD had said to them, "You shall €not do this." Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, €saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my €statutes, in accordance with all the law which I commanded your €fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets." But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had €been, who did not believe in the LORD their God. They despised his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their €fathers, and the warnings which he gave them. They went after false €idols, and became false, and they followed the nations that were round €about them, concerning whom the LORD had commanded them that they €should not do like them. And they forsook all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made €for themselves molten images of two calves; and they made an Ashe'rah, €and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Ba'al. And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings, and used €divination and sorcery, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of €the LORD, provoking him to anger. Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of €his sight; none was left but the tribe of Judah only. @Judah also did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but €walked in the customs which Israel had introduced. And the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel, and afflicted €them, and gave them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them €out of his sight. @When he had torn Israel from the house of David they made Jerobo'am €the son of Nebat king. And Jerobo'am drove Israel from following the €LORD and made them commit great sin. The people of Israel walked in all the sins which Jerobo'am did; they €did not depart from them, until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had spoken by all €his servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their own land to €Assyria until this day. @And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, €Hamath, and Sephar-va'im, and placed them in the cities of Sama'ria €instead of the people of Israel; and they took possession of Sama'ria, €and dwelt in its cities. And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not fear the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±²’ļ‚²Ėēó’ؑ˜™‚LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of €them. So the king of Assyria was told, "The nations which you have carried €away and placed in the cities of Sama'ria do not know the law of the €god of the land; therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, €they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of €the land." Then the king of Assyria commanded, "Send there one of the priests whom €you carried away thence; and let him go and dwell there, and teach them €the law of the god of the land." So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Sama'ria came and €dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD. @But every nation still made gods of its own, and put them in the €shrines of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation €in the cities in which they dwelt; the men of Babylon made Suc'coth-be'noth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, €the men of Hamath made Ashi'ma, and the Av'vites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sephar'vites burned €their children in the fire to Adram'melech and Anam'melech, the gods of €Sephar-va'im. They also feared the LORD, and appointed from among themselves all €sorts of people as priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them €in the shrines of the high places. So they feared the LORD but also served their own gods, after the €manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away. To this day they do according to the former manner. €@They do not fear the LORD, and they do not follow the statutes or the €ordinances or the law or the commandment which the LORD commanded the €children of Jacob, whom he named Israel. The LORD made a covenant with them, and commanded them, "You shall not €fear other gods or bow yourselves to them or serve them or sacrifice to €them; but you shall fear the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt €with great power and with an outstretched arm; you shall bow yourselves €to him, and to him you shall sacrifice. And the statutes and the ordinances and the law and the commandment €which he wrote for you, you shall always be careful to do. You shall €not fear other gods, and you shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you. You €shall not fear other gods, but you shall fear the LORD your God, and he will deliver you out of €the hand of all your enemies." However they would not listen, but they did according to their former €manner. @So these nations feared the LORD, and also served their graven €images; their children likewise, and their children's children -- as €their fathers did, so they do to this day.  @In the third year of Hoshe'a son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezeki'ah €the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi the daughter €of Zechari'ah. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all €that David his father had done. He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the €Ashe'rah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had €made, for until those days the people of Israel had burned incense to €it; it was called Nehush'tan. He trusted in the LORD the God of Israel; so that there was none like €him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were €before him. For he held fast to the LORD; he did not depart from following him, but €kept the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him; wherever he went forth, he prospered. He €rebelled against the king of Assyria, and would not serve him. He smote the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from €watchtower to fortified city. @In the fourth year of King Hezeki'ah, which was the seventh year of €Hoshe'a son of Elah, king of Israel, Shalmane'ser king of Assyria came €up against Sama'ria and besieged it and at the end of three years he took it. In the sixth year of €Hezeki'ah, which was the ninth year of Hoshe'a king of Israel, Sama'ria €was taken. The king of Assyria carried the Israelites away to Assyria, and put €them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities €of the Medes, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God but €transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the LORD €commanded; they neither listened nor obeyed. @In the fourteenth year of King Hezeki'ah Sennach'erib king of Assyria €came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. And Hezeki'ah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, €saying, "I have done wrong; withdraw from me; whatever you impose on me €I will bear." And the king of Assyria required of Hezeki'ah king of €Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. And Hezeki'ah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of €the LORD, and in the treasuries of the king's house. At that time Hezeki'ah stripped the gold from the doors of the temple €of the LORD, and from the doorposts which Hezeki'ah king of Judah had €overlaid and gave it to the king of Assyria. And the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rab'saris, and the €Rab'shakeh with a great army from Lachish to King Hezeki'ah at €Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they arrived, €they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the €highway to the Fuller's Field. And when they called for the king, there came out to them Eli'akim the €son of Hilki'ah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the secretary, €and Jo'ah the son of Asaph, the recorder. @And the Rab'shakeh said to them, "Say to Hezeki'ah, `Thus says the €great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this confidence of €yours? Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? On whom do €you now rely, that you have rebelled against me? Behold, you are relying now on Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, €which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh €king of Egypt to all who rely on him. But if you say to me, "We rely on the LORD our God," is it not he whose €high places and altars Hezeki'ah has removed, saying to Judah and to €Jerusalem, "You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem"? Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give €you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders €upon them. How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my €master's servants, when you rely on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? Moreover, is it without the LORD that I have come up against this place €to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and €destroy it.'" @Then Eli'akim the son of Hilki'ah, and Shebnah, and Jo'ah, said to €the Rab'shakeh, "Pray, speak to your servants in the Aramaic language, €for we understand it; do not speak to us in the language of Judah €within the hearing of the people who are on the wall." But the Rab'shakeh said to them, "Has my master sent me to speak these €words to your master and to you, and not to the men sitting on the €wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and to drink their €own urine?" @Then the Rab'shakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the €language of Judah: "Hear the word of the great king, the king of €Assyria! Thus says the king: `Do not let Hezeki'ah deceive you, for he will not €be able to deliver you out of my hand. Do not let Hezeki'ah make you to rely on the LORD by saying, The LORD €will surely deliver us, and this city will not be given into the hand €of the king of Assyria.' Do not listen to Hezeki'ah; for thus says the king of Assyria: `Make €your peace with me and come out to me; then every one of you will eat €of his own vine, and every one of his own fig tree, and every one of €you will drink the water of his own cistern; until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of €grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees €and honey, that you may live, and not die. And do not listen to žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±²’ļ‚²Ėēó’ؒ˜ „Hezeki'ah when he misleads you by saying, The LORD will deliver us. Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the €hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of €Sepharva'im, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Sama'ria out of my €hand? Who among all the gods of the countries have delivered their countries €out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?'" @But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the €king's command was, "Do not answer him." Then Eli'akim the son of Hilki'ah, who was over the household, and €Shebna the secretary, and Jo'ah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to €Hezeki'ah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of the €Rab'shakeh.  @When King Hezeki'ah heard it, he rent his clothes, and covered €himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. And he sent Eli'akim, who was over the household, and Shebna the €secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the €prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz. They said to him, "Thus says Hezeki'ah, This day is a day of distress, €of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the birth, and there €is no strength to bring them forth. It may be that the LORD your God heard all the words of the Rab'shakeh, €whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, €and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard; therefore €lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left." When the servants of King Hezeki'ah came to Isaiah, Isaiah said to them, "Say to your master, `Thus says the LORD: Do not €be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the €servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me. Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and €return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in €his own land.'" @The Rab'shakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria fighting €against Libnah; for he heard that the king had left Lachish. And when the king heard concerning Tirha'kah king of Ethiopia, "Behold, €he has set out to fight against you," he sent messengers again to €Hezeki'ah, saying, "Thus shall you speak to Hezeki'ah king of Judah: `Do not let your God €on whom you rely deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be €given into the hand of the king of Assyria. Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all €lands, destroying them utterly. And shall you be delivered? Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations which my €fathers destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who €were in Tel-assar? Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of €Sepharva'im, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?'" @Hezeki'ah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and €read it; and Hezeki'ah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it €before the LORD. And Hezeki'ah prayed before the LORD, and said: "O LORD the God of €Israel, who art enthroned above the cherubim, thou art the God, thou €alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and €earth. Incline thy ear, O LORD, and hear; open thy eyes, O LORD, and see; and €hear the words of Sennach'erib, which he has sent to mock the living €God. Of a truth, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations €and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the €work of men's hands, wood and stone; therefore they were destroyed. So now, O LORD our God, save us, I beseech thee, from his hand, that €all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou, O LORD, art God €alone." @Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezeki'ah, saying, "Thus says the €LORD, the God of Israel: Your prayer to me about Sennach'erib king of €Assyria I have heard. This is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him: €@@"She despises you, she scorns you --€@@@the virgin daughter of Zion; €@@she wags her head behind you --€@@@the daughter of Jerusalem. @@"Whom have you mocked and reviled? €@@@Against whom have you raised your voice €@@and haughtily lifted your eyes? €@@@Against the Holy One of Israel! @@By your messengers you have mocked the LORD, €@@@and you have said, `With my many chariots €@@I have gone up the heights of the mountains, €@@@to the far recesses of Lebanon; €@@I felled its tallest cedars, €@@@its choicest cypresses; €@@I entered its farthest retreat, €@@@its densest forest. @@I dug wells €@@@and drank foreign waters, €@@and I dried up with the sole of my foot €@@@all the streams of Egypt.' @@"Have you not heard €@@@that I determined it long ago? €@@I planned from days of old €@@@what now I bring to pass, €@@that you should turn fortified cities €@@@into heaps of ruins, @@while their inhabitants, shorn of strength, €@@@are dismayed and confounded, €@@and have become like plants of the field, €@@@and like tender grass, €@@like grass on the housetops; €@@@blighted before it is grown? @@"But I know your sitting down €@@@and your going out and coming in, €@@@and your raging against me. @@Because you have raged against me €@@@and your arrogance has come into my ears, €@@I will put my hook in your nose €@@@and my bit in your mouth, €@@and I will turn you back on the way €@@@by which you came. @"And this shall be the sign for you: this year you shall eat what €grows of itself, and in the second year what springs of the same; then €in the third year sow, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat their €fruit. And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root €downward, and bear fruit upward; for out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a €band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD will do this. @"Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He €shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there, or come before €it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it. By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not €come into this city, says the LORD. For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the €sake of my servant David." @And that night the angel of the LORD went forth, and slew a hundred €and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men €arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. Then Sennach'erib king of Assyria departed, and went home, and dwelt at €Nin'eveh. And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adram'melech €and Share'zer, his sons, slew him with the sword, and escaped into the €land of Ar'arat. And Esarhad'don his son reigned in his stead.  @In those days Hezeki'ah became sick and was at the point of death. €And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, €"Thus says the LORD, `Set your house in order; for you shall die, you €shall not recover.'" Then Hezeki'ah turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the LORD, €saying, "Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in €faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in thy €sight." And Hezeki'ah wept bitterly. And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the €LORD came to him: "Turn back, and say to Hezeki'ah the prince of my people, Thus says the €LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer, I have €seen your tears; behold, I will heal you; on the third day you shall go €up to the house of the LORD. And I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this €city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this €city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake." And Isaiah said, "Bring a cake of figs. And let them take and lay it on €the boil, that he may recover." @And Hezeki'ah said to Isaiah, "What shall be the sign that the LORD €will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the LORD on the €third day?" And Isaiah said, "This is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD €will do the thing that he has promised: shall the shadow go forward ten €steps, or go back ten steps?" žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±²’ļ‚²Ėēó’ؔ˜ŠAnd Hezeki'ah answered, "It is an easy thing for the shadow to lengthen €ten steps; rather let the shadow go back ten steps." And Isaiah the prophet cried to the LORD; and he brought the shadow €back ten steps, by which the sun had declined on the dial of Ahaz. @At that time Mero'dach-bal'adan the son of Bal'adan, king of Babylon, €sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezeki'ah; for he heard that €Hezeki'ah had been sick. And Hezeki'ah welcomed them, and he showed them all his treasure house, €the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his armory, all €that was found in his storehouses; there was nothing in his house or in €all his realm that Hezeki'ah did not show them. Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezeki'ah, and said to him, "What €did these men say? And whence did they come to you?" And Hezeki'ah €said, "They have come from a far country, from Babylon." He said, "What have they seen in your house?" And Hezeki'ah answered, €"They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my €storehouses that I did not show them." @Then Isaiah said to Hezeki'ah, "Hear the word of the LORD: Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that €which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to €Babylon; nothing shall be left, says the LORD. And some of your own sons, who are born to you, shall be taken away; €and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." Then said Hezeki'ah to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD which you have €spoken is good." For he thought, "Why not, if there will be peace and €security in my days?" @The rest of the deeds of Hezeki'ah, and all his might, and how he €made the pool and the conduit and brought water into the city, are they €not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And Hezeki'ah slept with his fathers; and Manas'seh his son reigned in €his stead.  @Manas'seh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Heph'zibah. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the €abominable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the €people of Israel. For he rebuilt the high places which Hezeki'ah his father had €destroyed; and he erected altars for Ba'al, and made an Ashe'rah, as €Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and €served them. And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had €said, "In Jerusalem will I put my name." And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the €house of the LORD. And he burned his son as an offering, and practiced soothsaying and €augury, and dealt with mediums and with wizards. He did much evil in €the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger. And the graven image of Ashe'rah that he had made he set in the house €of which the LORD said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house, €and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, €I will put my name for ever; and I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the €land which I gave to their fathers, if only they will be careful to do €according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the €law that my servant Moses commanded them." But they did not listen, and Manas'seh seduced them to do more evil €than the nations had done whom the LORD destroyed before the people of €Israel. @And the LORD said by his servants the prophets, "Because Manas'seh king of Judah has committed these abominations, and €has done things more wicked than all that the Amorites did, who were €before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols; therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing €upon Jerusalem and Judah such evil that the ears of every one who hears €of it will tingle. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Sama'ria, and €the plummet of the house of Ahab; and I will wipe Jerusalem as one €wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. And I will cast off the remnant of my heritage, and give them into the €hand of their enemies, and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all €their enemies, because they have done what is evil in my sight and have provoked me to €anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day." @Moreover Manas'seh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled €Jerusalem from one end to another, besides the sin which he made Judah €to sin so that they did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. @Now the rest of the acts of Manas'seh, and all that he did, and the €sin that he committed, are they not written in the Book of the €Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And Manas'seh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of €his house, in the garden of Uzza; and Amon his son reigned in his stead. @Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Meshul'lemeth the €daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manas'seh his €father had done. He walked in all the way in which his father walked, and served the €idols that his father served, and worshiped them; he forsook the LORD, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the €way of the LORD. And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and killed the king in €his house. But the people of the land slew all those who had conspired against €King Amon, and the people of the land made Josi'ah his son king in his €stead. Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in €the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And he was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza; and Josi'ah his €son reigned in his stead.  @Josi'ah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedi'dah the €daughter of Adai'ah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and walked in all €the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right €hand or to the left. @In the eighteenth year of King Josi'ah, the king sent Shaphan the son €of Azali'ah, son of Meshul'lam, the secretary, to the house of the €LORD, saying, "Go up to Hilki'ah the high priest, that he may reckon the amount of €the money which has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the €keepers of the threshold have collected from the people; and let it be given into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight €of the house of the LORD; and let them give it to the workmen who are €at the house of the LORD, repairing the house, that is, to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, as €well as for buying timber and quarried stone to repair the house. But no accounting shall be asked from them for the money which is €delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly." @And Hilki'ah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have €found the book of the law in the house of the LORD." And Hilki'ah gave €the book to Shaphan, and he read it. And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, €"Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, €and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the €oversight of the house of the LORD." Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, "Hilki'ah the priest has €given me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king. @And when the king heard the words of the book of the law, he rent his €clothes. And the king commanded Hilki'ah the priest, and Ahi'kam the son of €Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micai'ah, and Shaphan the secretary, and €Asai'ah the king's servant, saying, "Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, €concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the €wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have €not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is €written concerning us." @So Hilki'ah the priest, and Ahi'kam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±²’ļ‚²Ėēó’ؖ˜Ž‚Asai'ah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of €Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she dwelt in €Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they talked with her. And she said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: `Tell the €man who sent you to me, Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place and upon €its inhabitants, all the words of the book which the king of Judah has €read. Because they have forsaken me and have burned incense to other gods, €that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, €therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not €be quenched. But as to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus €shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Regarding €the words which you have heard, because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the €LORD, when you heard how I spoke against this place, and against its €inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you €have rent your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, says €the LORD. Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be €gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the €evil which I will bring upon this place.'" And they brought back word €to the king.  @Then the king sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were €gathered to him. And the king went up to the house of the LORD, and with him all the men €of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests and the €prophets, all the people, both small and great; and he read in their €hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which had been found €in the house of the LORD. And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, €to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies €and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the €words of this covenant that were written in this book; and all the €people joined in the covenant. @And the king commanded Hilki'ah, the high priest, and the priests of €the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring out of the €temple of the LORD all the vessels made for Ba'al, for Ashe'rah, and €for all the host of heaven; he burned them outside Jerusalem in the €fields of the Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel. And he deposed the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had €ordained to burn incense in the high places at the cities of Judah and €round about Jerusalem; those also who burned incense to Ba'al, to the €sun, and the moon, and the constellations, and all the host of the €heavens. And he brought out the Ashe'rah from the house of the LORD, outside €Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and €beat it to dust and cast the dust of it upon the graves of the common €people. And he broke down the houses of the male cult prostitutes which were in €the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the Ashe'rah. And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled €the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to €Beer-sheba; and he broke down the high places of the gates that were at €the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were €on one's left at the gate of the city. However, the priests of the high places did not come up to the altar of €the LORD in Jerusalem, but they ate unleavened bread among their €brethren. And he defiled To'pheth, which is in the valley of the sons of Hinnom, €that no one might burn his son or his daughter as an offering to Molech. And he removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the €sun, at the entrance to the house of the LORD, by the chamber of €Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the precincts; and he €burned the chariots of the sun with fire. And the altars on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the €kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manas'seh had made in the €two courts of the house of the LORD, he pulled down and broke in €pieces, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron. And the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, to €the south of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel €had built for Ash'toreth the abomination of the Sido'nians, and for €Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the €Ammonites. And he broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Ashe'rim, and €filled their places with the bones of men. @Moreover the altar at Bethel, the high place erected by Jerobo'am the €son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, that altar with the high place he €pulled down and he broke in pieces its stones, crushing them to dust; €also he burned the Ashe'rah. And as Josi'ah turned, he saw the tombs there on the mount; and he sent €and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them upon the altar, €and defiled it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God €proclaimed, who had predicted these things. Then he said, "What is yonder monument that I see?" And the men of the €city told him, "It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah €and predicted these things which you have done against the altar at €Bethel." And he said, "Let him be; let no man move his bones." So they let his €bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Sama'ria. And all the shrines also of the high places that were in the cities of €Sama'ria, which kings of Israel had made, provoking the LORD to anger, €Josi'ah removed; he did to them according to all that he had done at €Bethel. And he slew all the priests of the high places who were there, upon the €altars, and burned the bones of men upon them. Then he returned to €Jerusalem. @And the king commanded all the people, "Keep the passover to the LORD €your God, as it is written in this book of the covenant." For no such passover had been kept since the days of the judges who €judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the €kings of Judah; but in the eighteenth year of King Josi'ah this passover was kept to €the LORD in Jerusalem. @Moreover Josi'ah put away the mediums and the wizards and the €teraphim and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the €land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might establish the words of €the law which were written in the book that Hilki'ah the priest found €in the house of the LORD. Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all €his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to €all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him. @Still the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of his great wrath, €by which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the €provocations with which Manas'seh had provoked him. And the LORD said, "I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have €removed Israel, and I will cast off this city which I have chosen, €Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there." @Now the rest of the acts of Josi'ah, and all that he did, are they €not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? In his days Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to the king of Assyria €to the river Euphra'tes. King Josi'ah went to meet him; and Pharaoh €Neco slew him at Megid'do, when he saw him. And his servants carried him dead in a chariot from Megid'do, and €brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. And the €people of the land took Jeho'ahaz the son of Josi'ah, and anointed him, €and made him king in his father's stead. @Jeho'ahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he €reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamu'tal the €daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all €that his fathers had done. And Pharaoh Neco put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that €he might not reign in Jerusalem, and laid upon the land a tribute of a žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±²’ļ‚²Ėēó’ؗ˜”ƒhundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. And Pharaoh Neco made Eli'akim the son of Josi'ah king in the place of €Josi'ah his father, and changed his name to Jehoi'akim. But he took €Jeho'ahaz away; and he came to Egypt, and died there. And Jehoi'akim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh, but he taxed €the land to give the money according to the command of Pharaoh. He €exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, from every €one according to his assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Neco. @Jehoi'akim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he €reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zebi'dah the €daughter of Pedai'ah of Rumah. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all €that his fathers had done.  @In his days Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoi'akim €became his servant three years; then he turned and rebelled against him. And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chalde'ans, and bands of the €Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the Ammonites, and €sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the €LORD which he spoke by his servants the prophets. Surely this came upon Judah at the command of the LORD, to remove them €out of his sight, for the sins of Manas'seh, according to all that he €had done, and also for the innocent blood that he had shed; for he filled €Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD would not pardon. Now the rest of the deeds of Jehoi'akim, and all that he did, are they €not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? So Jehoi'akim slept with his fathers, and Jehoi'achin his son reigned €in his stead. And the king of Egypt did not come again out of his land, for the king €of Babylon had taken all that belonged to the king of Egypt from the €Brook of Egypt to the river Euphra'tes. @Jehoi'achin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he €reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Nehush'ta the €daughter of Elna'than of Jerusalem. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all €that his father had done. @At that time the servants of Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon came up €to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. And Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon came to the city, while his €servants were besieging it; and Jehoi'achin the king of Judah gave himself up to the king of €Babylon, himself, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, €and his palace officials. The king of Babylon took him prisoner in the €eighth year of his reign, and carried off all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the €treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of €gold in the temple of the LORD, which Solomon king of Israel had made, €as the LORD had foretold. He carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty €men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the €smiths; none remained, except the poorest people of the land. And he carried away Jehoi'achin to Babylon; the king's mother, the €king's wives, his officials, and the chief men of the land, he took €into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. And the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon all the men of €valor, seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths, one thousand, €all of them strong and fit for war. And the king of Babylon made Mattani'ah, Jehoi'achin's uncle, king in €his stead, and changed his name to Zedeki'ah. @Zedeki'ah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he €reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamu'tal the €daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all €that Jehoi'akim had done. For because of the anger of the LORD it came to the point in Jerusalem €and Judah that he cast them out from his presence. €@And Zedeki'ah rebelled against the king of Babylon.  And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth €day of the month, Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon came with all his €army against Jerusalem, and laid siege to it; and they built siegeworks €against it round about. So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedeki'ah. On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the €city that there was no food for the people of the land. Then a breach was made in the city; the king with all the men of war €fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the €king's garden, though the Chalde'ans were around the city. And they €went in the direction of the Arabah. But the army of the Chalde'ans pursued the king, and overtook him in €the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him. Then they captured the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon €at Riblah, who passed sentence upon him. They slew the sons of Zedeki'ah before his eyes, and put out the eyes €of Zedeki'ah, and bound him in fetters, and took him to Babylon. @In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month -- which was the €nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnez'zar, king of €Babylon -- Nebu'zarad'an, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the €king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. And he burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house and all the €houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. And all the army of the Chalde'ans, who were with the captain of the €guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem. And the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters €who had deserted to the king of Babylon, together with the rest of the €multitude, Nebu'zarad'an the captain of the guard carried into exile. But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be €vinedressers and plowmen. @And the pillars of bronze that were in the house of the LORD, and the €stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of the LORD, the €Chalde'ans broke in pieces, and carried the bronze to Babylon. And they took away the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the €dishes for incense and all the vessels of bronze used in the temple €service, the firepans also, and the bowls. What was of gold the captain of the €guard took away as gold, and what was of silver, as silver. As for the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands, which Solomon had €made for the house of the LORD, the bronze of all these vessels was €beyond weight. The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and upon it was a €capital of bronze; the height of the capital was three cubits; a €network and pomegranates, all of bronze, were upon the capital round €about. And the second pillar had the like, with the network. @And the captain of the guard took Serai'ah the chief priest, and €Zephani'ah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold; and from the city he took an officer who had been in command of the men €of war, and five men of the king's council who were found in the city; €and the secretary of the commander of the army who mustered the people €of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in €the city. And Nebu'zarad'an the captain of the guard took them, and brought them €to the king of Babylon at Riblah. And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death at Riblah in €the land of Hamath. So Judah was taken into exile out of its land. @And over the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom €Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon had left, he appointed Gedali'ah the €son of Ahi'kam, son of Shaphan, governor. Now when all the captains of the forces in the open country and their €men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedali'ah governor, €they came with their men to Gedali'ah at Mizpah, namely, Ish'mael the €son of Nethani'ah, and Joha'nan the son of Kare'ah, and Serai'ah the €son of Tanhu'meth the Netoph'athite, and Ja-azani'ah the son of the €Ma-ac'athite. And Gedali'ah swore to them and their men, saying, "Do not be afraid €because of the Chalde'an officials; dwell in the land, and serve the €king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±²’ļ‚²Ėēó’ؙ˜™But in the seventh month, Ish'mael the son of Nethani'ah, son of €Eli'shama, of the royal family, came with ten men, and attacked and €killed Gedali'ah and the Jews and the Chalde'ans who were with him at €Mizpah. Then all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the €forces arose, and went to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chalde'ans. @And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoi'achin king of €Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, €Evil-mero'dach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, €graciously freed Jehoi'achin king of Judah from prison; and he spoke kindly to him, and gave him a seat above the seats of the €kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoi'achin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life €he dined regularly at the king's table; and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, €every day a portion, as long as he lived. ąļ‚±Ćčņ’”Adam, Seth, Enosh; Kenan, Ma-hal'alel, Jared; Enoch, Methu'selah, Lamech; Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. @The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and €Tiras. The sons of Gomer: Ash'kenaz, Diphath, and Togar'mah. The sons of Javan: Eli'shah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Ro'danim. @The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. The sons of Cush: Seba, Hav'ilah, Sabta, Ra'ama, and Sab'teca. The sons €of Ra'amah: Sheba and Dedan. Cush was the father of Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth. @Egypt was the father of Ludim, An'amim, Le'habim, Naph-tu'him, Pathru'sim, Caslu'him (whence came the Philis'tines), and Caph'torim. @Canaan was the father of Sidon his first-born, and Heth, and the Jeb'usites, the Am'orites, the Gir'gashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Ar'vadites, the Zem'arites, and the Ha'mathites. @The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpach'shad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, €Gether, and Meshech. Arpach'shad was the father of Shelah; and Shelah was the father of Eber. To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg (for in his €days the earth was divided), and the name of his brother Joktan. Joktan was the father of Almo'dad, Sheleph, Hazarma'veth, Jerah, Hador'am, Uzal, Diklah, Ebal, Abim'a-el, Sheba, Ophir, Hav'ilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. @Shem, Arpach'shad, Shelah; Eber, Peleg, Re'u; Serug, Nahor, Terah; Abram, that is, Abraham. @The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ish'mael. These are their genealogies: the first-born of Ish'mael, Neba'ioth; and €Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Ked'emah. These are the sons of Ish'mael. The sons of Ketu'rah, Abraham's concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, €Medan, Mid'ian, Ishbak, and Shu'ah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and €Dedan. The sons of Mid'ian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Elda'ah. All €these were the descendants of Ketu'rah. @Abraham was the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel. The sons of Esau: Eli'phaz, Reu'el, Je'ush, Jalam, and Korah. The sons of Eli'phaz: Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and €Am'alek. The sons of Reu'el: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. @The sons of Se'ir: Lotan, Shobal, Zib'eon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and €Dishan. The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam; and Lotan's sister was Timna. The sons of Shobal: Al'ian, Man'ahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The sons €of Zib'eon: Ai'ah and Anah. The sons of Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, €and Cheran. The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Za'avan, and Ja'akan. The sons of Dishan: Uz €and Aran. @These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king €reigned over the Israelites: Bela the son of Be'or, the name of whose €city was Din'habah. When Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead. When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Te'manites reigned in his €stead. When Husham died, Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated Mid'ian in the €country of Moab, reigned in his stead; and the name of his city was €Avith. When Hadad died, Samlah of Masre'kah reigned in his stead. When Samlah died, Sha'ul of Reho'both on the Euphra'tes reigned in his €stead. When Sha'ul died, Ba'al-ha'nan, the son of Achbor, reigned in his stead. When Ba'al-ha'nan died, Hadad reigned in his stead; and the name of his €city was Pa'i, and his wife's name Mehet'abel the daughter of Matred, €the daughter of Me'zahab. And Hadad died. €@The chiefs of Edom were: chiefs Timna, Al'iah, Jetheth, Oholiba'mah, Elah, Pinon, Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, Mag'di-el, and Iram; these are the chiefs of Edom.  @These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Is'sachar, €Zeb'ulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naph'tali, Gad, and Asher. The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah; these three Bath-shu'a the €Canaanitess bore to him. Now Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the €sight of the LORD, and he slew him. His daughter-in-law Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five €sons in all. @The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara, five in all. The sons of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in €the matter of the devoted thing; and Ethan's son was Azari'ah. @The sons of Hezron, that were born to him: Jerah'meel, Ram, and €Chelu'bai. Ram was the father of Ammin'adab, and Ammin'adab was the father of €Nahshon, prince of the sons of Judah. Nahshon was the father of Salma, Salma of Bo'az, Bo'az of Obed, Obed of Jesse. Jesse was the father of Eli'ab his first-born, Abin'adab the second, €Shim'ea the third, Nethan'el the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh; and their sisters were Zeru'iah and Ab'igail. The sons of Zeru'iah: €Abi'shai, Jo'ab, and As'ahel, three. Ab'igail bore Ama'sa, and the father of Ama'sa was Jether the €Ish'maelite. @Caleb the son of Hezron had children by his wife Azu'bah, and by €Jer'ioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. When Azu'bah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. Hur was the father of Uri, and Uri was the father of Bez'alel. @Afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of €Gilead, whom he married when he was sixty years old; and she bore him €Segub; and Segub was the father of Ja'ir, who had twenty-three cities in the €land of Gilead. But Geshur and Aram took from them Havvoth-ja'ir, Kenath and its €villages, sixty towns. All these were descendants of Machir, the father €of Gilead. After the death of Hezron, Caleb went in to Eph'rathah, the wife of €Hezron his father, and she bore him Ashhur, the father of Teko'a. @The sons of Jerah'meel, the first-born of Hezron: Ram, his €first-born, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahi'jah. Jerah'meel also had another wife, whose name was At'arah; she was the €mother of Onam. The sons of Ram, the first-born of Jerah'meel: Ma'az, Jamin, and Eker. The sons of Onam: Sham'mai and Jada. The sons of Sham'mai: Nadab and €Abi'shur. The name of Abi'shur's wife was Ab'ihail, and she bore him Ahban and €Molid. The sons of Nadab: Seled and Ap'pa-im; and Seled died childless. The sons of Ap'pa-im: Ishi. The sons of Ishi: Sheshan. The sons of €Sheshan: Ahlai. The sons of Jada, Sham'mai's brother: Jether and Jonathan; and Jether €died childless. The sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the descendants of €Jerah'meel. Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters; but Sheshan had an Egyptian €slave, whose name was Jarha. So Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to Jarha his slave; and she €bore him Attai. Attai was the father of Nathan and Nathan of Zabad. Zabad was the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal of Obed. Obed was the father of Jehu, and Jehu of Azari'ah. Azari'ah was the father of Helez, and Helez of Ele-a'sah. Ele-a'sah was the father of Sismai, and Sismai of Shallum. Shallum was the father of Jekami'ah, and Jekami'ah of Eli'shama. @The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerah'meel: Mare'shah his €first-born, who was the father of Ziph. The sons of Mare'shah: Hebron. The sons of Hebron: Korah, Tap'puah, Rekem, and Shema. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±³’ļ‚±Ćčņ’¢˜¬Shema was the father of Raham, the father of Jor'ke-am; and Rekem was €the father of Sham'mai. The son of Sham'mai: Ma'on; and Ma'on was the father of Bethzur. Ephah also, Caleb's concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez; and Haran €was the father of Gazez. The sons of Jah'dai: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Sha'aph. Ma'acah, Caleb's concubine, bore Sheber and Tir'hanah. She also bore Sha'aph the father of Madman'nah, Sheva the father of €Machbe'nah and the father of Gib'e-a; and the daughter of Caleb was €Achsah. These were the descendants of Caleb. €@The sons of Hur the first-born of Eph'rathah: Shobal the father of €Kir'iath-je'arim, Salma, the father of Bethelem, and Hareph the father of Beth-gader. Shobal the father of Kir'iath-je'arim had other sons: Haro'eh, half of €the Menu'hoth. And the families of Kir'iath-je'arim: the Ithrites, the Puthites, the €Shu'mathites, and the Mish'ra-ites; from these came the Zo'rathites and €the Esh'taolites. The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netoph'athites, At'roth-beth-jo'ab, €and half of the Man'aha'thites, the Zorites. The families also of the scribes that dwelt at Jabez: the Ti'rathites, €the Shim'e-athites, and the Su'cathites. These are the Ken'ites who €came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.  @These are the sons of David that were born to him in Hebron: the €first-born Amnon, by Ahin'o-am the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, by €Ab'igail the Car'melitess, the third Ab'salom, whose mother was Ma'acah, the daughter of Talmai, €king of Geshur; the fourth Adoni'jah, whose mother was Haggith; the fifth Shephati'ah, by Abi'tal; the sixth Ith'ream, by his wife €Eglah; six were born to him in Hebron, where he reigned for seven years and €six months. And he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem. These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shim'e-a, Shobab, Nathan and €Solomon, four by Bath-shu'a, the daughter of Am'mi-el; then Ibhar, Eli'shama, Eliph'elet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhi'a, Eli'shama, Eli'ada, and Eliph'elet, nine. All these were David's sons, besides the sons of the concubines; and €Tamar was their sister. @The descendants of Solomon: Rehobo'am, Abi'jah his son, Asa his son, €Jehosh'aphat his son, Joram his son, Ahazi'ah his son, Jo'ash his son, Amazi'ah his son, Azari'ah his son, Jotham his son, Ahaz his son, Hezeki'ah his son, Manas'seh his son, Amon his son, Josi'ah his son. The sons of Josi'ah: Joha'nan the first-born, the second Jehoi'akim, €the third Zedeki'ah, the fourth Shallum. The descendants of Jehoi'akim: Jeconi'ah his son, Zedeki'ah his son; and the sons of Jeconi'ah, the captive: Sheal'tiel his son, Malchi'ram, Pedai'ah, Shenaz'zar, Jekami'ah, Hosh'ama, and Nedabi'ah; and the sons of Pedai'ah: Zerub'babel and Shim'e-i; and the sons of €Zerub'babel: Meshul'lam and Hanani'ah, and Shelo'mith was their sister; and Hashu'bah, Ohel, Berechi'ah, Hasadi'ah, and Ju'shab-he'sed, five. The sons of Hanani'ah: Pelati'ah and Jeshai'ah, his son Rephai'ah, his €son Arnan, his son Obadi'ah, his son Shecani'ah. The sons of Shecani'ah: Shemai'ah. And the sons of Shemai'ah: Hattush, €Igal, Bari'ah, Neari'ah, and Shaphat, six. The sons of Neari'ah: Eli-o-e'nai, Hizki'ah, and Azri'kam, three. The sons of Eli-o-e'nai: Hod'avi'ah, Eli'ashib, Pelai'ah, Akkub, €Joha'nan, Delai'ah, and Ana'ni, seven.  @The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. Re-ai'ah the son of Shobal was the father of Jahath, and Jahath was the €father of Ahu'mai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zo'rathites. These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name €of their sister was Hazzelelpo'ni, and Penu'el was the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. €These were the sons of Hur, the first-born of Eph'rathah, the father of €Bethlehem. Ashhur, the father of Teko'a, had two wives, Helah and Na'arah; Na'arah bore him Ahuz'zam, Hepher, Te'meni, and Ha-ahash'tari. These €were the sons of Na'arah. The sons of Helah: Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan. Koz was the father of Anub, Zobe'bah, and the families of Ahar'hel the €son of Harum. Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his €name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain." Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that thou wouldst bless €me and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that €thou wouldst keep me from harm so that it might not hurt me!" And God €granted what he asked. Chelub, the brother of Shuhah, was the father of Mehir, who was the €father of Eshton. Eshton was the father of Bethra'pha, Pase'ah, and Tehin'nah the father €of Irna'hash. These are the men of Recah. The sons of Kenaz: Oth'ni-el and Serai'ah; and the sons of Oth'ni-el: €Hathath and Meo'nothai. Meo'nothai was the father of Ophrah; and Serai'ah was the father of €Jo'ab the father of Ge-har'ashim, so-called because they were craftsmen. The sons of Caleb the son of Jephun'neh: Iru, Elah, and Na'am; and the €sons of Elah: Kenaz. The sons of Jehal'lelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tir'i-a, and As'arel. The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. These are the sons €of Bith'i-ah, the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married; and she €conceived and bore Miriam, Sham'mai, and Ishbah, the father of €Eshtemo'a. And his Jewish wife bore Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of €Soco, and Jeku'thiel the father of Zano'ah. The sons of the wife of Hodi'ah, the sister of Naham, were the fathers €of Kei'lah the Garmite and Eshtemo'a the Ma-ac'athite. The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-ha'nan, and Tilon. The sons of €Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-zo'heth. The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, La'adah €the father of Mare'shah, and the families of the house of linen workers €at Beth-ashbe'a; and Jokim, and the men of Coze'ba, and Jo'ash, and Saraph, who ruled in €Moab and returned to Lehem (now the records are ancient). These were the potters and inhabitants of Neta'im and Gede'rah; they €dwelt there with the king for his work. @The sons of Simeon: Nem'uel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Sha'ul; Shallum was his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son. The sons of Mishma: Ham'mu-el his son, Zac'cur his son, Shim'e-i his €son. Shim'e-i had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers had not €many children, nor did all their family multiply like the men of Judah. They dwelt in Beer-sheba, Mola'dah, Ha'zar-shu'al, Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, Bethu'el, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth-mar'caboth, Ha'zar-su'sim, Beth-biri, and Sha-ara'im. These were €their cities until David reigned. And their villages were Etam, A'in, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, five €cities, along with all their villages which were round about these cities as €far as Ba'al. These were their settlements, and they kept a €genealogical record. @Mesho'bab, Jamlech, Joshah the son of Amazi'ah, Jo'el, Jehu the son of Joshibi'ah, son of Serai'ah, son of As'i-el, Eli-o-e'nai, Ja-ako'bah, Jeshohai'ah, Asai'ah, Ad'i-el, Jesim'iel, €Benai'ah, Ziza the son of Shiphi, son of Allon, son of Jedai'ah, son of Shimri, €son of Shemai'ah --these mentioned by name were princes in their families, and their €fathers' houses increased greatly. They journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the €valley, to seek pasture for their flocks, where they found rich, good pasture, and the land was very broad, €quiet, and peaceful; for the former inhabitants there belonged to Ham. These, registered by name, came in the days of Hezeki'ah, king of €Judah, and destroyed their tents and the Me-u'nim who were found there, €and exterminated them to this day, and settled in their place, because €there was pasture there for their flocks. And some of them, five hundred men of the Simeonites, went to Mount €Se'ir, having as their leaders Pelati'ah, Ne-ari'ah, Rephai'ah, and €Uz'ziel, the sons of Ishi; and they destroyed the remnant of the Amal'ekites that had escaped, and €they have dwelt there to this day.  @The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the €first-born; but because he polluted his father's couch, his birthright žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±³’ļ‚±Ćčņ’„ƒwas given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he is not €enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright; though Judah became strong among his brothers and a prince was from €him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph), the sons of Reuben, the first-born of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, €and Carmi. The sons of Jo'el: Shemai'ah his son, Gog his son, Shim'e-i his son, Micah his son, Re-ai'ah his son, Ba'al his son, Be-er'ah his son, whom Til'gath-pilne'ser king of Assyria carried away €into exile; he was a chieftain of the Reubenites. And his kinsmen by their families, when the genealogy of their €generations was reckoned: the chief, Je-i'el, and Zechari'ah, and Bela the son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Jo'el, who dwelt in €Aro'er, as far as Nebo and Ba'al-me'on. He also dwelt to the east as far as the entrance of the desert this €side of the Euphra'tes, because their cattle had multiplied in the land €of Gilead. And in the days of Saul they made war on the Hagrites, who fell by €their hand; and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the region €east of Gilead. @The sons of Gad dwelt over against them in the land of Bashan as far €as Sal'ecah: Jo'el the chief, Shapham the second, Ja'nai, and Shaphat in Bashan. And their kinsmen according to their fathers' houses: Michael, €Meshul'lam, Sheba, Jo'rai, Jacan, Zi'a, and Eber, seven. These were the sons of Ab'ihail the son of Huri, son of Jaro'ah, son of €Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshish'ai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz; Ahi the son of Ab'di-el, son of Guni, was chief in their fathers' €houses; and they dwelt in Gilead, in Bashan and in its towns, and in all the €pasture lands of Sharon to their limits. All of these were enrolled by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of €Judah, and in the days of Jerobo'am king of Israel. @The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manas'seh had €valiant men, who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in €war, forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty, ready for service. They made war upon the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab; and when they received help against them, the Hagrites and all who were €with them were given into their hands, for they cried to God in the €battle, and he granted their entreaty because they trusted in him. They carried off their livestock: fifty thousand of their camels, two €hundred and fifty thousand sheep, two thousand asses, and a hundred €thousand men alive. For many fell slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in €their place until the exile. @The members of the half-tribe of Manas'seh dwelt in the land; they €were very numerous from Bashan to Ba'al-her'mon, Senir, and Mount €Hermon. These were the heads of their fathers' houses: Epher, Ishi, Eli'el, €Az'ri-el, Jeremiah, Hodavi'ah, and Jah'di-el, mighty warriors, famous €men, heads of their fathers' houses. But they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and played the €harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had €destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, the €spirit of Til'gath-pilne'ser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, €namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manas'seh, €and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this €day.  @The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merar'i. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uz'ziel. The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: €Nadab, Abi'hu, Elea'zar, and Ith'amar. Elea'zar was the father of Phin'ehas, Phin'ehas of Abishu'a, Abishu'a of Bukki, Bukki of Uzzi, Uzzi of Zerahi'ah, Zerahi'ah of Merai'oth, Merai'oth of Amari'ah, Amari'ah of Ahi'tub, Ahi'tub of Zadok, Zadok of Ahim'a-az, Ahim'a-az of Azari'ah, Azari'ah of Joha'nan, and Joha'nan of Azari'ah (it was he who served as priest in the house €that Solomon built in Jerusalem). Azari'ah was the father of Amari'ah, Amari'ah of Ahi'tub, Ahi'tub of Zadok, Zadok of Shallum, Shallum of Hilki'ah, Hilki'ah of Azari'ah, Azari'ah of Serai'ah, Serai'ah of Jehoz'adak; and Jehoz'adak went into exile when the LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem €into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnez'zar. @The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merar'i. And these are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shim'e-i. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uz'ziel. The sons of Merar'i: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the €Levites according to their fathers. Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, Jo'ah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Je-ath'erai his son. The sons of Kohath: Ammin'adab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, Elka'nah his son, Ebi'asaph his son, Assir his son, Tahath his son, Uri'el his son, Uzzi'ah his son, and Sha'ul his son. The sons of Elka'nah: Ama'sai and Ahi'moth, Elka'nah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, Eli'ab his son, Jero'ham his son, Elka'nah his son. The sons of Samuel: Jo'el his first-born, the second Abi'jah. The sons of Merar'i: Mahli, Libni his son, Shim'e-i his son, Uzzah his €son, Shim'e-a his son, Haggi'ah his son, and Asai'ah his son. @These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in €the house of the LORD, after the ark rested there. They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, €until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem; and they €performed their service in due order. These are the men who served and their sons. Of the sons of the €Ko'hathites: Heman the singer the son of Jo'el, son of Samuel, son of Elka'nah, son of Jero'ham, son of Eli'el, son of To'ah, son of Zuph, son of Elka'nah, son of Mahath, son of Ama'sai, son of Elka'nah, son of Jo'el, son of Azari'ah, son of Zephani'ah, son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebi'asaph, son of Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel; and his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, namely, Asaph the €son of Berechi'ah, son of Shim'e-a, son of Michael, son of Ba-ase'iah, son of Malchi'jah, son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adai'ah, son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shim'e-i, son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi. On the left hand were their brethren the sons of Merar'i: Ethan the son €of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, son of Hashabi'ah, son of Amazi'ah, son of Hilki'ah, son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merar'i, son of Levi; and their brethren the Levites were appointed for all the service of €the tabernacle of the house of God. @But Aaron and his sons made offerings upon the altar of burnt €offering and upon the altar of incense for all the work of the most €holy place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that €Moses the servant of God had commanded. These are the sons of Aaron: Elea'zar his son, Phin'ehas his son, €Abishu'a his son, Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahi'ah his son, Merai'oth his son, Amari'ah his son, Ahi'tub his son, Zadok his son, Ahim'a-az his son. @These are their dwelling places according to their settlements within €their borders: to the sons of Aaron of the families of Ko'hathites, for €theirs was the lot, to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding €pasture lands, but the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son €of Jephun'neh. To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah €with its pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemo'a with its pasture lands, Hilen with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands, Ashan with its pasture lands, and Beth-she'mesh with its pasture lands; and from the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its pasture lands, Al'emeth €with its pasture lands, and An'athoth with its pasture lands. All their €cities throughout their families were thirteen. @To the rest of the Ko'hathites were given by lot out of the family of €the tribe, out of the half-tribe, the half of Manas'seh, ten cities. To the Gershomites according to their families were allotted thirteen žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±³’ļ‚±Ćčņ’¦˜¾‚cities out of the tribes of Is'sachar, Asher, Naph'tali, and Manas'seh €in Bashan. To the Merar'ites according to their families were allotted twelve €cities out of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zeb'ulun. So the people of Israel gave the Levites the cities with their pasture €lands. They also gave them by lot out of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and €Benjamin these cities which are mentioned by name. @And some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their €territory out of the tribe of E'phraim. They were given the cities of refuge: Shechem with its pasture lands in €the hill country of E'phraim, Gezer with its pasture lands, Jok'me-am with its pasture lands, Beth-hor'on with its pasture lands, Ai'jalon with its pasture lands, Gath-rim'mon with its pasture lands, and out of the half-tribe of Manas'seh, Aner with its pasture lands, €and Bil'e-am with its pasture lands, for the rest of the families of €the Ko'hathites. @To the Gershomites were given out of the half-tribe of Manas'seh: €Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands and Ash'taroth with its pasture €lands; and out of the tribe of Is'sachar: Kedesh with its pasture lands, €Dab'erath with its pasture lands, Ramoth with its pasture lands, and Anem with its pasture lands; out of the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its pasture lands, Abdon with €its pasture lands, Hukok with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands; and out of the tribe of Naph'tali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture €lands, Ham'mon with its pasture lands, and Kiriatha'im with its pasture €lands. To the rest of the Merar'ites were allotted out of the tribe of €Zeb'ulun: Rim'mono with its pasture lands, Tabor with its pasture lands, and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, out €of the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the steppe with its pasture lands, €Jahzah with its pasture lands, Ked'emoth with its pasture lands, and Meph'a-ath with its pasture lands; and out of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, €Mahana'im with its pasture lands, Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands.  @The sons of Is'sachar: Tola, Pu'ah, Jashub, and Shimron, four. The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephai'ah, Je'ri-el, Jah'mai, Ibsam, and €Shem'uel, heads of their fathers' houses, namely of Tola, mighty €warriors of their generations, their number in the days of David being €twenty-two thousand six hundred. The sons of Uzzi: Izrahi'ah. And the sons of Izrahi'ah: Michael, €Obadi'ah, Jo'el, and Isshi'ah, five, all of them chief men; and along with them, by their generations, according to their fathers' €houses, were units of the army for war, thirty-six thousand, for they €had many wives and sons. Their kinsmen belonging to all the families of Is'sachar were in all €eighty-seven thousand mighty warriors, enrolled by genealogy. @The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, and Jedi'a-el, three. The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uz'ziel, Jer'imoth, and Iri, five, heads €of fathers' houses, mighty warriors; and their enrollment by €genealogies was twenty-two thousand and thirty-four. The sons of Becher: Zemi'rah, Jo'ash, Elie'zer, Eli-o-e'nai, Omri, €Jer'emoth, Abi'jah, An'athoth, and Al'emeth. All these were the sons of €Becher; and their enrollment by genealogies, according to their generations, as €heads of their fathers' houses, mighty warriors, was twenty thousand €two hundred. The sons of Jedi'a-el: Bilhan. And the sons of Bilhan: Je'ush, €Benjamin, Ehud, Chena'anah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahish'ahar. All these were the sons of Jedi'a-el according to the heads of their €fathers' houses, mighty warriors, seventeen thousand and two hundred, €ready for service in war. And Shuppim and Huppim were the sons of Ir, Hushim the sons of Aher. @The sons of Naph'tali: Jah'zi-el, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the €offspring of Bilhah. @The sons of Manas'seh: As'ri-el, whom his Aramean concubine bore; she €bore Machir the father of Gilead. And Machir took a wife for Huppim and for Shuppim. The name of his €sister was Ma'acah. And the name of the second was Zeloph'ehad; and €Zeloph'ehad had daughters. And Ma'acah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she called his name €Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam €and Rakem. The sons of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead the son of €Machir, son of Manas'seh. And his sister Hammo'lecheth bore Ishhod, Abi-e'zer, and Mahlah. The sons of Shemi'da were Ahi'an, Shechem, Likhi, and Ani'am. @The sons of E'phraim: Shuthe'lah, and Bered his son, Tahath his son, €Ele-a'dah his son, Tahath his son, Zabad his son, Shuthe'lah his son, and Ezer and E'le-ad, whom the men €of Gath who were born in the land slew, because they came down to raid €their cattle. And E'phraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to €comfort him. And E'phraim went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son; and €he called his name Beri'ah, because evil had befallen his house. His daughter was She'erah, who built both Lower and Upper Beth-hor'on, €and Uz'zen-she'erah. Rephah was his son, Resheph his son, Telah his son, Tahan his son, Ladan his son, Ammi'hud his son, Eli'shama his son, Nun his son, Joshua his son. Their possessions and settlements were Bethel and its towns, and €eastward Na'aran, and westward Gezer and its towns, Shechem and its €towns, and Ayyah and its towns; also along the borders of the Manas'sites, Beth-she'an and its towns, €Ta'anach and its towns, Megid'do and its towns, Dor and its towns. In €these dwelt the sons of Joseph the son of Israel. The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beri'ah, and their sister €Serah. The sons of Beri'ah: Heber and Mal'chi-el, who was the father of €Bir'zaith. Heber was the father of Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and their sister Shu'a. The sons of Japhlet: Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the sons of €Japhlet. The sons of Shemer his brother: Rohgah, Jehub'bah, and Aram. The sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. The sons of Zophah: Su'ah, Har'nepher, Shu'al, Beri, Imrah, Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Be-e'ra. The sons of Jether: Jephun'neh, Pispa, and Ara. The sons of Ulla: Arah, Han'niel, and Rizi'a. All of these were men of Asher, heads of fathers' houses, approved, €mighty warriors, chief of the princes. Their number enrolled by €genealogies, for service in war, was twenty-six thousand men.  @Benjamin was the father of Bela his first-born, Ashbel the second, €Ahar'ah the third, Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. And Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abi'hud, Abishu'a, Na'aman, Aho'ah, Gera, Shephu'phan, and Huram. These are the sons of Ehud (they were heads of fathers' houses of the €inhabitants of Geba, and they were carried into exile to Mana'hath): Na'aman, Ahi'jah, and Gera, that is, Heglam, who was the father of Uzza €and Ahi'hud. And Shahara'im had sons in the country of Moab after he had sent away €Hushim and Ba'ara his wives. He had sons by Hodesh his wife: Jobab, Zib'i-a, Mesha, Malcam, Je'uz, Sachi'a, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers' €houses. He also had sons by Hushim: Abi'tub and Elpa'al. The sons of Elpa'al: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod €with its towns, and Beri'ah and Shema (they were heads of fathers' houses of the €inhabitants of Ai'jalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath); and Ahi'o, Shashak, and Jer'emoth. Zebadi'ah, Arad, Eder, Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were sons of Beri'ah. Zebadi'ah, Meshul'lam, Hizki, Heber, Ish'merai, Izli'ah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpa'al. Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, Eli-e'nai, Zil'lethai, Eli'el, Adai'ah, Berai'ah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shim'e-i. Ishpan, Eber, Eli'el, Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, Hanani'ah, Elam, Anthothi'jah, Iphdei'ah, and Penu'el were the sons of Shashak. Sham'sherai, Shehari'ah, Athali'ah, Ja-areshi'ah, Eli'jah, and Zichri were the sons of Jero'ham. These were the heads of fathers' houses, according to their €generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem. @Je-i'el the father of Gibeon dwelt in Gibeon, and the name of his žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±³’ļ‚±Ćčņ’؈˜‚wife was Ma'acah. His first-born son: Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Ba'al, Nadab, Gedor, Ahi'o, Zecher, and Mikloth (he was the father of Shim'e-ah). Now these also dwelt €opposite their kinsmen in Jerusalem, with their kinsmen. Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, €Mal'chishu'a, Abin'adab, and Esh-ba'al; and the son of Jonathan was Mer'ib-ba'al; and Mer'ib-ba'al was the €father of Micah. The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tare'a, and Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Jeho'addah; and Jeho'addah was the father of €Al'emeth, Az'maveth, and Zimri; Zimri was the father of Moza. Moza was the father of Bin'e-a; Raphah was his son, Ele-a'sah his son, €Azel his son. Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azri'kam, Bo'cheru, €Ish'mael, She-ari'ah, Obadi'ah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of €Azel. The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his first-born, Je'ush the second, €and Eliph'elet the third. The sons of Ulam were men who were mighty warriors, bowmen, having many €sons and grandsons, one hundred and fifty. All these were Benjaminites.  @So all Israel was enrolled by genealogies; and these are written in €the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was taken into exile in €Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. Now the first to dwell again in their possessions in their cities were €Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants. And some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, E'phraim, and Manas'seh €dwelt in Jerusalem: Uthai the son of Ammi'hud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, from €the sons of Perez the son of Judah. And of the Shi'lonites: Asai'ah the first-born, and his sons. Of the sons of Zerah: Jeu'el and their kinsmen, six hundred and ninety. Of the Benjaminites: Sallu the son of Meshul'lam, son of Hodavi'ah, son €of Hassenu'ah, Ibne'iah the son of Jero'ham, Elah the son of Uzzi, son of Michri, and €Meshul'lam the son of Shephati'ah, son of Reu'el, son of Ibni'jah; and their kinsmen according to their generations, nine hundred and €fifty-six. All these were heads of fathers' houses according to their €fathers' houses. @Of the priests: Jedai'ah, Jehoi'arib, Jachin, and Azari'ah the son of Hilki'ah, son of Meshul'lam, son of Zadok, son €of Merai'oth, son of Ahi'tub, the chief officer of the house of God; and Adai'ah the son of Jero'ham, son of Pashhur, son of Malchi'jah, and €Ma'asai the son of Ad'i-el, son of Jah'zerah, son of Meshul'lam, son of €Meshil'lemith, son of Immer; besides their kinsmen, heads of their fathers' houses, one thousand €seven hundred and sixty, very able men for the work of the service of €the house of God. @Of the Levites: Shemai'ah the son of Hasshub, son of Azri'kam, son of €Hashabi'ah, of the sons of Merar'i; and Bakbak'kar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattani'ah the son of Mica, son of €Zichri, son of Asaph; and Obadi'ah the son of Shemai'ah, son of Galal, son of Jedu'thun, and €Berechi'ah the son of Asa, son of Elka'nah, who dwelt in the villages €of the Netoph'athites. @The gatekeepers were: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahi'man, and their €kinsmen (Shallum being the chief), stationed hitherto in the king's gate on the east side. These were the €gatekeepers of the camp of the Levites. Shallum the son of Ko're, son of Ebi'asaph, son of Korah, and his €kinsmen of his fathers' house, the Ko'rahites, were in charge of the €work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent, as their €fathers had been in charge of the camp of the LORD, keepers of the €entrance. And Phin'ehas the son of Elea'zar was the ruler over them in time past; €the LORD was with him. Zechari'ah the son of Meshelemi'ah was gatekeeper at the entrance of €the tent of meeting. All these, who were chosen as gatekeepers at the thresholds, were two €hundred and twelve. They were enrolled by genealogies in their €villages. David and Samuel the seer established them in their office of €trust. So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the house of the €LORD, that is, the house of the tent, as guards. The gatekeepers were on the four sides, east, west, north, and south; and their kinsmen who were in their villages were obliged to come in €every seven days, from time to time, to be with these; for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in charge of the €chambers and the treasures of the house of God. And they lodged round about the house of God; for upon them lay the €duty of watching, and they had charge of opening it every morning. @Some of them had charge of the utensils of service, for they were €required to count them when they were brought in and taken out. Others of them were appointed over the furniture, and over all the holy €utensils, also over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, and €the spices. Others, of the sons of the priests, prepared the mixing of the spices, and Mattithi'ah, one of the Levites, the first-born of Shallum the €Ko'rahite, was in charge of making the flat cakes. Also some of their kinsmen of the Ko'hathites had charge of the €showbread, to prepare it every sabbath. @Now these are the singers, the heads of fathers' houses of the €Levites, dwelling in the chambers of the temple free from other €service, for they were on duty day and night. These were heads of fathers' houses of the Levites, according to their €generations, leaders, who lived in Jerusalem. @In Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Je-i'el, and the name of his €wife was Ma'acah, and his first-born son Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Ba'al, Ner, Nadab, Gedor, Ahi'o, Zech-ari'ah and Mikloth; and Mikloth was the father of Shim'e-am; and these also dwelt opposite €their kinsmen in Jerusalem, with their kinsmen. Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, €Mal'chishu'a, Abin'adab, and Eshba'al; and the son of Jonathan was Mer'ib-ba'al; and Mer'ib-ba'al was the €father of Micah. The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahr'e-a, and Ahaz; and Ahaz was the father of Jarah, and Jarah of Al'emeth, Az'maveth, and €Zimri; and Zimri was the father of Moza. Moza was the father of Bin'e-a; and Rephai'ah was his son, Ele-a'sah €his son, Azel his son. Azel had six sons and these are their names: Azri'kam, Bo'cheru, €Ish'mael, She-ari'ah, Obadi'ah, and Hanan; these were the sons of Azel.  @Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled €before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilbo'a. And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines €slew Jonathan and Abin'adab and Mal'chishu'a, the sons of Saul. The battle pressed hard upon Saul, and the archers found him; and he €was wounded by the archers. Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me €through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and make sport of me." €But his armor-bearer would not; for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul €took his own sword, and fell upon it. And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his €sword, and died. Thus Saul died; he and his three sons and all his house died together. And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army €had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their €cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. @On the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they €found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilbo'a. And they stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent €messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good €news to their idols and to the people. And they put his armor in the temple of their gods, and fastened his €head in the temple of Dagon. But when all Ja'besh-gil'ead heard all that the Philistines had done to €Saul, all the valiant men arose, and took away the body of Saul and the €bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. And they buried their €bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days. @So Saul died for his unfaithfulness; he was unfaithful to the LORD in €that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a €medium, seeking guidance, and did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD slew him, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±³’ļ‚±Ćčņ’؊˜Ž‚and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.  @Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron, and said, €"Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you that led out and €brought in Israel; and the LORD your God said to you, `You shall be €shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people €Israel.'" So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and David made €a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David €king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel. @And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is Jebus, where the €Jeb'usites were, the inhabitants of the land. The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You will not come in here." €Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of €David. David said, "Whoever shall smite the Jeb'usites first shall be chief €and commander." And Jo'ab the son of Zeru'iah went up first, so he €became chief. And David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of €David. And he built the city round about from the Millo in complete circuit; €and Jo'ab repaired the rest of the city. And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with €him. @Now these are the chiefs of David's mighty men, who gave him strong €support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, €according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. This is an account of David's mighty men: Jasho'be-am, a Hach'monite, €was chief of the three; he wielded his spear against three hundred whom €he slew at one time. @And next to him among the three mighty men was Elea'zar the son of €Dodo, the Aho'hite. He was with David at Pas-dam'mim when the Philistines were gathered €there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley, and the €men fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and €slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great victory. @Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David at the €cave of Adullam, when the army of Philistines was encamped in the €valley of Reph'aim. David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines €was then at Bethlehem. And David said longingly, "O that some one would give me water to drink €from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!" Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, €and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and €took and brought it to David. But David would not drink of it; he €poured it out to the LORD, and said, "Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall €I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they €brought it." Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the €three mighty men. @Now Abi'shai, the brother of Jo'ab, was chief of the thirty. And he €wielded his spear against three hundred men and slew them, and won a €name beside the three. He was the most renowned of the thirty, and became their commander; but €he did not attain to the three. @And Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a €doer of great deeds; he smote two ariels of Moab. He also went down and €slew a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The €Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver's beam; but Benai'ah €went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear out of the €Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear. These things did Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada, and won a name beside €the three mighty men. He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. €And David set him over his bodyguard. @The mighty men of the armies were As'ahel the brother of Jo'ab, €Elha'nan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, Shammoth of Harod, Helez the Pel'onite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Teko'a, Abi-e'zer of An'athoth, Sib'becai the Hu'shathite, I'lai the Aho'hite, Ma'harai of Netoph'ah, Heled the son of Ba'anah of Netoph'ah, Ithai the son of Ribai of Gib'e-ah of the Benjaminites, Benai'ah of €Pira'thon, Hurai of the brooks of Ga'ash, Abi'el the Ar'bathite, Az'maveth of Baha'rum, Eli'ahba of Sha-al'bon, Hashem the Gi'zonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Har'arite, Ahi'am the son of Sachar the Har'arite, Eli'phal the son of Ur, Hepher the Meche'rathite, Ahi'jah the Pel'onite, Hezro of Carmel, Na'arai the son of Ezbai, Jo'el the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, Zelek the Ammonite, Na'harai of Be-er'oth, the armor-bearer of Jo'ab €the son of Zeru'iah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, Uri'ah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, Ad'ina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites, and €thirty with him, Hanan the son of Ma'acah, and Josh'aphat the Mithnite, Uzzi'a the Ash'terathite, Shama and Je-i'el the sons of Hotham the €Aro'erite, Jedi'a-el the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, Eli'el the Ma'havite, and Jer'ibai, and Joshavi'ah, the sons of €El'na-am, and Ithmah the Mo'abite, Eli'el, and Obed, and Ja-asi'el the Mezo'ba-ite.  @Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not €move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among €the mighty men who helped him in war. They were bowmen, and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either €the right or the left hand; they were Benjaminites, Saul's kinsmen. The chief was Ahi-e'zer, then Jo'ash, both sons of Shema'ah of €Gib'e-ah; also Je'zi-el and Pelet the sons of Az'maveth; Ber'acah, Jehu €of An'athoth, Ishma'iah of Gibeon, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader over €the thirty; Jeremiah, Jaha'ziel, Joha'nan, Joz'abad of Gede'rah, Elu'zai, Jer'imoth, Beali'ah, Shemari'ah, Shephati'ah the Har'uphite; Elka'nah, Isshi'ah, Az'arel, Jo-e'zer, and Jasho'be-am, the Ko'rahites; and Joe'lah and Zebadi'ah, the sons of Jero'ham of Gedor. @From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the €wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and €spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as €gazelles upon the mountains: Ezer the chief, Obadi'ah second, Eli'ab third, Mishman'nah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, Attai sixth, Eli'el seventh, Joha'nan eighth, Elza'bad ninth, Jeremiah tenth, Mach'bannai eleventh. These Gadites were officers of the army, the lesser over a hundred and €the greater over a thousand. These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it €was overflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the €valleys, to the east and to the west. @And some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to €David. David went out to meet them and said to them, "If you have come to me €in friendship to help me, my heart will be knit to you; but if to €betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, €then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you." Then the Spirit came upon Ama'sai, chief of the thirty, and he said, €@@"We are yours, O David; €@@@and with you, O son of Jesse! €@@Peace, peace to you, €@@@and peace to your helpers! €@@@For your God helps you." €Then David received them, and made them officers of his troops. @Some of the men of Manas'seh deserted to David when he came with the €Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for €the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, €"At peril to our heads he will desert to his master Saul.") As he went to Ziklag these men of Manas'seh deserted to him: Adnah, €Joz'abad, Jedi'a-el, Michael, Joz'abad, Eli'hu, and Zil'lethai, chiefs €of thousands in Manas'seh. They helped David against the band of raiders; for they were all mighty €men of valor, and were commanders in the army. For from day to day men kept coming to David to help him, until there €was a great army, like an army of God. @These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops, who came €to David in Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±³’ļ‚±Ćčņ’،˜—ƒto the word of the LORD. The men of Judah bearing shield and spear were six thousand eight €hundred armed troops. Of the Simeonites, mighty men of valor for war, seven thousand one €hundred. Of the Levites four thousand six hundred. The prince Jehoi'ada, of the house of Aaron, and with him three €thousand seven hundred. Zadok, a young man mighty in valor, and twenty-two commanders from his €own father's house. Of the Benjaminites, the kinsmen of Saul, three thousand, of whom the €majority had hitherto kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. Of the E'phraimites twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, €famous men in their fathers' houses. Of the half-tribe of Manas'seh eighteen thousand, who were expressly €named to come and make David king. Of Is'sachar men who had understanding of the times, to know what €Israel ought to do, two hundred chiefs, and all their kinsmen under €their command. Of Zeb'ulun fifty thousand seasoned troops, equipped for battle with €all the weapons of war, to help David with singleness of purpose. Of Naph'tali a thousand commanders with whom were thirty-seven thousand €men armed with shield and spear. Of the Danites twenty-eight thousand six hundred men equipped for €battle. Of Asher forty thousand seasoned troops ready for battle. Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manas'seh from €beyond the Jordan, one hundred and twenty thousand men armed with all €the weapons of war. @All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with €full intent to make David king over all Israel; likewise all the rest €of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for €their brethren had made preparation for them. And also their neighbors, from as far as Is'sachar and Zeb'ulun and €Naph'tali, came bringing food on asses and on camels and on mules and €on oxen, abundant provisions of meal, cakes of figs, clusters of €raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.  @David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, €with every leader. And David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, €and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our €brethren who remain in all the land of Israel, and with them to the €priests and Levites in the cities that have pasture lands, that they €may come together to us. Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us; for we neglected it €in the days of Saul." All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes €of all the people. So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor of Egypt to the entrance €of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kir'iath-je'arim. And David and all Israel went up to Ba'alah, that is, to €Kir'iath-je'arim which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark €of God, which is called by the name of the LORD who sits enthroned €above the cherubim. And they carried the ark of God upon a new cart, from the house of €Abin'adab, and Uzzah and Ahi'o were driving the cart. And David and all Israel were making merry before God with all their €might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and €trumpets. @And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out €his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and he smote him €because he put forth his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. And David was angry because the LORD had broken forth upon Uzzah; and €that place is called Pe'rez-uz'za to this day. And David was afraid of God that day; and he said, "How can I bring the €ark of God home to me?" So David did not take the ark home into the city of David, but took it €aside to the house of O'bed-e'dom the Gittite. And the ark of God remained with the household of O'bed-e'dom in his €house three months; and the LORD blessed the household of O'bed-e'dom €and all that he had.  @And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, €also masons and carpenters to build a house for him. And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, €and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people €Israel. @And David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and €daughters. These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammu'a, €Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Eli'shu-a, El'pelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhi'a, Eli'shama, Beeli'ada, and Eliph'elet. @When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all €Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard €of it and went out against them. Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Reph'aim. And David inquired of God, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Wilt €thou give them into my hand?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up, and I €will give them into your hand." And he went up to Ba'al-pera'zim, and David defeated them there; and €David said, "God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a €bursting flood." Therefore the name of that place is called €Ba'al-pera'zim. And they left their gods there, and David gave command, and they were €burned. @And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley. And when David again inquired of God, God said to him, "You shall not €go up after them; go around and come upon them opposite the balsam €trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam €trees, then go out to battle; for God has gone out before you to smite €the army of the Philistines." And David did as God commanded him, and they smote the Philistine army €from Gibeon to Gezer. And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the LORD brought the €fear of him upon all nations.  @David built houses for himself in the city of David; and he prepared €a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it. Then David said, "No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for €the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister to him €for ever." And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the €LORD to its place, which he had prepared for it. And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites: of the sons of Kohath, Uri'el the chief, with a hundred and twenty of €his brethren; of the sons of Merar'i, Asai'ah the chief, with two hundred and twenty €of his brethren; of the sons of Gershom, Jo'el the chief, with a hundred and thirty of €his brethren; of the sons of Eli-za'phan, Shemai'ah the chief, with two hundred of €his brethren; of the sons of Hebron, Eli'el the chief, with eighty of his brethren; of the sons of Uz'ziel, Ammin'adab the chief, with a hundred and twelve €of his brethren. Then David summoned the priests Zadok and Abi'athar, and the Levites €Uri'el, Asai'ah, Jo'el, Shemai'ah, Eli'el, and Ammin'adab, and said to them, "You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the €Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, so that you may €bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place that I €have prepared for it. Because you did not carry it the first time, the LORD our God broke €forth upon us, because we did not care for it in the way that is €ordained." So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the €ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. And the Levites carried the ark of God upon their shoulders with the €poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD. David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their €brethren as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, €on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Jo'el; and of his brethren €Asaph the son of Berechi'ah; and of the sons of Merar'i, their €brethren, Ethan the son of Kusha'iah; and with them their brethren of the second order, Zechari'ah, €Ja-a'ziel, Shemi'ramoth, Jehi'el, Unni, Eli'ab, Benai'ah, Ma-asei'ah, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±³’ļ‚±Ćčņ’؏˜’ƒMattithi'ah, Eliph'elehu, and Miknei'ah, and the gatekeepers €O'bed-e'dom and Je-i'el. The singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound bronze cymbals; Zechari'ah, A'zi-el, Shemi'ramoth, Jehi'el, Unni, Eli'ab, Ma-asei'ah, €and Benai'ah were to play harps according to Al'amoth; but Mattithi'ah, Eliph'elehu, Miknei'ah, O'bed-e'dom, Je-i'el, and €Azazi'ah were to lead with lyres according to the Shem'inith. Chenani'ah, leader of the Levites in music, should direct the music, €for he understood it. Berechi'ah and Elka'nah were to be gatekeepers for the ark. Shebani'ah, Josh'aphat, Nethan'el, Ama'sai, Zechari'ah, Benai'ah, and €Elie'zer, the priests, should blow the trumpets before the ark of God. €O'bed-e'dom and Jehi'ah also were to be gatekeepers for the ark. @So David and the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands, €went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of €O'bed-e'dom with rejoicing. And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the €covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the €Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers, and Chenani'ah the €leader of the music of the singers; and David wore a linen ephod. So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with €shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made €loud music on harps and lyres. @And as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, €Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King €David dancing and making merry; and she despised him in her heart.  @And they brought the ark of God, and set it inside the tent which €David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt offerings and peace €offerings before God. And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace €offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD, and distributed to all Israel, both men and women, to each a loaf of €bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. @Moreover he appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the €ark of the LORD, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the LORD, the God €of Israel. Asaph was the chief, and second to him were Zechari'ah, Je-i'el, €Shemi'ramoth, Jehi'el, Mattithi'ah, Eli'ab, Benai'ah, O'bed-e'dom, and €Je-i'el, who were to play harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the €cymbals, and Benai'ah and Jaha'ziel the priests were to blow trumpets €continually, before the ark of the covenant of God. @Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to €the LORD by Asaph and his brethren. @@O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, €@@@make known his deeds among the peoples! @@Sing to him, sing praises to him, €@@@tell of all his wonderful works! @@Glory in his holy name; €@@@let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! @@Seek the LORD and his strength, €@@@seek his presence continually! @@Remember the wonderful works that he has done, €@@@the wonders he wrought, the judgments he uttered, @@O offspring of Abraham his servant, €@@@sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! @@He is the LORD our God; €@@@his judgments are in all the earth. @@He is mindful of his covenant for ever, €@@@of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, @@the covenant which he made with Abraham, €@@@his sworn promise to Isaac, @@which he confirmed as a statute to Jacob, €@@@as an everlasting covenant to Israel, @@saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan, €@@@as your portion for an inheritance." @@When they were few in number, €@@@and of little account, and sojourners in it, @@wandering from nation to nation, €@@@from one kingdom to another people, @@he allowed no one to oppress them; €@@@he rebuked kings on their account, @@saying, "Touch not my anointed ones, €@@@do my prophets no harm!" @@Sing to the Lord, all the earth! €@@@Tell of his salvation from day to day. @@Declare his glory among the nations, €@@@his marvelous works among all the peoples! @@For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, €@@@and he is to be held in awe above all gods. @@For all the gods of the peoples are idols; €@@@but the LORD made the heavens. @@Honor and majesty are before him; €@@@strength and joy are in his place. @@Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, €@@@ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! @@Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; €@@@bring an offering, and come before him! €@@Worship the LORD in holy array; @@@tremble before him, all the earth; €@@@yea, the world stands firm, never to be moved. @@Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, €@@@and let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!" @@Let the sea roar, and all that fills it, €@@@let the field exult, and everything in it! @@Then shall the trees of the wood sing for joy €@@@before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. @@O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever! @Say also: €@@"Deliver us, O God of our salvation, €@@@and gather and save us from among the nations, €@@that we may give thanks to thy holy name, €@@@and glory in thy praise. @@Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, €@@@from everlasting to everlasting!" €Then all the people said "Amen!" and praised the LORD. @So David left Asaph and his brethren there before the ark of the €covenant of the LORD to minister continually before the ark as each day €required, and also O'bed-e'dom and his sixty-eight brethren; while O'bed-e'dom, €the son of Jedu'thun, and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. And he left Zadok the priest and his brethren the priests before the €tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon, to offer burnt offerings to the LORD upon the altar of burnt offering €continually morning and evening, according to all that is written in €the law of the LORD which he commanded Israel. With them were Heman and Jedu'thun, and the rest of those chosen and €expressly named to give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love €endures for ever. Heman and Jedu'thun had trumpets and cymbals for the music and €instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jedu'thun were appointed to €the gate. @Then all the people departed each to his house, and David went home €to bless his household.  @Now when David dwelt in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, €"Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of €the LORD is under a tent." And Nathan said to David, "Do all that is in your heart, for God is €with you." @But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, `Thus says the LORD: You shall not build €me a house to dwell in. For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I led up Israel to this €day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all Israel, did I speak a word €with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my €people, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"' Now therefore thus shall you say to my servant David, `Thus says the €LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, €that you should be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your €enemies from before you; and I will make for you a name, like the name €of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, €that they may dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and €violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will €subdue all your enemies. Moreover I declare to you that the LORD will €build you a house. When your days are fulfilled to go to be with your fathers, I will €raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will €establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son; I will not take my žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±³’ļ‚±Ćčņ’ؑ˜‚steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom for ever and his €throne shall be established for ever.'" In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this €vision, Nathan spoke to David. @Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and said, "Who am I, €O LORD God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? And this was a small thing in thy eyes, O God; thou hast also spoken of €thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast shown me future €generations, O LORD God! And what more can David say to thee for honoring thy servant? For thou €knowest thy servant. For thy servant's sake, O LORD, and according to thy own heart, thou €hast wrought all this greatness, in making known all these great things. There is none like thee, O LORD, and there is no God besides thee, €according to all that we have heard with our ears. What other nation on earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to €redeem to be his people, making for thyself a name for great and €terrible things, in driving out nations before thy people whom thou €didst redeem from Egypt? And thou didst make thy people Israel to be thy people for ever; and €thou, O LORD, didst become their God. And now, O LORD, let the word which thou hast spoken concerning thy €servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as €thou hast spoken; and thy name will be established and magnified for ever, saying, `The €LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel's God,' and the house of €thy servant David will be established before thee. For thou, my God, hast revealed to thy servant that thou wilt build a €house for him; therefore thy servant has found courage to pray before €thee. And now, O LORD, thou art God, and thou hast promised this good thing €to thy servant; now therefore may it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, €that it may continue for ever before thee; for what thou, O LORD, hast €blessed is blessed for ever."  @After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he €took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines. And he defeated Moab, and the Mo'abites became servants to David and €brought tribute. David also defeated Hadade'zer king of Zobah, toward Hamath, as he went €to set up his monument at the river Euphra'tes. And David took from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, €and twenty thousand foot soldiers; and David hamstrung all the chariot €horses, but left enough for a hundred chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadade'zer king of Zobah, €David slew twenty-two thousand men of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became €servants to David, and brought tribute. And the LORD gave victory to €David wherever he went. And David took the shields of gold which were carried by the servants €of Hadade'zer, and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadade'zer, David took very €much bronze; with it Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and €the vessels of bronze. @When To'u king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army €of Hadade'zer, king of Zobah, he sent his son Hador'am to King David, to greet him, and to €congratulate him because he had fought against Hadade'zer and defeated €him; for Hadade'zer had often been at war with To'u. And he sent all €sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of bronze; these also King David dedicated to the LORD, together with the silver €and gold which he had carried off from all the nations, from Edom, €Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Am'alek. @And Abi'shai, the son of Zeru'iah, slew eighteen thousand E'domites €in the Valley of Salt. And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the E'domites became David's €servants. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. @So David reigned over all Israel; and he administered justice and €equity to all his people. And Jo'ab the son of Zeru'iah was over the army; and Jehosh'aphat the €son of Ahi'lud was recorder; and Zadok the son of Ahi'tub and Ahim'elech the son of Abi'athar were €priests; and Shavsha was secretary; and Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada was over the Cher'ethites and the €Pel'ethites; and David's sons were the chief officials in the service €of the king.  @Now after this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died, and his son €reigned in his stead. And David said, "I will deal loyally with Hanun the son of Nahash, for €his father dealt loyally with me." So David sent messengers to console €him concerning his father. And David's servants came to Hanun in the €land of the Ammonites, to console him. But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, "Do you think, because €David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Have €not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out €the land?" So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their €garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away; and they departed. When David was told concerning the men, he sent to €meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, "Remain €at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return." @When the Ammonites saw that they had made themselves odious to David, €Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire €chariots and horsemen from Mesopota'mia, from Aram-ma'acah, and from €Zobah. They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Ma'acah with €his army, who came and encamped before Med'eba. And the Ammonites were €mustered from their cities and came to battle. When David heard of it, he sent Jo'ab and all the army of the mighty €men. And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance €of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the open €country. @When Jo'ab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and €in the rear, he chose some of the picked men of Israel, and arrayed €them against the Syrians; the rest of his men he put in the charge of Abi'shai his brother, and €they were arrayed against the Ammonites. And he said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help €me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will help you. Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the €cities of our God; and may the LORD do what seems good to him." So Jo'ab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians €for battle; and they fled before him. And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled €before Abi'shai, Jo'ab's brother, and entered the city. Then Jo'ab came €to Jerusalem. @But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they €sent messengers and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the €Euphra'tes, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadade'zer at €their head. And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and €crossed the Jordan, and came to them, and drew up his forces against €them. And when David set the battle in array against the Syrians, they €fought with him. And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians the €men of seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand foot soldiers, and €killed also Shophach the commander of their army. And when the servants of Hadade'zer saw that they had been defeated by €Israel, they made peace with David, and became subject to him. So the €Syrians were not willing to help the Ammonites any more.  @In the spring of the year, the time when kings go forth to battle, €Jo'ab led out the army, and ravaged the country of the Ammonites, and €came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. And Jo'ab €smote Rabbah, and overthrew it. And David took the crown of their king from his head; he found that it €weighed a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was €placed on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city, a €very great amount. And he brought forth the people who were in it, and set them to labor žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±³’ļ‚±Ćčņ’ؔ“‚with saws and iron picks and axes; and thus David did to all the cities €of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. @And after this there arose war with the Philistines at Gezer; then €Sib'becai the Hu'shathite slew Sip'pai, who was one of the descendants €of the giants; and the Philistines were subdued. And there was again war with the Philistines; and Elha'nan the son of €Ja'ir slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose €spear was like a weaver's beam. And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great €stature, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, €twenty-four in number; and he also was descended from the giants. And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shim'e-a, David's €brother, slew him. These were descended from the giants in Gath; and they fell by the hand €of David and by the hand of his servants.  @Satan stood up against Israel, and incited David to number Israel. So David said to Jo'ab and the commanders of the army, "Go, number €Israel, from Beer-sheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know €their number." But Jo'ab said, "May the LORD add to his people a hundred times as many €as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord's €servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should he bring €guilt upon Israel?" But the king's word prevailed against Jo'ab. So Jo'ab departed and went €throughout all Israel, and came back to Jerusalem. And Jo'ab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all €Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who drew the €sword, and in Judah four hundred and seventy thousand who drew the €sword. But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the €king's command was abhorrent to Jo'ab. @But God was displeased with this thing, and he smote Israel. And David said to God, "I have sinned greatly in that I have done this €thing. But now, I pray thee, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for €I have done very foolishly." And the LORD spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying, "Go and say to David, `Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer you; €choose one of them, that I may do it to you.'" So Gad came to David and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, `Take which €you will: either three years of famine; or three months of devastation by your €foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you; or else three days €of the sword of the LORD, pestilence upon the land, and the angel of €the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now decide €what answer I shall return to him who sent me." Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; let me fall into the €hand of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but let me not fall into €the hand of man." @So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel; and there fell seventy €thousand men of Israel. And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but when he was €about to destroy it, the LORD saw, and he repented of the evil; and he €said to the destroying angel, "It is enough; now stay your hand." And €the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the €Jeb'usite. And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing €between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out €over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell €upon their faces. And David said to God, "Was it not I who gave command to number the €people? It is I who have sinned and done very wickedly. But these €sheep, what have they done? Let thy hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, €be against me and against my father's house; but let not the plague be €upon thy people." @Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David that David €should go up and rear an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of €Ornan the Jeb'usite. So David went up at Gad's word, which he had spoken in the name of the €LORD. Now Ornan was threshing wheat; he turned and saw the angel, and his €four sons who were with him hid themselves. As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went forth from €the threshing floor, and did obeisance to David with his face to the €ground. And David said to Ornan, "Give me the site of the threshing floor that €I may build on it an altar to the LORD -- give it to me at its full €price -- that the plague may be averted from the people." Then Ornan said to David, "Take it; and let my lord the king do what €seems good to him; see, I give the oxen for burnt offerings, and the €threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for a cereal offering. I €give it all." But King David said to Ornan, "No, but I will buy it for the full €price; I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt €offerings which cost me nothing." So David paid Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the site. And David built there an altar to the LORD and presented burnt €offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD, and he €answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. Then the LORD commanded the angel; and he put his sword back into its €sheath. @At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him at the €threshing floor of Ornan the Jeb'usite, he made his sacrifices there. For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the wilderness, €and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at €Gibeon; but David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid €of the sword of the angel of the LORD.  @Then David said, "Here shall be the house of the LORD God and here €the altar of burnt offering for Israel." @David commanded to gather together the aliens who were in the land of €Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building €the house of God. David also provided great stores of iron for nails for the doors of the €gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, and cedar timbers without number; for the Sido'nians and Tyrians €brought great quantities of cedar to David. For David said, "Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the €house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, €of fame and glory throughout all lands; I will therefore make €preparation for it." So David provided materials in great quantity €before his death. @Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build a house €for the LORD, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon, "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house €to the name of the LORD my God. But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, `You have shed much blood €and have waged great wars; you shall not build a house to my name, €because you have shed so much blood before me upon the earth. Behold, a son shall be born to you; he shall be a man of peace. I will €give him peace from all his enemies round about; for his name shall be €Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be €his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel for ever.' Now, my son, the LORD be with you, so that you may succeed in building €the house of the LORD your God, as he has spoken concerning you. Only, may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when he €gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God. Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and €the ordinances which the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong, €and of good courage. Fear not; be not dismayed. With great pains I have provided for the house of the LORD a hundred €thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and €iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone too €I have provided. To these you must add. You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and €all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and be doing! The LORD be with €you!" žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±³’ļ‚±Ćčņ’ؖ˜‘@David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his €son, saying, "Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not given you peace on €every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my €hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD and his people. Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God. Arise and build €the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that the ark of the covenant of the €LORD and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for €the name of the LORD."  @When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king €over Israel. @David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the €Levites. The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were numbered, and the total €was thirty-eight thousand men. "Twenty-four thousand of these," David said, "shall have charge of the €work in the house of the LORD, six thousand shall be officers and €judges, four thousand gatekeepers, and four thousand shall offer praises to the €LORD with the instruments which I have made for praise." And David organized them in divisions corresponding to the sons of €Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merar'i. @The sons of Gersham were Ladan and Shim'e-i. The sons of Ladan: Jehi'el the chief, and Zetham, and Jo'el, three. The sons of Shim'e-i: Shelo'moth, Ha'zi-el, and Haran, three. These €were the heads of the fathers' houses of Ladan. And the sons of Shim'e-i: Jahath, Zina, and Je'ush, and Beri'ah. These €four were the sons of Shim'e-i. Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Je'ush and Beri'ah had €not many sons, therefore they became a father's house in one reckoning. @The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uz'ziel, four. The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to consecrate €the most holy things, that he and his sons for ever should burn incense €before the LORD, and minister to him and pronounce blessings in his €name for ever. But the sons of Moses the man of God were named among the tribe of Levi. The sons of Moses: Gershom and Elie'zer. The sons of Gershom: Sheb'uel the chief. The sons of Elie'zer: Rehabi'ah the chief; Elie'zer had no other sons, €but the sons of Rehabi'ah were very many. The sons of Izhar: Shelo'mith the chief. The sons of Hebron: Jeri'ah the chief, Amari'ah the second, Jaha'ziel €the third, and Jekame'am the fourth. The sons of Uz'ziel: Micah the chief and Isshi'ah the second. @The sons of Merar'i: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Elea'zar and €Kish. Elea'zar died having no sons, but only daughters; their kinsmen, the €sons of Kish, married them. The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jer'emoth, three. @These were the sons of Levi by their fathers' houses, the heads of €fathers' houses as they were registered according to the number of the €names of the individuals from twenty years old and upward who were to €do the work for the service of the house of the LORD. For David said, "The LORD, the God of Israel, has given peace to his €people; and he dwells in Jerusalem for ever. And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the €things for its service" --for by the last words of David these were the number of the Levites €from twenty years old and upward --"but their duty shall be to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of €the house of the LORD, having the care of the courts and the chambers, €the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the €house of God; to assist also with the showbread, the flour for the cereal offering, €the wafers of unleavened bread, the baked offering, the offering mixed €with oil, and all measures of quantity or size. And they shall stand every morning, thanking and praising the LORD, and €likewise at evening, and whenever burnt offerings are offered to the LORD on sabbaths, new €moons, and feast days, according to the number required of them, €continually before the LORD. Thus they shall keep charge of the tent of meeting and the sanctuary, €and shall attend the sons of Aaron, their brethren, for the service of €the house of the LORD."  @The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: €Nadab, Abi'hu, Elea'zar, and Ith'amar. But Nadab and Abi'hu died before their father, and had no children, so €Elea'zar and Ith'amar became the priests. With the help of Zadok of the sons of Elea'zar, and Ahim'elech of the €sons of Ith'amar, David organized them according to the appointed €duties in their service. Since more chief men were found among the sons of Elea'zar than among €the sons of Ith'amar, they organized them under sixteen heads of €fathers' houses of the sons of Elea'zar, and eight of the sons of €Ith'amar. They organized them by lot, all alike, for there were officers of the €sanctuary and officers of God among both the sons of Elea'zar and the €sons of Ith'amar. And the scribe Shemai'ah the son of Nethan'el, a Levite, recorded them €in the presence of the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and €Ahim'elech the son of Abi'athar, and the heads of the fathers' houses €of the priests and of the Levites; one father's house being chosen for €Elea'zar and one chosen for Ith'amar. @The first lot fell to Jehoi'arib, the second to Jedai'ah, the third to Harim, the fourth to Se-o'rim, the fifth to Malchi'jah, the sixth to Mij'amin, the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abi'jah, the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecani'ah, the eleventh to Eli'ashib, the twelfth to Jakim, the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jesheb'e-ab, the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Hap'pizzez, the nineteenth to Pethahi'ah, the twentieth to Jehez'kel, the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul, the twenty-third to Delai'ah, the twenty-fourth to Ma-azi'ah. These had as their appointed duty in their service to come into the €house of the LORD according to the procedure established for them by €Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him. @And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shu'ba-el; €of the sons of Shu'ba-el, Jehde'iah. Of Rehabi'ah: of the sons of Rehabi'ah, Isshi'ah the chief. Of the Iz'harites, Shelo'moth; of the sons of Shelo'moth, Jahath. The sons of Hebron: Jeri'ah the chief, Amari'ah the second, Jaha'ziel €the third, Jekame'am the fourth. The sons of Uz'ziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir. The brother of Micah, Isshi'ah; of the sons of Isshi'ah, Zechari'ah. The sons of Merar'i: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Ja-azi'ah: Beno. The sons of Merar'i: of Ja-azi'ah, Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. Of Mahli: Elea'zar, who had no sons. Of Kish, the sons of Kish: Jerah'meel. The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jer'imoth. These were the sons of €the Levites according to their fathers' houses. These also, the head of each father's house and his younger brother €alike, cast lots, just as their brethren the sons of Aaron, in the €presence of King David, Zadok, Ahim'elech, and the heads of fathers' €houses of the priests and of the Levites.  @David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service €certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jedu'thun, who €should prophesy with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals. The list of €those who did the work and of their duties was: Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethani'ah, and Ashare'lah, sons €of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the €direction of the king. Of Jedu'thun, the sons of Jedu'thun: Gedali'ah, Zeri, Jeshai'ah, €Shim'e-i, Hashabi'ah, and Mattithi'ah, six, under the direction of €their father Jedu'thun, who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving €and praise to the LORD. Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukki'ah, Mattani'ah, Uz'ziel, Shebu'el, €and Jer'imoth, Hanani'ah, Hana'ni, Eli'athah, Giddal'ti, and €Romam'ti-e'zer, Joshbekash'ah, Mallo'thi, Hothir, Maha'zi-oth. All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer, according to the €promise of God to exalt him; for God had given Heman fourteen sons and €three daughters. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±³’ļ‚±Ćčņ’ؙ–They were all under the direction of their father in the music in the €house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the €house of God. Asaph, Jedu'thun, and Heman were under the order of the €king. The number of them along with their brethren, who were trained in €singing to the LORD, all who were skilful, was two hundred and €eighty-eight. And they cast lots for their duties, small and great, teacher and pupil €alike. @The first lot fell for Asaph to Joseph; the second to Gedali'ah, to €him and his brethren and his sons, twelve; the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brethren, twelve; the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brethren, twelve; the fifth to Nethani'ah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; the sixth to Bukki'ah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; the seventh to Jeshare'lah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; the eighth to Jeshai'ah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; the ninth to Mattani'ah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; the tenth to Shim'e-i, his sons and his brethren, twelve; the eleventh to Az'arel, his sons and his brethren, twelve; the twelfth to Hashabi'ah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; to the thirteenth, Shu'ba-el, his sons and his brethren, twelve; to the fourteenth, Mattithi'ah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; to the fifteenth, to Jer'emoth, his sons and his brethren, twelve; to the sixteenth, to Hanani'ah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; to the seventeenth, to Joshbekash'ah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; to the eighteenth, to Hana'ni, his sons and his brethren, twelve; to the nineteenth, to Mallo'thi, his sons and his brethren, twelve; to the twentieth, to Eli'athah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; to the twenty-first, to Hothir, his sons and his brethren, twelve; to the twenty-second, to Giddal'ti, his sons and his brethren, twelve; to the twenty-third, to Maha'zi-oth, his sons and his brethren, twelve; to the twenty-fourth, to Romam'ti-e'zer, his sons and his brethren, €twelve.  @As for the divisions of the gatekeepers: of the Ko'rahites, €Meshelemi'ah the son of Ko're, of the sons of Asaph. And Meshelemi'ah had sons: Zechari'ah the first-born, Jedi'a-el the €second, Zebadi'ah the third, Jath'ni-el the fourth, Elam the fifth, Jehoha'nan the sixth, Eli-e-ho-e'nai the seventh. And O'bed-e'dom had sons: Shemai'ah the first-born, Jehoz'abad the €second, Jo'ah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethan'el the fifth, Am'mi-el the sixth, Is'sachar the seventh, Pe-ul'lethai the eighth; for €God blessed him. Also to his son Shemai'ah were sons born who were rulers in their €fathers' houses, for they were men of great ability. The sons of Shemai'ah: Othni, Reph'a-el, Obed, and Elza'bad, whose €brethren were able men, Eli'hu and Semachi'ah. All these were of the sons of O'bed-e'dom with their sons and brethren, €able men qualified for the service; sixty-two of O'bed-e'dom. And Meshelemi'ah had sons and brethren, able men, eighteen. And Hosah, of the sons of Merar'i, had sons: Shimri the chief (for €though he was not the first-born, his father made him chief), Hilki'ah the second, Tebali'ah the third, Zechari'ah the fourth: all €the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen. @These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their chief men, €had duties, just as their brethren did, ministering in the house of the €LORD; and they cast lots by fathers' houses, small and great alike, for their €gates. The lot for the east fell to Shelemi'ah. They cast lots also for his €son Zechari'ah, a shrewd counselor, and his lot came out for the north. O'bed-e'dom's came out for the south, and to his sons was allotted the €storehouse. For Shuppim and Hosah it came out for the west, at the gate of €Shal'lecheth on the road that goes up. Watch corresponded to watch. On the east there were six each day, on the north four each day, on the €south four each day, as well as two and two at the storehouse; and for the parbar on the west there were four at the road and two at €the parbar. These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the Ko'rahites and €the sons of Merar'i. @And of the Levites, Ahi'jah had charge of the treasuries of the house €of God and the treasuries of the dedicated gifts. The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the €heads of the fathers' houses belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: €Jehi'eli. @The sons of Jehi'eli, Zetham and Jo'el his brother, were in charge of €the treasuries of the house of the LORD. Of the Am'ramites, the Iz'harites, the He'bronites, and the €Uzzie'lites --and Sheb'uel the son of Gershom, son of Moses, was chief officer in €charge of the treasuries. His brethren: from Elie'zer were his son Rehabi'ah, and his son €Jeshai'ah, and his son Joram, and his son Zichri, and his son €Shelo'moth. This Shelo'moth and his brethren were in charge of all the treasuries €of the dedicated gifts which David the king, and the heads of the €fathers' houses, and the officers of the thousands and the hundreds, €and the commanders of the army, had dedicated. From spoil won in battles they dedicated gifts for the maintenance of €the house of the LORD. Also all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the €son of Ner, and Jo'ab the son of Zeru'iah had dedicated -- all dedicated €gifts were in the care of Shelo'moth and his brethren. @Of the Iz'harites, Chenani'ah and his sons were appointed to outside €duties for Israel, as officers and judges. Of the He'bronites, Hashabi'ah and his brethren, one thousand seven €hundred men of ability, had the oversight of Israel westward of the €Jordan for all the work of the LORD and for the service of the king. Of the He'bronites, Jeri'jah was chief of the He'bronites of whatever €genealogy or fathers' houses. (In the fortieth year of David's reign €search was made and men of great ability among them were found at Jazer €in Gilead.) King David appointed him and his brethren, two thousand seven hundred €men of ability, heads of fathers' houses, to have the oversight of the €Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manas'sites for €everything pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.  @This is the list of the people of Israel, the heads of fathers' €houses, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officers €who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came €and went, month after month throughout the year, each division €numbering twenty-four thousand: @Jasho'beam the son of Zab'di-el was in charge of the first division €in the first month; in his division were twenty-four thousand. He was a descendant of Perez, and was chief of all the commanders of €the army for the first month. Dodai the Aho'hite was in charge of the division of the second month; €in his division were twenty-four thousand. The third commander, for the third month, was Benai'ah, the son of €Jehoi'ada the priest, as chief; in his division were twenty-four €thousand. This is the Benai'ah who was a mighty man of the thirty and in command €of the thirty; Ammiz'abad his son was in charge of his division. As'ahel the brother of Jo'ab was fourth, for the fourth month, and his €son Zebadi'ah after him; in his division were twenty-four thousand. The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was Shamhuth, the Iz'rahite; €in his division were twenty-four thousand. Sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira, the son of Ikkesh the Teko'ite; in €his division were twenty-four thousand. Seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pel'onite, of the sons of €E'phraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand. Eighth, for the eighth month, was Sib'becai the Hu'shathite, of the €Ze'rahites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. Ninth, for the ninth month, was Abi-e'zer of An'athoth, a Benjaminite; €in his division were twenty-four thousand. Tenth, for the tenth month, was Ma'harai of Netoph'ah, of the €Ze'rahites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. Eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benai'ah of Pira'thon, of the €sons of E'phraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±³’ļ‚±Ćčņ’؛˜Twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netoph'athite, of €Oth'ni-el; in his division were twenty-four thousand. @Over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites Elie'zer the son of €Zichri was chief officer; for the Simeonites, Shephati'ah the son of €Ma'acah; for Levi, Hashabi'ah the son of Kem'uel; for Aaron, Zadok; for Judah, Eli'hu, one of David's brothers; for Is'sachar, Omri the son €of Michael; for Zeb'ulun, Ishma'iah the son of Obadi'ah; for Naph'tali, Jer'emoth €the son of Az'riel; for the E'phraimites, Hoshe'a the son of Azazi'ah; for the half-tribe €of Manas'seh, Jo'el the son of Pedai'ah; for the half-tribe of Manas'seh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechari'ah; €for Benjamin, Ja-a'si-el the son of Abner; for Dan, Az'arel the son of Jero'ham. These were the leaders of the €tribes of Israel. David did not number those below twenty years of age, for the LORD had €promised to make Israel as many as the stars of heaven. Jo'ab the son of Zeru'iah began to number, but did not finish; yet €wrath came upon Israel for this, and the number was not entered in the €chronicles of King David. @Over the king's treasuries was Az'maveth the son of Ad'i-el; and over €the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the villages and in €the towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzzi'ah; and over those who did the work of the field for tilling the soil was €Ezri the son of Chelub; and over the vineyards was Shim'e-i the Ra'mathite; and over the €produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. Over the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephe'lah was Ba'al-ha'nan €the Gede'rite; and over the stores of oil was Jo'ash. Over the herds that pastured in Sharon was Shitrai the Shar'onite; over €the herds in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai. Over the camels was Obil the Ish'maelite; and over the she-asses was €Jehde'iah the Meron'othite. Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were stewards of King David's property. @Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, being a man of €understanding and a scribe; he and Jehi'el the son of Hach'moni €attended the king's sons. Ahith'ophel was the king's counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the €king's friend. Ahith'ophel was succeeded by Jehoi'ada the son of Benai'ah, and €Abi'athar. Jo'ab was commander of the king's army.  @David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the €officials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the €king, the commanders of thousands, the commanders of hundreds, the €stewards of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, €together with the palace officials, the mighty men, and all the €seasoned warriors. Then King David rose to his feet and said: "Hear me, my brethren and my €people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of €the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God; and I made €preparations for building. But God said to me, `You may not build a house for my name, for you are €a warrior and have shed blood.' Yet the LORD God of Israel chose me from all my father's house to be €king over Israel for ever; for he chose Judah as leader, and in the €house of Judah my father's house, and among my father's sons he took €pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. And of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons) he has chosen €Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over €Israel. He said to me, `It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my €courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish his kingdom for ever if he continues resolute in €keeping my commandments and my ordinances, as he is today.' Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and €in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of €the LORD your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it €for an inheritance to your children after you for ever. @"And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him €with a whole heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all €hearts, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he €will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for €ever. Take heed now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the €sanctuary; be strong, and do it." @Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the €temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its €inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat; and the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of €the LORD, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of €God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts; for the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, and all the work €of the service in the house of the LORD; for all the vessels for the €service in the house of the LORD, the weight of gold for all golden vessels for each service, the weight €of silver vessels for each service, the weight of the golden lampstands and their lamps, the weight of gold €for each lampstand and its lamps, the weight of silver for a lampstand €and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand in the service, the weight of gold for each table for the showbread, the silver for the €silver tables, and pure gold for the forks, the basins, and the cups; for the golden €bowls and the weight of each; for the silver bowls and the weight of €each; for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his €plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and €covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD. All this he made clear by the writing from the hand of the LORD €concerning it, all the work to be done according to the plan. @Then David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and of good courage, €and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed; for the LORD God, even my God, is €with you. He will not fail you or forsake you, until all the work for €the service of the house of the LORD is finished. And behold the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the €service of the house of God; and with you in all the work will be every €willing man who has skill for any kind of service; also the officers €and all the people will be wholly at your command."  @And David the king said to all the assembly, "Solomon my son, whom €alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is €great; for the palace will not be for man but for the LORD God. So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the €gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and €the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, €and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and €stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious €stones, and marble. Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I €have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my €devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God: three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven €thousand talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the €house, and for all the work to be done by craftsmen, gold for the things of €gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer €willingly, consecrating himself today to the LORD?" @Then the heads of fathers' houses made their freewill offerings, as €did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of €hundreds, and the officers over the king's work. They gave for the service of the house of God five thousand talents and €ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen €thousand talents of bronze, and a hundred thousand talents of iron. And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house €of the LORD, in the care of Jehi'el the Gershonite. Then the people rejoiced because these had given willingly, for with a €whole heart they had offered freely to the LORD; David the king also €rejoiced greatly. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±³’ļ‚±Ćčņ’؝˜Š@Therefore David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly; €and David said: "Blessed art thou, O LORD, the God of Israel our €father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the €victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the €earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as €head above all. Both riches and honor come from thee, and thou rulest over all. In thy €hand are power and might; and in thy hand it is to make great and to €give strength to all. And now we thank thee, our God, and praise thy glorious name. @"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to €offer willingly? For all things come from thee, and of thy own have we €given thee. For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers €were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building €thee a house for thy holy name comes from thy hand and is all thy own. I know, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in €uprightness; in the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all €these things, and now I have seen thy people, who are present here, €offering freely and joyously to thee. O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep for €ever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of thy people, and direct €their hearts toward thee. Grant to Solomon my son that with a whole heart he may keep thy €commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, performing all, and €that he may build the palace for which I have made provision." @Then David said to all the assembly, "Bless the LORD your God." And €all the assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and bowed €their heads, and worshiped the LORD, and did obeisance to the king. And they performed sacrifices to the LORD, and on the next day offered €burnt offerings to the LORD, a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a €thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance €for all Israel; and they ate and drank before the LORD on that day with great gladness. €@And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and they €anointed him as prince for the LORD, and Zadok as priest. Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his €father; and he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. All the leaders and the mighty men, and also all the sons of King €David, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon. And the LORD gave Solomon great repute in the sight of all Israel, and €bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before €him in Israel. @Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven €years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. Then he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and €Solomon his son reigned in his stead. Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the €Chronicles of Samuel the seer, and in the Chronicles of Nathan the €prophet, and in the Chronicles of Gad the seer, with accounts of all his rule and his might and of the circumstances €that came upon him and upon Israel, and upon all the kingdoms of the €countries. ąļ‚²Ćčņ’”Solomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, and the €LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great. @Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of €hundreds, to the judges, and to all the leaders in all Israel, the €heads of fathers' houses. And Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that €was at Gibeon; for the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant €of the LORD had made in the wilderness, was there. (But David had brought up the ark of God from Kir'iath-je'arim to the €place that David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it €in Jerusalem.) Moreover the bronze altar that Bez'alel the son of Uri, son of Hur, had €made, was there before the tabernacle of the LORD. And Solomon and the €assembly sought the LORD. And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which €was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon €it. @In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask what I €shall give you." And Solomon said to God, "Thou hast shown great and steadfast love to €David my father, and hast made me king in his stead. O LORD God, let thy promise to David my father be now fulfilled, for €thou hast made me king over a people as many as the dust of the earth. Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this €people, for who can rule this thy people, that is so great?" God answered Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and you have not €asked possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, €and have not even asked long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge €for yourself that you may rule my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, €possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before €you, and none after you shall have the like." So Solomon came from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of €meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel. @Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen; he had fourteen €hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the €chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. And the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stone, and €he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephe'lah. And Solomon's import of horses was from Egypt and Ku'e, and the king's €traders received them from Ku'e for a price. They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, €and a horse for a hundred and fifty; likewise through them these were €exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.  @Now Solomon purposed to build a temple for the name of the LORD, and €a royal palace for himself. And Solomon assigned seventy thousand men to bear burdens and eighty €thousand to quarry in the hill country, and three thousand six hundred €to oversee them. And Solomon sent word to Huram the king of Tyre: "As you dealt with €David my father and sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell €in, so deal with me. Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God and €dedicate it to him for the burning of incense of sweet spices before €him, and for the continual offering of the showbread, and for burnt €offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths and the new moons and €the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, as ordained for ever for €Israel. The house which I am to build will be great, for our God is greater €than all gods. But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest €heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except €as a place to burn incense before him? So now send me a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, €and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to €be with the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, €whom David my father provided. Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know €that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. And my servants €will be with your servants, to prepare timber for me in abundance, for the house I am to build will €be great and wonderful. I will give for your servants, the hewers who cut timber, twenty €thousand cors of crushed wheat, twenty thousand cors of barley, twenty €thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil." @Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in a letter which he sent to €Solomon, "Because the LORD loves his people he has made you king over €them." Huram also said, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven €and earth, who has given King David a wise son, endued with discretion žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’¢˜Œƒand understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD, and a royal €palace for himself. @"Now I have sent a skilled man, endued with understanding, Huram-abi, the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of €Tyre. He is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and €wood, and in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and to €do all sorts of engraving and execute any design that may be assigned €him, with your craftsmen, the craftsmen of my lord, David your father. Now therefore the wheat and barley, oil and wine, of which my lord has €spoken, let him send to his servants; and we will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon, and bring it to €you in rafts by sea to Joppa, so that you may take it up to Jerusalem." @Then Solomon took a census of all the aliens who were in the land of €Israel, after the census of them which David his father had taken; and €there were found a hundred and fifty-three thousand six hundred. Seventy thousand of them he assigned to bear burdens, eighty thousand €to quarry in the hill country, and three thousand six hundred as €overseers to make the people work.  @Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on €Mount Mori'ah, where the LORD had appeared to David his father, at the €place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the €Jeb'usite. He began to build in the second month of the fourth year of his reign. These are Solomon's measurements for building the house of God: the €length, in cubits of the old standard, was sixty cubits, and the €breadth twenty cubits. The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, €equal to the width of the house; and its height was a hundred and €twenty cubits. He overlaid it on the inside with pure gold. The nave he lined with cypress, and covered it with fine gold, and made €palms and chains on it. He adorned the house with settings of precious stones. The gold was €gold of Parva'im. So he lined the house with gold -- its beams, its thresholds, its walls, €and its doors; and he carved cherubim on the walls. @And he made the most holy place; its length, corresponding to the €breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and its breadth was twenty €cubits; he overlaid it with six hundred talents of fine gold. The weight of the nails was one shekel to fifty shekels of gold. And he €overlaid the upper chambers with gold. @In the most holy place he made two cherubim of wood and overlaid them €with gold. The wings of the cherubim together extended twenty cubits: one wing of €the one, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and its other €wing, of five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub; and of this cherub, one wing, of five cubits, touched the wall of the €house, and the other wing, also of five cubits, was joined to the wing €of the first cherub. The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits; the cherubim stood €on their feet, facing the nave. And he made the veil of blue and purple and crimson fabrics and fine €linen, and worked cherubim on it. @In front of the house he made two pillars thirty-five cubits high, €with a capital of five cubits on the top of each. He made chains like a necklace and put them on the tops of the pillars; €and he made a hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains. He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the south, the €other on the north; that on the south he called Jachin, and that on the €north Bo'az.  @He made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long, and twenty cubits €wide, and ten cubits high. Then he made the molten sea; it was round, ten cubits from brim to €brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its €circumference. Under it were figures of gourds, for thirty cubits, compassing the sea €round about; the gourds were in two rows, cast with it when it was cast. It stood upon twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three €facing south, and three facing east; the sea was set upon them, and all €their hinder parts were inward. Its thickness was a handbreadth; and its brim was made like the brim of €a cup, like the flower of a lily; it held over three thousand baths. He also made ten lavers in which to wash, and set five on the south €side, and five on the north side. In these they were to rinse off what €was used for the burnt offering, and the sea was for the priests to €wash in. @And he made ten golden lampstands as prescribed, and set them in the €temple, five on the south side and five on the north. He also made ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the €south side and five on the north. And he made a hundred basins of gold. He made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for €the court, and overlaid their doors with bronze; and he set the sea at the southeast corner of the house. @Huram also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Huram €finished the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of God: the two pillars, the bowls, and the two capitals on the top of the €pillars; and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals €that were on the top of the pillars; and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of €pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals €that were upon the pillars. He made the stands also, and the lavers upon the stands, and the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath it. The pots, the shovels, the forks, and all the equipment for these €Huram-abi made of burnished bronze for King Solomon for the house of €the LORD. In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground €between Succoth and Zer'edah. Solomon made all these things in great quantities, so that the weight €of the bronze was not ascertained. @So Solomon made all the things that were in the house of God: the €golden altar, the tables for the bread of the Presence, the lampstands and their lamps of pure gold to burn before the inner €sanctuary, as prescribed; the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of purest gold; the snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and firepans, of pure gold; €and the sockets of the temple, for the inner doors to the most holy €place and for the doors of the nave of the temple were of gold.  @Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the LORD was €finished. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had €dedicated, and stored the silver, the gold, and all the vessels in the €treasuries of the house of God. @Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the €tribes, the leaders of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel, in €Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the €city of David, which is Zion. And all the men of Israel assembled before the king at the feast which €is in the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. And they brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy €vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them €up. And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled €before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen €that they could not be counted or numbered. So the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its €place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, €underneath the wings of the cherubim. For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so €that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles. And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from €the holy place before the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen €from outside; and they are there to this day. There was nothing in the ark except the two tables which Moses put €there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of €Israel, when they came out of Egypt. Now when the priests came out of the holy place (for all the priests €who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to their €divisions; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’„˜Œand all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jedu'thun, their sons €and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, €stood east of the altar with a hundred and twenty priests who were €trumpeters; and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves €heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the €LORD), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and €other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD, €@@"For he is good, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever," €the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; €for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.  @Then Solomon said, €@@"The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. @@I have built thee an exalted house, €@@@a place for thee to dwell in for ever." Then the king faced about, and blessed all the assembly of Israel, €while all the assembly of Israel stood. And he said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand €has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, €saying, `Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I €chose no city in all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, €that my name might be there, and I chose no man as prince over my €people Israel; but I have chosen Jerusalem that my name may be there and I have chosen €David to be over my people Israel.' Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the €name of the LORD, the God of Israel. But the LORD said to David my father, `Whereas it was in your heart to €build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart; nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be €born to you shall build the house for my name.' Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise which he made; for I have risen €in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as €the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD, €the God of Israel. And there I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD €which he made with the people of Israel." @Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of €all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands. Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, €and three cubits high, and had set it in the court; and he stood upon €it. Then he knelt upon his knees in the presence of all the assembly of €Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven; and said, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven €or on earth, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to thy €servants who walk before thee with all their heart; who hast kept with thy servant David my father what thou didst declare €to him; yea, thou didst speak with thy mouth, and with thy hand hast €fulfilled it this day. Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my €father what thou hast promised him, saying, `There shall never fail you €a man before me to sit upon the throne of Israel, if only your sons €take heed to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.' Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, let thy word be confirmed, which €thou hast spoken to thy servant David. @"But will God dwell indeed with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and €the highest heaven cannot contain thee; how much less this house which €I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of thy servant and to his supplication, O €LORD my God, hearkening to the cry and to the prayer which thy servant €prays before thee; that thy eyes may be open day and night toward this house, the place €where thou hast promised to set thy name, that thou mayest hearken to €the prayer which thy servant offers toward this place. And hearken thou to the supplications of thy servant and of thy people €Israel, when they pray toward this place; yea, hear thou from heaven €thy dwelling place; and when thou hearest, forgive. @"If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath, and €comes and swears his oath before thy altar in this house, then hear thou from heaven, and act, and judge thy servants, requiting €the guilty by bringing his conduct upon his own head, and vindicating €the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness. @"If thy people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have €sinned against thee, when they turn again and acknowledge thy name, and €pray and make supplication to thee in this house, then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, €and bring them again to the land which thou gavest to them and to their €fathers. @"When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned €against thee, if they pray toward this place, and acknowledge thy name, €and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them, then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, thy €people Israel, when thou dost teach them the good way in which they €should walk; and grant rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy €people as an inheritance. @"If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or €mildew or locust or caterpillar; if their enemies besiege them in any €of their cities; whatever plague, whatever sickness there is; whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by any man or by all thy €people Israel, each knowing his own affliction, and his own sorrow and €stretching out his hands toward this house; then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render €to each whose heart thou knowest, according to all his ways (for thou, €thou only, knowest the hearts of the children of men); that they may fear thee and walk in thy ways all the days that they €live in the land which thou gavest to our fathers. @"Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of thy people Israel, comes €from a far country for the sake of thy great name, and thy mighty hand, €and thy outstretched arm, when he comes and prays toward this house, hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all for €which the foreigner calls to thee; in order that all the peoples of the €earth may know thy name and fear thee, as do thy people Israel, and €that they may know that this house which I have built is called by thy €name. @"If thy people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever €way thou shalt send them, and they pray to thee toward this city which €thou hast chosen and the house which I have built for thy name, then hear thou from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and €maintain their cause. @"If they sin against thee -- for there is no man who does not sin -- and €thou art angry with them, and dost give them to an enemy, so that they €are carried away captive to a land far or near; yet if they lay it to heart in the land to which they have been carried €captive, and repent, and make supplication to thee in the land of their €captivity, saying, `We have sinned, and have acted perversely and €wickedly'; if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land €of their captivity, to which they were carried captive, and pray toward €their land, which thou gavest to their fathers, the city which thou €hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name, then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place their prayer and their €supplications, and maintain their cause and forgive thy people who have €sinned against thee. Now, O my God, let thy eyes be open and thy ears attentive to a prayer €of this place. @@"And now arise, O LORD God, and go to thy resting place, €@@@thou and the ark of thy might. €@@Let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, €@@@and let thy saints rejoice in thy goodness. @@O LORD God, do not turn away the face of thy anointed one! €@@@Remember thy steadfast love for David thy servant."  @When Solomon had ended his prayer, fire came down from heaven and €consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the €LORD filled the temple. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’§’And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the €glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house. When all the children of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory €of the LORD upon the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the €earth on the pavement, and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, €saying, €@@"For he is good, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever." @Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the LORD. King Solomon offered as a sacrifice twenty-two thousand oxen and a €hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people €dedicated the house of God. The priests stood at their posts; the Levites also, with the €instruments for music to the LORD which King David had made for giving €thanks to the LORD -- for his steadfast love endures for ever -- whenever €David offered praises by their ministry; opposite them the priests €sounded trumpets; and all Israel stood. @And Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was before the €house of the LORD; for there he offered the burnt offering and the fat €of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar Solomon had made could €not hold the burnt offering and the cereal offering and the fat. @At that time Solomon held the feast for seven days, and all Israel €with him, a very great congregation, from the entrance of Hamath to the €Brook of Egypt. And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly; for they had kept €the dedication of the altar seven days and the feast seven days. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to €their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the goodness that the LORD €had shown to David and to Solomon and to Israel his people. @Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king's house; all €that Solomon had planned to do in the house of the LORD and in his own €house he successfully accomplished. Then the LORD appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: "I have €heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for myself as a house of €sacrifice. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the €locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and €seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from €heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is €made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be €there for ever; my eyes and my heart will be there for all time. @And as for you, if you walk before me, as David your father walked, €doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my €statutes and my ordinances, then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David €your father, saying, `There shall not fail you a man to rule Israel.' @"But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments €which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship €them, then I will pluck you up from the land which I have given you; and this €house, which I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my €sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And at this house, which is exalted, every one passing by will be €astonished, and say, `Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to €this house?" Then they will say, `Because they forsook the LORD the God of their €fathers who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on €other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore he has €brought all this evil upon them'"  @At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of €the LORD and his own house, Solomon rebuilt the cities which Huram had given to him, and settled €the people of Israel in them. @And Solomon went to Ha'math-zo'bah, and took it. He built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the store-cities which he €built in Hamath. He also built Upper Beth-hor'on and Lower Beth-hor'on, fortified cities €with walls, gates, and bars, and Ba'alath, and all the store-cities that Solomon had, and all the €cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever €Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land €of his dominion. All the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the €Per'izzites, the Hivites, and the Jeb'usites, who were not of Israel, from their descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the €people of Israel had not destroyed -- these Solomon made a forced levy €and so they are to this day. But of the people of Israel Solomon made no slaves for his work; they €were soldiers, and his officers, the commanders of his chariots, and €his horsemen. And these were the chief officers of King Solomon, two hundred and €fifty, who exercised authority over the people. @Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the city of David to the €house which he had built for her, for he said, "My wife shall not live €in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark €of the LORD has come are holy." @Then Solomon offered up burnt offerings to the LORD upon the altar of €the LORD which he had built before the vestibule, as the duty of each day required, offering according to the commandment €of Moses for the sabbaths, the new moons, and the three annual €feasts -- the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of weeks, and the €feast of tabernacles. According to the ordinance of David his father, he appointed the €divisions of the priests for their service, and the Levites for their €offices of praise and ministry before the priests as the duty of each €day required, and the gatekeepers in their divisions for the several €gates; for so David the man of God had commanded. And they did not turn aside from what the king had commanded the €priests and Levites concerning any matter and concerning the treasuries. @Thus was accomplished all the work of Solomon from the day the €foundation of the house of the LORD was laid until it was finished. So €the house of the LORD was completed. @Then Solomon went to E'zion-ge'ber and Eloth on the shore of the sea, €in the land of Edom. And Huram sent him by his servants ships and servants familiar with the €sea, and they went to Ophir together with the servants of Solomon, and €fetched from there four hundred and fifty talents of gold and brought €it to King Solomon.  @Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon she came to €Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue €and camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. When €she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from €Solomon which he could not explain to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house €that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance €of his servants, and their clothing, his cupbearers, and their €clothing, and his burnt offerings which he offered at the house of the €LORD, there was no more spirit in her. @And she said to the king, "The report was true which I heard in my €own land of your affairs and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen €it; and behold, half the greatness of your wisdom was not told me; you €surpass the report which I heard. Happy are your wives! Happy are these your servants, who continually €stand before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on €his throne as king for the LORD your God! Because your God loved Israel €and would establish them for ever, he has made you king over them, that €you may execute justice and righteousness." Then she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and a very €great quantity of spices, and precious stones: there were no spices €such as those which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. @Moreover the servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’؉˜Š‚brought gold from Ophir, brought algum wood and precious stones. And the king made of the algum wood steps for the house of the LORD and €for the king's house, lyres also and harps for the singers; there never €was seen the like of them before in the land of Judah. @And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, €whatever she asked besides what she had brought to the king. So she €turned and went back to her own land, with her servants. @Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six €hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, besides that which the traders and merchants brought; and all the kings €of Arabia and the governors of the land brought gold and silver to €Solomon. King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold; six hundred €shekels of beaten gold went into each shield. And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three hundred shekels €of gold went into each shield; and the king put them in the House of €the Forest of Lebanon. The king also made a great ivory throne, and overlaid it with pure gold. The throne had six steps and a footstool of gold, which were attached €to the throne, and on each side of the seat were arm rests and two €lions standing beside the arm rests, while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six €steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom. All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels €of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; silver was not €considered as anything in the days of Solomon. For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once €every three years the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, €silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. @Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and €in wisdom. And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear €his wisdom, which God had put into his mind. Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and of gold, €garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year. And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and €twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and €with the king in Jerusalem. And he ruled over all the kings from the Euphra'tes to the land of the €Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and cedar as €plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephe'lah. And horses were imported for Solomon from Egypt and from all lands. @Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, are they not €written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of €Ahi'jah the Shi'lonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning €Jerobo'am the son of Nebat? Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David €his father; and Rehobo'am his son reigned in his stead.  @Rehobo'am went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make €him king. And when Jerobo'am the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, €whither he had fled from King Solomon), then Jerobo'am returned from €Egypt. And they sent and called him; and Jerobo'am and all Israel came and €said to Rehobo'am, "Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard €service of your father and his heavy yoke upon us, and we will serve €you." He said to them, "Come to me again in three days." So the people went €away. @Then King Rehobo'am took counsel with the old men, who had stood €before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, "How do you €advise me to answer this people?" And they said to him, "If you will be kind to this people and please €them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants for €ever." But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel €with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. And he said to them, "What do you advise that we answer this people who €have said to me, `Lighten the yoke that your father put upon us'?" And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, "Thus shall €you speak to the people who said to you, `Your father made our yoke €heavy, but do you lighten it for us'; thus shall you say to them, `My €little finger is thicker than my father's loins. And now, whereas my father laid upon you a heavy yoke, I will add to €your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you €with scorpions.'" @So Jerobo'am and all the people came to Rehobo'am the third day, as €the king said, "Come to me again the third day." And the king answered them harshly, and forsaking the counsel of the €old men, King Rehobo'am spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, €saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my €father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with €scorpions." So the king did not hearken to the people; for it was a turn of affairs €brought about by God that the LORD might fulfil his word, which he €spoke by Ahi'jah the Shi'lonite to Jerobo'am the son of Nebat. @And when all Israel saw that the king did not hearken to them, the €people answered the king, €@@"What portion have we in David? €@@@We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. €@@Each of you to your tents, O Israel! €@@@Look now to your own house, David." €So all Israel departed to their tents. But Rehobo'am reigned over the people of Israel who dwelt in the cities €of Judah. Then King Rehobo'am sent Hador'am, who was taskmaster over the forced €labor, and the people of Israel stoned him to death with stones. And €King Rehobo'am made haste to mount his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.  @When Rehobo'am came to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah, €and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen warriors, to fight €against Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehobo'am. But the word of the LORD came to Shemai'ah the man of God: "Say to Rehobo'am the son of Solomon king of Judah, and to all Israel €in Judah and Benjamin, `Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up or fight against your €brethren. Return every man to his home, for this thing is from me.'" So €they hearkened to the word of the LORD, and returned and did not go €against Jerobo'am. @Rehobo'am dwelt in Jerusalem, and he built cities for defense in €Judah. He built Bethlehem, Etam, Teko'a, Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, Gath, Mare'shah, Ziph, Adora'im, Lachish, Aze'kah, Zorah, Ai'jalon, and Hebron, fortified cities which are in Judah and in €Benjamin. He made the fortresses strong, and put commanders in them, and stores €of food, oil, and wine. And he put shields and spears in all the cities, and made them very €strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin. @And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to €him from all places where they lived. For the Levites left their common lands and their holdings and came to €Judah and Jerusalem, because Jerobo'am and his sons cast them out from €serving as priests of the LORD, and he appointed his own priests for the high places, and for the €satyrs, and for the calves which he had made. And those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came €after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to €the LORD, the God of their fathers. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they made €Rehobo'am the son of Solomon secure, for they walked for three years in €the way of David and Solomon. @Rehobo'am took as wife Ma'halath the daughter of Jer'imoth the son of €David, and of Ab'ihail the daughter of Eli'ab the son of Jesse; and she bore him sons, Je'ush, Shemari'ah, and Zaham. After her he took Ma'acah the daughter of Ab'salom, who bore him €Abi'jah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelo'mith. Rehobo'am loved Ma'acah the daughter of Ab'salom above all his wives €and concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and had €twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters); žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’؋˜–and Rehobo'am appointed Abi'jah the son of Ma'acah as chief prince €among his brothers, for he intended to make him king. And he dealt wisely, and distributed some of his sons through all the €districts of Judah and Benjamin, in all the fortified cities; and he €gave them abundant provisions, and procured wives for them.  @When the rule of Rehobo'am was established and was strong, he forsook €the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. In the fifth year of King Rehobo'am, because they had been unfaithful €to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. And the €people were without number who came with him from Egypt -- Libyans, €Suk'ki-im, and Ethiopians. And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. Then Shemai'ah the prophet came to Rehobo'am and to the princes of €Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to €them, "Thus says the LORD, `You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you €to the hand of Shishak.'" Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, €"The LORD is righteous." When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD €came to Shemai'ah: "They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy €them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be €poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. Nevertheless they shall be servants to him, that they may know my €service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries." @So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem; he took away the €treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's €house; he took away everything. He also took away the shields of gold €which Solomon had made; and King Rehobo'am made in their stead shields of bronze, and committed €them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of €the king's house. And as often as the king went into the house of the LORD, the guard €came and bore them, and brought them back to the guardroom. And when he humbled himself the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so €as not to make a complete destruction; moreover, conditions were good €in Judah. @So King Rehobo'am established himself in Jerusalem and reigned. €Rehobo'am was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he €reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had €chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. His €mother's name was Na'amah the Ammonitess. And he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD. @Now the acts of Rehobo'am, from first to last, are they not written €in the chronicles of Shemai'ah the prophet and of Iddo the seer? There €were continual wars between Rehobo'am and Jerobo'am. And Rehobo'am slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of €David; and Abi'jah his son reigned in his stead.  @In the eighteenth year of King Jerobo'am Abi'jah began to reign over €Judah. He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Micai'ah €the daughter of U'riel of Gib'e-ah. €@Now there was war between Abi'jah and Jerobo'am. Abi'jah went out to battle having an army of valiant men of war, four €hundred thousand picked men; and Jerobo'am drew up his line of battle €against him with eight hundred thousand picked mighty warriors. Then Abi'jah stood up on Mount Zemara'im which is in the hill country €of E'phraim, and said, "Hear me, O Jerobo'am and all Israel! Ought you not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingship €over Israel for ever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt? Yet Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon the son of David, €rose up and rebelled against his lord; and certain worthless scoundrels gathered about him and defied €Rehobo'am the son of Solomon, when Rehobo'am was young and irresolute €and could not withstand them. @"And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand €of the sons of David, because you are a great multitude and have with €you the golden calves which Jerobo'am made you for gods. Have you not driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and €the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the peoples of other €lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull or seven €rams becomes a priest of what are no gods. But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. We €have priests ministering to the LORD who are sons of Aaron, and Levites €for their service. They offer to the LORD every morning and every evening burnt offerings €and incense of sweet spices, set out the showbread on the table of pure €gold, and care for the golden lampstand that its lamps may burn every €evening; for we keep the charge of the LORD our God, but you have €forsaken him. Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with their battle €trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O sons of Israel, do €not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers; for you cannot €succeed." @Jerobo'am had sent an ambush around to come on them from behind; thus €his troops were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. And when Judah looked, behold, the battle was before and behind them; €and they cried to the LORD, and the priests blew the trumpets. Then the men of Judah raised the battle shout. And when the men of €Judah shouted, God defeated Jerobo'am and all Israel before Abi'jah and €Judah. The men of Israel fled before Judah, and God gave them into their hand. Abi'jah and his people slew them with a great slaughter; so there fell €slain of Israel five hundred thousand picked men. Thus the men of Israel were subdued at that time, and the men of Judah €prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD, the God of their fathers. And Abi'jah pursued Jerobo'am, and took cities from him, Bethel with €its villages and Jesha'nah with its villages and Ephron with its €villages. Jerobo'am did not recover his power in the days of Abi'jah; and the €LORD smote him, and he died. But Abi'jah grew mighty. And he took fourteen wives, and had twenty-two €sons and sixteen daughters. The rest of the acts of Abi'jah, his ways and his sayings, are written €in the story of the prophet Iddo.  @So Abi'jah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of €David; and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land had €rest for ten years. And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. He took away the foreign altars and the high places, and broke down the €pillars and hewed down the Ashe'rim, and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to €keep the law and the commandment. He also took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the €incense altars. And the kingdom had rest under him. He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no €war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace. And he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities, and surround them €with walls and towers, gates and bars; the land is still ours, because €we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought him, and he has given €us peace on every side." So they built and prospered. And Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah, armed with €bucklers and spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand men from €Benjamin, that carried shields and drew bows; all these were mighty men €of valor. @Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million €men and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mare'shah. And Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their lines of battle in €the valley of Zeph'athah at Mare'shah. And Asa cried to the LORD his God, "O LORD, there is none like thee to €help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we €rely on thee, and in thy name we have come against this multitude. O €LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee." So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and €the Ethiopians fled. Asa and the people that were with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’؎˜‚the Ethiopians fell until none remained alive; for they were broken €before the LORD and his army. The men of Judah carried away very much €booty. And they smote all the cities round about Gerar, for the fear of the €LORD was upon them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much €plunder in them. And they smote the tents of those who had cattle, and carried away €sheep in abundance and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.  @The Spirit of God came upon Azari'ah the son of Oded, and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all €Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you, while you are with him. If €you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will €forsake you. For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching €priest, and without law; but when in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, €and sought him, he was found by them. In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who €came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the €lands. They were broken in pieces, nation against nation and city against €city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress. But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work €shall be rewarded." @When Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azari'ah the son of Oded, €he took courage, and put away the abominable idols from all the land of €Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had taken in the hill €country of E'phraim, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that was in €front of the vestibule of the house of the LORD. And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those from E'phraim, €Manas'seh, and Simeon who were sojourning with them, for great numbers €had deserted to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was €with him. They were gathered at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth €year of the reign of Asa. They sacrificed to the LORD on that day, from the spoil which they had €brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their €fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul; and that whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, should be €put to death, whether young or old, man or woman. They took oath to the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and €with trumpets, and with horns. And all Judah rejoiced over the oath; for they had sworn with all their €heart, and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by €them, and the LORD gave them rest round about. @Even Ma'acah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother €because she had made an abominable image for Ashe'rah. Asa cut down her €image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron. But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless the €heart of Asa was blameless all his days. And he brought into the house of God the votive gifts of his father and €his own votive gifts, silver, and gold, and vessels. And there was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of €Asa.  @In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Ba'asha king of Israel €went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to €go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasures of the house of the €LORD and the king's house, and sent them to Ben-ha'dad king of Syria, €who dwelt in Damascus, saying, "Let there be a league between me and you, as between my father and €your father; behold, I am sending to you silver and gold; go, break €your league with Ba'asha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me." And Ben-ha'dad hearkened to King Asa, and sent the commanders of his €armies against the cities of Israel, and they conquered I'jon, Dan, €A'bel-ma'im, and all the store-cities of Naph'tali. And when Ba'asha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and let his €work cease. Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah €and its timber, with which Ba'asha had been building, and with them he €built Geba and Mizpah. @At that time Hana'ni the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to €him, "Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the €LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with exceedingly €many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, he gave €them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to €show his might in behalf of those whose heart is blameless toward him. €You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars." Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the stocks, in prison, €for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted €cruelties upon some of the people at the same time. @The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the €Kings of Judah and Israel. In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and €his disease became severe; yet even in his disease he did not seek the €LORD, but sought help from physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his €reign. They buried him in the tomb which he had hewn out for himself in the €city of David. They laid him on a bier which had been filled with €various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumer's art; and they made a €very great fire in his honor.  @Jehosh'aphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself €against Israel. He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set €garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of E'phraim which Asa €his father had taken. The LORD was with Jehosh'aphat, because he walked in the earlier ways €of his father; he did not seek the Ba'als, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and €not according to the ways of Israel. Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah €brought tribute to Jehosh'aphat; and he had great riches and honor. His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD; and furthermore he €took the high places and the Ashe'rim out of Judah. @In the third year of his reign he sent his princes, Ben-hail, €Obadi'ah, Zechari'ah, Nethan'el, and Micai'ah, to teach in the cities €of Judah; and with them the Levites, Shemai'ah, Nethani'ah, Zebadi'ah, As'ahel, €Shemi'ramoth, Jehon'athan, Adoni'jah, Tobi'jah, and Tobadoni'jah; and €with these Levites, the priests Eli'shama and Jeho'ram. And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the LORD with €them; they went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among €the people. @And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that €were round about Judah, and they made no war against Jehosh'aphat. Some of the Philistines brought Jehosh'aphat presents, and silver for €tribute; and the Arabs also brought him seven thousand seven hundred €rams and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats. And Jehosh'aphat grew steadily greater. He built in Judah fortresses €and store-cities, and he had great stores in the cities of Judah. He had soldiers, mighty €men of valor, in Jerusalem. This was the muster of them by fathers' houses: Of Judah, the €commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, with three hundred €thousand mighty men of valor, and next to him Jehoha'nan the commander, with two hundred and eighty €thousand, and next to him Amasi'ah the son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service €of the LORD, with two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. Of Benjamin: Eli'ada, a mighty man of valor, with two hundred thousand €men armed with bow and shield, and next to him Jeho'zabad with a hundred and eighty thousand armed for €war. These were in the service of the king, besides those whom the king had €placed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.  @Now Jehosh'aphat had great riches and honor; and he made a marriage €alliance with Ahab. After some years he went down to Ahab in Sama'ria. And Ahab killed an žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’ؒ’‚abundance of sheep and oxen for him and for the people who were with €him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. Ahab king of Israel said to Jehosh'aphat king of Judah, "Will you go €with me to Ramoth-gilead?" He answered him, "I am as you are, my people €as your people. We will be with you in the war." @And Jehosh'aphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first for the €word of the LORD." Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred €men, and said to them, "Shall we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or €shall I forbear?" And they said, "Go up; for God will give it into the €hand of the king." But Jehosh'aphat said, "Is there not here another prophet of the LORD €of whom we may inquire?" And the king of Israel said to Jehosh'aphat, "There is yet one man by €whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micai'ah the son of Imlah; but I hate €him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil." And €Jehosh'aphat said, "Let not the king say so." Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, "Bring quickly €Micai'ah the son of Imlah." Now the king of Israel and Jehosh'aphat the king of Judah were sitting €on their thrones, arrayed in their robes; and they were sitting at the €threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Sama'ria; and all the €prophets were prophesying before them. And Zedeki'ah the son of Chena'anah made for himself horns of iron, and €said, "Thus says the LORD, `With these you shall push the Syrians until €they are destroyed.'" And all the prophets prophesied so, and said, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead €and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king." @And the messenger who went to summon Micai'ah said to him, "Behold, €the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king; €let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably." But Micai'ah said, "As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will €speak." And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micai'ah, €shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?" And he €answered, "Go up and triumph; they will be given into your hand." But the king said to him, "How many times shall I adjure you that you €speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?" And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep €that have no shepherd; and the LORD said, `These have no master; let €each return to his home in peace.'" And the king of Israel said to Jehosh'aphat, "Did I not tell you that €he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?" And Micai'ah said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD €sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right €hand and on his left; and the LORD said, `Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he €may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said one thing, and €another said another. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, `I will €entice him.' And the LORD said to him, `By what means?' And he said, `I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth €of all his prophets.' And he said, `You are to entice him, and you €shall succeed; go forth and do so.' Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of €these your prophets; the LORD has spoken evil concerning you." @Then Zedeki'ah the son of Chena'anah came near and struck Micai'ah on €the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go from me €to speak to you?" And Micai'ah said, "Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into €an inner chamber to hide yourself." And the king of Israel said, "Seize Micai'ah, and take him back to Amon €the governor of the city and to Jo'ash the king's son; and say, `Thus says the king, Put this fellow in prison, and feed him €with scant fare of bread and water, until I return in peace.'" And Micai'ah said, "If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by €me." And he said, "Hear, all you peoples!" @So the king of Israel and Jehosh'aphat the king of Judah went up to €Ramoth-gilead. And the king of Israel said to Jehosh'aphat, "I will disguise myself €and go into battle, but you wear your robes." And the king of Israel €disguised himself; and they went into battle. Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, €"Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel." And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehosh'aphat, they said, "It €is the king of Israel." So they turned to fight against him; and €Jehosh'aphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them away €from him, for when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of €Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. But a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of €Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate; therefore he said €to the driver of his chariot, "Turn about, and carry me out of the €battle, for I am wounded." And the battle grew hot that day, and the king of Israel propped €himself up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening; then at €sunset he died.  @Jehosh'aphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in €Jerusalem. But Jehu the son of Hana'ni the seer went out to meet him, and said to €King Jehosh'aphat, "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate €the LORD? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the LORD. Nevertheless some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Ashe'rahs €out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God." @Jehosh'aphat dwelt at Jerusalem; and he went out again among the €people, from Beer-sheba to the hill country of E'phraim, and brought €them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers. He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, €city by city, and said to the judges, "Consider what you do, for you judge not for €man but for the LORD; he is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed what you do, €for there is no perversion of justice with the LORD our God, or €partiality, or taking bribes." @Moreover in Jerusalem Jehosh'aphat appointed certain Levites and €priests and heads of families of Israel, to give judgment for the LORD €and to decide disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem. And he charged them: "Thus you shall do in the fear of the LORD, in €faithfulness, and with your whole heart: whenever a case comes to you from your brethren who live in their €cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or €ordinances, then you shall instruct them, that they may not incur guilt €before the LORD and wrath may not come upon you and your brethren. Thus €you shall do, and you will not incur guilt. And behold, Amari'ah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the €LORD; and Zebadi'ah the son of Ish'mael, the governor of the house of €Judah, in all the king's matters; and the Levites will serve you as €officers. Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the upright!"  @After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the €Me-u'nites, came against Jehosh'aphat for battle. Some men came and told Jehosh'aphat, "A great multitude is coming €against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in €Haz'azon-ta'mar" (that is, En-ge'di). Then Jehosh'aphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and €proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of €Judah they came to seek the LORD. @And Jehosh'aphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the €house of the LORD, before the new court, and said, "O LORD, God of our fathers, art thou not God in heaven? Dost €thou not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In thy hand are €power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee. Didst thou not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land €before thy people Israel, and give it for ever to the descendants of €Abraham thy friend? And they have dwelt in it, and have built thee in it a sanctuary for €thy name, saying, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’ؔ˜‰`If evil comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, €we will stand before this house, and before thee, for thy name is in €this house, and cry to thee in our affliction, and thou wilt hear and €save.' And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Se'ir, whom thou €wouldest not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, €and whom they avoided and did not destroy --behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of thy possession, €which thou hast given us to inherit. O our God, wilt thou not execute judgment upon them? For we are €powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do €not know what to do, but our eyes are upon thee." @Meanwhile all the men of Judah stood before the LORD, with their €little ones, their wives, and their children. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jaha'ziel the son of Zechari'ah, €son of Benai'ah, son of Je-i'el, son of Mattani'ah, a Levite of the €sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, "Hearken, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King €Jehosh'aphat: Thus says the LORD to you, `Fear not, and be not dismayed €at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God's. Tomorrow go down against them; behold, they will come up by the ascent €of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the valley, east of the €wilderness of Jeru'el. You will not need to fight in this battle; take your position, stand €still, and see the victory of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and €Jerusalem.' Fear not, and be not dismayed; tomorrow go out against €them, and the LORD will be with you." @Then Jehosh'aphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all €Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, €worshiping the LORD. And the Levites, of the Ko'hathites and the Kor'ahites, stood up to €praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. @And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness €of Teko'a; and as they went out, Jehosh'aphat stood and said, "Hear me, €Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and €you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed." And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those €who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy €array, as they went before the army, and say, €@@"Give thanks to the LORD, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever." And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against €the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Se'ir, who had come against Judah, so €that they were routed. For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount €Se'ir, destroying them utterly, and when they had made an end of the €inhabitants of Se'ir, they all helped to destroy one another. @When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked €toward the multitude; and behold, they were dead bodies lying on the €ground; none had escaped. When Jehosh'aphat and his people came to take the spoil from them, they €found cattle in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, €which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They €were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much. On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Bera'cah, for there €they blessed the LORD; therefore the name of that place has been called €the Valley of Bera'cah to this day. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehosh'aphat €at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made €them rejoice over their enemies. They came to Jerusalem, with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house €of the LORD. And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they €heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. So the realm of Jehosh'aphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest round €about. @Thus Jehosh'aphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old €when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. €His mother's name was Azu'bah the daughter of Shilhi. He walked in the way of Asa his father and did not turn aside from it; €he did what was right in the sight of the LORD. The high places, however, were not taken away; the people had not yet €set their hearts upon the God of their fathers. @Now the rest of the acts of Jehosh'aphat, from first to last, are €written in the chronicles of Jehu the son of Hana'ni, which are €recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel. @After this Jehosh'aphat king of Judah joined with Ahazi'ah king of €Israel, who did wickedly. He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish, and they built the €ships in E'zion-ge'ber. Then Elie'zer the son of Do-dav'ahu of Mare'shah prophesied against €Jehosh'aphat, saying, "Because you have joined with Ahazi'ah, the LORD €will destroy what you have made." And the ships were wrecked and were €not able to go to Tarshish.  @Jehosh'aphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers €in the city of David; and Jeho'ram his son reigned in his stead. He had brothers, the sons of Jehosh'aphat: Azari'ah, Jehi'el, €Zechari'ah, Azari'ah, Michael, and Shephati'ah; all these were the sons €of Jehosh'aphat king of Judah. Their father gave them great gifts, of silver, gold, and valuable €possessions, together with fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the €kingdom to Jeho'ram, because he was the first-born. When Jeho'ram had ascended the throne of his father and was €established, he slew all his brothers with the sword, and also some of €the princes of Israel. Jeho'ram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned €eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab €had done; for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was €evil in the sight of the LORD. Yet the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the €covenant which he had made with David, and since he had promised to €give a lamp to him and to his sons for ever. @In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah, and set up a king €of their own. Then Jeho'ram passed over with his commanders and all his chariots, and €he rose by night and smote the E'domites who had surrounded him and his €chariot commanders. So Edom revolted from the rule of Judah to this day. At that time €Libnah also revolted from his rule, because he had forsaken the LORD, €the God of his fathers. @Moreover he made high places in the hill country of Judah, and led €the inhabitants of Jerusalem into unfaithfulness, and made Judah go €astray. And a letter came to him from Eli'jah the prophet, saying, "Thus says €the LORD, the God of David your father, `Because you have not walked in €the ways of Jehosh'aphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of €Judah, but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have led Judah €and the inhabitants of Jerusalem into unfaithfulness, as the house of €Ahab led Israel into unfaithfulness, and also you have killed your €brothers, of your father's house, who were better than yourself; behold, the LORD will bring a great plague on your people, your €children, your wives, and all your possessions, and you yourself will have a severe sickness with a disease of your €bowels, until your bowels come out because of the disease, day by day.'" @And the LORD stirred up against Jeho'ram the anger of the Philistines €and of the Arabs who are near the Ethiopians; and they came up against Judah, and invaded it, and carried away all €the possessions they found that belonged to the king's house, and also €his sons and his wives, so that no son was left to him except €Jeho'ahaz, his youngest son. @And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable €disease. In course of time, at the end of two years, his bowels came out because €of the disease, and he died in great agony. His people made no fire in €his honor, like the fires made for his fathers. He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €eight years in Jerusalem; and he departed with no one's regret. They žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’ؕ˜”ƒburied him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.  @And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahazi'ah his youngest son king €in his stead; for the band of men that came with the Arabs to the camp €had slain all the older sons. So Ahazi'ah the son of Jeho'ram king of €Judah reigned. Ahazi'ah was forty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athali'ah, the €granddaughter of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his €counselor in doing wickedly. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had €done; for after the death of his father they were his counselors, to €his undoing. He even followed their counsel, and went with Jeho'ram the son of Ahab €king of Israel to make war against Haz'ael king of Syria at €Ramoth-gilead. And the Syrians wounded Joram, and he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which he had €received at Ramah, when he fought against Haz'ael king of Syria. And €Ahazi'ah the son of Jeho'ram king of Judah went down to see Joram the €son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick. @But it was ordained by God that the downfall of Ahazi'ah should come €about through his going to visit Joram. For when he came there he went €out with Jeho'ram to meet Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had €anointed to destroy the house of Ahab. And when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, he met the €princes of Judah and the sons of Ahazi'ah's brothers, who attended €Ahazi'ah, and he killed them. He searched for Ahazi'ah, and he was captured while hiding in Sama'ria, €and he was brought to Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they €said, "He is the grandson of Jehosh'aphat, who sought the LORD with all €his heart." And the house of Ahazi'ah had no one able to rule the €kingdom. @Now when Athali'ah the mother of Ahazi'ah saw that her son was dead, €she arose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah. But Jeho-shab'e-ath, the daughter of the king, took Jo'ash the son of €Ahazi'ah, and stole him away from among the king's sons who were about €to be slain, and she put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. Thus €Jeho-shab'e-ath, the daughter of King Jeho'ram and wife of Jehoi'ada €the priest, because she was a sister of Ahazi'ah, hid him from €Athali'ah, so that she did not slay him; and he remained with them six years, hid in the house of God, while €Athali'ah reigned over the land.  @But in the seventh year Jehoi'ada took courage, and entered into a €compact with the commanders of hundreds, Azari'ah the son of Jero'ham, €Ish'mael the son of Jehoha'nan, Azari'ah the son of Obed, Ma-asei'ah €the son of Adai'ah, and Elisha'phat the son of Zichri. And they went about through Judah and gathered the Levites from all the €cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers' houses of Israel, and they €came to Jerusalem. And all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. €And Jehoi'ada said to them, "Behold, the king's son! Let him reign, as €the LORD spoke concerning the sons of David. This is the thing that you shall do: of you priests and Levites who €come off duty on the sabbath, one third shall be gatekeepers, and one third shall be at the king's house and one third at the Gate of €the Foundation; and all the people shall be in the courts of the house €of the LORD. Let no one enter the house of the LORD except the priests and €ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy, but all the €people shall keep the charge of the LORD. The Levites shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; €and whoever enters the house shall be slain. Be with the king when he €comes in, and when he goes out." @The Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoi'ada the €priest commanded. They each brought his men, who were to go off duty on €the sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the sabbath; for €Jehoi'ada the priest did not dismiss the divisions. And Jehoi'ada the priest delivered to the captains the spears and the €large and small shields that had been King David's, which were in the €house of God; and he set all the people as a guard for the king, every man with his €weapon in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side €of the house, around the altar and the house. Then he brought out the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and €gave him the testimony; and they proclaimed him king, and Jehoi'ada and €his sons anointed him, and they said, "Long live the king." @When Athali'ah heard the noise of the people running and praising the €king, she went into the house of the LORD to the people; and when she looked, there was the king standing by his pillar at the €entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all €the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and the singers €with their musical instruments leading in the celebration. And €Athali'ah rent her clothes, and cried, "Treason! Treason!" Then Jehoi'ada the priest brought out the captains who were set over €the army, saying to them, "Bring her out between the ranks; any one who €follows her is to be slain with the sword." For the priest said, "Do €not slay her in the house of the LORD." So they laid hands on her; and she went into the entrance of the horse €gate of the king's house, and they slew her there. @And Jehoi'ada made a covenant between himself and all the people and €the king that they should be the LORD's people. Then all the people went to the house of Ba'al, and tore it down; his €altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they slew Mattan the €priest of Ba'al before the altars. And Jehoi'ada posted watchmen for the house of the LORD under the €direction of the Levitical priests and the Levites whom David had €organized to be in charge of the house of the LORD, to offer burnt €offerings to the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with €rejoicing and with singing, according to the order of David. He stationed the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD so €that no one should enter who was in any way unclean. And he took the captains, the nobles, the governors of the people, and €all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the €house of the LORD, marching through the upper gate to the king's house. €And they set the king upon the royal throne. So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, after €Athali'ah had been slain with the sword.  @Jo'ash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €forty years in Jerusalem; his mother's name was Zib'iah of Beer-sheba. And Jo'ash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of €Jehoi'ada the priest. Jehoi'ada got for him two wives, and he had sons and daughters. @After this Jo'ash decided to restore the house of the LORD. And he gathered the priests and the Levites, and said to them, "Go out €to the cities of Judah, and gather from all Israel money to repair the €house of your God from year to year; and see that you hasten the €matter." But the Levites did not hasten it. So the king summoned Jehoi'ada the chief, and said to him, "Why have €you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the €tax levied by Moses, the servant of the LORD, on the congregation of €Israel for the tent of testimony?" For the sons of Athali'ah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house €of God; and had also used all the dedicated things of the house of the €LORD for the Ba'als. @So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it outside the €gate of the house of the LORD. And proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in €for the LORD the tax that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in €the wilderness. And all the princes and all the people rejoiced and brought their tax €and dropped it into the chest until they had finished. And whenever the chest was brought to the king's officers by the €Levites, when they saw that there was much money in it, the king's žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’ؘ˜‹ƒsecretary and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the €chest and take it and return it to its place. Thus they did day after €day, and collected money in abundance. And the king and Jehoi'ada gave it to those who had charge of the work €of the house of the LORD, and they hired masons and carpenters to €restore the house of the LORD, and also workers in iron and bronze to €repair the house of the LORD. So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the repairing went €forward in their hands, and they restored the house of God to its €proper condition and strengthened it. And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before €the king and Jehoi'ada, and with it were made utensils for the house of €the LORD, both for the service and for the burnt offerings, and dishes €for incense, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt €offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of €Jehoi'ada. @But Jehoi'ada grew old and full of days, and died; he was a hundred €and thirty years old at his death. And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he €had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house. @Now after the death of Jehoi'ada the princes of Judah came and did €obeisance to the king; then the king hearkened to them. And they forsook the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and €served the Ashe'rim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and €Jerusalem for this their guilt. Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD; these €testified against them, but they would not give heed. @Then the Spirit of God took possession of Zechari'ah the son of €Jehoi'ada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, €"Thus says God, `Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so €that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has €forsaken you.'" But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned €him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD. Thus Jo'ash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoi'ada, €Zechari'ah's father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was €dying, he said, "May the LORD see and avenge!" @At the end of the year the army of the Syrians came up against €Jo'ash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes €of the people from among the people, and sent all their spoil to the €king of Damascus. Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, the LORD €delivered into their hand a very great army, because they had forsaken €the LORD, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on €Jo'ash. @When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his €servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of €Jehoi'ada the priest, and slew him on his bed. So he died; and they €buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs €of the kings. Those who conspired against him were Zabad the son of Shim'e-ath the €Ammonitess, and Jeho'zabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess. Accounts of his sons, and of the many oracles against him, and of the €rebuilding of the house of God are written in the Commentary on the €Book of the Kings. And Amazi'ah his son reigned in his stead.  @Amazi'ah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he €reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was €Jeho-ad'dan of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not with a €blameless heart. And as soon as the royal power was firmly in his hand he killed his €servants who had slain the king his father. But he did not put their children to death, according to what is €written in the law, in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, €"The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, or the €children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall die for €his own sin." @Then Amazi'ah assembled the men of Judah, and set them by fathers' €houses under commanders of thousands and of hundreds for all Judah and €Benjamin. He mustered those twenty years old and upward, and found that €they were three hundred thousand picked men, fit for war, able to €handle spear and shield. He hired also a hundred thousand mighty men of valor from Israel for a €hundred talents of silver. But a man of God came to him and said, "O king, do not let the army of €Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel, with all these €E'phraimites. But if you suppose that in this way you will be strong for war, God €will cast you down before the enemy; for God has power to help or to €cast down." And Amazi'ah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do about the €hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?" The man of €God answered, "The LORD is able to give you much more than this." Then Amazi'ah discharged the army that had come to him from E'phraim, €to go home again. And they became very angry with Judah, and returned €home in fierce anger. But Amazi'ah took courage, and led out his people, and went to the €Valley of Salt and smote ten thousand men of Se'ir. The men of Judah captured another ten thousand alive, and took them to €the top of a rock and threw them down from the top of the rock; and €they were all dashed to pieces. But the men of the army whom Amazi'ah sent back, not letting them go €with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Sama'ria to €Beth-hor'on, and killed three thousand people in them, and took much €spoil. @After Amazi'ah came from the slaughter of the E'domites, he brought €the gods of the men of Se'ir, and set them up as his gods, and €worshiped them, making offerings to them. Therefore the LORD was angry with Amazi'ah and sent to him a prophet, €who said to him, "Why have you resorted to the gods of a people, which €did not deliver their own people from your hand?" But as he was speaking the king said to him, "Have we made you a royal €counselor? Stop! Why should you be put to death?" So the prophet €stopped, but said, "I know that God has determined to destroy you, €because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel." @Then Amazi'ah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Jo'ash the son €of Jeho'ahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us look €one another in the face." And Jo'ash the king of Israel sent word to Amazi'ah king of Judah, "A €thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, `Give your €daughter to my son for a wife'; and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by €and trampled down the thistle. You say, `See, I have smitten Edom,' and your heart has lifted you up €in boastfulness. But now stay at home; why should you provoke trouble €so that you fall, you and Judah with you?" @But Amazi'ah would not listen; for it was of God, in order that he €might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought €the gods of Edom. So Jo'ash king of Israel went up; and he and Amazi'ah king of Judah €faced one another in battle at Beth-she'mesh, which belongs to Judah. And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his home. And Jo'ash king of Israel captured Amazi'ah king of Judah, the son of €Jo'ash, son of Ahazi'ah, at Beth-she'mesh, and brought him to €Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for four hundred €cubits, from the E'phraim Gate to the Corner Gate. And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were €found in the house of God, and O'bed-e'dom with them; he seized also €the treasuries of the king's house, and hostages, and he returned to €Sama'ria. @Amazi'ah the son of Jo'ash king of Judah lived fifteen years after €the death of Jo'ash the son of Jeho'ahaz, king of Israel. Now the rest of the deeds of Amazi'ah, from first to last, are they not €written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel? From the time when he turned away from the LORD they made a conspiracy €against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent after €him to Lachish, and slew him there. And they brought him upon horses; and he was buried with his fathers in €the city of David. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’ؚ@And all the people of Judah took Uzzi'ah, who was sixteen years old, €and made him king instead of his father Amazi'ah. He built Eloth and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his €fathers. Uzzi'ah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoli'ah of €Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all €that his father Amazi'ah had done. He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechari'ah, who instructed €him in the fear of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him €prosper. @He went out and made war against the Philistines, and broke down the €wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod; and he €built cities in the territory of Ashdod and elsewhere among the €Philistines. God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabs that €dwelt in Gurba'al, and against the Me-u'nites. The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzzi'ah, and his fame spread even to the €border of Egypt, for he became very strong. Moreover Uzzi'ah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at €the Valley Gate and at the Angle, and fortified them. And he built towers in the wilderness, and hewed out many cisterns, for €he had large herds, both in the Shephe'lah and in the plain, and he had €farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he €loved the soil. Moreover Uzzi'ah had an army of soldiers, fit for war, in divisions €according to the numbers in the muster made by Je-i'el the secretary €and Ma-asei'ah the officer, under the direction of Hanani'ah, one of €the king's commanders. The whole number of the heads of fathers' houses of mighty men of valor €was two thousand six hundred. Under their command was an army of three hundred and seven thousand €five hundred, who could make war with mighty power, to help the king €against the enemy. And Uzzi'ah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, coats €of mail, bows, and stones for slinging. In Jerusalem he made engines, invented by skilful men, to be on the €towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame €spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong. @But when he was strong he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was €false to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn €incense on the altar of incense. But Azari'ah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the €LORD who were men of valor; and they withstood King Uzzi'ah, and said to him, "It is not for you, €Uzzi'ah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests the sons of €Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary; €for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the LORD €God." Then Uzzi'ah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn €incense, and when he became angry with the priests leprosy broke out on €his forehead, in the presence of the priests in the house of the LORD, €by the altar of incense. And Azari'ah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked at him, and €behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they thrust him out €quickly, and he himself hastened to go out, because the LORD had €smitten him. And King Uzzi'ah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper €dwelt in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the €LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king's household, governing the €people of the land. @Now the rest of the acts of Uzzi'ah, from first to last, Isaiah the €prophet the son of Amoz wrote. And Uzzi'ah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his €fathers in the burial field which belonged to the kings, for they said, €"He is a leper." And Jotham his son reigned in his stead.  @Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he €reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jeru'shah the €daughter of Zadok. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD according to all that €his father Uzzi'ah had done -- only he did not invade the temple of the €LORD. But the people still followed corrupt practices. He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD, and did much building €on the wall of Ophel. Moreover he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and forts and €towers on the wooded hills. He fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed against them. €And the Ammonites gave him that year a hundred talents of silver, and €ten thousand cors of wheat and ten thousand of barley. The Ammonites €paid him the same amount in the second and the third years. So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD €his God. Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, €behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €sixteen years in Jerusalem. And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of €David; and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.  @Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the €eyes of the LORD, like his father David, but walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made molten €images for the Ba'als; and he burned incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burned €his sons as an offering, according to the abominable practices of the €nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, and on the €hills, and under every green tree. @Therefore the LORD his God gave him into the hand of the king of €Syria, who defeated him and took captive a great number of his people €and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the €king of Israel, who defeated him with great slaughter. For Pekah the son of Remali'ah slew a hundred and twenty thousand in €Judah in one day, all of them men of valor, because they had forsaken €the LORD, the God of their fathers. And Zichri, a mighty man of E'phraim, slew Ma-asei'ah the king's son €and Azri'kam the commander of the palace and Elka'nah the next in €authority to the king. @The men of Israel took captive two hundred thousand of their €kinsfolk, women, sons, and daughters; they also took much spoil from €them and brought the spoil to Sama'ria. But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded; and he went €out to meet the army that came to Sama'ria, and said to them, "Behold, €because the LORD, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he €gave them into your hand, but you have slain them in a rage which has €reached up to heaven. And now you intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male €and female, as your slaves. Have you not sins of your own against the €LORD your God? Now hear me, and send back the captives from your kinsfolk whom you €have taken, for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you." Certain chiefs also of the men of E'phraim, Azari'ah the son of €Joha'nan, Berechi'ah the son of Meshil'lemoth, Jehizki'ah the son of €Shallum, and Ama'sa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who were €coming from the war, and said to them, "You shall not bring the captives in here, for you €propose to bring upon us guilt against the LORD in addition to our €present sins and guilt. For our guilt is already great, and there is €fierce wrath against Israel." So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and €all the assembly. And the men who have been mentioned by name rose and took the captives, €and with the spoil they clothed all that were naked among them; they €clothed them, gave them sandals, provided them with food and drink, and €anointed them; and carrying all the feeble among them on asses, they €brought them to their kinsfolk at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then €they returned to Sama'ria. @At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help. For the E'domites had again invaded and defeated Judah, and carried €away captives. And the Philistines had made raids on the cities in the Shephe'lah and žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’؜˜’‚the Negeb of Judah, and had taken Beth-she'mesh, Ai'jalon, Gede'roth, €Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its €villages; and they settled there. For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he €had dealt wantonly in Judah and had been faithless to the LORD. So Til'gath-pilne'ser king of Assyria came against him, and afflicted €him instead of strengthening him. For Ahaz took from the house of the LORD and the house of the king and €of the princes, and gave tribute to the king of Assyria; but it did not €help him. @In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the €LORD -- this same King Ahaz. For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, and €said, "Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will €sacrifice to them that they may help me." But they were the ruin of €him, and of all Israel. And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and cut in €pieces the vessels of the house of God, and he shut up the doors of the €house of the LORD; and he made himself altars in every corner of €Jerusalem. In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other €gods, provoking to anger the LORD, the God of his fathers. Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, behold, €they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in €Jerusalem, for they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of €Israel. And Hezeki'ah his son reigned in his stead.  @Hezeki'ah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he €reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi'jah €the daughter of Zechari'ah. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all €that David his father had done. @In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the €doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them. He brought in the priests and the Levites, and assembled them in the €square on the east, and said to them, "Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, and €sanctify the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and carry out €the filth from the holy place. For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the €sight of the LORD our God; they have forsaken him, and have turned away €their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs. They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps, and €have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to €the God of Israel. Therefore the wrath of the LORD came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has €made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you €see with your own eyes. For lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword and our sons and our €daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of €Israel, that his fierce anger may turn away from us. My sons, do not now be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand €in his presence, to minister to him, and to be his ministers and burn €incense to him." @Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Ama'sai, and Jo'el the son €of Azari'ah, of the sons of the Ko'hathites; and of the sons of €Merar'i, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azari'ah the son of Jehal'lelel; and €of the Gershonites, Jo'ah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Jo'ah; and of the sons of Eli-za'phan, Shimri and Jeu'el; and of the sons of €Asaph, Zechari'ah and Mattani'ah; and of the sons of Heman, Jehu'el and Shim'e-i; and of the sons of €Jedu'thun, Shemai'ah and Uz'ziel. They gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and went in as €the king had commanded, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house €of the LORD. The priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to €cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in €the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD; and the €Levites took it and carried it out to the brook Kidron. They began to sanctify on the first day of the first month, and on the €eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the LORD; then €for eight days they sanctified the house of the LORD, and on the €sixteenth day of the first month they finished. @Then they went in to Hezeki'ah the king and said, "We have cleansed €all the house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering and all its €utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils. All the utensils which King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he was €faithless, we have made ready and sanctified; and behold, they are €before the altar of the LORD." @Then Hezeki'ah the king rose early and gathered the officials of the €city, and went up to the house of the LORD. And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven €he-goats for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and €for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them €on the altar of the LORD. So they killed the bulls, and the priests received the blood and threw €it against the altar; and they killed the rams and their blood was €thrown against the altar; and they killed the lambs and their blood was €thrown against the altar. Then the he-goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the €assembly, and they laid their hands upon them, and the priests killed them and made a sin offering with their blood on €the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded €that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all €Israel. @And he stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, €harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the €king's seer and of Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was from the €LORD through his prophets. The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with €the trumpets. Then Hezeki'ah commanded that the burnt offering be offered on the €altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song to the LORD began €also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David king of €Israel. The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters €sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with €him bowed themselves and worshiped. And Hezeki'ah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing €praises to the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And €they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped. @Then Hezeki'ah said, "You have now consecrated yourselves to the €LORD; come near, bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of €the LORD." And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings; and €all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. The number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was €seventy bulls, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs; all these were €for a burnt offering to the LORD. And the consecrated offerings were six hundred bulls and three thousand €sheep. But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt €offerings, so until other priests had sanctified themselves their €brethren the Levites helped them, until the work was finished -- for the €Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in sanctifying €themselves. Besides the great number of burnt offerings there was the fat of the €peace offerings, and there were the libations for the burnt offerings. €Thus the service of the house of the LORD was restored. And Hezeki'ah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done €for the people; for the thing came about suddenly.  @Hezeki'ah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to €E'phraim and Manas'seh, that they should come to the house of the LORD €at Jerusalem, to keep the passover to the LORD the God of Israel. For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had €taken counsel to keep the passover in the second month --žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’؞“for they could not keep it in its time because the priests had not €sanctified themselves in sufficient number, nor had the people €assembled in Jerusalem --and the plan seemed right to the king and all the assembly. So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from €Beer-sheba to Dan, that the people should come and keep the passover to €the LORD the God of Israel, at Jerusalem; for they had not kept it in €great numbers as prescribed. So couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with letters from the €king and his princes, as the king had commanded, saying, "O people of €Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that €he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand €of the kings of Assyria. Do not be like your fathers and your brethren, who were faithless to €the LORD God of their fathers, so that he made them a desolation, as €you see. Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves €to the LORD, and come to his sanctuary, which he has sanctified for €ever, and serve the LORD your God, that his fierce anger may turn away €from you. For if you return to the LORD, your brethren and your children will €find compassion with their captors, and return to this land. For the €LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face €from you, if you return to him." @So the couriers went from city to city through the country of €E'phraim and Manas'seh, and as far as Zeb'ulun; but they laughed them €to scorn, and mocked them. Only a few men of Asher, of Manas'seh, and of Zeb'ulun humbled €themselves and came to Jerusalem. The hand of God was also upon Judah to give them one heart to do what €the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD. @And many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the feast of €unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly. They set to work and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all €the altars for burning incense they took away and threw into the Kidron €valley. And they killed the passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second €month. And the priests and the Levites were put to shame, so that they €sanctified themselves, and brought burnt offerings into the house of €the LORD. They took their accustomed posts according to the law of Moses the man €of God; the priests sprinkled the blood which they received from the €hand of the Levites. For there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves; €therefore the Levites had to kill the passover lamb for every one who €was not clean, to make it holy to the LORD. For a multitude of the people, many of them from E'phraim, Manas'seh, €Is'sachar, and Zeb'ulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the €passover otherwise than as prescribed. For Hezeki'ah had prayed for €them, saying, "The good LORD pardon every one who sets his heart to seek God, the LORD the God of his fathers, even €though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness." And the LORD heard Hezeki'ah, and healed the people. And the people of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast €of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and €the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with all their might €to the LORD. And Hezeki'ah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good €skill in the service of the LORD. So the people ate the food of the €festival for seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks €to the LORD the God of their fathers. @Then the whole assembly agreed together to keep the feast for another €seven days; so they kept it for another seven days with gladness. For Hezeki'ah king of Judah gave the assembly a thousand bulls and €seven thousand sheep for offerings, and the princes gave the assembly a €thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep. And the priests sanctified €themselves in great numbers. The whole assembly of Judah, and the priests and the Levites, and the €whole assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners who came out €of the land of Israel, and the sojourners who dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the €son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in €Jerusalem. Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people, and €their voice was heard, and their prayer came to his holy habitation in €heaven.  @Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out €to the cities of Judah and broke in pieces the pillars and hewed down €the Ashe'rim and broke down the high places and the altars throughout €all Judah and Benjamin, and in E'phraim and Manas'seh, until they had €destroyed them all. Then all the people of Israel returned to their €cities, every man to his possession. @And Hezeki'ah appointed the divisions of the priests and of the €Levites, division by division, each according to his service, the €priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and peace offerings, to €minister in the gates of the camp of the LORD and to give thanks and €praise. The contribution of the king from his own possessions was for the burnt €offerings: the burnt offerings of morning and evening, and the burnt €offerings for the sabbaths, the new moons, and the appointed feasts, as €it is written in the law of the LORD. And he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion €due to the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to €the law of the LORD. As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in €abundance the first fruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the €produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of €everything. And the people of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah €also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the dedicated things €which had been consecrated to the LORD their God, and laid them in €heaps. In the third month they began to pile up the heaps, and finished them €in the seventh month. When Hezeki'ah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the €LORD and his people Israel. And Hezeki'ah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps. Azari'ah the chief priest, who was of the house of Zadok, answered him, €"Since they began to bring the contributions into the house of the LORD €we have eaten and had enough and have plenty left; for the LORD has €blessed his people, so that we have this great store left." @Then Hezeki'ah commanded them to prepare chambers in the house of the €LORD; and they prepared them. And they faithfully brought in the contributions, the tithes and the €dedicated things. The chief officer in charge of them was Conani'ah the €Levite, with Shim'e-i his brother as second; while Jehi'el, Azazi'ah, Nahath, As'ahel, Jer'imoth, Jo'zabad, Eli'el, €Ismachi'ah, Mahath, and Benai'ah were overseers assisting Conani'ah and €Shim'e-i his brother, by the appointment of Hezeki'ah the king and €Azari'ah the chief officer of the house of God. And Ko're the son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the east gate, was €over the freewill offerings to God, to apportion the contribution €reserved for the LORD and the most holy offerings. Eden, Mini'amin, Jeshua, Shemai'ah, Amari'ah, and Shecani'ah were €faithfully assisting him in the cities of the priests, to distribute €the portions to their brethren, old and young alike, by divisions, except those enrolled by genealogy, males from three years old and €upwards, all who entered the house of the LORD as the duty of each day €required, for their service according to their offices, by their €divisions. The enrollment of the priests was according to their fathers' houses; €that of the Levites from twenty years old and upwards was according to €their offices, by their divisions. The priests were enrolled with all their little children, their wives, €their sons, and their daughters, the whole multitude; for they were €faithful in keeping themselves holy. And for the sons of Aaron, the priests, who were in the fields of žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’؟˜“‚common land belonging to their cities, there were men in the several €cities who were designated by name to distribute portions to every male €among the priests and to every one among the Levites who was enrolled. @Thus Hezeki'ah did throughout all Judah; and he did what was good and €right and faithful before the LORD his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and €in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he €did with all his heart, and prospered.  @After these things and these acts of faithfulness Sennach'erib king €of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified €cities, thinking to win them for himself. And when Hezeki'ah saw that Sennach'erib had come and intended to fight €against Jerusalem, he planned with his officers and his mighty men to stop the water of €the springs that were outside the city; and they helped him. A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all the springs and €the brook that flowed through the land, saying, "Why should the kings €of Assyria come and find much water?" He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken €down, and raised towers upon it, and outside it he built another wall; €and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made €weapons and shields in abundance. And he set combat commanders over the people, and gathered them €together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke €encouragingly to them, saying, "Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the €king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him; for there is one €greater with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help €us and to fight our battles." And the people took confidence from the €words of Hezeki'ah king of Judah. @After this Sennach'erib king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish €with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem to Hezeki'ah king €of Judah and to all the people of Judah that were in Jerusalem, saying, "Thus says Sennach'erib king of Assyria, `On what are you relying, that €you stand siege in Jerusalem? Is not Hezeki'ah misleading you, that he may give you over to die by €famine and by thirst, when he tells you, "The LORD our God will deliver €us from the hand of the king of Assyria"? Has not this same Hezeki'ah taken away his high places and his altars €and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, "Before one altar you shall worship, €and upon it you shall burn your sacrifices"? Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of €other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to €deliver their lands out of my hand? Who among all the gods of those nations which my fathers utterly €destroyed was able to deliver his people from my hand, that your God €should be able to deliver you from my hand? Now therefore do not let Hezeki'ah deceive you or mislead you in this €fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom €has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my €fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!'" @And his servants said still more against the Lord GOD and against his €servant Hezeki'ah. And he wrote letters to cast contempt on the LORD the God of Israel and €to speak against him, saying, "Like the gods of the nations of the €lands who have not delivered their people from my hands, so the God of €Hezeki'ah will not deliver his people from my hand." And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the €people of Jerusalem who were upon the wall, to frighten and terrify €them, in order that they might take the city. And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the €peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands. @Then Hezeki'ah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, €prayed because of this and cried to heaven. And the LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and €commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he €returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the €house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the €sword. So the LORD saved Hezeki'ah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the €hand of Sennach'erib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his €enemies; and he gave them rest on every side. And many brought gifts to the LORD to Jerusalem and precious things to €Hezeki'ah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all €nations from that time onward. In those days Hezeki'ah became sick and was at the point of death, and €he prayed to the LORD; and he answered him and gave him a sign. But Hezeki'ah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, €for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and €Jerusalem. But Hezeki'ah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and €the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not €come upon them in the days of Hezeki'ah. @And Hezeki'ah had very great riches and honor; and he made for €himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for €spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for €all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in €abundance; for God had given him very great possessions. This same Hezeki'ah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and €directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezeki'ah €prospered in all his works. And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had €been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the €land, God left him to himself, in order to try him and to know all that €was in his heart. @Now the rest of the acts of Hezeki'ah, and his good deeds, behold, €they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, €in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. And Hezeki'ah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent €of the tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of €Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manas'seh his son reigned in €his stead.  @Manas'seh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €fifty-five years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the €abominable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the €people of Israel. For he rebuilt the high places which his father Hezeki'ah had broken €down, and erected altars to the Ba'als, and made Ashe'rahs, and €worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had €said, "In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever." And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the €house of the LORD. And he burned his sons as an offering in the valley of the son of €Hinnom, and practiced soothsaying and augury and sorcery, and dealt €with mediums and with wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the €LORD, provoking him to anger. And the image of the idol which he had made he set in the house of God, €of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house, and €in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I €will put my name for ever; and I will no more remove the foot of Israel from the land which I €appointed for your fathers, if only they will be careful to do all that €I have commanded them, all the law, the statutes, and the ordinances €given through Moses." Manas'seh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they €did more evil than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the €people of Israel. @The LORD spoke to Manas'seh and to his people, but they gave no heed. Therefore the LORD brought upon them the commanders of the army of the €king of Assyria, who took Manas'seh with hooks and bound him with €fetters of bronze and brought him to Babylon. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’Ø”˜ŒAnd when he was in distress he entreated the favor of the LORD his God €and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God received his entreaty and heard his €supplication and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then €Manas'seh knew that the LORD was God. @Afterwards he built an outer wall for the city of David west of €Gihon, in the valley, and for the entrance into the Fish Gate, and €carried it round Ophel, and raised it to a very great height; he also €put commanders of the army in all the fortified cities in Judah. And he took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the €LORD, and all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the house €of the LORD and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside of the city. He also restored the altar of the LORD and offered upon it sacrifices €of peace offerings and of thanksgiving; and he commanded Judah to serve €the LORD the God of Israel. Nevertheless the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only €to the LORD their God. @Now the rest of the acts of Manas'seh, and his prayer to his God, and €the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD the God €of Israel, behold, they are in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. And his prayer, and how God received his entreaty, and all his sin and €his faithlessness, and the sites on which he built high places and set €up the Ashe'rim and the images, before he humbled himself, behold, they €are written in the Chronicles of the Seers. So Manas'seh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his house; €and Amon his son reigned in his stead. @Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €two years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manas'seh his father €had done. Amon sacrificed to all the images that Manas'seh his father €had made, and served them. And he did not humble himself before the LORD, as Manas'seh his father €had humbled himself, but this Amon incurred guilt more and more. And his servants conspired against him and killed him in his house. But the people of the land slew all those who had conspired against €King Amon; and the people of the land made Josi'ah his son king in his €stead.  @Josi'ah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned €thirty-one years in Jerusalem. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and walked in the ways €of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right or to the €left. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began €to seek the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began €to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Ashe'rim, and the €graven and the molten images. And they broke down the altars of the Ba'als in his presence; and he €hewed down the incense altars which stood above them; and he broke in €pieces the Ashe'rim and the graven and the molten images, and he made €dust of them and strewed it over the graves of those who had sacrificed €to them. He also burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and purged €Judah and Jerusalem. And in the cities of Manas'seh, E'phraim, and Simeon, and as far as €Naph'tali, in their ruins round about, he broke down the altars, and beat the Ashe'rim and the images into €powder, and hewed down all the incense altars throughout all the land €of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem. @Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land €and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azali'ah, and Ma-asei'ah the €governor of the city, and Jo'ah the son of Jo'ahaz, the recorder, to €repair the house of the LORD his God. They came to Hilki'ah the high priest and delivered the money that had €been brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of €the threshold, had collected from Manas'seh and E'phraim and from all €the remnant of Israel and from all Judah and Benjamin and from the €inhabitants of Jerusalem. They delivered it to the workmen who had the oversight of the house of €the LORD; and the workmen who were working in the house of the LORD €gave it for repairing and restoring the house. They gave it to the carpenters and the builders to buy quarried stone, €and timber for binders and beams for the buildings which the kings of €Judah had let go to ruin. And the men did the work faithfully. Over them were set Jahath and €Obadi'ah the Levites, of the sons of Merar'i, and Zechari'ah and €Meshul'lam, of the sons of the Ko'hathites, to have oversight. The €Levites, all who were skilful with instruments of music, were over the burden bearers and directed all who did work in every €kind of service; and some of the Levites were scribes, and officials, €and gatekeepers. @While they were bringing out the money that had been brought into the €house of the LORD, Hilki'ah the priest found the book of the law of the €LORD given through Moses. Then Hilki'ah said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the book of €the law in the house of the LORD"; and Hilki'ah gave the book to €Shaphan. Shaphan brought the book to the king, and further reported to the king, €"All that was committed to your servants they are doing. They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of the LORD €and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers and the workmen." Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, "Hilki'ah the priest has €given me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king. @When the king heard the words of the law he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilki'ah, Ahi'kam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the €son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asai'ah the king's servant, €saying, "Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel €and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found; for €great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our €fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that €is written in this book." @So Hilki'ah and those whom the king had sent went to Huldah the €prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, €keeper of the wardrobe (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second €Quarter) and spoke to her to that effect. And she said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: `Tell the €man who sent you to me, Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place and upon €its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book which was €read before the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken me and have burned incense to other gods, €that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, €therefore my wrath will be poured out upon this place and will not be €quenched. But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus €shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Regarding €the words which you have heard, because your heart was penitent and you humbled yourself before God €when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and €you have humbled yourself before me, and have rent your clothes and €wept before me, I also have heard you, says the LORD. Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to €your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the evil which I €will bring upon this place and its inhabitants.'" And they brought back €word to the king. @Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and €Jerusalem. And the king went up to the house of the LORD, with all the men of €Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the Levites, €all the people both great and small; and he read in their hearing all €the words of the book of the covenant which had been found in the house €of the LORD. And the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD, to €walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies €and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the €words of the covenant that were written in this book. Then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin stand to žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’Ø¢˜ ‚it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of €God, the God of their fathers. And Josi'ah took away all the abominations from all the territory that €belonged to the people of Israel, and made all who were in Israel serve €the LORD their God. All his days they did not turn away from following €the LORD the God of their fathers.  @Josi'ah kept a passover to the LORD in Jerusalem; and they killed the €passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month. He appointed the priests to their offices and encouraged them in the €service of the house of the LORD. And he said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were holy to €the LORD, "Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of €David, king of Israel, built; you need no longer carry it upon your €shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel. Prepare yourselves according to your fathers' houses by your divisions, €following the directions of David king of Israel and the directions of €Solomon his son. And stand in the holy place according to the groupings of the fathers' €houses of your brethren the lay people, and let there be for each a €part of a father's house of the Levites. And kill the passover lamb, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare for €your brethren, to do according to the word of the LORD by Moses." @Then Josi'ah contributed to the lay people, as passover offerings for €all that were present, lambs and kids from the flock to the number of €thirty thousand, and three thousand bulls; these were from the king's €possessions. And his princes contributed willingly to the people, to the priests, €and to the Levites. Hilki'ah, Zechari'ah, and Jehi'el, the chief €officers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the passover €offerings two thousand six hundred lambs and kids and three hundred €bulls. Conani'ah also, and Shemai'ah and Nethan'el his brothers, and €Hashabi'ah and Je-i'el and Jo'zabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave to €the Levites for the passover offerings five thousand lambs and kids and €five hundred bulls. @When the service had been prepared for, the priests stood in their €place, and the Levites in their divisions according to the king's €command. And they killed the passover lamb, and the priests sprinkled the blood €which they received from them while the Levites flayed the victims. And they set aside the burnt offerings that they might distribute them €according to the groupings of the fathers' houses of the lay people, to €offer to the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so they €did with the bulls. And they roasted the passover lamb with fire according to the €ordinance; and they boiled the holy offerings in pots, in caldrons, and €in pans, and carried them quickly to all the lay people. And afterward they prepared for themselves and for the priests, because €the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering the burnt €offerings and the fat parts until night; so the Levites prepared for €themselves and for the priests the sons of Aaron. The singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their place according to the €command of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jedu'thun the king's seer; €and the gatekeepers were at each gate; they did not need to depart from €their service, for their brethren the Levites prepared for them. @So all the service of the LORD was prepared that day, to keep the €passover and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, €according to the command of King Josi'ah. And the people of Israel who were present kept the passover at that €time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. No passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel €the prophet; none of the kings of Israel had kept such a passover as €was kept by Josi'ah, and the priests and the Levites, and all Judah and €Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josi'ah this passover was kept. @After all this, when Josi'ah had prepared the temple, Neco king of €Egypt went up to fight at Car'chemish on the Euphra'tes and Josi'ah €went out against him. But he sent envoys to him, saying, "What have we to do with each other, €king of Judah? I am not coming against you this day, but against the €house with which I am at war; and God has commanded me to make haste. €Cease opposing God, who is with me, lest he destroy you." Nevertheless Josi'ah would not turn away from him, but disguised €himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of €Neco from the mouth of God, but joined battle in the plain of Megid'do. And the archers shot King Josi'ah; and the king said to his servants, €"Take me away, for I am badly wounded." So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in his €second chariot and brought him to Jerusalem. And he died, and was €buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for €Josi'ah. Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josi'ah; and all the singing men and €singing women have spoken of Josi'ah in their laments to this day. They €made these an ordinance in Israel; behold, they are written in the €Laments. Now the rest of the acts of Josi'ah, and his good deeds according to €what is written in the law of the LORD, and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the Book of €the Kings of Israel and Judah.  @The people of the land took Jeho'ahaz the son of Josi'ah and made him €king in his father's stead in Jerusalem. Jeho'ahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he €reigned three months in Jerusalem. Then the king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem and laid upon the land €a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. And the king of Egypt made Eli'akim his brother king over Judah and €Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoi'akim; but Neco took Jeho'ahaz €his brother and carried him to Egypt. @Jehoi'akim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he €reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of €the LORD his God. Against him came up Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon, and bound him in €fetters to take him to Babylon. Nebuchadnez'zar also carried part of the vessels of the house of the €LORD to Babylon and put them in his palace in Babylon. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoi'akim, and the abominations which he €did, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the €Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah; and Jehoi'achin his son reigned €in his stead. @Jehoi'achin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he €reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in €the sight of the LORD. In the spring of the year King Nebuchadnez'zar sent and brought him to €Babylon, with the precious vessels of the house of the LORD, and made €his brother Zedeki'ah king over Judah and Jerusalem. @Zedeki'ah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he €reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not €humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of €the LORD. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnez'zar, who had made him swear €by God; he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to €the LORD, the God of Israel. All the leading priests and the people likewise were exceedingly €unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations; and they €polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. @The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his €messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling €place; but they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words, and €scoffing at his prophets, till the wrath of the LORD rose against his €people, till there was no remedy. @Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chalde'ans, who €slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, €and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged; he gave €them all into his hand. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±“’ļ‚²Ćčņ’ؤ˜’And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the €treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and €of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. And they burned the house of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, €and burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious €vessels. He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and €they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of €the kingdom of Persia, to fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land €had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept €sabbath, to fulfil seventy years. @Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the €LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred €up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia so that he made a proclamation €throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, `The LORD, the God of heaven, has €given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build €him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of €all his people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up.'" ąļ‚Åśņį’”In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by €the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the €spirit of Cyrus king of Persia so that he made a proclamation €throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: @"Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has €given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build €him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and €let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of €the LORD, the God of Israel -- he is the God who is in Jerusalem; and let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by €the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, €besides freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem." @Then rose up the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, €and the priests and the Levites, every one whose spirit God had stirred €to go up to rebuild the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem; and all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with €gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that €was freely offered. Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD €which Nebuchadnez'zar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the €house of his gods. Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in charge of Mith'redath the €treasurer, who counted them out to Shesh-baz'zar the prince of Judah. And this was the number of them: a thousand basins of gold, a thousand €basins of silver, twenty-nine censers, thirty bowls of gold, two thousand four hundred and ten bowls of €silver, and a thousand other vessels; all the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand four hundred €and sixty-nine. All these did Shesh-baz'zar bring up, when the exiles €were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.  @Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the €captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnez'zar the king of Babylon had €carried captive to Babylonia; they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, €each to his own town. They came with Zerub'babel, Jeshua, Nehemi'ah, Serai'ah, Re-el-ai'ah, €Mor'decai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigva'i, Rehum, and Ba'anah. €@The number of the men of the people of Israel: the sons of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two. The sons of Shephati'ah, three hundred and seventy-two. The sons of Arah, seven hundred and seventy-five. The sons of Pa'hath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Jo'ab, two €thousand eight hundred and twelve. The sons of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four. The sons of Zattu, nine hundred and forty-five. The sons of Zac'cai, seven hundred and sixty. The sons of Bani, six hundred and forty-two. The sons of Be'bai, six hundred and twenty-three. The sons of Azgad, one thousand two hundred and twenty-two. The sons of Adoni'kam, six hundred and sixty-six. The sons of Bigva'i, two thousand and fifty-six. The sons of Adin, four hundred and fifty-four. The sons of Ater, namely of Hezeki'ah, ninety-eight. The sons of Be'zai, three hundred and twenty-three. The sons of Jorah, one hundred and twelve. The sons of Hashum, two hundred and twenty-three. The sons of Gibbar, ninety-five. The sons of Bethlehem, one hundred and twenty-three. The men of Neto'phah, fifty-six. The men of An'athoth, one hundred and twenty-eight. The sons of Az'maveth, forty-two. The sons of Kir'iathar'im, Chephi'rah, and Be-er'oth, seven hundred and €forty-three. The sons of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one. The men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two. The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred and twenty-three. The sons of Nebo, fifty-two. The sons of Magbish, one hundred and fifty-six. The sons of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four. The sons of Harim, three hundred and twenty. The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-five. The sons of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five. The sons of Sena'ah, three thousand six hundred and thirty. @The priests: the sons of Jedai'ah, of the house of Jeshua, nine €hundred and seventy-three. The sons of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two. The sons of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven. The sons of Harim, one thousand and seventeen. @The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kad'mi-el, of the sons of €Hodavi'ah, seventy-four. The singers: the sons of Asaph, one hundred and twenty-eight. The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the €sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hati'ta, and the sons of €Sho'bai, in all one hundred and thirty-nine. @The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasu'pha, the sons €of Tabba'oth, the sons of Keros, the sons of Si'aha, the sons of Padon, the sons of Leba'nah, the sons of Hag'abah, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Re-ai'ah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Neko'da, the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Pase'ah, the sons of Besai, the sons of Asnah, the sons of Me-u'nim, the sons of Nephi'sim, the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Haku'pha, the sons of Harhur, the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehi'da, the sons of Harsha, the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sis'era, the sons of Temah, the sons of Nezi'ah, and the sons of Hati'pha. @The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of So'tai, the sons of €Hasso'phereth, the sons of Peru'da, the sons of Ja'alah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Shephati'ah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of €Po'chereth-hazzeba'im, and the sons of Ami. @All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were three €hundred and ninety-two. @The following were those who came up from Tel-me'lah, Tel-har'sha, €Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their fathers' €houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: the sons of Delai'ah, the sons of Tobi'ah, and the sons of Neko'da, six €hundred and fifty-two. Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habai'ah, the sons of €Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzil'lai (who had taken a wife from the €daughters of Barzil'lai the Gileadite, and was called by their name). These sought their registration among those enrolled in the €genealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded €from the priesthood as unclean; the governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy €food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim. @The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred and €sixty, besides their menservants and maidservants, of whom there were seven €thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; and they had two hundred male €and female singers. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±µ’ļ‚Åśņį’¢˜ĀTheir horses were seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules were two €hundred and forty-five, their camels were four hundred and thirty-five, and their asses were €six thousand seven hundred and twenty. @Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the €LORD which is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of €God, to erect it on its site; according to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work €sixty-one thousand darics of gold, five thousand minas of silver, and €one hundred priests' garments. @The priests, the Levites, and some of the people lived in Jerusalem €and its vicinity; and the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple €servants lived in their towns, and all Israel in their towns.  @When the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel were in the €towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. Then arose Jeshua the son of Jo'zadak, with his fellow priests, and €Zerub'babel the son of She-al'ti-el with his kinsmen, and they built €the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings upon it, as it €is written in the law of Moses the man of God. They set the altar in its place, for fear was upon them because of the €peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings upon it to the €LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening. And they kept the feast of booths, as it is written, and offered the €daily burnt offerings by number according to the ordinance, as each day €required, and after that the continual burnt offerings, the offerings at the new €moon and at all the appointed feasts of the LORD, and the offerings of €every one who made a freewill offering to the LORD. From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt €offerings to the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD €was not yet laid. So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, €and oil to the Sido'nians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from €Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant which they had €from Cyrus king of Persia. @Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at €Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerub'babel the son of She-al'ti-el and €Jeshua the son of Jo'zadak made a beginning, together with the rest of €their brethren, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to €Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty €years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of €the LORD. And Jeshua with his sons and his kinsmen, and Kad'mi-el and his sons, €the sons of Judah, together took the oversight of the workmen in the €house of God, along with the sons of Hen'adad and the Levites, their €sons and kinsmen. @And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, €the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the €Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according €to the directions of David king of Israel; and they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, €@@"For he is good, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever toward Israel." €And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the €LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old €men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw €the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for €joy; so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout €from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a €great shout, and the sound was heard afar.  @Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the €returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel, they approached Zerub'babel and the heads of fathers' houses and said €to them, "Let us build with you; for we worship your God as you do, and €we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of E'sar-had'don €king of Assyria who brought us here." But Zerub'babel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers' houses €in Israel said to them, "You have nothing to do with us in building a €house to our God; but we alone will build to the LORD, the God of €Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us." @Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and made €them afraid to build, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the €days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of €Persia. @And in the reign of Ahasu-e'rus, in the beginning of his reign, they €wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. @And in the days of Ar-ta-xerx'es, Bishlam and Mith'redath and Tab'eel €and the rest of their associates wrote to Ar-ta-xerx'es king of Persia; €the letter was written in Aramaic and translated. Rehum the commander and Shim'shai the scribe wrote a letter against €Jerusalem to Ar-ta-xerx'es the king as follows --then wrote Rehum the commander, Shim'shai the scribe, and the rest of €their associates, the judges, the governors, the officials, the €Persians, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, €the Elamites, and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnap'par deported €and settled in the cities of Sama'ria and in the rest of the province €Beyond the River, and now this is a copy of the letter that they sent -- "To Ar-ta-xerx'es the €king: Your servants, the men of the province Beyond the River, send €greeting. And now be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have €gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked €city; they are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations. Now be it known to the king that, if this city is rebuilt and the walls €finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal €revenue will be impaired. Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us €to witness the king's dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king, in order that search may be made in the book of the records of your €fathers. You will find in the book of the records and learn that this €city is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that €sedition was stirred up in it from of old. That was why this city was €laid waste. We make known to the king that, if this city is rebuilt and its walls €finished, you will then have no possession in the province Beyond the €River." @The king sent an answer: "To Rehum the commander and Shim'shai the €scribe and the rest of their associates who live in Sama'ria and in the €rest of the province Beyond the River, greeting. And now the letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. And I made a decree, and search has been made, and it has been found €that this city from of old has risen against kings, and that rebellion €and sedition have been made in it. And mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, who ruled over the whole €province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were paid. Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease, and that this €city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me. And take care not to be slack in this matter; why should damage grow to €the hurt of the king?" @Then, when the copy of King Ar-ta-xerx'es' letter was read before €Rehum and Shim'shai the scribe and their associates, they went in haste €to the Jews at Jerusalem and by force and power made them cease. Then the work on the house of God which is in Jerusalem stopped; and it €ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.  @Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechari'ah the son of Iddo, prophesied €to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of €Israel who was over them. Then Zerub'babel the son of She-al'ti-el and Jeshua the son of Jo'zadak €arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and €with them were the prophets of God, helping them. @At the same time Tat'tenai the governor of the province Beyond the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±µ’ļ‚Åśņį’„“‚River and She'thar-boz'enai and their associates came to them and spoke €to them thus, "Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish €this structure?" They also asked them this, "What are the names of the men who are €building this building?" But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did €not stop them till a report should reach Darius and then answer be €returned by letter concerning it. @The copy of the letter which Tat'tenai the governor of the province €Beyond the River and She'thar-boz'enai and his associates the governors €who were in the province Beyond the River sent to Darius the king; they sent him a report, in which was written as follows: "To Darius the €king, all peace. Be it known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the €house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, and timber €is laid in the walls; this work goes on diligently and prospers in €their hands. Then we asked those elders and spoke to them thus, `Who gave you a €decree to build this house and to finish this structure?' We also asked them their names, for your information, that we might €write down the names of the men at their head. And this was their reply to us: `We are the servants of the God of €heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many €years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. But because our fathers had angered the God of heaven, he gave them €into the hand of Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon, the Chalde'an, who €destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia. However in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made €a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt. And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which €Nebuchadnez'zar had taken out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and €brought into the temple of Babylon, these Cyrus the king took out of €the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was €Shesh-baz'zar, whom he had made governor; and he said to him, "Take these vessels, go and put them in the temple €which is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its site." Then this Shesh-baz'zar came and laid the foundations of the house of €God which is in Jerusalem; and from that time until now it has been in €building, and it is not yet finished.' Therefore, if it seem good to the king, let search be made in the royal €archives there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by Cyrus €the king for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And let €the king send us his pleasure in this matter."  @Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in Babylonia, €in the house of the archives where the documents were stored. And in Ecbat'ana, the capital which is in the province of Media, a €scroll was found on which this was written: "A record. In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: €Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the €place where sacrifices are offered and burnt offerings are brought; its €height shall be sixty cubits and its breadth sixty cubits, with three courses of great stones and one course of timber; let the €cost be paid from the royal treasury. And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which €Nebuchadnez'zar took out of the temple that is in Jerusalem and brought €to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple which is in €Jerusalem, each to its place; you shall put them in the house of God." @"Now therefore, Tat'tenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, €She'thar-boz'enai, and your associates the governors who are in the €province Beyond the River, keep away; let the work on this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews €and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site. Moreover I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders €of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God; the cost is to be €paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the €tribute of the province from Beyond the River. And whatever is needed -- young bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt €offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the €priests at Jerusalem require -- let that be given to them day by day €without fail, that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven, and pray €for the life of the king and his sons. Also I make a decree that if any one alters this edict, a beam shall be €pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled upon it, and his house €shall be made a dunghill. May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king €or people that shall put forth a hand to alter this, or to destroy this €house of God which is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be €done with all diligence." @Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, Tat'tenai, the €governor of the province Beyond the River, She'thar-boz'enai, and their €associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered. And the elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying €of Haggai the prophet and Zechari'ah the son of Iddo. They finished €their building by command of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus €and Darius and Ar-ta-xerx'es king of Persia; and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in €the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. @And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest €of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God €with joy. They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, €two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and as a sin offering for all €Israel twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their €courses, for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the €book of Moses. @On the fourteenth day of the first month the returned exiles kept the €passover. For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all €of them were clean. So they killed the passover lamb for all the €returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves; it was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and €also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the €pollutions of the peoples of the land to worship the LORD, the God of €Israel. And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; for €the LORD had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of €Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, €the God of Israel.  @Now after this, in the reign of Ar-ta-xerx'es king of Persia, Ezra €the son of Serai'ah, son of Azari'ah, son of Hilki'ah, son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahi'tub, son of Amari'ah, son of Azari'ah, son of Merai'oth, son of Zerahi'ah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, son of Abi'shu-a, son of Phin'ehas, son of Elea'zar, son of Aaron the €chief priest --this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the law of €Moses which the LORD the God of Israel had given; and the king granted €him all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him. @And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of €Ar-ta-xerx'es the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the €priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple €servants. And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh €year of the king; for on the first day of the first month he began to go up from €Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to €Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was upon him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to do it, €and to teach his statutes and ordinances in Israel. @This is a copy of the letter which King Ar-ta-xerx'es gave to Ezra €the priest, the scribe, learned in matters of the commandments of the €LORD and his statutes for Israel: žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±µ’ļ‚Åśņį’§˜Œ"Ar-ta-xerx'es, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the €law of the God of heaven. And now I make a decree that any one of the people of Israel or their priests €or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go €with you. For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries €about Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in €your hand, and also to convey the silver and gold which the king and his €counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is €in Jerusalem, with all the silver and gold which you shall find in the whole province €of Babylonia, and with the freewill offerings of the people and the €priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God which is in €Jerusalem. With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, €and lambs, with their cereal offerings and their drink offerings, and €you shall offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is €in Jerusalem. Whatever seems good to you and your brethren to do with the rest of the €silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God. The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of €your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem. And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which you have €occasion to provide, you may provide it out of the king's treasury. @"And I, Ar-ta-xerx'es the king, make a decree to all the treasurers €in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe €of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you, be it done with all €diligence, up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred €baths of wine, a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how €much. Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for €the house of the God of heaven, lest his wrath be against the realm of €the king and his sons. We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, €custom, or toll upon any one of the priests, the Levites, the singers, €the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house €of God. @"And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your €hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in €the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; €and those who do not know them, you shall teach. Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let €judgment be strictly executed upon him, whether for death or for €banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment." @Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as €this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD €which is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his €counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, €for the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered leading men €from Israel to go up with me.  @These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the €genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylonia, in the reign of €Ar-ta-xerx'es the king: Of the sons of Phin'ehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ith'amar, Daniel. €Of the sons of David, Hattush, of the sons of Shecani'ah. Of the sons of Parosh, Zechari'ah, with whom €were registered one hundred and fifty men. Of the sons of Pa'hath-mo'ab, Eli-e-ho-e'nai the son of Zerahi'ah, and €with him two hundred men. Of the sons of Zattu, Shecani'ah the son of Jaha'ziel, and with him €three hundred men. Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty men. Of the sons of Elam, Jeshai'ah the son of Athali'ah, and with him €seventy men. Of the sons of Shephati'ah, Zebadi'ah the son of Michael, and with him €eighty men. Of the sons of Jo'ab, Obadi'ah the son of Jehi'el, and with him two €hundred and eighteen men. Of the sons of Bani, Shelo'mith the son of Josiphi'ah, and with him a €hundred and sixty men. Of the sons of Be'bai, Zechari'ah, the son of Be'bai, and with him €twenty-eight men. Of the sons of Azgad, Joha'nan the son of Hak'katan, and with him a €hundred and ten men. Of the sons of Adoni'kam, those who came later, their names being €Eliph'elet, Jeu'el, and Shemai'ah, and with them sixty men. Of the sons of Bigva'i, Uthai and Zaccur, and with them seventy men. @I gathered them to the river that runs to Aha'va, and there we €encamped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found €there none of the sons of Levi. Then I sent for Elie'zer, Ar'i-el, Shemai'ah, Elna'than, Jarib, €Elna'than, Nathan, Zechari'ah, and Meshul'lam, leading men, and for €Joi'arib and Elna'than, who were men of insight, and sent them to Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphi'a, telling €them what to say to Iddo and his brethren the temple servants at the €place Casiphi'a, namely, to send us ministers for the house of our God. And by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of €discretion, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, son of Israel, namely €Sherebi'ah with his sons and kinsmen, eighteen; also Hashabi'ah and with him Jeshai'ah of the sons of Merar'i, with his €kinsmen and their sons, twenty; besides two hundred and twenty of the temple servants, whom David and €his officials had set apart to attend the Levites. These were all €mentioned by name. @Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Aha'va, that we might €humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a straight way for €ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen €to protect us against the enemy on our way; since we had told the king, €"The hand of our God is for good upon all that seek him, and the power €of his wrath is against all that forsake him." So we fasted and besought our God for this, and he listened to our €entreaty. @Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests: Sherebi'ah, €Hashabi'ah, and ten of their kinsmen with them. And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the €offering for the house of our God which the king and his counselors and €his lords and all Israel there present had offered; I weighed out into their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, €and silver vessels worth a hundred talents, and a hundred talents of €gold, twenty bowls of gold worth a thousand darics, and two vessels of fine €bright bronze as precious as gold. And I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are €holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, €the God of your fathers. Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests €and the Levites and the heads of fathers' houses in Israel at €Jerusalem, within the chambers of the house of the LORD." So the priests and the Levites took over the weight of the silver and €the gold and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of €our God. @Then we departed from the river Aha'va on the twelfth day of the €first month, to go to Jerusalem; the hand of our God was upon us, and €he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way. We came to Jerusalem, and there we remained three days. On the fourth day, within the house of our God, the silver and the gold €and the vessels were weighed into the hands of Mer'emoth the priest, €son of Uri'ah, and with him was Elea'zar the son of Phin'ehas, and with €them were the Levites, Jo'zabad the son of Jeshua and No-adi'ah the son €of Bin'nui. The whole was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was €recorded. @At that time those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, €offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all €Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering €twelve he-goats; all this was a burnt offering to the LORD. They also delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps and to €the governors of the province Beyond the River; and they aided the €people and the house of God. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±µ’ļ‚Åśņį’؉@After these things had been done, the officials approached me and €said, "The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not €separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their €abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Per'izzites, the €Jeb'usites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the €Amorites. For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves €and for their sons; so that the holy race has mixed itself with the €peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the €officials and chief men has been foremost." @When I heard this, I rent my garments and my mantle, and pulled hair €from my head and beard, and sat appalled. Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the €faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered round me while I sat €appalled until the evening sacrifice. And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garments €and my mantle rent, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to €the LORD my God, saying: €@"O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to thee, my God, €for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has €mounted up to the heavens. From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt; €and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given €into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to €plundering, and to utter shame, as at this day. But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD our God, to €leave us a remnant, and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, €that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in €our bondage. For we are bondmen; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but €has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to €grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its €ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem. @"And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have €forsaken thy commandments, which thou didst command by thy servants the prophets, saying, `The €land which you are entering, to take possession of it, is a land €unclean with the pollutions of the peoples of the lands, with their €abominations which have filled it from end to end with their €uncleanness. Therefore give not your daughters to their sons, neither take their €daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that €you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an €inheritance to your children for ever.' And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our €great guilt, seeing that thou, our God, hast punished us less than our €iniquities deserved and hast given us such a remnant as this, shall we break thy commandments again and intermarry with the peoples €who practice these abominations? Wouldst thou not be angry with us €till thou wouldst consume us, so that there should be no remnant, nor €any to escape? O LORD the God of Israel, thou art just, for we are left a remnant that €has escaped, as at this day. Behold, we are before thee in our guilt, €for none can stand before thee because of this."  @While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself €down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and €children, gathered to him out of Israel; for the people wept bitterly. And Shecani'ah the son of Jehi'el, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: €"We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from €the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite €of this. Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these €wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of €those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done €according to the law. Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it." Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel €take oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath. @Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God, and went to the €chamber of Jehoha'nan the son of Eli'ashib, where he spent the night, €neither eating bread nor drinking water; for he was mourning over the €faithlessness of the exiles. And a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the €returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem, and that if any one did not come within three days, by order of the €officials and the elders all his property should be forfeited, and he €himself banned from the congregation of the exiles. @Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within €the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the €month. And all the people sat in the open square before the house of €God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have trespassed and €married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel. Now then make confession to the LORD the God of your fathers, and do €his will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the €foreign wives." Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, "It is so; we must €do as you have said. But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot €stand in the open. Nor is this a work for one day or for two; for we €have greatly transgressed in this matter. Let our officials stand for the whole assembly; let all in our cities €who have taken foreign wives come at appointed times, and with them the €elders and judges of every city, till the fierce wrath of our God over €this matter be averted from us." Only Jonathan the son of As'ahel and Jahzei'ah the son of Tikvah €opposed this, and Meshul'lum and Shab'bethai the Levite supported them. @Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men, heads €of fathers' houses, according to their fathers' houses, each of them €designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down €to examine the matter; and by the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all €the men who had married foreign women. @Of the sons of the priests who had married foreign women were found €Ma-asei'ah, Elie'zer, Jarib, and Gedali'ah, of the sons of Jeshua the €son of Jo'zadak and his brethren. They pledged themselves to put away their wives, and their guilt €offering was a ram of the flock for their guilt. Of the sons of Immer: Hana'ni and Zebadi'ah. Of the sons of Harim: Ma-asei'ah, Eli'jah, Shemai'ah, Jehi'el, and €Uzzi'ah. Of the sons of Pashhur: Eli-o-e'nai, Ma-asei'ah, Ish'mael, Nethan'el, €Jo'zabad, and Ela'sah. @Of the Levites: Jo'zabad, Shim'e-i, Kelai'ah (that is, Keli'ta), €Petha-hi'ah, Judah, and Elie'zer. Of the singers: Eli'ashib. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri. @And of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Rami'ah, Izzi'ah, Malchi'jah, €Mi'jamin, Elea'zar, Hashabi'ah, and Benai'ah. Of the sons of Elam: Mattani'ah, Zechari'ah, Jehi'el, Abdi, Jer'emoth, €and Eli'jah. Of the sons of Zattu: Eli-o-e'nai, Eli'ashib, Mattani'ah, Jer'emoth, €Zabad, and Azi'za. Of the sons of Be'bai were Jehoha'nan, Hanani'ah, Zab'bai, and Ath'lai. Of the sons of Bani were Meshul'lum, Malluch, Adai'ah, Jashub, She'al, €and Jer'emoth. Of the sons of Pa'hath-mo'ab: Adna, Chelal, Benai'ah, Ma-asei'ah, €Mattani'ah, Bez'alel, Bin'nui, and Manas'seh. Of the sons of Harim: Elie'zer, Isshi'jah, Malchi'jah, Shemai'ah, €Shim'e-on, Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemari'ah. Of the sons of Hashum: Matte'nai, Mat'tattah, Zabad, Eliph'elet, €Jer'emai, Manas'seh, and Shim'e-i. Of the sons of Bani: Ma-ada'i, Amram, Uel, Benai'ah, Bedei'ah, Chel'uhi, Vani'ah, Mer'emoth, Eli'ashib, Mattani'ah, Matte'nai, Ja'asu. Of the sons of Bin'nui: Shim'e-i, Shelemi'ah, Nathan, Adai'ah, Machnad'ebai, Shashai, Sha'rai, Az'arel, Shelemi'ah, Shemari'ah, Shallum, Amari'ah, and Joseph. Of the sons of Nebo: Je-i'el, Mattithi'ah, Zabad, Zebi'na, Jaddai, €Jo'el, and Benai'ah. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±µ’ļ‚Åśņį’؊˜¬All these had married foreign women, and they put them away with their €children. ąļ‚Īåč’”The words of Nehemi'ah the son of Hacali'ah. €@Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I €was in Susa the capital, that Hana'ni, one of my brethren, came with certain men out of Judah; €and I asked them concerning the Jews that survived, who had escaped €exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, "The survivors there in the province who escaped €exile are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken €down, and its gates are destroyed by fire." @When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days; €and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God who keeps €covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his €commandments; let thy ear be attentive, and thy eyes open, to hear the prayer of thy €servant which I now pray before thee day and night for the people of €Israel thy servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which €we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father's house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the €commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances which thou didst command €thy servant Moses. Remember the word which thou didst command thy servant Moses, saying, €`If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though €your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them thence €and bring them to the place which I have chosen, to make my name dwell €there.' They are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy €great power and by thy strong hand. O Lord, let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to €the prayer of thy servants who delight to fear thy name; and give €success to thy servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this €man." €@Now I was cupbearer to the king.  In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Ar-ta-xerx'es, €when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. €Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, seeing you are not €sick? This is nothing else but sadness of the heart." Then I was very €much afraid. I said to the king, "Let the king live for ever! Why should not my face €be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lies waste, €and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" Then the king said to me, "For what do you make request?" So I prayed €to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant €has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city €of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may rebuild it." And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), "How long will €you be gone, and when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send €me; and I set him a time. And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, let letters be given €me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let €me pass through until I come to Judah; and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may €give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the €temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house which I shall €occupy." And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my €God was upon me. @Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and €gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers €of the army and horsemen. But when Sanbal'lat the Hor'onite and Tobi'ah the servant, the €Ammonite, heard this, it displeased them greatly that some one had come €to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. @So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; and I told no one €what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no €beast with me but the beast on which I rode. I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Jackal's Well and to the €Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem which were broken €down and its gates which had been destroyed by fire. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool; but there €was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall; and I €turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing; €and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the €officials, and the rest that were to do the work. @Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem €lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of €Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer disgrace." And I told them of the hand of my God which had been upon me for good, €and also of the words which the king had spoken to me. And they said, €"Let us rise up and build." So they strengthened their hands for the €good work. But when Sanbal'lat the Hor'onite and Tobi'ah the servant, the €Ammonite, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they derided us and despised €us and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling €against the king?" Then I replied to them, "The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we €his servants will arise and build; but you have no portion or right or €memorial in Jerusalem."  @Then Eli'ashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests €and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors; €they consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the €Tower of Hanan'el. And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the €son of Imri built. @And the sons of Hassena'ah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams €and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And next to them Mer'emoth the son of Uri'ah, son of Hakkoz repaired. €And next to them Meshul'lam the son of Berechi'ah, son of Meshez'abel €repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Ba'ana repaired. And next to them the Teko'ites repaired; but their nobles did not put €their necks to the work of their Lord. @And Joi'ada the son of Pase'ah and Meshul'lam the son of Besodei'ah €repaired the Old Gate; they laid its beams and set its doors, its €bolts, and its bars. And next to them repaired Melati'ah the Gib'eonite and Jadon the €Mero'nothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, who were under the €jurisdiction of the governor of the province Beyond the River. Next to them Uz'ziel the son of Harhai'ah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next €to him Hanani'ah, one of the perfumers, repaired; and they restored €Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. Next to them Rephai'ah the son of Hur, ruler of half the district of €Jerusalem, repaired. Next to them Jedai'ah the son of Haru'maph repaired opposite his house; €and next to him Hattush the son of Hashabnei'ah repaired. Malchi'jah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pa'hath-mo'ab €repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. Next to him Shallum the son of Hallo'hesh, ruler of half the district €of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters. @Hanun and the inhabitants of Zano'ah repaired the Valley Gate; they €rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a €thousand cubits of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate. @Malchi'jah the son of Rechab, ruler of the district of €Beth-hacche'rem, repaired the Dung Gate; he rebuilt it and set its €doors, its bolts, and its bars. @And Shallum the son of Colho'zeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, €repaired the Fountain Gate; he rebuilt it and covered it and set its €doors, its bolts, and its bars; and he built the wall of the Pool of €Shelah of the king's garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the €City of David. After him Nehemi'ah the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of €Beth-zur, repaired to a point opposite the sepulchres of David, to the €artificial pool, and to the house of the mighty men. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¶’ļ‚Īåč’£˜‘After him the Levites repaired: Rehum the son of Bani; next to him €Hashabi'ah, ruler of half the district of Kei'lah, repaired for his €district. After him their brethren repaired: Bav'vai the son of Hen'adad, ruler €of half the district of Kei'lah; next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another €section opposite the ascent to the armory at the Angle. After him Baruch the son of Zab'bai repaired another section from the €Angle to the door of the house of Eli'ashib the high priest. After him Mer'emoth the son of Uri'ah, son of Hakkoz repaired another €section from the door of the house of Eli'ashib to the end of the house €of Eli'ashib. After him the priests, the men of the Plain, repaired. After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After €them Azari'ah the son of Ma-asei'ah, son of Anani'ah repaired beside €his own house. After him Bin'nui the son of Hen'adad repaired another section, from €the house of Azari'ah to the Angle and to the corner. Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the Angle €and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at the court €of the guard. After him Pedai'ah the son of Parosh and the temple servants living on Ophel repaired to a point opposite €the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower. After him the Teko'ites repaired another section opposite the great €projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel. @Above the Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own €house. After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. €After him Shemai'ah the son of Shecani'ah, the keeper of the East Gate, €repaired. After him Hanani'ah the son of Shelemi'ah and Hanun the sixth son of €Zalaph repaired another section. After him Meshul'lam the son of €Berechi'ah repaired opposite his chamber. After him Malchi'jah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired as far as the €house of the temple servants and of the merchants, opposite the Muster €Gate, and to the upper chamber of the corner. And between the upper chamber of the corner and the Sheep Gate the €goldsmiths and the merchants repaired.  @Now when Sanbal'lat heard that we were building the wall, he was €angry and greatly enraged, and he ridiculed the Jews. And he said in the presence of his brethren €and of the army of Sama'ria, €"What are these feeble Jews doing? €Will they restore things? €Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? €Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, €and burned ones at that?" Tobi'ah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, "Yes, what they are €building -- if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall! Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn back their taunt upon their €own heads, and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are €captives. Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from thy €sight; for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. @So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half €its height. For the people had a mind to work. @But when Sanbal'lat and Tobi'ah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and €the Ash'dodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was €going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they €were very angry; and they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and €to cause confusion in it. And we prayed to our God, and set a guard as a protection against them €day and night. @But Judah said, "The strength of the burden-bearers is failing, and €there is much rubbish; we are not able to work on the wall." And our enemies said, "They will not know or see till we come into the €midst of them and kill them and stop the work." When the Jews who lived by them came they said to us ten times, "From €all the places where they live they will come up against us." So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I €stationed the people according to their families, with their swords, €their spears, and their bows. And I looked, and arose, and said to the nobles and to the officials €and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the €Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your €sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes." @When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had €frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half €held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail; and the leaders €stood behind all the house of Judah, who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were laden in €such a way that each with one hand labored on the work and with the €other held his weapon. And each of the builders had his sword girded at his side while he €built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the €people, "The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on €the wall, far from one another. In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us €there. Our God will fight for us." @So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the €break of dawn till the stars came out. I also said to the people at that time, "Let every man and his servant €pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by €night and may labor by day." So neither I nor my brethren nor my servants nor the men of the guard €who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon €in his hand.  @Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives €against their Jewish brethren. For there were those who said, "With our sons and our daughters, we are €many; let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive." There were also those who said, "We are mortgaging our fields, our €vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine." And there were those who said, "We have borrowed money for the king's €tax upon our fields and our vineyards. Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children are as €their children; yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be €slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved; but it is €not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our €vineyards." @I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles €and the officials. I said to them, "You are exacting interest, each €from his brother." And I held a great assembly against them, and said to them, "We, as far as we are able, have bought back our €Jewish brethren who have been sold to the nations; but you even sell €your brethren that they may be sold to us!" They were silent, and €could not find a word to say. So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to €walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our €enemies? Moreover I and my brethren and my servants are lending them money and €grain. Let us leave off this interest. Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive €orchards, and their houses, and the hundredth of money, grain, wine, €and oil which you have been exacting of them." Then they said, "We will restore these and require nothing from them. €We will do as you say." And I called the priests, and took an oath of €them to do as they had promised. I also shook out my lap and said, "So may God shake out every man from €his house and from his labor who does not perform this promise. So may €he be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said "Amen" and €praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised. @Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in €the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of €Ar-ta-xerx'es the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brethren ate the €food allowance of the governor. The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens upon the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¶’ļ‚Īåč’„˜‚people, and took from them food and wine, besides forty shekels of €silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not €do so, because of the fear of God. I also held to the work on this wall, and acquired no land; and all my €servants were gathered there for the work. Moreover there were at my table a hundred and fifty men, Jews and €officials, besides those who came to us from the nations which were €about us. Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice €sheep; fowls likewise were prepared for me, and every ten days skins of €wine in abundance; yet with all this I did not demand the food €allowance of the governor, because the servitude was heavy upon this €people. Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.  @Now when it was reported to Sanbal'lat and Tobi'ah and to Geshem the €Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that €there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set €up the doors in the gates), Sanbal'lat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come and let us meet €together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono." But they intended €to do me harm. And I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I €cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come €down to you?" And they sent to me four times in this way and I answered them in the €same manner. In the same way Sanbal'lat for the fifth time sent his servant to me €with an open letter in his hand. In it was written, "It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also €says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are €building the wall; and you wish to become their king, according to this €report. And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in €Jerusalem, `There is a king in Judah.' And now it will be reported to €the king according to these words. So now come, and let us take €counsel together." Then I sent to him, saying, "No such things as you say have been done, €for you are inventing them out of your own mind." For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will drop €from the work, and it will not be done." But now, O God, strengthen €thou my hands. @Now when I went into the house of Shemai'ah the son of Delai'ah, son €of Mehet'abel, who was shut up, he said, "Let us meet together in the €house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the €temple; for they are coming to kill you, at night they are coming to €kill you." But I said, "Should such a man as I flee? And what man such as I could €go into the temple and live? I will not go in." And I understood, and saw that God had not sent him, but he had €pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobi'ah and Sanbal'lat had €hired him. For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this €way and sin, and so they could give me an evil name, in order to taunt €me. Remember Tobi'ah and Sanbal'lat, O my God, according to these things €that they did, and also the prophetess No-adi'ah and the rest of the €prophets who wanted to make me afraid. @So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, €in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations round about us €were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem; for they perceived €that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to €Tobi'ah, and Tobi'ah's letters came to them. For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the €son-in-law of Shecani'ah the son of Arah: and his son Jehoha'nan had €taken the daughter of Meshul'lam the son of Berechi'ah as his wife. Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence, and reported my words €to him. And Tobi'ah sent letters to make me afraid.  @Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the €gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, I gave my brother Hana'ni and Hanani'ah the governor of the castle €charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man €than many. And I said to them, "Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the €sun is hot; and while they are still standing guard let them shut and €bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, €each to his station and each opposite his own house." The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few and no €houses had been built. @Then God put it into my mind to assemble the nobles and the officials €and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the €genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it: @These were the people of the province who came up out of the €captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnez'zar the king of Babylon had €carried into exile; they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his €town. They came with Zerub'babel, Jeshua, Nehemi'ah, Azari'ah, Raami'ah, €Naham'ani, Mor'decai, Bilshan, Mis'pereth, Bigva'i, Nehum, Ba'anah. €@The number of the men of the people of Israel: the sons of Parosh, two thousand a hundred and seventy-two. The sons of Shephati'ah, three hundred and seventy-two. The sons of Arah, six hundred and fifty-two. The sons of Pa'hath-mo'ab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Jo'ab, two €thousand eight hundred and eighteen. The sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred and fifty-four. The sons of Zattu, eight hundred and forty-five. The sons of Zac'cai, seven hundred and sixty. The sons of Bin'nui, six hundred and forty-eight. The sons of Be'bai, six hundred and twenty-eight. The sons of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty-two. The sons of Adoni'kam, six hundred and sixty-seven. The sons of Bigva'i, two thousand and sixty-seven. The sons of Adin, six hundred and fifty-five. The sons of Ater, namely of Hezeki'ah, ninety-eight. The sons of Hashum, three hundred and twenty-eight. The sons of Be'zai, three hundred and twenty-four. The sons of Hariph, a hundred and twelve. The sons of Gibeon, ninety-five. The men of Bethlehem and Neto'phah, a hundred and eighty-eight. The men of An'athoth, a hundred and twenty-eight. The men of Beth-az'maveth, forty-two. The men of Kir'iath-je'arim, Chephi'rah, and Be-er'oth, seven hundred €and forty-three. The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one. The men of Michmas, a hundred and twenty-two. The men of Bethel and Ai, a hundred and twenty-three. The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two. The sons of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred and fifty-four. The sons of Harim, three hundred and twenty. The sons of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five. The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one. The sons of Sena'ah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty. @The priests: the sons of Jedai'ah, namely the house of Jeshua, nine €hundred and seventy-three. The sons of Immer, a thousand and fifty-two. The sons of Pashhur, a thousand two hundred and forty-seven. The sons of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. @The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, namely of Kad'mi-el of the sons of €Ho'devah, seventy-four. The singers: the sons of Asaph, a hundred and forty-eight. The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of €Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hati'ta, the sons of Sho'bai, a €hundred and thirty-eight. @The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasu'pha, the €sons of Tabba'oth, the sons of Keros, the sons of Si'a, the sons of Padon, the sons of Leba'na, the sons of Hag'aba, the sons of Shalmai, the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Re-ai'ah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Neko'da, the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Pase'ah, the sons of Besai, the sons of Me-u'nim, the sons of Nephush'esim, the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Haku'pha, the sons of Harhur, the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehi'da, the sons of Harsha, the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sis'era, the sons of Temah, the sons of Nezi'ah, the sons of Hati'pha. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¶’ļ‚Īåč’§˜¹@The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of So'tai, the sons of €So'phereth, the sons of Peri'da, the sons of Ja'ala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Shephati'ah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of €Po'chereth-hazzeba'im, the sons of Amon. @All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were three €hundred and ninety-two. @The following were those who came up from Tel-me'lah, Tel-har'sha, €Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers' €houses nor their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: the sons of Delai'ah, the sons of Tobi'ah, the sons of Neko'da, six €hundred and forty-two. Also, of the priests: the sons of Hobai'ah, the sons of Hakkoz, the €sons of Barzil'lai (who had taken a wife of the daughters of Barzil'lai €the Gileadite and was called by their name). These sought their registration among those enrolled in the €genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the €priesthood as unclean; the governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy €food, until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise. @The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred and €sixty, besides their menservants and maidservants, of whom there were seven €thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; and they had two hundred and €forty-five singers, male and female. Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two hundred €and forty-five, their camels four hundred and thirty-five, and their asses six thousand €seven hundred and twenty. @Now some of the heads of fathers' houses gave to the work. The €governor gave to the treasury a thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, €five hundred and thirty priests' garments. And some of the heads of fathers' houses gave into the treasury of the €work twenty thousand darics of gold and two thousand two hundred minas €of silver. And what the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of €gold, two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priests' garments. @So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of €the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns. €@And when the seventh month had come, the children of Israel were in €their towns.  And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water €Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of €Moses which the LORD had given to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and €women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of €the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early €morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and €those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were €attentive to the book of the law. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden pulpit which they had made for €the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithi'ah, Shema, Anai'ah, Uri'ah, €Hilki'ah, and Ma-asei'ah on his right hand; and Pedai'ah, Mish'a-el, €Malchi'jah, Hashum, Hash-bad'danah, Zechari'ah, and Meshul'lam on his €left hand. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was €above all the people; and when he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God; and all the people answered, €"Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads and €worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Also Jesh'ua, Bani, Sherebi'ah, Jamin, Akkub, Shab'bethai, Hodi'ah, €Ma-asei'ah, Keli'ta, Azari'ah, Jo'zabad, Hanan, Pelai'ah, the Levites, €helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in €their places. And they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly; and they €gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. @And Nehemi'ah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, €and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day €is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the €people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine €and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is €holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is €your strength." So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day €is holy; do not be grieved." And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions €and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that €were declared to them. @On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, €with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in €order to study the words of the law. And they found it written in the law that the LORD had commanded by €Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast €of the seventh month, and that they should publish and proclaim in all their towns and in €Jerusalem, "Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild €olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is €written." So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, €each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of €God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate €of E'phraim. And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made €booths and dwelt in the booths; for from the days of Jeshua the son of €Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was €very great rejoicing. And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the €book of the law of God. They kept the feast seven days; and on the €eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.  @Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were €assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth upon their €heads. And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood €and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place and read from the book of the law of €the LORD their God for a fourth of the day; for another fourth of it €they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God. Upon the stairs of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kad'mi-el, €Shebani'ah, Bunni, Sherebi'ah, Bani, and Chena'ni; and they cried with €a loud voice to the LORD their God. Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kad'mi-el, Bani, Hashabnei'ah, Sherebi'ah, €Hodi'ah, Shebani'ah, and Pethahi'ah, said, "Stand up and bless the LORD €your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be thy glorious name €which is exalted above all blessing and praise." @And Ezra said: "Thou art the LORD, thou alone; thou hast made €heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all €that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and thou preservest €all of them; and the host of heaven worships thee. Thou art the LORD, the God who didst choose Abram and bring him forth €out of Ur of the Chalde'ans and give him the name Abraham; and thou didst find his heart faithful before thee, and didst make with €him the covenant to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanite, €the Hittite, the Amorite, the Per'izzite, the Jeb'usite, and the €Gir'gashite; and thou hast fulfilled thy promise, for thou art €righteous. @"And thou didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and hear €their cry at the Red Sea, and didst perform signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his €servants and all the people of his land, for thou knewest that they €acted insolently against our fathers; and thou didst get thee a name, €as it is to this day. And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through €the midst of the sea on dry land; and thou didst cast their pursuers €into the depths, as a stone into mighty waters. By a pillar of cloud thou didst lead them in the day, and by a pillar €of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go. Thou didst come down upon Mount Sinai, and speak with them from heaven žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¶’ļ‚Īåč’؉˜‚and give them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and €commandments, and thou didst make known to them thy holy sabbath and command them €commandments and statutes and a law by Moses thy servant. Thou didst give them bread from heaven for their hunger and bring forth €water for them from the rock for their thirst, and thou didst tell them €to go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them. @"But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their €neck and did not obey thy commandments; they refused to obey, and were not mindful of the wonders which thou €didst perform among them; but they stiffened their neck and appointed a €leader to return to their bondage in Egypt. But thou art a God ready €to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in €steadfast love, and didst not forsake them. Even when they had made for themselves a molten calf and said, `This is €your God who brought you up out of Egypt,' and had committed great €blasphemies, thou in thy great mercies didst not forsake them in the wilderness; the €pillar of cloud which led them in the way did not depart from them by €day, nor the pillar of fire by night which lighted for them the way by €which they should go. Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them, and didst not withhold €thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst. Forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, and they lacked €nothing; their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. And thou didst give them kingdoms and peoples, and didst allot to them €every corner; so they took possession of the land of Sihon king of €Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan. Thou didst multiply their descendants as the stars of heaven, and thou €didst bring them into the land which thou hadst told their fathers to €enter and possess. So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and thou didst €subdue before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and €didst give them into their hands, with their kings and the peoples of €the land, that they might do with them as they would. And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession €of houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, olive €orchards and fruit trees in abundance; so they ate, and were filled and €became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness. @"Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against thee and €cast thy law behind their back and killed thy prophets, who had warned €them in order to turn them back to thee, and they committed great €blasphemies. Therefore thou didst give them into the hand of their enemies, who made €them suffer; and in the time of their suffering they cried to thee and €thou didst hear them from heaven; and according to thy great mercies €thou didst give them saviors who saved them from the hand of their €enemies. But after they had rest they did evil again before thee, and thou didst €abandon them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion €over them; yet when they turned and cried to thee thou didst hear from €heaven, and many times thou didst deliver them according to thy mercies. And thou didst warn them in order to turn them back to thy law. Yet €they acted presumptuously and did not obey thy commandments, but sinned €against thy ordinances, by the observance of which a man shall live, €and turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not €obey. Many years thou didst bear with them, and didst warn them by thy Spirit €through thy prophets; yet they would not give ear. Therefore thou €didst give them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. Nevertheless in thy great mercies thou didst not make an end of them or €forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God. @"Now therefore, our God, the great and mighty and terrible God, who €keepest covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem €little to thee that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our €priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all thy people, since the time €of the kings of Assyria until this day. Yet thou hast been just in all that has come upon us, for thou hast €dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly; our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept thy €law or heeded thy commandments and thy warnings which thou didst give €them. They did not serve thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness €which thou gavest them, and in the large and rich land which thou didst €set before them; and they did not turn from their wicked works. Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that thou gavest to our €fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. And its rich yield goes to the kings whom thou hast set over us because €of our sins; they have power also over our bodies and over our cattle €at their pleasure, and we are in great distress." @Because of all this we make a firm covenant and write it, and our €princes, our Levites, and our priests set their seal to it.  @Those who set their seal are Nehemi'ah the governor, the son of €Hacali'ah, Zedeki'ah, Serai'ah, Azari'ah, Jeremiah, Pashhur, Amari'ah, Malchi'jah, Hattush, Shebani'ah, Malluch, Harim, Mer'emoth, Obadi'ah, Daniel, Gin'nethon, Baruch, Meshul'lam, Abi'jah, Mi'jamin, Ma-azi'ah, Bil'gai, Shemai'ah; these are the priests. And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azani'ah, Bin'nui of the sons of €Hen'adad, Kad'mi-el; and their brethren, Shebani'ah, Hodi'ah, Keli'ta, Pelai'ah, Hanan, Mica, Rehob, Hashabi'ah, Zaccur, Sherebi'ah, Shebani'ah, Hodi'ah, Bani, Beni'nu. The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pa'hath-mo'ab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, Bunni, Azgad, Be'bai, Adoni'jah, Bigva'i, Adin, Ater, Hezeki'ah, Azzur, Hodi'ah, Hashum, Be'zai, Hariph, An'athoth, Ne'bai, Mag'piash, Meshul'lam, Hezir, Meshez'abel, Zadok, Jad'du-a, Pelati'ah, Hanan, Anai'ah, Hoshe'a, Hanani'ah, Hasshub, Hallo'hesh, Pi'lha, Shobek, Rehum, Hashab'nah, Ma-asei'ah, Ahi'ah, Hanan, Anan, Malluch, Harim, Ba'anah. @The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, €the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves €from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their €sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their brethren, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an €oath to walk in God's law which was given by Moses the servant of God, €and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and his €ordinances and his statutes. We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their €daughters for our sons; and if the peoples of the land bring in wares or any grain on the €sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or on a €holy day; and we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the €exaction of every debt. @We also lay upon ourselves the obligation to charge ourselves yearly €with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: for the showbread, the continual cereal offering, the continual burnt €offering, the sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the holy €things, and the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all €the work of the house of our God. We have likewise cast lots, the priests, the Levites, and the people, €for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according €to our fathers' houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn upon €the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law. We obligate ourselves to bring the first fruits of our ground and the €first fruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of €the LORD; also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in €the house of our God, the first-born of our sons and of our cattle, as €it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our €flocks; and to bring the first of our coarse meal, and our contributions, the €fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¶’ļ‚Īåč’؊˜„ƒchambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the €tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in €all our rural towns. And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the €Levites receive the tithes; and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of €the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers, to the storehouse. For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the €contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where are the €vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the €gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.  @Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem; and the rest of the €people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy €city, while nine tenths remained in the other towns. And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in €Jerusalem. @These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in €the towns of Judah every one lived on his property in their towns: €Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the €descendants of Solomon's servants. And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of €Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athai'ah the son of Uzzi'ah, son of €Zechari'ah, son of Amari'ah, son of Shephati'ah, son of Mahal'alel, of €the sons of Perez; and Ma-asei'ah the son of Baruch, son of Col-ho'zeh, son of Hazai'ah, €son of Adai'ah, son of Joi'arib, son of Zechari'ah, son of the €Shi'lonite. All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred and €sixty-eight valiant men. @And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshul'lam, son €of Jo'ed, son of Pedai'ah, son of Kolai'ah, son of Ma-asei'ah, son of €I'thi-el, son of Jeshai'ah. And after him Gabba'i, Salla'i, nine hundred and twenty-eight. Jo'el the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of €Hassen'u-ah was second over the city. @Of the priests: Jedai'ah the son of Joi'arib, Jachin, Serai'ah the son of Hilki'ah, son of Meshul'lam, son of Zadok, son of €Merai'oth, son of Ahi'tub, ruler of the house of God, and their brethren who did the work of the house, eight hundred and €twenty-two; and Adai'ah the son of Jero'ham, son of Pelali'ah, son of €Amzi, son of Zechari'ah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchi'jah, and his brethren, heads of fathers' houses, two hundred and forty-two; €and Amash'sai, the son of Az'arel, son of Ah'zai, son of Meshil'lemoth, €son of Immer, and their brethren, mighty men of valor, a hundred and twenty-eight; €their overseer was Zab'diel the son of Haggedo'lim. @And of the Levites: Shemai'ah the son of Hasshub, son of Azri'kam, €son of Hashabi'ah, son of Bunni; and Shab'bethai and Jo'zabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were €over the outside work of the house of God; and Mattani'ah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, who was the €leader to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbuki'ah, the second €among his brethren; and Abda the son of Sham'mua, son of Galal, son of €Jedu'thun. All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four. @The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brethren, who kept watch at €the gates, were a hundred and seventy-two. And the rest of Israel, and of the priests and the Levites, were in all €the towns of Judah, every one in his inheritance. But the temple servants lived on Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over €the temple servants. @The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, €son of Hashabi'ah, son of Mattani'ah, son of Mica, of the sons of €Asaph, the singers, over the work of the house of God. For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a settled €provision for the singers, as every day required. And Pethahi'ah the son of Meshez'abel, of the sons of Zerah the son of €Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people. @And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the people of €Judah lived in Kir'iath-ar'ba and its villages, and in Dibon and its €villages, and in Jekab'zeel and its villages, and in Jeshua and in Mola'dah and Beth-pelet, in Ha'zar-shu'al, in Beer-sheba and its villages, in Ziklag, in Meco'nah and its villages, in En-rim'mon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, Zano'ah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and €Aze'kah and its villages. So they encamped from Beer-sheba to the €valley of Hinnom. The people of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash, Ai'ja, €Bethel and its villages, An'athoth, Nob, Anani'ah, Hazor, Ramah, Git'taim, Hadid, Zebo'im, Nebal'lat, Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. And certain divisions of the Levites in Judah were joined to Benjamin.  @These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerub'babel €the son of She-al'ti-el, and Jeshua: Serai'ah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amari'ah, Malluch, Hattush, Shecani'ah, Rehum, Mer'emoth, Iddo, Gin'nethoi, Abi'jah, Mi'jamin, Ma-adi'ah, Bilgah, Shemai'ah, Joi'arib, Jedai'ah, Sallu, Amok, Hilki'ah, Jedai'ah. These were the chiefs of the priests €and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua. @And the Levites: Jeshua, Bin'nui, Kad'mi-el, Sherebi'ah, Judah, and €Mattani'ah, who with his brethren was in charge of the songs of €thanksgiving. And Bakbuki'ah and Unno their brethren stood opposite them in the €service. And Jeshua was the father of Joi'akim, Joi'akim the father of €Eli'ashib, Eli'ashib the father of Joi'ada, Joi'ada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jad'du-a. @And in the days of Joi'akim were priests, heads of fathers' houses: €of Serai'ah, Merai'ah; of Jeremiah, Hanani'ah; of Ezra, Meshul'lam; of Amari'ah, Jehoha'nan; of Mal'luchi, Jonathan; of Shebani'ah, Joseph; of Harim, Adna; of Merai'oth, Hel'kai; of Iddo, Zechari'ah; of Gin'nethon, Meshul'lam; of Abi'jah, Zichri; of Mini'amin, of Moadi'ah, Pil'tai; of Bilgah, Sham'mu-a; of Shemai'ah, Jehon'athan; of Joi'arib, Matte'nai; of Jedai'ah, Uzzi; of Sal'lai, Kal'lai; of Amok, Eber; of Hilki'ah, Hashabi'ah; of Jedai'ah, Nethan'el. @As for the Levites, in the days of Eli'ashib, Joi'ada, Joha'nan, and €Jad'du-a, there were recorded the heads of fathers' houses; also the €priests until the reign of Darius the Persian. The sons of Levi, heads of fathers' houses, were written in the Book of €the Chronicles until the days of Joha'nan the son of Eli'ashib. And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabi'ah, Sherebi'ah, and Jeshua the €son of Kad'mi-el, with their brethren over against them, to praise and €to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, €watch corresponding to watch. Mattani'ah, Bakbuki'ah, Obadi'ah, Meshul'lam, Talmon, and Akkub were €gatekeepers standing guard at the storehouses of the gates. These were in the days of Joi'akim the son of Jeshua son of Jo'zadak, €and in the days of Nehemi'ah the governor and of Ezra the priest the €scribe. @And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the €Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate €the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with €cymbals, harps, and lyres. And the sons of the singers gathered together from the circuit round €Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netoph'athites; also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Az'maveth; for €the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem. And the priests and the Levites purified themselves; and they purified €the people and the gates and the wall. @Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed €two great companies which gave thanks and went in procession. One went €to the right upon the wall to the Dung Gate; and after them went Hoshai'ah and half of the princes of Judah, and Azari'ah, Ezra, Meshul'lam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemai'ah, and Jeremiah, and certain of the priests' sons with trumpets: Zechari'ah the son of €Jonathan, son of Shemai'ah, son of Mattani'ah, son of Micai'ah, son of €Zaccur, son of Asaph; and his kinsmen, Shemai'ah, Az'arel, Mil'alai, Gil'alai, Ma'ai, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¶’ļ‚Īåč’،˜¤‚Nethan'el, Judah, and Hana'ni, with the musical instruments of David €the man of God; and Ezra the scribe went before them. At the Fountain Gate they went up straight before them by the stairs of €the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, €to the Water Gate on the east. @The other company of those who gave thanks went to the left, and I €followed them with half of the people, upon the wall, above the Tower €of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall, and above the Gate of E'phraim, and by the Old Gate, and by the Fish €Gate and the Tower of Hanan'el and the Tower of the Hundred, to the €Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard. So both companies of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, €and I and half of the officials with me; and the priests Eli'akim, Ma-asei'ah, Mini'amin, Micai'ah, Eli-o-e'nai, €Zechari'ah, and Hanani'ah, with trumpets; and Ma-asei'ah, Shemai'ah, Elea'zar, Uzzi, Jehoha'nan, Malchi'jah, €Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Jezrahi'ah as their leader. And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had €made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. €And the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off. @On that day men were appointed over the chambers for the stores, the €contributions, the first fruits, and the tithes, to gather into them €the portions required by the law for the priests and for the Levites €according to the fields of the towns; for Judah rejoiced over the €priests and the Levites who ministered. And they performed the service of their God and the service of €purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the €command of David and his son Solomon. For in the days of David and Asaph of old there was a chief of the €singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. And all Israel in the days of Zerub'babel and in the days of Nehemi'ah €gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they €set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart €that which was for the sons of Aaron.  @On that day they read from the book of Moses in the hearing of the €people; and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should €ever enter the assembly of God; for they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and water, but €hired Balaam against them to curse them -- yet our God turned the curse €into a blessing. When the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of €foreign descent. @Now before this, Eli'ashib the priest, who was appointed over the €chambers of the house of our God, and who was connected with Tobi'ah, prepared for Tobi'ah a large chamber where they had previously put the €cereal offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of €grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, €singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. While this was taking place I was not in Jerusalem, for in the €thirty-second year of Ar-ta-xerx'es king of Babylon I went to the king. €And after some time I asked leave of the king and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eli'ashib €had done for Tobi'ah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the €house of God. And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of €Tobi'ah out of the chamber. Then I gave orders and they cleansed the chambers; and I brought back €thither the vessels of the house of God, with the cereal offering and €the frankincense. @I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given €to them; so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had €fled each to his field. So I remonstrated with the officials and said, "Why is the house of God €forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the €storehouses. And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemi'ah the €priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedai'ah of the Levites, and as their €assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattani'ah, for they were €counted faithful; and their duty was to distribute to their brethren. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds €that I have done for the house of my God and for his service. @In those days I saw in Judah men treading wine presses on the €sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on asses; and €also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought €into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I warned them on the day when €they sold food. Men of Tyre also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds €of wares and sold them on the sabbath to the people of Judah, and in €Jerusalem. Then I remonstrated with the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is €this evil thing which you are doing, profaning the sabbath day? Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all €this evil on us and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath upon Israel €by profaning the sabbath." @When it began to be dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the €sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that €they should not be opened until after the sabbath. And I set some of €my servants over the gates, that no burden might be brought in on the €sabbath day. Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside €Jerusalem once or twice. But I warned them and said to them, "Why do you lodge before the wall? €If you do so again I will lay hands on you." From that time on they did €not come on the sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come €and guard the gates, to keep the sabbath day holy. Remember this also €in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of thy €steadfast love. @In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, €Ammon, and Moab; and half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could €not speak the language of Judah, but the language of each people. And I contended with them and cursed them and beat some of them and €pulled out their hair; and I made them take oath in the name of God, €saying, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their €daughters for your sons or for yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the €many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, €and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless foreign women made €even him to sin. Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act €treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?" @And one of the sons of Jehoi'ada, the son of Eli'ashib the high €priest, was the son-in-law of Sanbal'lat the Hor'onite; therefore I €chased him from me. Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and €the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. @Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the €duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; and I provided for the wood offering, at appointed times, and for the €first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. ąļ‚Åóōč’”In the days of Ahasu-e'rus, the Ahasu-e'rus who reigned from India to €Ethiopia over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, in those days when King Ahasu-e'rus sat on his royal throne in Susa the €capital, in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his princes €and servants, the army chiefs of Persia and Media and the nobles and €governors of the provinces being before him, while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp €of his majesty for many days, a hundred and eighty days. And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people €present in Susa the capital, both great and small, a banquet lasting €for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace. There were white cotton curtains and blue hangings caught up with cords €of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars, and also žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±·’ļ‚Åóōč’”–ƒcouches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, €mother-of-pearl and precious stones. Drinks were served in golden goblets, goblets of different kinds, and €the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. And drinking was according to the law, no one was compelled; for the €king had given orders to all the officials of his palace to do as every €man desired. Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the palace which €belonged to King Ahasu-e'rus. @On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, €he commanded Mehu'man, Biztha, Harbo'na, Bigtha and Abag'tha, Zethar €and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served King Ahasu-e'rus as €chamberlains, to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to €show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to behold. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command conveyed by the €eunuchs. At this the king was enraged, and his anger burned within him. @Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times -- for this was €the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment, the men next to him being Carshe'na, Shethar, Adma'tha, Tarshish, €Meres, Marse'na, and Memu'can, the seven princes of Persia and Media, €who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom -- : "According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she €has not performed the command of King Ahasu-e'rus conveyed by the €eunuchs?" Then Memu'can said in presence of the king and the princes, "Not only €to the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also to all the princes €and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasu-e'rus. For this deed of the queen will be made known to all women, causing €them to look with contempt upon their husbands, since they will say, €`King Ahasu-e'rus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and €she did not come.' This very day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the €queen's behavior will be telling it to all the king's princes, and €there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. If it please the king, let a royal order go forth from him, and let it €be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may €not be altered, that Vashti is to come no more before King Ahasu-e'rus; €and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than €she. So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his €kingdom, vast as it is, all women will give honor to their husbands, €high and low." This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as €Memu'can proposed; he sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its €own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be €lord in his own house and speak according to the language of his people.  @After these things, when the anger of King Ahasu-e'rus had abated, he €remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed €against her. Then the king's servants who attended him said, "Let beautiful young €virgins be sought out for the king. And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom €to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in Susa the €capital, under custody of Hegai the king's eunuch who is in charge of €the women; let their ointments be given them. And let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." €This pleased the king, and he did so. @Now there was a Jew in Susa the capital whose name was Mor'decai, the €son of Ja'ir, son of Shim'e-i, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried €away with Jeconi'ah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon €had carried away. He had brought up Hadas'sah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, €for she had neither father nor mother; the maiden was beautiful and €lovely, and when her father and her mother died, Mor'decai adopted her €as his own daughter. So when the king's order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many €maidens were gathered in Susa the capital in custody of Hegai, Esther €also was taken into the king's palace and put in custody of Hegai who €had charge of the women. And the maiden pleased him and won his favor; and he quickly provided €her with her ointments and her portion of food, and with seven chosen €maids from the king's palace, and advanced her and her maids to the €best place in the harem. Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mor'decai had €charged her not to make it known. And every day Mor'decai walked in front of the court of the harem, to €learn how Esther was and how she fared. @Now when the turn came for each maiden to go in to King Ahasu-e'rus, €after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since €this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil €of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women --when the maiden went in to the king in this way she was given whatever €she desired to take with her from the harem to the king's palace. In the evening she went, and in the morning she came back to the second €harem in custody of Sha-ash'gaz the king's eunuch who was in charge of €the concubines; she did not go in to the king again, unless the king €delighted in her and she was summoned by name. @When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Ab'ihail the uncle of €Mor'decai, who had adopted her as his own daughter, to go in to the €king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king's eunuch, who €had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther found favor in the eyes of €all who saw her. And when Esther was taken to King Ahasu-e'rus into his royal palace in €the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of €his reign, the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found grace and €favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal €crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. Then the king gave a great banquet to all his princes and servants; it €was Esther's banquet. He also granted a remission of taxes to the €provinces, and gave gifts with royal liberality. @When the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mor'decai €was sitting at the king's gate. Now Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mor'decai €had charged her; for Esther obeyed Mor'decai just as when she was €brought up by him. And in those days, as Mor'decai was sitting at the king's gate, Bigthan €and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, €became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasu-e'rus. And this came to the knowledge of Mor'decai, and he told it to Queen €Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mor'decai. When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both €hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the Book of the €Chronicles in the presence of the king.  @After these things King Ahasu-e'rus promoted Haman the Ag'agite, the €son of Hammeda'tha, and advanced him and set his seat above all the €princes who were with him. And all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and €did obeisance to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. €But Mor'decai did not bow down or do obeisance. Then the king's servants who were at the king's gate said to Mor'decai, €"Why do you transgress the king's command?" And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to €them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mor'decai's words would €avail; for he had told them that he was a Jew. And when Haman saw that Mor'decai did not bow down or do obeisance to €him, Haman was filled with fury. But he disdained to lay hands on Mor'decai alone. So, as they had made €known to him the people of Mor'decai, Haman sought to destroy all the €Jews, the people of Mor'decai, throughout the whole kingdom of €Ahasu-e'rus. @In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year €of King Ahasu-e'rus, they cast Pur, that is the lot, before Haman day žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±·’ļ‚Åóōč’£—ƒafter day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, €which is the month of Adar. Then Haman said to King Ahasu-e'rus, "There is a certain people €scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces €of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of every other €people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not for the €king's profit to tolerate them. If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I €will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who €have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the €king's treasuries." So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the €Ag'agite, the son of Hammeda'tha, the enemy of the Jews. And the king said to Haman, "The money is given to you, the people €also, to do with them as it seems good to you." @Then the king's secretaries were summoned on the thirteenth day of €the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, €was written to the king's satraps and to the governors over all the €provinces and to the princes of all the peoples, to every province in €its own script and every people in its own language; it was written in €the name of King Ahasu-e'rus and sealed with the king's ring. Letters were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces, to destroy, €to slay, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, €in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month €of Adar, and to plunder their goods. A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province €by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day. The couriers went in haste by order of the king, and the decree was €issued in Susa the capital. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; €but the city of Susa was perplexed.  @When Mor'decai learned all that had been done, Mor'decai rent his €clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of €the city, wailing with a loud and bitter cry; he went up to the entrance of the king's gate, for no one might enter €the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. And in every province, wherever the king's command and his decree came, €there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and €lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. @When Esther's maids and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was €deeply distressed; she sent garments to clothe Mor'decai, so that he €might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, who had been €appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mor'decai to learn €what this was and why it was. Hathach went out to Mor'decai in the open square of the city in front €of the king's gate, and Mor'decai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum €of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for €the destruction of the Jews. Mor'decai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for €their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to €her and charge her to go to the king to make supplication to him and €entreat him for her people. And Hathach went and told Esther what Mor'decai had said. Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for Mor'decai, €saying, "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know €that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court €without being called, there is but one law; all alike are to be put to €death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter €that he may live. And I have not been called to come in to the king €these thirty days." And they told Mor'decai what Esther had said. Then Mor'decai told them to return answer to Esther, "Think not that in €the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance €will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's €house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the €kingdom for such a time as this?" Then Esther told them to reply to Mor'decai, "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my €behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and €my maids will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though €it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish." Mor'decai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.  @On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner €court of the king's palace, opposite the king's hall. The king was €sitting on his royal throne inside the palace opposite the entrance to €the palace; and when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found €favor in his sight and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that €was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the top of the €scepter. And the king said to her, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your €request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom." And Esther said, "If it please the king, let the king and Haman come €this day to a dinner that I have prepared for the king." Then said the king, "Bring Haman quickly, that we may do as Esther €desires." So the king and Haman came to the dinner that Esther had €prepared. And as they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, "What is your €petition? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to €the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled." But Esther said, "My petition and my request is: If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the €king to grant my petition and fulfil my request, let the king and Haman €come tomorrow to the dinner which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow €I will do as the king has said." @And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman €saw Mor'decai in the king's gate, that he neither rose nor trembled €before him, he was filled with wrath against Mor'decai. Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and went home; and he sent and €fetched his friends and his wife Zeresh. And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of €his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and €how he had advanced him above the princes and the servants of the king. And Haman added, "Even Queen Esther let no one come with the king to €the banquet she prepared but myself. And tomorrow also I am invited by €her together with the king. Yet all this does me no good, so long as I see Mor'decai the Jew €sitting at the king's gate." Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows €fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have €Mor'decai hanged upon it; then go merrily with the king to the dinner." €This counsel pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.  @On that night the king could not sleep; and he gave orders to bring €the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before €the king. And it was found written how Mor'decai had told about Bigthana and €Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who €had sought to lay hands upon King Ahasu-e'rus. And the king said, "What honor or dignity has been bestowed on €Mor'decai for this?" The king's servants who attended him said, €"Nothing has been done for him." And the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered €the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having €Mor'decai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him. So the king's servants told him, "Haman is there, standing in the €court." And the king said, "Let him come in." So Haman came in, and the king said to him, "What shall be done to the €man whom the king delights to honor?" And Haman said to himself, "Whom €would the king delight to honor more than me?" and Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king delights to €honor, let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±·’ļ‚Åóōč’¦˜ˆ‚which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set; and let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's €most noble princes; let him array the man whom the king delights to €honor, and let him conduct the man on horseback through the open square €of the city, proclaiming before him: `Thus shall it be done to the man €whom the king delights to honor.'" Then the king said to Haman, "Make haste, take the robes and the horse, €as you have said, and do so to Mor'decai the Jew who sits at the king's €gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned." So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he arrayed Mor'decai and €made him ride through the open square of the city, proclaiming, "Thus €shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor." @Then Mor'decai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his €house, mourning and with his head covered. And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had €befallen him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If €Mor'decai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, €you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him." @While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and €brought Haman in haste to the banquet that Esther had prepared.  @So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. And on the second day, as they were drinking wine, the king again said €to Esther, "What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted €you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall €be fulfilled." Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favor in your sight, O €king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my €petition, and my people at my request. For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to €be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I €would have held my peace; for our affliction is not to be compared with €the loss to the king." Then King Ahasu-e'rus said to Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where is €he, that would presume to do this?" And Esther said, "A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!" Then Haman was €in terror before the king and the queen. And the king rose from the feast in wrath and went into the palace €garden; but Haman stayed to beg his life from Queen Esther, for he saw €that evil was determined against him by the king. And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they €were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was; €and the king said, "Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in €my own house?" As the words left the mouth of the king, they covered €Haman's face. Then said Harbo'na, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, €"Moreover, the gallows which Haman has prepared for Mor'decai, whose €word saved the king, is standing in Haman's house, fifty cubits high." And the king said, "Hang him on that." So they hanged Haman on the €gallows which he had prepared for Mor'decai. Then the anger of the king €abated.  @On that day King Ahasu-e'rus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, €the enemy of the Jews. And Mor'decai came before the king, for Esther €had told what he was to her; and the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, €and gave it to Mor'decai. And Esther set Mor'decai over the house of €Haman. @Then Esther spoke again to the king; she fell at his feet and €besought him with tears to avert the evil design of Haman the Ag'agite €and the plot which he had devised against the Jews. And the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, and Esther rose and stood before the king. And she said, "If it please €the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seem €right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let an order be €written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Ag'agite, the son of €Hammeda'tha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the €provinces of the king. For how can I endure to see the calamity that is coming to my people? €Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?" Then King Ahasu-e'rus said to Queen Esther and to Mor'decai the Jew, €"Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged €him on the gallows, because he would lay hands on the Jews. And you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of €the king, and seal it with the king's ring; for an edict written in the €name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked." @The king's secretaries were summoned at that time, in the third €month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and an €edict was written according to all that Mor'decai commanded concerning €the Jews to the satraps and the governors and the princes of the €provinces from India to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, €to every province in its own script and to every people in its own €language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. The writing was in the name of King Ahasu-e'rus and sealed with the €king's ring, and letters were sent by mounted couriers riding on swift €horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud. By these the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and €defend their lives, to destroy, to slay, and to annihilate any armed €force of any people or province that might attack them, with their €children and women, and to plunder their goods, upon one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasu-e'rus, on the €thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every €province, and by proclamation to all peoples, and the Jews were to be €ready on that day to avenge themselves upon their enemies. So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the €king's service, rode out in haste, urged by the king's command; and the €decree was issued in Susa the capital. @Then Mor'decai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes €of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a mantle of fine linen €and purple, while the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command €and his edict came, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast €and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared €themselves Jews, for the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.  @Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the €thirteenth day of the same, when the king's command and edict were €about to be executed, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews €hoped to get the mastery over them, but which had been changed to a day €when the Jews should get the mastery over their foes, the Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King €Ahasu-e'rus to lay hands on such as sought their hurt. And no one could €make a stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen upon all €peoples. All the princes of the provinces and the satraps and the governors and €the royal officials also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mor'decai had €fallen upon them. For Mor'decai was great in the king's house, and his fame spread €throughout all the provinces; for the man Mor'decai grew more and more €powerful. So the Jews smote all their enemies with the sword, slaughtering, and €destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them. In Susa the capital itself the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men, and also slew Par-shan-da'tha and Dalphon and Aspa'tha and Pora'tha and Ada'lia and Arida'tha and Parmash'ta and Ar'isai and Ar'idai and Vaiza'tha, the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammeda'tha, the enemy of the Jews; €but they laid no hand on the plunder. @That very day the number of those slain in Susa the capital was €reported to the king. And the king said to Queen Esther, "In Susa the capital the Jews have €slain five hundred men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±·’ļ‚Åóōč’؉˜Œƒthey done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is your €petition? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It €shall be fulfilled." And Esther said, "If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa €be allowed tomorrow also to do according to this day's edict. And let €the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows." So the king commanded this to be done; a decree was issued in Susa, and €the ten sons of Haman were hanged. The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the €month of Adar and they slew three hundred men in Susa; but they laid no €hands on the plunder. @Now the other Jews who were in the king's provinces also gathered to €defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies, and slew €seventy-five thousand of those who hated them; but they laid no hands €on the plunder. This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the €fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness. But the Jews who were in Susa gathered on the thirteenth day and on the €fourteenth, and rested on the fifteenth day, making that a day of €feasting and gladness. Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the open towns, hold €the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and €feasting and holiday-making, and a day on which they send choice €portions to one another. @And Mor'decai recorded these things, and sent letters to all the Jews €who were in all the provinces of King Ahasu-e'rus, both near and far, enjoining them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month €Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the €month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from €mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting €and gladness, days for sending choice portions to one another and gifts €to the poor. @So the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mor'decai had €written to them. For Haman the Ag'agite, the son of Hammeda'tha, the enemy of all the €Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, €that is the lot, to crush and destroy them; but when Esther came before the king, he gave orders in writing that €his wicked plot which he had devised against the Jews should come upon €his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term Pur. And €therefore, because of all that was written in this letter, and of what €they had faced in this matter, and of what had befallen them, the Jews ordained and took it upon themselves and their descendants and €all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days €according to what was written and at the time appointed every year, that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every €generation, in every family, province, and city, and that these days of €Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the €commemoration of these days cease among their descendants. @Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Ab'ihail, and Mor'decai the Jew €gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim. Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the hundred and twenty-seven €provinces of the kingdom of Ahasu-e'rus, in words of peace and truth, that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, €as Mor'decai the Jew and Queen Esther enjoined upon the Jews, and as €they had laid down for themselves and for their descendants, with €regard to their fasts and their lamenting. The command of Queen Esther fixed these practices of Purim, and it was €recorded in writing.  @King Ahasu-e'rus laid tribute on the land and on the coastlands of €the sea. And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the €high honor of Mor'decai, to which the king advanced him, are they not €written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? For Mor'decai the Jew was next in rank to King Ahasu-e'rus, and he was €great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brethren, €for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his €people. ąļ‚Źļā’”There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was €blameless and upright, one who feared God, and turned away from evil. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke €of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and very many servants; so that €this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each on his day; €and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink €with them. And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and €sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt €offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "It may €be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job €did continually. @Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves €before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, "Whence have you come?" Satan answered the €LORD, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and €down on it." And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that €there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who €fears God and turns away from evil?" Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nought? Hast thou not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, €on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his €possessions have increased in the land. But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will €curse thee to thy face." And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; €only upon himself do not put forth your hand." So Satan went forth €from the presence of the LORD. @Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and €drinking wine in their eldest brother's house; and there came a messenger to Job, and said, "The oxen were plowing and €the asses feeding beside them; and the Sabe'ans fell upon them and took them, and slew the servants €with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The fire of €God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and €consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The Chalde'ans €formed three companies, and made a raid upon the camels and took them, €and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have €escaped to tell you." While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "Your sons and €daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house; and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness, and struck the €four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they €are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you." @Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell upon €the ground, and worshiped. And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I €return; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the €name of the LORD." @In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.  Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves €before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself €before the LORD. And the LORD said to Satan, "Whence have you come?" Satan answered the €LORD, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and €down on it." And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that €there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who €fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, €although you moved me against him, to destroy him without cause." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±ø’ļ‚Źļā’¢”Then Satan answered the LORD, "Skin for skin! All that a man has he €will give for his life. But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he €will curse thee to thy face." And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your power; only spare €his life." @So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD, and afflicted Job €with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his €head. And he took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the €ashes. @Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? €Curse God, and die." But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. €Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive €evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. @Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come €upon him, they came each from his own place, Eli'phaz the Te'manite, €Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Na'amathite. They made an €appointment together to come to condole with him and comfort him. And when they saw him from afar, they did not recognize him; and they €raised their voices and wept; and they rent their robes and sprinkled €dust upon their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no €one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very €great.  After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said: @@"Let the day perish wherein I was born, €@@@and the night which said, €@@@`A man-child is conceived.' @@Let that day be darkness! €@@@May God above not seek it, €@@@nor light shine upon it. @@Let gloom and deep darkness claim it. €@@@Let clouds dwell upon it; €@@@let the blackness of the day terrify it. @@That night -- let thick darkness seize it! €@@@let it not rejoice among the days of the year, €@@@let it not come into the number of the months. @@Yea, let that night be barren; €@@@let no joyful cry be heard in it. @@Let those curse it who curse the day, €@@@who are skilled to rouse up Levi'athan. @@Let the stars of its dawn be dark; €@@@let it hope for light, but have none, €@@@nor see the eyelids of the morning; @@because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb, €@@@nor hide trouble from my eyes. @@"Why did I not die at birth, €@@@come forth from the womb and expire? @@Why did the knees receive me? €@@@Or why the breasts, that I should suck? @@For then I should have lain down and been quiet; €@@@I should have slept; then I should have been at rest, @@with kings and counselors of the earth €@@@who rebuilt ruins for themselves, @@or with princes who had gold, €@@@who filled their houses with silver. @@Or why was I not as a hidden untimely birth, €@@@as infants that never see the light? @@There the wicked cease from troubling, €@@@and there the weary are at rest. @@There the prisoners are at ease together; €@@@they hear not the voice of the taskmaster. @@The small and the great are there, €@@@and the slave is free from his master. @@"Why is light given to him that is in misery, €@@@and life to the bitter in soul, @@who long for death, but it comes not, €@@@and dig for it more than for hid treasures; @@who rejoice exceedingly, €@@@and are glad, when they find the grave? @@Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, €@@@whom God has hedged in? @@For my sighing comes as my bread, €@@@and my groanings are poured out like water. @@For the thing that I fear comes upon me, €@@@and what I dread befalls me. @@I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; €@@@I have no rest; but trouble comes."  Then Eli'phaz the Te'manite answered: @@"If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended? €@@@Yet who can keep from speaking? @@Behold, you have instructed many, €@@@and you have strengthened the weak hands. @@Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, €@@@and you have made firm the feeble knees. @@But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; €@@@it touches you, and you are dismayed. @@Is not your fear of God your confidence, €@@@and the integrity of your ways your hope? @@"Think now, who that was innocent ever perished? €@@@Or where were the upright cut off? @@As I have seen, those who plow iniquity €@@@and sow trouble reap the same. @@By the breath of God they perish, €@@@and by the blast of his anger they are consumed. @@The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, €@@@the teeth of the young lions, are broken. @@The strong lion perishes for lack of prey, €@@@and the whelps of the lioness are scattered. @@"Now a word was brought to me stealthily, €@@@my ear received the whisper of it. @@Amid thoughts from visions of the night, €@@@when deep sleep falls on men, @@dread came upon me, and trembling, €@@@which made all my bones shake. @@A spirit glided past my face; €@@@the hair of my flesh stood up. @@It stood still, €@@@but I could not discern its appearance. €@@A form was before my eyes; €@@@there was silence, then I heard a voice: @@`Can mortal man be righteous before God? €@@@Can a man be pure before his Maker? @@Even in his servants he puts no trust, €@@@and his angels he charges with error; @@how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, €@@@whose foundation is in the dust, €@@@who are crushed before the moth. @@Between morning and evening they are destroyed; €@@@they perish for ever without any regarding it. @@If their tent-cord is plucked up within them, €@@@do they not die, and that without wisdom?'  @@"Call now; is there any one who will answer you? €@@To which of the holy ones will you turn? @@Surely vexation kills the fool, €@@@and jealousy slays the simple. @@I have seen the fool taking root, €@@@but suddenly I cursed his dwelling. @@His sons are far from safety, €@@@they are crushed in the gate, €@@@and there is no one to deliver them. @@His harvest the hungry eat, €@@@and he takes it even out of thorns; €@@@@and the thirsty pant after his wealth. @@For affliction does not come from the dust, €@@@nor does trouble sprout from the ground; @@but man is born to trouble €@@@as the sparks fly upward. @@"As for me, I would seek God, €@@@and to God would I commit my cause; @@who does great things and unsearchable, €@@@marvelous things without number: @@he gives rain upon the earth €@@@and sends waters upon the fields; @@he sets on high those who are lowly, €@@@and those who mourn are lifted to safety. @@He frustrates the devices of the crafty, €@@@so that their hands achieve no success. @@He takes the wise in their own craftiness; €@@@and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end. @@They meet with darkness in the daytime, €@@@and grope at noonday as in the night. @@But he saves the fatherless from their mouth, €@@@the needy from the hand of the mighty. @@So the poor have hope, €@@@and injustice shuts her mouth. @@"Behold, happy is the man whom God reproves; €@@@therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty. @@For he wounds, but he binds up; €@@@he smites, but his hands heal. @@He will deliver you from six troubles; €@@@in seven there shall no evil touch you. @@In famine he will redeem you from death, €@@@and in war from the power of the sword. @@You shall be hid from the scourge of the tongue, €@@@and shall not fear destruction when it comes. @@At destruction and famine you shall laugh, €@@@and shall not fear the beasts of the earth. @@For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, €@@@and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you. @@You shall know that your tent is safe, €@@@and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing. @@You shall know also that your descendants shall be many, €@@@and your offspring as the grass of the earth. @@You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, €@@@as a shock of grain comes up to the threshing floor in its season. @@Lo, this we have searched out; it is true. €@@@Hear, and know it for your good."  Then Job answered: @@"O that my vexation were weighed, €@@@and all my calamity laid in the balances! @@For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; €@@@therefore my words have been rash. @@For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±ø’ļ‚Źļā’¦”‚@@@my spirit drinks their poison; €@@@the terrors of God are arrayed against me. @@Does the wild ass bray when he has grass, €@@@or the ox low over his fodder? @@Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, €@@@or is there any taste in the slime of the purslane? @@@My appetite refuses to touch them; €@@@they are as food that is loathsome to me. @@"O that I might have my request, €@@@and that God would grant my desire; @@that it would please God to crush me, €@@@that he would let loose his hand and cut me off! @@This would be my consolation; €@@@I would even exult in pain unsparing; €@@@for I have not denied the words of the Holy One. @@What is my strength, that I should wait? €@@@And what is my end, that I should be patient? @@Is my strength the strength of stones, €@@@or is my flesh bronze? @@In truth I have no help in me, €@@@and any resource is driven from me. @@"He who withholds kindness from a friend €@@@forsakes the fear of the Almighty. @@My brethren are treacherous as a torrent-bed, €@@@as freshets that pass away, @@which are dark with ice, €@@@and where the snow hides itself. @@In time of heat they disappear; €@@@when it is hot, they vanish from their place. @@The caravans turn aside from their course; €@@@they go up into the waste, and perish. @@The caravans of Tema look, €@@@the travelers of Sheba hope. @@They are disappointed because they were confident; €@@@they come thither and are confounded. @@Such you have now become to me; €@@@you see my calamity, and are afraid. @@Have I said, `Make me a gift'? €@@@Or, `From your wealth offer a bribe for me'? @@Or, `Deliver me from the adversary's hand'? €@@@Or, `Ransom me from the hand of oppressors'? @@"Teach me, and I will be silent; €@@@make me understand how I have erred. @@How forceful are honest words! €@@@But what does reproof from you reprove? @@Do you think that you can reprove words, €@@@when the speech of a despairing man is wind? @@You would even cast lots over the fatherless, €@@@and bargain over your friend. @@"But now, be pleased to look at me; €@@@for I will not lie to your face. @@Turn, I pray, let no wrong be done. €@@@Turn now, my vindication is at stake. @@Is there any wrong on my tongue? €@@@Cannot my taste discern calamity?  @@"Has not man a hard service upon earth, €@@@and are not his days like the days of a hireling? @@Like a slave who longs for the shadow, €@@@and like a hireling who looks for his wages, @@so I am allotted months of emptiness, €@@@and nights of misery are apportioned to me. @@When I lie down I say, `When shall I arise?' €@@@But the night is long, €@@@and I am full of tossing till the dawn. @@My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt; €@@@my skin hardens, then breaks out afresh. @@My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, €@@@and come to their end without hope. @@"Remember that my life is a breath; €@@@my eye will never again see good. @@The eye of him who sees me will behold me no more; €@@@while thy eyes are upon me, I shall be gone. @@As the cloud fades and vanishes, €@@@so he who goes down to Sheol does not come up; @@he returns no more to his house, €@@@nor does his place know him any more. @@"Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; €@@@I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; €@@@I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. @@Am I the sea, or a sea monster, €@@@that thou settest a guard over me? @@When I say, `My bed will comfort me, €@@@my couch will ease my complaint,' @@then thou dost scare me with dreams €@@@and terrify me with visions, @@so that I would choose strangling €@@@and death rather than my bones. @@I loathe my life; I would not live for ever. €@@@Let me alone, for my days are a breath. @@What is man, that thou dost make so much of him, €@@@and that thou dost set thy mind upon him, @@dost visit him every morning, €@@@and test him every moment? @@How long wilt thou not look away from me, €@@@nor let me alone till I swallow my spittle? @@If I sin, what do I do to thee, thou watcher of men? €@@@Why hast thou made me thy mark? €@@@Why have I become a burden to thee? @@Why dost thou not pardon my transgression €@@@and take away my iniquity? €@@For now I shall lie in the earth; €@@@thou wilt seek me, but I shall not be."  Then Bildad the Shuhite answered: @@"How long will you say these things, €@@@and the words of your mouth be a great wind? @@Does God pervert justice? €@@@Or does the Almighty pervert the right? @@If your children have sinned against him, €@@@he has delivered them into the power of their transgression. @@If you will seek God €@@@and make supplication to the Almighty, @@if you are pure and upright, €@@@surely then he will rouse himself for you €@@@and reward you with a rightful habitation. @@And though your beginning was small, €@@@your latter days will be very great. @@"For inquire, I pray you, of bygone ages, €@@@and consider what the fathers have found; @@for we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, €@@@for our days on earth are a shadow. @@Will they not teach you, and tell you, €@@@and utter words out of their understanding? @@"Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? €@@@Can reeds flourish where there is no water? @@While yet in flower and not cut down, €@@@they wither before any other plant. @@Such are the paths of all who forget God; €@@@the hope of the godless man shall perish. @@His confidence breaks in sunder, €@@@and his trust is a spider's web. @@@He leans against his house, but it does not stand; €@@@he lays hold of it, but it does not endure. @@He thrives before the sun, €@@@and his shoots spread over his garden. @@His roots twine about the stoneheap; €@@@he lives among the rocks. @@@If he is destroyed from his place, €@@@then it will deny him, saying, `I have never seen you.' @@Behold, this is the joy of his way; €@@@and out of the earth others will spring. @@"Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, €@@@nor take the hand of evildoers. @@He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, €@@@and your lips with shouting. @@Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, €@@@and the tent of the wicked will be no more."  Then Job answered: @@"Truly I know that it is so: €@@@But how can a man be just before God? @@If one wished to contend with him, €@@@one could not answer him once in a thousand times. @@He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength €@@-- who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded? --@@he who removes mountains, and they know it not, €@@@when he overturns them in his anger; @@who shakes the earth out of its place, €@@@and its pillars tremble; @@who commands the sun, and it does not rise; €@@@who seals up the stars; @@who alone stretched out the heavens, €@@@and trampled the waves of the sea; @@@who made the Bear and Orion, €@@@the Plei'ades and the chambers of the south; @@who does great things beyond understanding, €@@@and marvelous things without number. @@Lo, he passes by me, and I see him not; €@@@he moves on, but I do not perceive him. @@Behold, he snatches away; who can hinder him? €@@@Who will say to him, `What doest thou'? @@"God will not turn back his anger; €@@@beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab. @@How then can I answer him, €@@@choosing my words with him? @@Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him; €@@@I must appeal for mercy to my accuser. @@@If I summoned him and he answered me, €@@@I would not believe that he was listening to my voice. @@For he crushes me with a tempest, €@@@and multiplies my wounds without cause; @@he will not let me get my breath, €@@@but fills me with bitterness. @@If it is a contest of strength, behold him! €@@@If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him? @@@Though I am innocent, my own mouth would condemn me; €@@@though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse. @@I am blameless; I regard not myself; €@@@I loathe my life. @@It is all one; therefore I say, €@@@he destroys both the blameless and the wicked. @@When disaster brings sudden death, €@@@he mocks at the calamity of the innocent. @@The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; €@@@he covers the faces of its judges --€@@@if it is not he, who then is it? žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±ø’ļ‚Źļā’؉˜™@@"My days are swifter than a runner; €@@@they flee away, they see no good. @@They go by like skiffs of reed, €@@@like an eagle swooping on the prey. @@If I say, `I will forget my complaint, €@@@I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer,' @@I become afraid of all my suffering, €@@@for I know thou wilt not hold me innocent. @@I shall be condemned; €@@@why then do I labor in vain? @@If I wash myself with snow, €@@@and cleanse my hands with lye, @@yet thou wilt plunge me into a pit, €@@@and my own clothes will abhor me. @@For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, €@@@that we should come to trial together. @@There is no umpire between us, €@@@who might lay his hand upon us both. @@Let him take his rod away from me, €@@@and let not dread of him terrify me. @@Then I would speak without fear of him, €@@@for I am not so in myself.  @@"I loathe my life; €@@@I will give free utterance to my complaint; €@@@I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. @@I will say to God, Do not condemn me; €@@@let me know why thou dost contend against me. @@Does it seem good to thee to oppress, €@@@to despise the work of thy hands €@@@and favor the designs of the wicked? @@Hast thou eyes of flesh? €@@@Dost thou see as man sees? @@Are thy days as the days of man, €@@@or thy years as man's years, @@that thou dost seek out my iniquity €@@@and search for my sin, @@although thou knowest that I am not guilty, €@@@and there is none to deliver out of thy hand? @@Thy hands fashioned and made me; €@@@and now thou dost turn about and destroy me. @@@Remember that thou hast made me of clay; €@@@and wilt thou turn me to dust again? @@Didst thou not pour me out like milk €@@@and curdle me like cheese? @@Thou didst clothe me with skin and flesh, €@@@and knit me together with bones and sinews. @@Thou hast granted me life and steadfast love; €@@@and thy care has preserved my spirit. @@Yet these things thou didst hide in thy heart; €@@@I know that this was thy purpose. @@If I sin, thou dost mark me, €@@@and dost not acquit me of my iniquity. @@If I am wicked, woe to me! €@@@If I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head, €@@for I am filled with disgrace €@@@and look upon my affliction. @@And if I lift myself up, thou dost hunt me like a lion, €@@@and again work wonders against me; @@thou dost renew thy witnesses against me, €@@@and increase thy vexation toward me; €@@@thou dost bring fresh hosts against me. @@"Why didst thou bring me forth from the womb? €@@@Would that I had died before any eye had seen me, @@and were as though I had not been, €@@@carried from the womb to the grave. @@Are not the days of my life few? €@@@Let me alone, that I may find a little comfort @@@before I go whence I shall not return, €@@@to the land of gloom and deep darkness, @@the land of gloom and chaos, €@@@where light is as darkness."  Then Zophar the Na'amathite answered: @@"Should a multitude of words go unanswered, €@@@and a man full of talk be vindicated? @@Should your babble silence men, €@@@and when you mock, shall no one shame you? @@For you say, `My doctrine is pure, €@@@and I am clean in God's eyes.' @@But oh, that God would speak, €@@@and open his lips to you, @@and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! €@@@For he is manifold in understanding. €@@@Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. @@"Can you find out the deep things of God? €@@@Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? @@It is higher than heaven -- what can you do? €@@@Deeper than Sheol -- what can you know? @@Its measure is longer than the earth, €@@@and broader than the sea. @@If he passes through, and imprisons, €@@@and calls to judgment, who can hinder him? @@For he knows worthless men; €@@@when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it? @@But a stupid man will get understanding, €@@@when a wild ass's colt is born a man. @@"If you set your heart aright, €@@@you will stretch out your hands toward him. @@If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, €@@@and let not wickedness dwell in your tents. @@Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; €@@@you will be secure, and will not fear. @@You will forget your misery; €@@@you will remember it as waters that have passed away. @@And your life will be brighter than the noonday; €@@@its darkness will be like the morning. @@And you will have confidence, because there is hope; €@@@you will be protected and take your rest in safety. @@You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; €@@@many will entreat your favor. @@But the eyes of the wicked will fail; €@@@all way of escape will be lost to them, €@@@and their hope is to breathe their last."  Then Job answered: @@"No doubt you are the people, €@@@and wisdom will die with you. @@But I have understanding as well as you; €@@@I am not inferior to you. €@@@Who does not know such things as these? @@I am a laughingstock to my friends; €@@@I, who called upon God and he answered me, €@@@a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock. @@In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; €@@@it is ready for those whose feet slip. @@The tents of robbers are at peace, €@@@and those who provoke God are secure, €@@@who bring their god in their hand. @@@"But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; €@@@the birds of the air, and they will tell you; @@or the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; €@@@and the fish of the sea will declare to you. @@Who among all these does not know €@@@that the hand of the LORD has done this? @@In his hand is the life of every living thing €@@@and the breath of all mankind. @@Does not the ear try words €@@@as the palate tastes food? @@Wisdom is with the aged, €@@@and understanding in length of days. @@"With God are wisdom and might; €@@@he has counsel and understanding. @@If he tears down, none can rebuild; €@@@if he shuts a man in, none can open. @@If he withholds the waters, they dry up; €@@@if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. @@With him are strength and wisdom; €@@@the deceived and the deceiver are his. @@He leads counselors away stripped, €@@@and judges he makes fools. @@He looses the bonds of kings, €@@@and binds a waistcloth on their loins. @@He leads priests away stripped, €@@@and overthrows the mighty. @@He deprives of speech those who are trusted, €@@@and takes away the discernment of the elders. @@He pours contempt on princes, €@@@and looses the belt of the strong. @@He uncovers the deeps out of darkness, €@@@and brings deep darkness to light. @@He makes nations great, and he destroys them: €@@@he enlarges nations, and leads them away. @@He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, €@@@and makes them wander in a pathless waste. @@They grope in the dark without light; €@@@and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.  @@"Lo, my eye has seen all this, €@@@my ear has heard and understood it. @@What you know, I also know; €@@@I am not inferior to you. @@But I would speak to the Almighty, €@@@and I desire to argue my case with God. @@As for you, you whitewash with lies; €@@@worthless physicians are you all. @@Oh that you would keep silent, €@@@and it would be your wisdom! @@Hear now my reasoning, €@@@and listen to the pleadings of my lips. @@Will you speak falsely for God, €@@@and speak deceitfully for him? @@Will you show partiality toward him, €@@@will you plead the case for God? @@Will it be well with you when he searches you out? €@@@Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man? @@He will surely rebuke you €@@@if in secret you show partiality. @@Will not his majesty terrify you, €@@@and the dread of him fall upon you? @@Your maxims are proverbs of ashes, €@@@your defenses are defenses of clay. @@"Let me have silence, and I will speak, €@@@and let come on me what may. @@I will take my flesh in my teeth, €@@@and put my life in my hand. @@Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope; €@@@yet I will defend my ways to his face. @@This will be my salvation, €@@@that a godless man shall not come before him. @@Listen carefully to my words, €@@@and let my declaration be in your ears. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±ø’ļ‚Źļā’؍˜’@@Behold, I have prepared my case; €@@@I know that I shall be vindicated. @@Who is there that will contend with me? €@@@For then I would be silent and die. @@Only grant two things to me, €@@@then I will not hide myself from thy face: @@withdraw thy hand far from me, €@@@and let not dread of thee terrify me. @@Then call, and I will answer; €@@@or let me speak, and do thou reply to me. @@How many are my iniquities and my sins? €@@@Make me know my transgression and my sin. @@Why dost thou hide thy face, €@@@and count me as thy enemy? @@Wilt thou frighten a driven leaf €@@@and pursue dry chaff? @@For thou writest bitter things against me, €@@@and makest me inherit the iniquities of my youth. @@Thou puttest my feet in the stocks, €@@@and watchest all my paths; €@@@thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet. @@Man wastes away like a rotten thing, €@@@like a garment that is moth-eaten.  @@"Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. @@He comes forth like a flower, and withers; €@@@he flees like a shadow, and continues not. @@And dost thou open thy eyes upon such a one €@@@and bring him into judgment with thee? @@Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? €@@@There is not one. @@Since his days are determined, €@@@and the number of his months is with thee, €@@@and thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass, @@look away from him, and desist, €@@@that he may enjoy, like a hireling, his day. @@"For there is hope for a tree, €@@@if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, €@@@and that its shoots will not cease. @@Though its root grow old in the earth, €@@@and its stump die in the ground, @@yet at the scent of water it will bud €@@@and put forth branches like a young plant. @@But man dies, and is laid low; €@@@man breathes his last, and where is he? @@As waters fail from a lake, €@@@and a river wastes away and dries up, @@so man lies down and rises not again; €@@@till the heavens are no more he will not awake, €@@@or be roused out of his sleep. @@Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, €@@@that thou wouldest conceal me until thy wrath be past, €@@@that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! @@If a man die, shall he live again? €@@@All the days of my service I would wait, €@@@till my release should come. @@Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee; €@@@thou wouldest long for the work of thy hands. @@For then thou wouldest number my steps, €@@@thou wouldest not keep watch over my sin; @@my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, €@@@and thou wouldest cover over my iniquity. @@"But the mountain falls and crumbles away, €@@@and the rock is removed from its place; @@the waters wear away the stones; €@@@the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; €@@@so thou destroyest the hope of man. @@Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passes; €@@@thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. @@His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; €@@@they are brought low, and he perceives it not. @@He feels only the pain of his own body, €@@@and he mourns only for himself."  Then Eli'phaz the Te'manite answered: @@"Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, €@@@and fill himself with the east wind? @@Should he argue in unprofitable talk, €@@@or in words with which he can do no good? @@But you are doing away with the fear of God, €@@@and hindering meditation before God. @@For your iniquity teaches your mouth, €@@@and you choose the tongue of the crafty. @@Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; €@@@your own lips testify against you. @@"Are you the first man that was born? €@@@Or were you brought forth before the hills? @@Have you listened in the council of God? €@@@And do you limit wisdom to yourself? @@What do you know that we do not know? €@@@What do you understand that is not clear to us? @@Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, €@@@older than your father. @@Are the consolations of God too small for you, €@@@or the word that deals gently with you? @@Why does your heart carry you away, €@@@and why do your eyes flash, @@that you turn your spirit against God, €@@@and let such words go out of your mouth? @@What is man, that he can be clean? €@@@Or he that is born of a woman, that he can be righteous? @@Behold, God puts no trust in his holy ones, €@@@and the heavens are not clean in his sight; @@how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, €@@@a man who drinks iniquity like water! @@"I will show you, hear me; €@@@and what I have seen I will declare @@(what wise men have told, €@@@and their fathers have not hidden, @@to whom alone the land was given, €@@@and no stranger passed among them). @@The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, €@@@through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless. @@Terrifying sounds are in his ears; €@@@in prosperity the destroyer will come upon him. @@He does not believe that he will return out of darkness, €@@@and he is destined for the sword. @@He wanders abroad for bread, saying, `Where is it?' €@@@He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand; @@distress and anguish terrify him; €@@@they prevail against him, like a king prepared for battle. @@Because he has stretched forth his hand against God, €@@@and bids defiance to the Almighty, @@running stubbornly against him €@@@with a thick-bossed shield; @@because he has covered his face with his fat, €@@@and gathered fat upon his loins, @@and has lived in desolate cities, €@@@in houses which no man should inhabit, €@@@which were destined to become heaps of ruins; @@he will not be rich, and his wealth will not endure, €@@@nor will he strike root in the earth; @@@he will not escape from darkness; €@@@the flame will dry up his shoots, €@@@@and his blossom will be swept away by the wind. @@Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; €@@@for emptiness will be his recompense. @@It will be paid in full before his time, €@@@and his branch will not be green. @@He will shake off his unripe grape, like the vine, €@@@and cast off his blossom, like the olive tree. @@For the company of the godless is barren, €@@@and fire consumes the tents of bribery. @@They conceive mischief and bring forth evil €@@@and their heart prepares deceit."  Then Job answered: @@"I have heard many such things; €@@@miserable comforters are you all. @@Shall windy words have an end? €@@@Or what provokes you that you answer? @@I also could speak as you do, €@@@if you were in my place; €@@I could join words together against you, €@@@and shake my head at you. @@I could strengthen you with my mouth, €@@@and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain. @@"If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, €@@@and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me? @@Surely now God has worn me out; €@@@he has made desolate all my company. @@And he has shriveled me up, €@@@which is a witness against me; €@@and my leanness has risen up against me, €@@@it testifies to my face. @@He has torn me in his wrath, and hated me; €@@@he has gnashed his teeth at me; €@@@my adversary sharpens his eyes against me. @@Men have gaped at me with their mouth, €@@@they have struck me insolently upon the cheek, €@@@they mass themselves together against me. @@God gives me up to the ungodly, €@@@and casts me into the hands of the wicked. @@I was at ease, and he broke me asunder; €@@@he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; €@@he set me up as his target, @@@his archers surround me. €@@He slashes open my kidneys, and does not spare; €@@@he pours out my gall on the ground. @@He breaks me with breach upon breach; €@@@he runs upon me like a warrior. @@I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, €@@@and have laid my strength in the dust. @@My face is red with weeping, €@@@and on my eyelids is deep darkness; @@although there is no violence in my hands, €@@@and my prayer is pure. @@"O earth, cover not my blood, €@@@and let my cry find no resting place. @@Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, €@@@and he that vouches for me is on high. @@My friends scorn me; €@@@my eye pours out tears to God, @@that he would maintain the right of a man with God, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±ø’ļ‚Źļā’ؐ˜•‚@@@like that of a man with his neighbor. @@For when a few years have come €@@@I shall go the way whence I shall not return.  @@My spirit is broken, my days are extinct, €@@@the grave is ready for me. @@Surely there are mockers about me, €@@@and my eye dwells on their provocation. @@"Lay down a pledge for me with thyself; €@@@who is there that will give surety for me? @@Since thou hast closed their minds to understanding, €@@@therefore thou wilt not let them triumph. @@He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property, €@@@the eyes of his children will fail. @@"He has made me a byword of the peoples, €@@@and I am one before whom men spit. @@My eye has grown dim from grief, €@@@and all my members are like a shadow. @@Upright men are appalled at this, €@@@and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless. @@Yet the righteous holds to his way, €@@@and he that has clean hands grows stronger and stronger. @@But you, come on again, all of you, €@@@and I shall not find a wise man among you. @@My days are past, my plans are broken off, €@@@the desires of my heart. @@They make night into day; €@@@`The light,' they say, `is near to the darkness.' @@@If I look for Sheol as my house, €@@@if I spread my couch in darkness, @@if I say to the pit, `You are my father,' €@@@and to the worm, `My mother,' or `My sister,' @@where then is my hope? €@@@Who will see my hope? @@Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? €@@@Shall we descend together into the dust?"  Then Bildad the Shuhite answered: @@"How long will you hunt for words? €@@@Consider, and then we will speak. @@Why are we counted as cattle? €@@@Why are we stupid in your sight? @@You who tear yourself in your anger, €@@@shall the earth be forsaken for you, €@@@or the rock be removed out of its place? @@"Yea, the light of the wicked is put out, €@@@and the flame of his fire does not shine. @@The light is dark in his tent, €@@@and his lamp above him is put out. @@His strong steps are shortened €@@@and his own schemes throw him down. @@For he is cast into a net by his own feet, €@@@and he walks on a pitfall. @@A trap seizes him by the heel, €@@@a snare lays hold of him. @@A rope is hid for him in the ground, €@@@a trap for him in the path. @@Terrors frighten him on every side, €@@@and chase him at his heels. @@His strength is hunger-bitten, €@@@and calamity is ready for his stumbling. @@By disease his skin is consumed, €@@@the first-born of death consumes his limbs. @@He is torn from the tent in which he trusted, €@@@and is brought to the king of terrors. @@In his tent dwells that which is none of his; €@@@brimstone is scattered upon his habitation. @@His roots dry up beneath, €@@@and his branches wither above. @@His memory perishes from the earth, €@@@and he has no name in the street. @@He is thrust from light into darkness, €@@@and driven out of the world. @@He has no offspring or descendant among his people, €@@@and no survivor where he used to live. @@They of the west are appalled at his day, €@@@and horror seizes them of the east. @@Surely such are the dwellings of the ungodly, €@@@such is the place of him who knows not God."  Then Job answered: @@"How long will you torment me, €@@@and break me in pieces with words? @@These ten times you have cast reproach upon me; €@@@are you not ashamed to wrong me? @@And even if it be true that I have erred, €@@@my error remains with myself. @@If indeed you magnify yourselves against me, €@@@and make my humiliation an argument against me, @@know then that God has put me in the wrong, €@@@and closed his net about me. @@Behold, I cry out, `Violence!' but I am not answered; €@@@I call aloud, but there is no justice. @@He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass, €@@@and he has set darkness upon my paths. @@He has stripped from me my glory, €@@@and taken the crown from my head. @@He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone, €@@@and my hope has he pulled up like a tree. @@He has kindled his wrath against me, €@@@and counts me as his adversary. @@His troops come on together; €@@@they have cast up siegeworks against me, €@@@and encamp round about my tent. @@"He has put my brethren far from me, €@@@and my acquaintances are wholly estranged from me. @@My kinsfolk and my close friends have failed me; @@@the guests in my house have forgotten me; €@@my maidservants count me as a stranger; €@@@I have become an alien in their eyes. @@I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer; €@@@I must beseech him with my mouth. @@I am repulsive to my wife, €@@@loathsome to the sons of my own mother. @@Even young children despise me; €@@@when I rise they talk against me. @@All my intimate friends abhor me, €@@@and those whom I loved have turned against me. @@My bones cleave to my skin and to my flesh, €@@@and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth. @@Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends, €@@@for the hand of God has touched me! @@Why do you, like God, pursue me? €@@@Why are you not satisfied with my flesh? @@"Oh that my words were written! €@@@Oh that they were inscribed in a book! @@Oh that with an iron pen and lead €@@@they were graven in the rock for ever! @@For I know that my Redeemer lives, €@@@and at last he will stand upon the earth; @@@and after my skin has been thus destroyed, €@@@then from my flesh I shall see God, @@@whom I shall see on my side, €@@@and my eyes shall behold, and not another. €@@@My heart faints within me! @@If you say, `How we will pursue him!' €@@@and, `The root of the matter is found in him'; @@be afraid of the sword, €@@@for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, €@@@that you may know there is a judgment."  Then Zophar the Na'amathite answered: @@"Therefore my thoughts answer me, €@@@because of my haste within me. @@I hear censure which insults me, €@@@and out of my understanding a spirit answers me. @@Do you not know this from of old, €@@@since man was placed upon earth, @@that the exulting of the wicked is short, €@@@and the joy of the godless but for a moment? @@Though his height mount up to the heavens, €@@@and his head reach to the clouds, @@he will perish for ever like his own dung; €@@@those who have seen him will say, `Where is he?' @@He will fly away like a dream, and not be found; €@@@he will be chased away like a vision of the night. @@The eye which saw him will see him no more, €@@@nor will his place any more behold him. @@His children will seek the favor of the poor, €@@@and his hands will give back his wealth. @@His bones are full of youthful vigor, €@@@but it will lie down with him in the dust. @@"Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, €@@@though he hides it under his tongue, @@though he is loath to let it go, €@@@and holds it in his mouth, @@yet his food is turned in his stomach; €@@@it is the gall of asps within him. @@He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; €@@@God casts them out of his belly. @@He will suck the poison of asps; €@@@the tongue of a viper will kill him. @@He will not look upon the rivers, €@@@the streams flowing with honey and curds. @@He will give back the fruit of his toil, €@@@and will not swallow it down; €@@from the profit of his trading €@@@he will get no enjoyment. @@For he has crushed and abandoned the poor, €@@@he has seized a house which he did not build. @@"Because his greed knew no rest, €@@@he will not save anything in which he delights. @@There was nothing left after he had eaten; €@@@therefore his prosperity will not endure. @@In the fulness of his sufficiency he will be in straits; €@@@all the force of misery will come upon him. @@To fill his belly to the full €@@@God will send his fierce anger into him, €@@@and rain it upon him as his food. @@@He will flee from an iron weapon; €@@@a bronze arrow will strike him through. @@It is drawn forth and comes out of his body, €@@@the glittering point comes out of his gall; €@@@terrors come upon him. @@Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; €@@@a fire not blown upon will devour him; €@@@what is left in his tent will be consumed. @@The heavens will reveal his iniquity, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±ø’ļ‚Źļā’ؔ˜›‚@@@and the earth will rise up against him. @@The possessions of his house will be carried away, €@@@dragged off in the day of God's wrath. @@This is the wicked man's portion from God, €@@@the heritage decreed for him by God."  Then Job answered: @@"Listen carefully to my words, €@@@and let this be your consolation. @@Bear with me, and I will speak, €@@@and after I have spoken, mock on. @@As for me, is my complaint against man? €@@@Why should I not be impatient? @@Look at me, and be appalled, €@@@and lay your hand upon your mouth. @@When I think of it I am dismayed, €@@@and shuddering seizes my flesh. @@Why do the wicked live, €@@@reach old age, and grow mighty in power? @@Their children are established in their presence, €@@@and their offspring before their eyes. @@Their houses are safe from fear, €@@@and no rod of God is upon them. @@Their bull breeds without fail; €@@@their cow calves, and does not cast her calf. @@They send forth their little ones like a flock, €@@@and their children dance. @@They sing to the tambourine and the lyre, €@@@and rejoice to the sound of the pipe. @@They spend their days in prosperity, €@@@and in peace they go down to Sheol. @@They say to God, `Depart from us! €@@@We do not desire the knowledge of thy ways. @@What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? €@@@And what profit do we get if we pray to him?' @@Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? €@@@The counsel of the wicked is far from me. @@"How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? €@@@That their calamity comes upon them? €@@@That God distributes pains in his anger? @@That they are like straw before the wind, €@@@and like chaff that the storm carries away? @@You say, `God stores up their iniquity for their sons.' €@@@Let him recompense it to themselves, that they may know it. @@Let their own eyes see their destruction, €@@@and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty. @@For what do they care for their houses after them, €@@@when the number of their months is cut off? @@Will any teach God knowledge, €@@@seeing that he judges those that are on high? @@One dies in full prosperity, €@@@being wholly at ease and secure, @@his body full of fat €@@@and the marrow of his bones moist. @@Another dies in bitterness of soul, €@@@never having tasted of good. @@They lie down alike in the dust, €@@@and the worms cover them. @@"Behold, I know your thoughts, €@@@and your schemes to wrong me. @@For you say, `Where is the house of the prince? €@@@Where is the tent in which the wicked dwelt?' @@Have you not asked those who travel the roads, €@@@and do you not accept their testimony @@that the wicked man is spared in the day of calamity, €@@@that he is rescued in the day of wrath? @@Who declares his way to his face, €@@@and who requites him for what he has done? @@When he is borne to the grave, €@@@watch is kept over his tomb. @@The clods of the valley are sweet to him; €@@@all men follow after him, €@@@and those who go before him are innumerable. @@How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? €@@@There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood."  Then Eli'phaz the Te'manite answered: @@"Can a man be profitable to God? €@@@Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself. @@Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, €@@@or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless? @@Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you, €@@@and enters into judgment with you? @@Is not your wickedness great? €@@@There is no end to your iniquities. @@For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing, €@@@and stripped the naked of their clothing. @@You have given no water to the weary to drink, €@@@and you have withheld bread from the hungry. @@The man with power possessed the land, €@@@and the favored man dwelt in it. @@You have sent widows away empty, €@@@and the arms of the fatherless were crushed. @@Therefore snares are round about you, €@@@and sudden terror overwhelms you; @@your light is darkened, so that you cannot see, €@@@and a flood of water covers you. @@"Is not God high in the heavens? €@@@See the highest stars, how lofty they are! @@Therefore you say, `What does God know? €@@@Can he judge through the deep darkness? @@Thick clouds enwrap him, so that he does not see, €@@@and he walks on the vault of heaven.' @@Will you keep to the old way €@@@which wicked men have trod? @@They were snatched away before their time; €@@@their foundation was washed away. @@They said to God, `Depart from us,' €@@@and `What can the Almighty do to us?' @@@Yet he filled their houses with good things --€@@@but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. @@The righteous see it and are glad; €@@@the innocent laugh them to scorn, @@saying, `Surely our adversaries are cut off, €@@@and what they left the fire has consumed.' @@"Agree with God, and be at peace; €@@@thereby good will come to you. @@Receive instruction from his mouth, €@@@and lay up his words in your heart. @@If you return to the Almighty and humble yourself, €@@@if you remove unrighteousness far from your tents, @@if you lay gold in the dust, €@@@and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent bed, @@and if the Almighty is your gold, €@@@and your precious silver; @@then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, €@@@and lift up your face to God. @@You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you; €@@@and you will pay your vows. @@You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, €@@@and light will shine on your ways. @@For God abases the proud, €@@@but he saves the lowly. @@He delivers the innocent man; €@@@you will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."  Then Job answered: @@"Today also my complaint is bitter, €@@@his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. @@Oh, that I knew where I might find him, €@@@that I might come even to his seat! @@I would lay my case before him €@@@and fill my mouth with arguments. @@I would learn what he would answer me, €@@@and understand what he would say to me. @@Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? €@@@No; he would give heed to me. @@There an upright man could reason with him, €@@@and I should be acquitted for ever by my judge. @@"Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; €@@@and backward, but I cannot perceive him; @@on the left hand I seek him, but I cannot behold him; €@@@I turn to the right hand, but I cannot see him. @@But he knows the way that I take; €@@@when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. @@My foot has held fast to his steps; €@@@I have kept his way and have not turned aside. @@I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; €@@@I have treasured in my bosom the words of his mouth. @@But he is unchangeable and who can turn him? €@@@What he desires, that he does. @@For he will complete what he appoints for me; €@@@and many such things are in his mind. @@Therefore I am terrified at his presence; €@@@when I consider, I am in dread of him. @@God has made my heart faint; €@@@the Almighty has terrified me; @@for I am hemmed in by darkness, €@@@and thick darkness covers my face.  @@"Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, €@@@and why do those who know him never see his days? @@Men remove landmarks; €@@@they seize flocks and pasture them. @@They drive away the ass of the fatherless; €@@@they take the widow's ox for a pledge. @@They thrust the poor off the road; €@@@the poor of the earth all hide themselves. @@Behold, like wild asses in the desert €@@@they go forth to their toil, €@@seeking prey in the wilderness €@@@as food for their children. @@They gather their fodder in the field €@@@and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man. @@They lie all night naked, without clothing, €@@@and have no covering in the cold. @@They are wet with the rain of the mountains, €@@@and cling to the rock for want of shelter. @@(There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, €@@@and take in pledge the infant of the poor.) @@They go about naked, without clothing; €@@@hungry, they carry the sheaves; @@among the olive rows of the wicked they make oil; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±ø’ļ‚Źļā’ؘ˜‹‚@@@they tread the wine presses, but suffer thirst. @@From out of the city the dying groan, €@@@and the soul of the wounded cries for help; €@@@yet God pays no attention to their prayer. @@"There are those who rebel against the light, €@@@who are not acquainted with its ways, €@@@and do not stay in its paths. @@The murderer rises in the dark, €@@@that he may kill the poor and needy; €@@@and in the night he is as a thief. @@The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, €@@@saying, `No eye will see me'; €@@@and he disguises his face. @@In the dark they dig through houses; €@@@by day they shut themselves up; €@@@they do not know the light. @@For deep darkness is morning to all of them; €@@@for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness. @@"You say, "They are swiftly carried away upon the face of the waters; €@@@their portion is cursed in the land; €@@@no treader turns toward their vineyards. @@Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; €@@@so does Sheol those who have sinned. @@The squares of the town forget them; €@@@their name is no longer remembered; €@@@so wickedness is broken like a tree.' @@"They feed on the barren childless woman, €@@@and do no good to the widow. @@Yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; €@@@they rise up when they despair of life. @@He gives them security, and they are supported; €@@@and his eyes are upon their ways. @@They are exalted a little while, and then are gone; €@@@they wither and fade like the mallow; €@@@they are cut off like the heads of grain. @@If it is not so, who will prove me a liar, €@@@and show that there is nothing in what I say?"  Then Bildad the Shuhite answered: @@"Dominion and fear are with God; €@@@he makes peace in his high heaven. @@Is there any number to his armies? €@@@Upon whom does his light not arise? @@How then can man be righteous before God? €@@@How can he who is born of woman be clean? @@Behold, even the moon is not bright €@@@and the stars are not clean in his sight; @@how much less man, who is a maggot, €@@@and the son of man, who is a worm!"  Then Job answered: @@"How you have helped him who has no power! €@@@How you have saved the arm that has no strength! @@How you have counseled him who has no wisdom, €@@@and plentifully declared sound knowledge! @@With whose help have you uttered words, €@@@and whose spirit has come forth from you? @@The shades below tremble, €@@@the waters and their inhabitants. @@Sheol is naked before God, €@@@and Abaddon has no covering. @@He stretches out the north over the void, €@@@and hangs the earth upon nothing. @@He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, €@@@and the cloud is not rent under them. @@He covers the face of the moon, €@@@and spreads over it his cloud. @@He has described a circle upon the face of the waters €@@@at the boundary between light and darkness. @@The pillars of heaven tremble, €@@@and are astounded at his rebuke. @@By his power he stilled the sea; €@@@by his understanding he smote Rahab. @@By his wind the heavens were made fair; €@@@his hand pierced the fleeing serpent. @@Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways; €@@@and how small a whisper do we hear of him! €@@@But the thunder of his power who can understand?"  And Job again took up his discourse, and said: @@"As God lives, who has taken away my right, €@@@and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter; @@as long as my breath is in me, €@@@and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; @@my lips will not speak falsehood, €@@@and my tongue will not utter deceit. @@Far be it from me to say that you are right; €@@@till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. @@I hold fast my righteousness, and will not let it go; €@@@my heart does not reproach me for any of my days. @@"Let my enemy be as the wicked, €@@@and let him that rises up against me be as the unrighteous. @@For what is the hope of the godless when God cuts him off, €@@@when God takes away his life? @@Will God hear his cry, €@@@when trouble comes upon him? @@Will he take delight in the Almighty? €@@@Will he call upon God at all times? @@I will teach you concerning the hand of God; €@@@what is with the Almighty I will not conceal. @@Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; €@@@why then have you become altogether vain? @@"This is the portion of a wicked man with God, €@@@and the heritage which oppressors receive from the Almighty: @@If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword; €@@@and his offspring have not enough to eat. @@Those who survive him the pestilence buries, €@@@and their widows make no lamentation. @@Though he heap up silver like dust, €@@@and pile up clothing like clay; @@he may pile it up, but the just will wear it, €@@@and the innocent will divide the silver. @@The house which he builds is like a spider's web, €@@@like a booth which a watchman makes. @@He goes to bed rich, but will do so no more; €@@@he opens his eyes, and his wealth is gone. @@Terrors overtake him like a flood; €@@@in the night a whirlwind carries him off. @@The east wind lifts him up and he is gone; €@@@it sweeps him out of his place. @@It hurls at him without pity; €@@@he flees from its power in headlong flight. @@It claps its hands at him, €@@@and hisses at him from its place.  @@"Surely there is a mine for silver, €@@@and a place for gold which they refine. @@Iron is taken out of the earth, €@@@and copper is smelted from the ore. @@Men put an end to darkness, €@@@and search out to the farthest bound €@@@the ore in gloom and deep darkness. @@They open shafts in a valley away from where men live; €@@@they are forgotten by travelers, €@@@they hang afar from men, they swing to and fro. @@As for the earth, out of it comes bread; €@@@but underneath it is turned up as by fire. @@Its stones are the place of sapphires, €@@@and it has dust of gold. @@"That path no bird of prey knows, €@@@and the falcon's eye has not seen it. @@The proud beasts have not trodden it; €@@@the lion has not passed over it. @@"Man puts his hand to the flinty rock, €@@@and overturns mountains by the roots. @@He cuts out channels in the rocks, €@@@and his eye sees every precious thing. @@He binds up the streams so that they do not trickle, €@@@and the thing that is hid he brings forth to light. @@"But where shall wisdom be found? €@@@And where is the place of understanding? @@Man does not know the way to it, €@@@and it is not found in the land of the living. @@The deep says, `It is not in me,' €@@@and the sea says, `It is not with me.' @@It cannot be gotten for gold, €@@@and silver cannot be weighed as its price. @@It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, €@@@in precious onyx or sapphire. @@@Gold and glass cannot equal it, €@@@nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. @@No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; €@@@the price of wisdom is above pearls. @@The topaz of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, €@@@nor can it be valued in pure gold. @@"Whence then comes wisdom? €@@@And where is the place of understanding? @@It is hid from the eyes of all living, €@@@and concealed from the birds of the air. @@Abaddon and Death say, €@@@`We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.' @@"God understands the way to it, €@@@and he knows its place. @@For he looks to the ends of the earth, €@@@and sees everything under the heavens. @@When he gave to the wind its weight, €@@@and meted out the waters by measure; @@when he made a decree for the rain, €@@@and a way for the lightning of the thunder; @@then he saw it and declared it; €@@@he established it, and searched it out. @@And he said to man, €@@`Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; €@@@and to depart from evil is understanding.'"  And Job again took up his discourse, and said: @@"Oh, that I were as in the months of old, €@@@as in the days when God watched over me; @@when his lamp shone upon my head, €@@@and by his light I walked through darkness; @@as I was in my autumn days, €@@@when the friendship of God was upon my tent; @@when the Almighty was yet with me, €@@@when my children were about me; @@when my steps were washed with milk, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±ø’ļ‚Źļā’؝–‚@@@and the rock poured out for me streams of oil! @@When I went out to the gate of the city, €@@@when I prepared my seat in the square, @@the young men saw me and withdrew, €@@@and the aged rose and stood; @@the princes refrained from talking, €@@@and laid their hand on their mouth; @@the voice of the nobles was hushed, €@@@and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. @@When the ear heard, it called me blessed, €@@@and when the eye saw, it approved; @@because I delivered the poor who cried, €@@@and the fatherless who had none to help him. @@The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, €@@@and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. @@I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; €@@@my justice was like a robe and a turban. @@I was eyes to the blind, €@@@and feet to the lame. @@I was a father to the poor, €@@@and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know. @@I broke the fangs of the unrighteous, €@@@and made him drop his prey from his teeth. @@Then I thought, `I shall die in my nest, €@@@and I shall multiply my days as the sand, @@my roots spread out to the waters, €@@@with the dew all night on my branches, @@my glory fresh with me, €@@@and my bow ever new in my hand.' @@"Men listened to me, and waited, €@@@and kept silence for my counsel. @@After I spoke they did not speak again, €@@@and my word dropped upon them. @@They waited for me as for the rain; €@@@and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain. @@I smiled on them when they had no confidence; €@@@and the light of my countenance they did not cast down. @@I chose their way, and sat as chief, €@@@and I dwelt like a king among his troops, €@@@like one who comforts mourners.  @@"But now they make sport of me, €@@@men who are younger than I, €@@whose fathers I would have disdained €@@@to set with the dogs of my flock. @@What could I gain from the strength of their hands, €@@@men whose vigor is gone? @@Through want and hard hunger €@@@they gnaw the dry and desolate ground; @@@they pick mallow and the leaves of bushes, €@@@and to warm themselves the roots of the broom. @@They are driven out from among men; €@@@they shout after them as after a thief. @@In the gullies of the torrents they must dwell, €@@@in holes of the earth and of the rocks. @@Among the bushes they bray; €@@@under the nettles they huddle together. @@A senseless, a disreputable brood, €@@@they have been whipped out of the land. @@"And now I have become their song, €@@@I am a byword to them. @@They abhor me, they keep aloof from me; €@@@they do not hesitate to spit at the sight of me. @@Because God has loosed my cord and humbled me, €@@@they have cast off restraint in my presence. @@On my right hand the rabble rise, €@@@they drive me forth, €@@@they cast up against me their ways of destruction. @@They break up my path, €@@@they promote my calamity; €@@@no one restrains them. @@As through a wide breach they come; €@@@amid the crash they roll on. @@Terrors are turned upon me; €@@@my honor is pursued as by the wind, €@@@and my prosperity has passed away like a cloud. @@"And now my soul is poured out within me; €@@@days of affliction have taken hold of me. @@The night racks my bones, €@@@and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest. @@With violence it seizes my garment; €@@@it binds me about like the collar of my tunic. @@God has cast me into the mire, €@@@and I have become like dust and ashes. @@I cry to thee and thou dost not answer me; €@@@I stand, and thou dost not heed me. @@Thou hast turned cruel to me; €@@@with the might of thy hand thou dost persecute me. @@Thou liftest me up on the wind, thou makest me ride on it, €@@@and thou tossest me about in the roar of the storm. @@Yea, I know that thou wilt bring me to death, €@@@and to the house appointed for all living. @@"Yet does not one in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand, €@@@and in his disaster cry for help? @@@Did not I weep for him whose day was hard? €@@@Was not my soul grieved for the poor? @@But when I looked for good, evil came; €@@@and when I waited for light, darkness came. @@My heart is in turmoil, and is never still; €@@@days of affliction come to meet me. @@I go about blackened, but not by the sun; €@@@I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help. @@I am a brother of jackals, €@@@and a companion of ostriches. @@My skin turns black and falls from me, €@@@and my bones burn with heat. @@My lyre is turned to mourning, €@@@and my pipe to the voice of those who weep.  @@"I have made a covenant with my eyes; €@@@how then could I look upon a virgin? @@What would be my portion from God above, €@@@and my heritage from the Almighty on high? @@Does not calamity befall the unrighteous, €@@@and disaster the workers of iniquity? @@Does not he see my ways, €@@@and number all my steps? @@"If I have walked with falsehood, €@@@and my foot has hastened to deceit; @@(Let me be weighed in a just balance, €@@@and let God know my integrity!) @@if my step has turned aside from the way, €@@@and my heart has gone after my eyes, €@@@and if any spot has cleaved to my hands; @@then let me sow, and another eat; €@@@and let what grows for me be rooted out. @@"If my heart has been enticed to a woman, €@@@and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door; @@then let my wife grind for another, €@@@and let others bow down upon her. @@For that would be a heinous crime; €@@@that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; @@for that would be a fire which consumes unto Abaddon, €@@@and it would burn to the root all my increase. @@"If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, €@@@when they brought a complaint against me; @@what then shall I do when God rises up? €@@@When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him? @@Did not he who made me in the womb make him? €@@@And did not one fashion us in the womb? @@"If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, €@@@or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, @@or have eaten my morsel alone, €@@@and the fatherless has not eaten of it @@(for from his youth I reared him as a father, €@@@and from his mother's womb I guided him); @@@if I have seen any one perish for lack of clothing, €@@@or a poor man without covering; @@if his loins have not blessed me, €@@@and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; @@if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, €@@@because I saw help in the gate; @@then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, €@@@and let my arm be broken from its socket. @@For I was in terror of calamity from God, €@@@and I could not have faced his majesty. @@"If I have made gold my trust, €@@@or called fine gold my confidence; @@if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, €@@@or because my hand had gotten much; @@if I have looked at the sun when it shone, €@@@or the moon moving in splendor, @@and my heart has been secretly enticed, €@@@and my mouth has kissed my hand; @@this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, €@@@for I should have been false to God above. @@"If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him that hated me, €@@@or exulted when evil overtook him @@(I have not let my mouth sin €@@@by asking for his life with a curse); @@if the men of my tent have not said, €@@@`Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?' @@(the sojourner has not lodged in the street; €@@@I have opened my doors to the wayfarer); @@if I have concealed my transgressions from men, €@@@by hiding my iniquity in my bosom, @@because I stood in great fear of the multitude, €@@@and the contempt of families terrified me, €@@@so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors --@@Oh, that I had one to hear me! €@@@(Here is my signature! let the Almighty answer me!) €@@@Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary! @@Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; €@@@I would bind it on me as a crown; @@I would give him an account of all my steps; €@@@like a prince I would approach him. @@"If my land has cried out against me, €@@@and its furrows have wept together; @@if I have eaten its yield without payment, €@@@and caused the death of its owners; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±ø’ļ‚Źļā’؟˜Ø@@let thorns grow instead of wheat, €@@@and foul weeds instead of barley." €@@@The words of Job are ended.  So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in €his own eyes. Then Eli'hu the son of Bar'achel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became €angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God; he was angry also at Job's three friends because they had found no €answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. Now Eli'hu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. And when Eli'hu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three €men, he became angry. @And Eli'hu the son of Bar'achel the Buzite answered: €@@"I am young in years, €@@@and you are aged; €@@therefore I was timid and afraid €@@@to declare my opinion to you. @@I said, `Let days speak, €@@@and many years teach wisdom.' @@But it is the spirit in a man, €@@@the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. @@It is not the old that are wise, €@@@nor the aged that understand what is right. @@Therefore I say, `Listen to me; €@@@let me also declare my opinion.' @@"Behold, I waited for your words, €@@@I listened for your wise sayings, €@@@while you searched out what to say. @@I gave you my attention, €@@@and, behold, there was none that confuted Job, €@@@or that answered his words, among you. @@Beware lest you say, `We have found wisdom; €@@@God may vanquish him, not man.' @@He has not directed his words against me, €@@@and I will not answer him with your speeches. @@"They are discomfited, they answer no more; €@@@they have not a word to say. @@And shall I wait, because they do not speak, €@@@because they stand there, and answer no more? @@I also will give my answer; €@@@I also will declare my opinion. @@For I am full of words, €@@@the spirit within me constrains me. @@Behold, my heart is like wine that has no vent; €@@@like new wineskins, it is ready to burst. @@I must speak, that I may find relief; €@@@I must open my lips and answer. @@I will not show partiality to any person €@@@or use flattery toward any man. @@For I do not know how to flatter, €@@@else would my Maker soon put an end to me.  @@"But now, hear my speech, O Job, €@@@and listen to all my words. @@Behold, I open my mouth; €@@@the tongue in my mouth speaks. @@My words declare the uprightness of my heart, €@@@and what my lips know they speak sincerely. @@The spirit of God has made me, €@@@and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. @@Answer me, if you can; €@@@set your words in order before me; take your stand. @@Behold, I am toward God as you are; €@@@I too was formed from a piece of clay. @@Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; €@@@my pressure will not be heavy upon you. @@"Surely, you have spoken in my hearing, €@@@and I have heard the sound of your words. @@You say, `I am clean, without transgression; €@@@I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me. @@Behold, he finds occasions against me, €@@@he counts me as his enemy; @@he puts my feet in the stocks, €@@@and watches all my paths.' @@"Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you. €@@@God is greater than man. @@Why do you contend against him, €@@@saying, `He will answer none of my words'? @@For God speaks in one way, €@@@and in two, though man does not perceive it. @@In a dream, in a vision of the night, €@@@when deep sleep falls upon men, €@@@while they slumber on their beds, @@then he opens the ears of men, €@@@and terrifies them with warnings, @@that he may turn man aside from his deed, €@@@and cut off pride from man; @@he keeps back his soul from the Pit, €@@@his life from perishing by the sword. @@"Man is also chastened with pain upon his bed, €@@@and with continual strife in his bones; @@so that his life loathes bread, €@@@and his appetite dainty food. @@His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen; €@@@and his bones which were not seen stick out. @@His soul draws near the Pit, €@@@and his life to those who bring death. @@If there be for him an angel, €@@@a mediator, one of the thousand, €@@@to declare to man what is right for him; @@and he is gracious to him, and says, €@@@`Deliver him from going down into the Pit, €@@@I have found a ransom; @@let his flesh become fresh with youth; €@@@let him return to the days of his youthful vigor'; @@then man prays to God, and he accepts him, €@@@he comes into his presence with joy. €@@He recounts to men his salvation, @@@and he sings before men, and says: €@@`I sinned and perverted what was right, €@@@and it was not requited to me. @@He has redeemed my soul from going down into the Pit, €@@@and my life shall see the light.' @@"Behold, God does all these things, €@@@twice, three times, with a man, @@to bring back his soul from the Pit, €@@@that he may see the light of life. @@@Give heed, O Job, listen to me; €@@@be silent, and I will speak. @@If you have anything to say, answer me; €@@@speak, for I desire to justify you. @@If not, listen to me; €@@@be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."  @@Then Eli'hu said: @@"Hear my words, you wise men, €@@@and give ear to me, you who know; @@for the ear tests words €@@@as the palate tastes food. @@Let us choose what is right; €@@@let us determine among ourselves what is good. @@For Job has said, `I am innocent, €@@@and God has taken away my right; @@in spite of my right I am counted a liar; €@@@my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.' @@What man is like Job, €@@@who drinks up scoffing like water, @@who goes in company with evildoers €@@@and walks with wicked men? @@For he has said, `It profits a man nothing €@@@that he should take delight in God.' @@"Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding, €@@@far be it from God that he should do wickedness, €@@@and from the Almighty that he should do wrong. @@For according to the work of a man he will requite him, €@@@and according to his ways he will make it befall him. @@Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, €@@@and the Almighty will not pervert justice. @@Who gave him charge over the earth €@@@and who laid on him the whole world? @@If he should take back his spirit to himself, €@@@and gather to himself his breath, @@all flesh would perish together, €@@@and man would return to dust. @@"If you have understanding, hear this; €@@@listen to what I say. @@Shall one who hates justice govern? €@@@Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty, @@who says to a king, `Worthless one,' €@@@and to nobles, `Wicked man'; @@who shows no partiality to princes, €@@@nor regards the rich more than the poor, €@@@for they are all the work of his hands? @@In a moment they die; €@@@at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, €@@@and the mighty are taken away by no human hand. @@"For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, €@@@and he sees all his steps. @@There is no gloom or deep darkness €@@@where evildoers may hide themselves. @@For he has not appointed a time for any man €@@@to go before God in judgment. @@He shatters the mighty without investigation, €@@@and sets others in their place. @@Thus, knowing their works, €@@@he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed. @@He strikes them for their wickedness €@@@in the sight of men, @@because they turned aside from following him, €@@@and had no regard for any of his ways, @@so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, €@@@and he heard the cry of the afflicted --@@When he is quiet, who can condemn? €@@@When he hides his face, who can behold him, €@@@whether it be a nation or a man? --@@that a godless man should not reign, €@@@that he should not ensnare the people. @@"For has any one said to God, €@@@`I have borne chastisement; I will not offend any more; @@teach me what I do not see; €@@@if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'? @@Will he then make requital to suit you, €@@@because you reject it? €@@For you must choose, and not I; €@@@therefore declare what you know. @@@Men of understanding will say to me, €@@@and the wise man who hears me will say: @@`Job speaks without knowledge, €@@@his words are without insight.' @@Would that Job were tried to the end, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±ø’ļ‚Źļā’Ø¢˜¤‚@@@because he answers like wicked men. @@For he adds rebellion to his sin; €@@@he claps his hands among us, €@@@and multiplies his words against God."  @@And Eli'hu said: @@"Do you think this to be just? €@@@Do you say, `It is my right before God,' @@that you ask, `What advantage have I? €@@@How am I better off than if I had sinned?' @@I will answer you €@@@and your friends with you. @@Look at the heavens, and see; €@@@and behold the clouds, which are higher than you. @@If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? €@@@And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? @@If you are righteous, what do you give to him; €@@@or what does he receive from your hand? @@Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, €@@@and your righteousness a son of man. @@"Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; €@@@they call for help because of the arm of the mighty. @@But none says, `Where is God my Maker, €@@@who gives songs in the night, @@who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, €@@@and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?' @@There they cry out, but he does not answer, €@@@because of the pride of evil men. @@Surely God does not hear an empty cry, €@@@nor does the Almighty regard it. @@How much less when you say that you do not see him, €@@@that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him! @@And now, because his anger does not punish, €@@@and he does not greatly heed transgression, @@@Job opens his mouth in empty talk, €@@@he multiplies words without knowledge."  @@And Eli'hu continued, and said: @@"Bear with me a little, and I will show you, €@@@for I have yet something to say on God's behalf. @@I will fetch my knowledge from afar, €@@@and ascribe righteousness to my Maker. @@For truly my words are not false; €@@@one who is perfect in knowledge is with you. @@"Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; €@@@he is mighty in strength of understanding. @@He does not keep the wicked alive, €@@@but gives the afflicted their right. @@He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, €@@@but with kings upon the throne €@@@he sets them for ever, and they are exalted. @@And if they are bound in fetters €@@@and caught in the cords of affliction, @@then he declares to them their work €@@@and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly. @@He opens their ears to instruction, €@@@and commands that they return from iniquity. @@If they hearken and serve him, €@@@they complete their days in prosperity, €@@@and their years in pleasantness. @@But if they do not hearken, they perish by the sword, €@@@and die without knowledge. @@"The godless in heart cherish anger; €@@@they do not cry for help when he binds them. @@They die in youth, €@@@and their life ends in shame. @@@He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, €@@@and opens their ear by adversity. @@He also allured you out of distress €@@@into a broad place where there was no cramping, €@@@and what was set on your table was full of fatness. @@"But you are full of the judgment on the wicked; €@@@judgment and justice seize you. @@Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing; €@@@and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside. @@Will your cry avail to keep you from distress, €@@@or all the force of your strength? @@Do not long for the night, €@@@when peoples are cut off in their place. @@Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, €@@@for this you have chosen rather than affliction. @@Behold, God is exalted in his power; €@@@who is a teacher like him? @@Who has prescribed for him his way, €@@@or who can say, `Thou hast done wrong'? @@"Remember to extol his work, €@@@of which men have sung. @@All men have looked on it; €@@@man beholds it from afar. @@Behold, God is great, and we know him not; €@@@the number of his years is unsearchable. @@For he draws up the drops of water, €@@@he distils his mist in rain @@which the skies pour down, €@@@and drop upon man abundantly. @@Can any one understand the spreading of the clouds, €@@@the thunderings of his pavilion? @@Behold, he scatters his lightning about him, €@@@and covers the roots of the sea. @@For by these he judges peoples; €@@@he gives food in abundance. @@He covers his hands with the lightning, €@@@and commands it to strike the mark. @@Its crashing declares concerning him, €@@@who is jealous with anger against iniquity.  @@"At this also my heart trembles, €@@@and leaps out of its place. @@Hearken to the thunder of his voice €@@@and the rumbling that comes from his mouth. @@Under the whole heaven he lets it go, €@@@and his lightning to the corners of the earth. @@After it his voice roars; €@@@he thunders with his majestic voice €@@@and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard. @@God thunders wondrously with his voice; €@@@he does great things which we cannot comprehend. @@For to the snow he says, `Fall on the earth'; €@@@and to the shower and the rain, `Be strong.' @@He seals up the hand of every man, €@@@that all men may know his work. @@@Then the beasts go into their lairs, €@@@and remain in their dens. @@From its chamber comes the whirlwind, €@@@and cold from the scattering winds. @@By the breath of God ice is given, €@@@and the broad waters are frozen fast. @@He loads the thick cloud with moisture; €@@@the clouds scatter his lightning. @@They turn round and round by his guidance, €@@@to accomplish all that he commands them €@@@on the face of the habitable world. @@Whether for correction, or for his land, €@@@or for love, he causes it to happen. @@"Hear this, O Job; €@@@stop and consider the wondrous works of God. @@Do you know how God lays his command upon them, €@@@and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine? @@Do you know the balancings of the clouds, €@@@the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge, @@you whose garments are hot €@@@when the earth is still because of the south wind? @@Can you, like him, spread out the skies, €@@@hard as a molten mirror? @@Teach us what we shall say to him; €@@@we cannot draw up our case because of darkness. @@Shall it be told him that I would speak? €@@@Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up? @@"And now men cannot look on the light €@@@when it is bright in the skies, €@@@when the wind has passed and cleared them. @@Out of the north comes golden splendor; €@@@God is clothed with terrible majesty. @@The Almighty -- we cannot find him; €@@@he is great in power and justice, €@@@and abundant righteousness he will not violate. @@Therefore men fear him; €@@@he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit."  Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: @@"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? @@Gird up your loins like a man, €@@@I will question you, and you shall declare to me. @@"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? €@@@Tell me, if you have understanding. @@Who determined its measurements -- surely you know! €@@@Or who stretched the line upon it? @@On what were its bases sunk, €@@@or who laid its cornerstone, @@when the morning stars sang together, €@@@and all the sons of God shouted for joy? @@"Or who shut in the sea with doors, €@@@when it burst forth from the womb; @@when I made clouds its garment, €@@@and thick darkness its swaddling band, @@and prescribed bounds for it, €@@@and set bars and doors, @@and said, `Thus far shall you come, and no farther, €@@@and here shall your proud waves be stayed'? @@"Have you commanded the morning since your days began, €@@@and caused the dawn to know its place, @@that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, €@@@and the wicked be shaken out of it? @@It is changed like clay under the seal, €@@@and it is dyed like a garment. @@From the wicked their light is withheld, €@@@and their uplifted arm is broken. @@"Have you entered into the springs of the sea, €@@@or walked in the recesses of the deep? @@Have the gates of death been revealed to you, €@@@or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? @@Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? €@@@Declare, if you know all this. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±ø’ļ‚Źļā’ئ˜“@@"Where is the way to the dwelling of light, €@@@and where is the place of darkness, @@that you may take it to its territory €@@@and that you may discern the paths to its home? @@You know, for you were born then, €@@@and the number of your days is great! @@"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, €@@@or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, @@which I have reserved for the time of trouble, €@@@for the day of battle and war? @@What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, €@@@or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth? @@"Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain, €@@@and a way for the thunderbolt, @@to bring rain on a land where no man is, €@@@on the desert in which there is no man; @@to satisfy the waste and desolate land, €@@@and to make the ground put forth grass? @@"Has the rain a father, €@@@or who has begotten the drops of dew? @@From whose womb did the ice come forth, €@@@and who has given birth to the hoarfrost of heaven? @@The waters become hard like stone, €@@@and the face of the deep is frozen. @@"Can you bind the chains of the Plei'ades, €@@@or loose the cords of Orion? @@Can you lead forth the Maz'zaroth in their season, €@@@or can you guide the Bear with its children? @@Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? €@@@Can you establish their rule on the earth? @@"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, €@@@that a flood of waters may cover you? @@Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go €@@@and say to you, `Here we are'? @@Who has put wisdom in the clouds, €@@@or given understanding to the mists? @@@Who can number the clouds by wisdom? €@@@Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens, @@when the dust runs into a mass €@@@and the clods cleave fast together? @@"Can you hunt the prey for the lion, €@@@or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, @@when they crouch in their dens, €@@@or lie in wait in their covert? @@Who provides for the raven its prey, €@@@when its young ones cry to God, €@@@and wander about for lack of food?  @@"Do you know when the mountain goats bring forth? €@@@Do you observe the calving of the hinds? @@Can you number the months that they fulfil, €@@@and do you know the time when they bring forth, @@when they crouch, bring forth their offspring, €@@@and are delivered of their young? @@Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open; €@@@they go forth, and do not return to them. @@"Who has let the wild ass go free? €@@@Who has loosed the bonds of the swift ass, @@to whom I have given the steppe for his home, €@@@and the salt land for his dwelling place? @@He scorns the tumult of the city; €@@@he hears not the shouts of the driver. @@He ranges the mountains as his pasture, €@@@and he searches after every green thing. @@"Is the wild ox willing to serve you? €@@@Will he spend the night at your crib? @@Can you bind him in the furrow with ropes, €@@@or will he harrow the valleys after you? @@Will you depend on him because his strength is great, €@@@and will you leave to him your labor? @@Do you have faith in him that he will return, €@@@and bring your grain to your threshing floor? @@"The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; €@@@but are they the pinions and plumage of love? @@@For she leaves her eggs to the earth, €@@@and lets them be warmed on the ground, @@forgetting that a foot may crush them, €@@@and that the wild beast may trample them. @@She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers; €@@@though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear; @@because God has made her forget wisdom, €@@@and given her no share in understanding. @@When she rouses herself to flee, €@@@she laughs at the horse and his rider. @@"Do you give the horse his might? €@@@Do you clothe his neck with strength? @@@Do you make him leap like the locust? €@@@His majestic snorting is terrible. @@He paws in the valley, and exults in his strength; €@@@he goes out to meet the weapons. @@He laughs at fear, and is not dismayed; €@@@he does not turn back from the sword. @@Upon him rattle the quiver, €@@@the flashing spear and the javelin. @@With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground; €@@@he cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet. @@When the trumpet sounds, he says `Aha!' €@@@He smells the battle from afar, €@@@the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. @@"Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, €@@@and spreads his wings toward the south? @@Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up €@@@and makes his nest on high? @@On the rock he dwells and makes his home €@@@in the fastness of the rocky crag. @@Thence he spies out the prey; €@@@his eyes behold it afar off. @@His young ones suck up blood; €@@@and where the slain are, there is he."  And the LORD said to Job: @@"Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? €@@@He who argues with God, let him answer it." Then Job answered the LORD: @@"Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer thee? €@@@I lay my hand on my mouth. @@I have spoken once, and I will not answer; €@@@twice, but I will proceed no further." Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: @@"Gird up your loins like a man; €@@@I will question you, and you declare to me. @@Will you even put me in the wrong? €@@@Will you condemn me that you may be justified? @@Have you an arm like God, €@@@and can you thunder with a voice like his? @@"Deck yourself with majesty and dignity; €@@@clothe yourself with glory and splendor. @@Pour forth the overflowings of your anger, €@@@and look on every one that is proud, and abase him. @@Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; €@@@and tread down the wicked where they stand. @@Hide them all in the dust together; €@@@bind their faces in the world below. @@@Then will I also acknowledge to you, €@@@that your own right hand can give you victory. @@"Behold, Be'hemoth, €@@@which I made as I made you; €@@@he eats grass like an ox. @@Behold, his strength in his loins, €@@@and his power in the muscles of his belly. @@He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; €@@@the sinews of his thighs are knit together. @@His bones are tubes of bronze, €@@@his limbs like bars of iron. @@"He is the first of the works of God; €@@@let him who made him bring near his sword! @@For the mountains yield food for him €@@@where all the wild beasts play. @@Under the lotus plants he lies, €@@@in the covert of the reeds and in the marsh. @@For his shade the lotus trees cover him; €@@@the willows of the brook surround him. @@Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; €@@@he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth. @@Can one take him with hooks, €@@@or pierce his nose with a snare?  @@"Can you draw out Levi'athan with a fishhook, €@@@or press down his tongue with a cord? @@Can you put a rope in his nose, €@@@or pierce his jaw with a hook? @@Will he make many supplications to you? €@@@Will he speak to you soft words? @@Will he make a covenant with you €@@@to take him for your servant for ever? @@Will you play with him as with a bird, €@@@or will you put him on leash for your maidens? @@Will traders bargain over him? €@@@Will they divide him up among the merchants? @@Can you fill his skin with harpoons, €@@@or his head with fishing spears? @@Lay hands on him; €@@@think of the battle; you will not do it again! @@@Behold, the hope of a man is disappointed; €@@@he is laid low even at the sight of him. @@No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. €@@@Who then is he that can stand before me? @@Who has given to me, that I should repay him? €@@@Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine. @@"I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, €@@@or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame. @@Who can strip off his outer garment? €@@@Who can penetrate his double coat of mail? @@@Who can open the doors of his face? €@@@Round about his teeth is terror. @@His back is made of rows of shields, €@@@shut up closely as with a seal. @@One is so near to another €@@@that no air can come between them. @@They are joined one to another; €@@@they clasp each other and cannot be separated. @@His sneezings flash forth light, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±ø’ļ‚Źļā’Ø©˜’‚@@@and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn. @@Out of his mouth go flaming torches; €@@@sparks of fire leap forth. @@Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, €@@@as from a boiling pot and burning rushes. @@His breath kindles coals, €@@@and a flame comes forth from his mouth. @@In his neck abides strength, €@@@and terror dances before him. @@The folds of his flesh cleave together, €@@@firmly cast upon him and immovable. @@His heart is hard as a stone, €@@@hard as the nether millstone. @@When he raises himself up the mighty are afraid; €@@@at the crashing they are beside themselves. @@Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail; €@@@nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin. @@He counts iron as straw, €@@@and bronze as rotten wood. @@The arrow cannot make him flee; €@@@for him slingstones are turned to stubble. @@Clubs are counted as stubble; €@@@he laughs at the rattle of javelins. @@His underparts are like sharp potsherds; €@@@he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire. @@He makes the deep boil like a pot; €@@@he makes the sea like a pot of ointment. @@Behind him he leaves a shining wake; €@@@one would think the deep to be hoary. @@Upon earth there is not his like, €@@@a creature without fear. @@He beholds everything that is high; €@@@he is king over all the sons of pride."  Then Job answered the LORD: @@"I know that thou canst do all things, €@@@and that no purpose of thine can be thwarted. @@`Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' €@@Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, €@@@things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. @@`Hear, and I will speak; €@@@I will question you, and you declare to me.' @@I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, €@@@but now my eye sees thee; @@therefore I despise myself, €@@@and repent in dust and ashes." @After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to €Eli'phaz the Te'manite: "My wrath is kindled against you and against €your two friends; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my €servant Job has. Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant €Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job €shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you €according to your folly; for you have not spoken of me what is right, €as my servant Job has." So Eli'phaz the Te'manite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the €Na'amathite went and did what the LORD had told them; and the LORD €accepted Job's prayer. @And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his €friends; and the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him €before, and ate bread with him in his house; and they showed him €sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the LORD had brought €upon him; and each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold. And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; €and he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand €yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first Jemi'mah; and the name of the second €Kezi'ah; and the name of the third Ker'en-hap'puch. And in all the land there were no women so fair as Job's daughters; and €their father gave them inheritance among their brothers. And after this Job lived a hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, €and his sons' sons, four generations. And Job died, an old man, and full of days. ąļ‚Šó’”@@Blessed is the man €@@@who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, €@@nor stands in the way of sinners, €@@@nor sits in the seat of scoffers; @@but his delight is in the law of the LORD, €@@@and on his law he meditates day and night. @@He is like a tree €@@@planted by streams of water, €@@that yields its fruit in its season, €@@@and its leaf does not wither. €@@In all that he does, he prospers. @@The wicked are not so, €@@@but are like chaff which the wind drives away. @@Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, €@@@nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; @@for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, €@@@but the way of the wicked will perish.  @@Why do the nations conspire, €@@@and the peoples plot in vain? @@The kings of the earth set themselves, €@@@and the rulers take counsel together, €@@@against the LORD and his anointed, saying, @@"Let us burst their bonds asunder, €@@@and cast their cords from us." @@He who sits in the heavens laughs; €@@@the LORD has them in derision. @@Then he will speak to them in his wrath, €@@@and terrify them in his fury, saying, @@"I have set my king €@@@on Zion, my holy hill." @@I will tell of the decree of the LORD: €@@He said to me, "You are my son, €@@@today I have begotten you. @@Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, €@@@and the ends of the earth your possession. @@You shall break them with a rod of iron, €@@@and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." @@Now therefore, O kings, be wise; €@@@be warned, O rulers of the earth. @@Serve the LORD with fear, €@@@with trembling @@@kiss his feet, €@@@lest he be angry, and you perish in the way; €@@@for his wrath is quickly kindled. €@@Blessed are all who take refuge in him.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. ‘@@O LORD, how many are my foes! €@@@Many are rising against me; @@many are saying of me, €@@@there is no help for him in God. [Selah] @@But thou, O LORD, art a shield about me, €@@@my glory, and the lifter of my head. @@I cry aloud to the LORD, €@@@and he answers me from his holy hill. [Selah] @@I lie down and sleep; €@@@I wake again, for the LORD sustains me. @@I am not afraid of ten thousands of people €@@@who have set themselves against me round about. @@Arise, O LORD! €@@@Deliver me, O my God! €@@For thou dost smite all my enemies on the cheek, €@@@thou dost break the teeth of the wicked. @@Deliverance belongs to the LORD; €@@@thy blessing be upon thy people! [Selah]  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. ‘@@Answer me when I call, O God of my right! €@@@Thou hast given me room when I was in distress. €@@@Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer. @@O men, how long shall my honor suffer shame? €@@@How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? [Selah] @@But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; €@@@the LORD hears when I call to him. @@Be angry, but sin not; €@@@commune with your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. [Selah] @@Offer right sacrifices, €@@@and put your trust in the LORD. @@There are many who say, "O that we might see some good! €@@@Lift up the light of thy countenance upon us, O LORD!" @@Thou hast put more joy in my heart €@@@than they have when their grain and wine abound. @@In peace I will both lie down and sleep; €@@@for thou alone, O LORD, makest me dwell in safety.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David. ‘@@Give ear to my words, O LORD; €@@@give heed to my groaning. @@Hearken to the sound of my cry, €@@@my King and my God, €@@@for to thee do I pray. @@O LORD, in the morning thou dost hear my voice; €@@@in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for thee, and watch. @@For thou art not a God who delights in wickedness; €@@@evil may not sojourn with thee. @@The boastful may not stand before thy eyes; €@@@thou hatest all evildoers. @@Thou destroyest those who speak lies; €@@@the LORD abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men. @@But I through the abundance of thy steadfast love €@@@will enter thy house, €@@I will worship toward thy holy temple €@@@in the fear of thee. @@Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness €@@@because of my enemies; €@@@make thy way straight before me. @@For there is no truth in their mouth; €@@@their heart is destruction, €@@their throat is an open sepulchre, €@@@they flatter with their tongue. @@Make them bear their guilt, O God; €@@@let them fall by their own counsels; €@@because of their many transgressions cast them out, €@@@for they have rebelled against thee. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’„˜‹@@But let all who take refuge in thee rejoice, €@@@let them ever sing for joy; €@@and do thou defend them, €@@@that those who love thy name may exult in thee. @@For thou dost bless the righteous, O LORD; €@@@thou dost cover him with favor as with a shield.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The €Sheminith. A Psalm of David. ‘@@O LORD, rebuke me not in thy anger, €@@@nor chasten me in thy wrath. @@Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; €@@@O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled. @@My soul also is sorely troubled. €@@@But thou, O LORD -- how long? @@Turn, O LORD, save my life; €@@@deliver me for the sake of thy steadfast love. @@For in death there is no remembrance of thee; €@@@in Sheol who can give thee praise? @@I am weary with my moaning; €@@@every night I flood my bed with tears; €@@@I drench my couch with my weeping. @@My eye wastes away because of grief, €@@@it grows weak because of all my foes. @@Depart from me, all you workers of evil; €@@@for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. @@The LORD has heard my supplication; €@@@the LORD accepts my prayer. @@All my enemies shall be ashamed and sorely troubled; €@@@they shall turn back, and be put to shame in a moment.  Ÿō’A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush a €Benjaminite. ‘@@O LORD my God, in thee do I take refuge; €@@@save me from all my pursuers, and deliver me, @@lest like a lion they rend me, €@@@dragging me away, with none to rescue. @@O LORD my God, if I have done this, €@@@if there is wrong in my hands, @@if I have requited my friend with evil €@@@or plundered my enemy without cause, @@let the enemy pursue me and overtake me, €@@@and let him trample my life to the ground, €@@@and lay my soul in the dust. [Selah] @@Arise, O LORD, in thy anger, €@@@lift thyself up against the fury of my enemies; €@@@awake, O my God; thou hast appointed a judgment. @@Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about thee; €@@@and over it take thy seat on high. @@The LORD judges the peoples; €@@@judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness €@@@and according to the integrity that is in me. @@O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, €@@@but establish thou the righteous, €@@thou who triest the minds and hearts, €@@@thou righteous God. @@My shield is with God, €@@@who saves the upright in heart. @@God is a righteous judge, €@@@and a God who has indignation every day. @@If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; €@@@he has bent and strung his bow; @@he has prepared his deadly weapons, €@@@making his arrows fiery shafts. @@Behold, the wicked man conceives evil, €@@@and is pregnant with mischief, €@@@and brings forth lies. @@He makes a pit, digging it out, €@@@and falls into the hole which he has made. @@His mischief returns upon his own head, €@@@and on his own pate his violence descends. @@I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, €@@@and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David. ‘@@O LORD, our Lord, €@@@how majestic is thy name in all the earth! €@@Thou whose glory above the heavens is chanted @@@by the mouth of babes and infants, €@@thou hast founded a bulwark because of thy foes, €@@@to still the enemy and the avenger. @@When I look at thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, €@@@the moon and the stars which thou hast established; @@what is man that thou art mindful of him, €@@@and the son of man that thou dost care for him? @@Yet thou hast made him little less than God, €@@@and dost crown him with glory and honor. @@Thou hast given him dominion over the works of thy hands; €@@@thou hast put all things under his feet, @@all sheep and oxen, €@@@and also the beasts of the field, @@the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, €@@@whatever passes along the paths of the sea. @@O LORD, our Lord, €@@@how majestic is thy name in all the earth!  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David. ‘@@I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; €@@@I will tell of all thy wonderful deeds. @@I will be glad and exult in thee, €@@@I will sing praise to thy name, O Most High. @@When my enemies turned back, €@@@they stumbled and perished before thee. @@For thou hast maintained my just cause; €@@@thou hast sat on the throne giving righteous judgment. @@Thou hast rebuked the nations, thou hast destroyed the wicked; €@@@thou hast blotted out their name for ever and ever. @@The enemy have vanished in everlasting ruins; €@@@their cities thou hast rooted out; €@@@the very memory of them has perished. @@But the LORD sits enthroned for ever, €@@@he has established his throne for judgment; @@and he judges the world with righteousness, €@@@he judges the peoples with equity. @@The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, €@@@a stronghold in times of trouble. @@And those who know thy name put their trust in thee, €@@@for thou, O LORD, hast not forsaken those who seek thee. @@Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! €@@@Tell among the peoples his deeds! @@For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; €@@@he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. @@Be gracious to me, O LORD! €@@@Behold what I suffer from those who hate me, €@@@O thou who liftest me up from the gates of death, @@that I may recount all thy praises, €@@@that in the gates of the daughter of Zion €@@@I may rejoice in thy deliverance. @@The nations have sunk in the pit which they made; €@@@in the net which they hid has their own foot been caught. @@The LORD has made himself known, he has executed judgment; €@@@the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. [Higgaion. Selah] @@The wicked shall depart to Sheol, €@@@all the nations that forget God. @@For the needy shall not always be forgotten, €@@@and the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever. @@Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail; €@@@let the nations be judged before thee! @@Put them in fear, O LORD! €@@@Let the nations know that they are but men! [Selah]  @@Why dost thou stand afar off, O LORD? €@@@Why dost thou hide thyself in times of trouble? @@In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; €@@@let them be caught in the schemes which they have devised. @@For the wicked boasts of the desires of his heart, €@@@and the man greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD. @@In the pride of his countenance the wicked does not seek him; €@@@all his thoughts are, "There is no God." @@His ways prosper at all times; €@@@thy judgments are on high, out of his sight; €@@@as for all his foes, he puffs at them. @@He thinks in his heart, "I shall not be moved; €@@@throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity." @@His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; €@@@under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. @@He sits in ambush in the villages; €@@@in hiding places he murders the innocent. €@@His eyes stealthily watch for the hapless, @@@he lurks in secret like a lion in his covert; €@@he lurks that he may seize the poor, €@@@he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. @@The hapless is crushed, sinks down, €@@@and falls by his might. @@He thinks in his heart, "God has forgotten, €@@@he has hidden his face, he will never see it." @@Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thy hand; €@@@forget not the afflicted. @@Why does the wicked renounce God, €@@@and say in his heart, "Thou wilt not call to account"? @@Thou dost see; yea, thou dost note trouble and vexation, €@@@that thou mayest take it into thy hands; €@@the hapless commits himself to thee; €@@@thou hast been the helper of the fatherless. @@Break thou the arm of the wicked and evildoer; €@@@seek out his wickedness till thou find none. @@The LORD is king for ever and ever; €@@@the nations shall perish from his land. @@O LORD, thou wilt hear the desire of the meek; €@@@thou wilt strengthen their heart, thou wilt incline thy ear @@to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, €@@@so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. Of David. ‘@@In the LORD I take refuge; €@@@how can you say to me, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’؋ƒ@@@"Flee like a bird to the mountains; @@@for lo, the wicked bend the bow, €@@@they have fitted their arrow to the string, €@@@to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; @@if the foundations are destroyed, €@@@what can the righteous do"? @@The LORD is in his holy temple, €@@@the LORD's throne is in heaven; €@@@his eyes behold, his eyelids test, the children of men. @@The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, €@@@and his soul hates him that loves violence. @@On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and brimstone; €@@@a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. @@For the LORD is righteous, he loves righteous deeds; €@@@the upright shall behold his face.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. €A Psalm of David. ‘@@Help, LORD; for there is no longer any that is godly; €@@@for the faithful have vanished from among the sons of men. @@Every one utters lies to his neighbor; €@@@with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. @@May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, €@@@the tongue that makes great boasts, @@those who say, "With our tongue we will prevail, €@@@our lips are with us; who is our master?" @@"Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan, €@@@I will now arise," says the LORD; €@@@"I will place him in the safety for which he longs." @@The promises of the LORD are promises that are pure, €@@@silver refined in a furnace on the ground, €@@@purified seven times. @@Do thou, O LORD, protect us, €@@@guard us ever from this generation. @@On every side the wicked prowl, €@@@as vileness is exalted among the sons of men.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. ‘@@How long, O LORD? Wilt thou forget me for ever? €@@@How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? @@How long must I bear pain in my soul, €@@@and have sorrow in my heart all the day? €@@How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? @@Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; €@@@lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; @@lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him"; €@@@lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. @@But I have trusted in thy steadfast love; €@@@my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. @@I will sing to the LORD, €@@@because he has dealt bountifully with me.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. Of David. ‘@@The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." €@@@They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, €@@@there is none that does good. @@The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, €@@@to see if there are any that act wisely, €@@@that seek after God. @@They have all gone astray, they are all alike corrupt; €@@@there is none that does good, €@@@no, not one. @@Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers €@@@who eat up my people as they eat bread, €@@@and do not call upon the LORD? @@There they shall be in great terror, €@@@for God is with the generation of the righteous. @@You would confound the plans of the poor, €@@@but the LORD is his refuge. @@O that deliverance for Israel would come out of Zion! €@@@When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, €@@@Jacob shall rejoice, Israel shall be glad.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@O LORD, who shall sojourn in thy tent? €@@@Who shall dwell on thy holy hill? @@He who walks blamelessly, and does what is right, €@@@and speaks truth from his heart; @@who does not slander with his tongue, €@@@and does no evil to his friend, €@@@nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; @@in whose eyes a reprobate is despised, €@@@but who honors those who fear the LORD; €@@who swears to his own hurt and does not change; @@who does not put out his money at interest, €@@@and does not take a bribe against the innocent. €@@He who does these things shall never be moved.  Ÿō’A Miktam of David. ‘@@Preserve me, O God, for in thee I take refuge. @@I say to the LORD, "Thou art my Lord; €@@@I have no good apart from thee." @@As for the saints in the land, they are the noble, €@@@in whom is all my delight. @@Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; €@@@their libations of blood I will not pour out €@@@or take their names upon my lips. @@The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; €@@@thou holdest my lot. @@The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; €@@@yea, I have a goodly heritage. @@I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; €@@@in the night also my heart instructs me. @@I keep the LORD always before me; €@@@because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. @@Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; €@@@my body also dwells secure. @@For thou dost not give me up to Sheol, €@@@or let thy godly one see the Pit. @@Thou dost show me the path of life; €@@@in thy presence there is fulness of joy, €@@@in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.  Ÿō’A Prayer of David. ‘@@Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! €@@@Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! @@From thee let my vindication come! €@@@Let thy eyes see the right! @@If thou triest my heart, if thou visitest me by night, €@@@if thou testest me, thou wilt find no wickedness in me; €@@@my mouth does not transgress. @@With regard to the works of men, by the word of thy lips €@@@I have avoided the ways of the violent. @@My steps have held fast to thy paths, €@@@my feet have not slipped. @@I call upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God; €@@@incline thy ear to me, hear my words. @@Wondrously show thy steadfast love, €@@@O savior of those who seek refuge €@@@from their adversaries at thy right hand. @@Keep me as the apple of the eye; €@@@hide me in the shadow of thy wings, @@from the wicked who despoil me, €@@@my deadly enemies who surround me. @@They close their hearts to pity; €@@@with their mouths they speak arrogantly. @@They track me down; now they surround me; €@@@they set their eyes to cast me to the ground. @@They are like a lion eager to tear, €@@@as a young lion lurking in ambush. @@Arise, O LORD! confront them, overthrow them! €@@@Deliver my life from the wicked by thy sword, @@from men by thy hand, O LORD, €@@@from men whose portion in life is of the world. €@@May their belly be filled with what thou hast stored up for them; €@@@may their children have more than enough; €@@@may they leave something over to their babes. @@As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness; €@@@when I awake, I shall be satisfied with beholding thy form.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who €addressed the words of this song to the LORD on the day when the LORD €delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of €Saul. He said: ‘@@I love thee, O LORD, my strength. @@The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, €@@@my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, €@@@my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. @@I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, €@@@and I am saved from my enemies. @@The cords of death encompassed me, €@@@the torrents of perdition assailed me; @@the cords of Sheol entangled me, €@@@the snares of death confronted me. @@In my distress I called upon the LORD; €@@@to my God I cried for help. €@@From his temple he heard my voice, €@@@and my cry to him reached his ears. @@Then the earth reeled and rocked; €@@@the foundations also of the mountains trembled €@@@and quaked, because he was angry. @@Smoke went up from his nostrils, €@@@and devouring fire from his mouth; €@@@glowing coals flamed forth from him. @@He bowed the heavens, and came down; €@@@thick darkness was under his feet. @@He rode on a cherub, and flew; €@@@he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind. @@He made darkness his covering around him, €@@@his canopy thick clouds dark with water. @@Out of the brightness before him €@@@there broke through his clouds €@@@hailstones and coals of fire. @@The LORD also thundered in the heavens, €@@@and the Most High uttered his voice, €@@@hailstones and coals of fire. @@And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; €@@@he flashed forth lightnings, and routed them. @@Then the channels of the sea were seen, €@@@and the foundations of the world were laid bare, €@@at thy rebuke, O LORD, €@@@at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. @@He reached from on high, he took me, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’ؒ˜‚@@@he drew me out of many waters. @@He delivered me from my strong enemy, €@@@and from those who hated me; €@@@for they were too mighty for me. @@They came upon me in the day of my calamity; €@@@but the LORD was my stay. @@He brought me forth into a broad place; €@@@he delivered me, because he delighted in me. @@The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; €@@@according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me. @@For I have kept the ways of the LORD, €@@@and have not wickedly departed from my God. @@For all his ordinances were before me, €@@@and his statutes I did not put away from me. @@I was blameless before him, €@@@and I kept myself from guilt. @@Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, €@@@according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. @@With the loyal thou dost show thyself loyal; €@@@with the blameless man thou dost show thyself blameless; @@with the pure thou dost show thyself pure; €@@@and with the crooked thou dost show thyself perverse. @@For thou dost deliver a humble people; €@@@but the haughty eyes thou dost bring down. @@Yea, thou dost light my lamp; €@@@the LORD my God lightens my darkness. @@Yea, by thee I can crush a troop; €@@@and by my God I can leap over a wall. @@This God -- his way is perfect; €@@@the promise of the LORD proves true; €@@@he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. @@For who is God, but the LORD? €@@@And who is a rock, except our God? --@@the God who girded me with strength, €@@@and made my way safe. @@He made my feet like hinds' feet, €@@@and set me secure on the heights. @@He trains my hands for war, €@@@so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. @@Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation, €@@@and thy right hand supported me, €@@@and thy help made me great. @@Thou didst give a wide place for my steps under me, €@@@and my feet did not slip. @@I pursued my enemies and overtook them; €@@@and did not turn back till they were consumed. @@I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; €@@@they fell under my feet. @@For thou didst gird me with strength for the battle; €@@@thou didst make my assailants sink under me. @@Thou didst make my enemies turn their backs to me, €@@@and those who hated me I destroyed. @@They cried for help, but there was none to save, €@@@they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them. @@I beat them fine as dust before the wind; €@@@I cast them out like the mire of the streets. @@Thou didst deliver me from strife with the peoples; €@@@thou didst make me the head of the nations; €@@@people whom I had not known served me. @@As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; €@@@foreigners came cringing to me. @@Foreigners lost heart, €@@@and came trembling out of their fastnesses. @@The LORD lives; and blessed be my rock, €@@@and exalted be the God of my salvation, @@the God who gave me vengeance €@@@and subdued peoples under me; @@who delivered me from my enemies; €@@@yea, thou didst exalt me above my adversaries; €@@@thou didst deliver me from men of violence. @@For this I will extol thee, O LORD, among the nations, €@@@and sing praises to thy name. @@Great triumphs he gives to his king, €@@@and shows steadfast love to his anointed, €@@@to David and his descendants for ever.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. ‘@@The heavens are telling the glory of God; €@@@and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. @@Day to day pours forth speech, €@@@and night to night declares knowledge. @@There is no speech, nor are there words; €@@@their voice is not heard; @@yet their voice goes out through all the earth, €@@@and their words to the end of the world. €@@In them he has set a tent for the sun, @@which comes forth like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, €@@@and like a strong man runs its course with joy. @@Its rising is from the end of the heavens, €@@@and its circuit to the end of them; €@@@and there is nothing hid from its heat. @@The law of the LORD is perfect, €@@@reviving the soul; €@@the testimony of the LORD is sure, €@@@making wise the simple; @@the precepts of the LORD are right, €@@@rejoicing the heart; €@@the commandment of the LORD is pure, €@@@enlightening the eyes; @@the fear of the LORD is clean, €@@@enduring for ever; €@@the ordinances of the LORD are true, €@@@and righteous altogether. @@More to be desired are they than gold, €@@@even much fine gold; €@@sweeter also than honey €@@@and drippings of the honeycomb. @@Moreover by them is thy servant warned; €@@@in keeping them there is great reward. @@But who can discern his errors? €@@@Clear thou me from hidden faults. @@Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; €@@@let them not have dominion over me! €@@Then I shall be blameless, €@@@and innocent of great transgression. @@Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart €@@@be acceptable in thy sight, €@@@O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. ‘@@The LORD answer you in the day of trouble! €@@@The name of the God of Jacob protect you! @@May he send you help from the sanctuary, €@@@and give you support from Zion! @@May he remember all your offerings, €@@@and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! [Selah] @@May he grant you your heart's desire, €@@@and fulfil all your plans! @@May we shout for joy over your victory, €@@@and in the name of our God set up our banners! €@@May the LORD fulfil all your petitions! @@Now I know that the LORD will help his anointed; €@@@he will answer him from his holy heaven €@@@with mighty victories by his right hand. @@Some boast of chariots, and some of horses; €@@@but we boast of the name of the LORD our God. @@They will collapse and fall; €@@@but we shall rise and stand upright. @@Give victory to the king, O LORD; €@@@answer us when we call.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. ‘@@In thy strength the king rejoices, O LORD; €@@@and in thy help how greatly he exults! @@Thou hast given him his heart's desire, €@@@and hast not withheld the request of his lips. [Selah] @@For thou dost meet him with goodly blessings; €@@@thou dost set a crown of fine gold upon his head. @@He asked life of thee; thou gavest it to him, €@@@length of days for ever and ever. @@His glory is great through thy help; €@@@splendor and majesty thou dost bestow upon him. @@Yea, thou dost make him most blessed for ever; €@@@thou dost make him glad with the joy of thy presence. @@For the king trusts in the LORD; €@@@and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved. @@Your hand will find out all your enemies; €@@@your right hand will find out those who hate you. @@You will make them as a blazing oven €@@@when you appear. €@@The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath; €@@@and fire will consume them. @@You will destroy their offspring from the earth, €@@@and their children from among the sons of men. @@If they plan evil against you, €@@@if they devise mischief, they will not succeed. @@For you will put them to flight; €@@@you will aim at their faces with your bows. @@Be exalted, O LORD, in thy strength! €@@@We will sing and praise thy power.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to The Hind of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. ‘@@My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? €@@@Why art thou so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? @@O my God, I cry by day, but thou dost not answer; €@@@and by night, but find no rest. @@Yet thou art holy, €@@@enthroned on the praises of Israel. @@In thee our fathers trusted; €@@@they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. @@To thee they cried, and were saved; €@@@in thee they trusted, and were not disappointed. @@But I am a worm, and no man; €@@@scorned by men, and despised by the people. @@All who see me mock at me, €@@@they make mouths at me, they wag their heads; @@"He committed his cause to the LORD; let him deliver him, €@@@let him rescue him, for he delights in him!" @@Yet thou art he who took me from the womb; €@@@thou didst keep me safe upon my mother's breasts. @@Upon thee was I cast from my birth, €@@@and since my mother bore me thou hast been my God. @@Be not far from me, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’ؖ˜‹‚@@@for trouble is near €@@@and there is none to help. @@Many bulls encompass me, €@@@strong bulls of Bashan surround me; @@they open wide their mouths at me, €@@@like a ravening and roaring lion. @@I am poured out like water, €@@@and all my bones are out of joint; €@@my heart is like wax, €@@@it is melted within my breast; @@my strength is dried up like a potsherd, €@@@and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; €@@@thou dost lay me in the dust of death. @@Yea, dogs are round about me; €@@@a company of evildoers encircle me; €@@@they have pierced my hands and feet --@@I can count all my bones --€@@@they stare and gloat over me; @@they divide my garments among them, €@@@and for my raiment they cast lots. @@But thou, O LORD, be not far off! €@@@O thou my help, hasten to my aid! @@Deliver my soul from the sword, €@@@my life from the power of the dog! @@Save me from the mouth of the lion, €@@@my afflicted soul from the horns of the wild oxen! @@I will tell of thy name to my brethren; €@@@in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee: @@You who fear the LORD, praise him! €@@@all you sons of Jacob, glorify him, €@@@and stand in awe of him, all you sons of Israel! @@For he has not despised or abhorred €@@@the affliction of the afflicted; €@@and he has not hid his face from him, €@@@but has heard, when he cried to him. @@From thee comes my praise in the great congregation; €@@@my vows I will pay before those who fear him. @@The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; €@@@those who seek him shall praise the LORD! €@@@May your hearts live for ever! @@All the ends of the earth shall remember €@@@and turn to the LORD; €@@and all the families of the nations €@@@shall worship before him. @@@For dominion belongs to the LORD, €@@@and he rules over the nations. @@Yea, to him shall all the proud of the earth bow down; €@@@before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, €@@@and he who cannot keep himself alive. @@Posterity shall serve him; €@@@men shall tell of the Lord to the coming generation, @@and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, €@@@that he has wrought it.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want; @@@he makes me lie down in green pastures. €@@He leads me beside still waters; @@@he restores my soul. €@@@He leads me in paths of righteousness €@@@for his name's sake. @@Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, €@@@I fear no evil; €@@for thou art with me; €@@@thy rod and thy staff, €@@@they comfort me. @@Thou preparest a table before me €@@@in the presence of my enemies; €@@thou anointest my head with oil, €@@@my cup overflows. @@Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me €@@@all the days of my life; €@@and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD €@@@for ever.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@The earth is the LORD's and the fulness thereof, €@@@the world and those who dwell therein; @@for he has founded it upon the seas, €@@@and established it upon the rivers. @@Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? €@@@And who shall stand in his holy place? @@He who has clean hands and a pure heart, €@@@who does not lift up his soul to what is false, €@@@and does not swear deceitfully. @@He will receive blessing from the LORD, €@@@and vindication from the God of his salvation. @@Such is the generation of those who seek him, €@@@who seek the face of the God of Jacob. [Selah] @@Lift up your heads, O gates! €@@@and be lifted up, O ancient doors! €@@@that the King of glory may come in. @@Who is the King of glory? €@@@The LORD, strong and mighty, €@@@the LORD, mighty in battle! @@Lift up your heads, O gates! €@@@and be lifted up, O ancient doors! €@@@that the King of glory may come in. @@Who is this King of glory? €@@@The LORD of hosts, €@@@he is the King of glory! [Selah]  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@To thee, O LORD, I lift up my soul. @@O my God, in thee I trust, €@@@let me not be put to shame; €@@@let not my enemies exult over me. @@Yea, let none that wait for thee be put to shame; €@@@let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. @@Make me to know thy ways, O LORD; €@@@teach me thy paths. @@Lead me in thy truth, and teach me, €@@@for thou art the God of my salvation; €@@@for thee I wait all the day long. @@Be mindful of thy mercy, O LORD, and of thy steadfast love, €@@@for they have been from of old. @@Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions; €@@@according to thy steadfast love remember me, €@@@for thy goodness' sake, O LORD! @@Good and upright is the LORD; €@@@therefore he instructs sinners in the way. @@He leads the humble in what is right, €@@@and teaches the humble his way. @@All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, €@@@for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. @@For thy name's sake, O LORD, €@@@pardon my guilt, for it is great. @@Who is the man that fears the LORD? €@@@Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. @@He himself shall abide in prosperity, €@@@and his children shall possess the land. @@The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, €@@@and he makes known to them his covenant. @@My eyes are ever toward the LORD, €@@@for he will pluck my feet out of the net. @@Turn thou to me, and be gracious to me; €@@@for I am lonely and afflicted. @@Relieve the troubles of my heart, €@@@and bring me out of my distresses. @@Consider my affliction and my trouble, €@@@and forgive all my sins. @@Consider how many are my foes, €@@@and with what violent hatred they hate me. @@Oh guard my life, and deliver me; €@@@let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in thee. @@May integrity and uprightness preserve me, €@@@for I wait for thee. @@Redeem Israel, O God, €@@@out of all his troubles.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@Vindicate me, O LORD, €@@@for I have walked in my integrity, €@@@and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. @@Prove me, O LORD, and try me; €@@@test my heart and my mind. @@For thy steadfast love is before my eyes, €@@@and I walk in faithfulness to thee. €@@@ @@I do not sit with false men, €@@@nor do I consort with dissemblers; @@I hate the company of evildoers, €@@@and I will not sit with the wicked. @@I wash my hands in innocence, €@@@and go about thy altar, O LORD, @@singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, €@@@and telling all thy wondrous deeds. @@O LORD, I love the habitation of thy house, €@@@and the place where thy glory dwells. @@Sweep me not away with sinners, €@@@nor my life with bloodthirsty men, @@men in whose hands are evil devices, €@@@and whose right hands are full of bribes. @@But as for me, I walk in my integrity; €@@@redeem me, and be gracious to me. @@My foot stands on level ground; €@@@in the great congregation I will bless the LORD.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@The LORD is my light and my salvation; €@@@whom shall I fear? €@@The LORD is the stronghold of my life; €@@@of whom shall I be afraid? @@When evildoers assail me, €@@@uttering slanders against me, €@@@my adversaries and foes, €@@@they shall stumble and fall. @@Though a host encamp against me, €@@@my heart shall not fear; €@@though war arise against me, €@@@yet I will be confident. @@One thing have I asked of the LORD, €@@@that will I seek after; €@@that I may dwell in the house of the LORD €@@@all the days of my life, €@@to behold the beauty of the LORD, €@@@and to inquire in his temple. @@For he will hide me in his shelter €@@@in the day of trouble; €@@he will conceal me under the cover of his tent, €@@@he will set me high upon a rock. @@And now my head shall be lifted up €@@@above my enemies round about me; €@@and I will offer in his tent €@@@sacrifices with shouts of joy; €@@I will sing and make melody to the LORD. @@Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, €@@@be gracious to me and answer me! @@Thou hast said, "Seek ye my face." €@@@My heart says to thee, €@@"Thy face, LORD, do I seek." @@@Hide not thy face from me. €@@Turn not thy servant away in anger, €@@@thou who hast been my help. €@@Cast me not off, forsake me not, €@@@O God of my salvation! @@For my father and my mother have forsaken me, €@@@but the LORD will take me up. @@Teach me thy way, O LORD; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’؛˜‹‚@@@and lead me on a level path €@@@because of my enemies. @@Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; €@@@for false witnesses have risen against me, €@@@and they breathe out violence. @@I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD €@@@in the land of the living! @@Wait for the LORD; €@@@be strong, and let your heart take courage; €@@@yea, wait for the LORD!  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@To thee, O LORD, I call; €@@@my rock, be not deaf to me, €@@lest, if thou be silent to me, €@@@I become like those who go down to the Pit. @@Hear the voice of my supplication, €@@@as I cry to thee for help, €@@as I lift up my hands €@@@toward thy most holy sanctuary. €@@@ @@Take me not off with the wicked, €@@@with those who are workers of evil, €@@who speak peace with their neighbors, €@@@while mischief is in their hearts. @@Requite them according to their work, €@@@and according to the evil of their deeds; €@@requite them according to the work of their hands; €@@@render them their due reward. @@Because they do not regard the works of the LORD, €@@@or the work of his hands, €@@he will break them down and build them up no more. @@Blessed be the LORD! €@@@for he has heard the voice of my supplications. @@The LORD is my strength and my shield; €@@@in him my heart trusts; €@@so I am helped, and my heart exults, €@@@and with my song I give thanks to him. @@The LORD is the strength of his people, €@@@he is the saving refuge of his anointed. @@O save thy people, and bless thy heritage; €@@@be thou their shepherd, and carry them for ever.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, €@@@ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. @@Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; €@@@worship the LORD in holy array. @@The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; €@@@the God of glory thunders, €@@@the LORD, upon many waters. @@The voice of the LORD is powerful, €@@@the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. @@The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, €@@@the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. @@He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, €@@@and Si'rion like a young wild ox. @@The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. @@The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness, €@@@the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. @@The voice of the LORD makes the oaks to whirl, €@@@and strips the forests bare; €@@@and in his temple all cry, "Glory!" @@The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; €@@@the LORD sits enthroned as king for ever. @@May the LORD give strength to his people! €@@@May the LORD bless his people with peace!  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. A Song at the dedication of the Temple. ‘@@I will extol thee, O LORD, for thou hast drawn me up, €@@@and hast not let my foes rejoice over me. @@O LORD my God, I cried to thee for help, €@@@and thou hast healed me. @@O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol, €@@@restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit. @@Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, €@@@and give thanks to his holy name. @@For his anger is but for a moment, €@@@and his favor is for a lifetime. €@@Weeping may tarry for the night, €@@@but joy comes with the morning. @@As for me, I said in my prosperity, €@@@"I shall never be moved." @@By thy favor, O LORD, €@@@thou hadst established me as a strong mountain; €@@thou didst hide thy face, €@@@I was dismayed. @@To thee, O LORD, I cried; €@@@and to the LORD I made supplication: @@"What profit is there in my death, €@@@if I go down to the Pit? €@@Will the dust praise thee? €@@@Will it tell of thy faithfulness? @@Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me! €@@@O LORD, be thou my helper!" @@Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; €@@@thou hast loosed my sackcloth €@@@and girded me with gladness, @@that my soul may praise thee and not be silent. €@@@O LORD my God, I will give thanks to thee for ever.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. ‘@@In thee, O LORD, do I seek refuge; €@@@let me never be put to shame; €@@@in thy righteousness deliver me! @@Incline thy ear to me, €@@@rescue me speedily! €@@Be thou a rock of refuge for me, €@@@a strong fortress to save me! @@Yea, thou art my rock and my fortress; €@@@for thy name's sake lead me and guide me, @@take me out of the net which is hidden for me, €@@@for thou art my refuge. @@Into thy hand I commit my spirit; €@@@thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. @@Thou hatest those who pay regard to vain idols; €@@@but I trust in the LORD. @@I will rejoice and be glad for thy steadfast love, €@@@because thou hast seen my affliction, €@@@thou hast taken heed of my adversities, @@and hast not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; €@@@thou hast set my feet in a broad place. @@Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; €@@@my eye is wasted from grief, €@@@my soul and my body also. @@For my life is spent with sorrow, €@@@and my years with sighing; €@@my strength fails because of my misery, €@@@and my bones waste away. @@I am the scorn of all my adversaries, €@@@a horror to my neighbors, €@@an object of dread to my acquaintances; €@@@those who see me in the street flee from me. @@I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; €@@@I have become like a broken vessel. @@Yea, I hear the whispering of many --€@@@terror on every side! --€@@as they scheme together against me, €@@@as they plot to take my life. @@But I trust in thee, O LORD, €@@@I say, "Thou art my God." @@My times are in thy hand; €@@@deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors! @@Let thy face shine on thy servant; €@@@save me in thy steadfast love! @@Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, €@@@for I call on thee; €@@let the wicked be put to shame, €@@@let them go dumbfounded to Sheol. @@Let the lying lips be dumb, €@@@which speak insolently against the righteous €@@@in pride and contempt. @@O how abundant is thy goodness, €@@@which thou hast laid up for those who fear thee, €@@and wrought for those who take refuge in thee, €@@@in the sight of the sons of men! @@In the covert of thy presence thou hidest them €@@@from the plots of men; €@@thou holdest them safe under thy shelter €@@@from the strife of tongues. @@Blessed be the LORD, €@@@for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me €@@@when I was beset as in a besieged city. @@I had said in my alarm, €@@@"I am driven far from thy sight." €@@But thou didst hear my supplications, €@@@when I cried to thee for help. @@Love the LORD, all you his saints! €@@@The LORD preserves the faithful, €@@@but abundantly requites him who acts haughtily. @@Be strong, and let your heart take courage, €@@@all you who wait for the LORD!  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. A Maskil. ‘@@Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, €@@@whose sin is covered. @@Blessed is the man to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity, €@@@and in whose spirit there is no deceit. @@When I declared not my sin, my body wasted away €@@@through my groaning all day long. @@For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me; €@@@my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. [Selah] @@I acknowledged my sin to thee, €@@@and I did not hide my iniquity; €@@I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; €@@@then thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. [Selah] @@Therefore let every one who is godly €@@@offer prayer to thee; €@@at a time of distress, in the rush of great waters, €@@@they shall not reach him. @@Thou art a hiding place for me, €@@@thou preservest me from trouble; €@@@thou dost encompass me with deliverance. [Selah] @@I will instruct you and teach you €@@@the way you should go; €@@@I will counsel you with my eye upon you. @@Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, €@@@which must be curbed with bit and bridle, €@@@else it will not keep with you. @@Many are the pangs of the wicked; €@@@but steadfast love surrounds him who trusts in the LORD. @@Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, €@@@and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!  @@Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! €@@@Praise befits the upright. @@Praise the LORD with the lyre, €@@@make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! @@Sing to him a new song, €@@@play skilfully on the strings, with loud shouts. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’Ø””@@For the word of the LORD is upright; €@@@and all his work is done in faithfulness. @@He loves righteousness and justice; €@@@the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. @@By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, €@@@and all their host by the breath of his mouth. @@He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle; €@@@he put the deeps in storehouses. @@Let all the earth fear the LORD, €@@@let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! @@For he spoke, and it came to be; €@@@he commanded, and it stood forth. @@The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nought; €@@@he frustrates the plans of the peoples. @@The counsel of the LORD stands for ever, €@@@the thoughts of his heart to all generations. @@Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, €@@@the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! @@The LORD looks down from heaven, €@@@he sees all the sons of men; @@from where he sits enthroned he looks forth €@@@on all the inhabitants of the earth, @@he who fashions the hearts of them all, €@@@and observes all their deeds. @@A king is not saved by his great army; €@@@a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. @@The war horse is a vain hope for victory, €@@@and by its great might it cannot save. @@Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, €@@@on those who hope in his steadfast love, @@that he may deliver their soul from death, €@@@and keep them alive in famine. @@Our soul waits for the LORD; €@@@he is our help and shield. @@Yea, our heart is glad in him, €@@@because we trust in his holy name. @@Let thy steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, €@@@even as we hope in thee.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, so that he €drove him out, and he went away. ‘@@I will bless the LORD at all times; €@@@his praise shall continually be in my mouth. @@My soul makes its boast in the LORD; €@@@let the afflicted hear and be glad. @@O magnify the LORD with me, €@@@and let us exalt his name together! @@I sought the LORD, and he answered me, €@@@and delivered me from all my fears. @@Look to him, and be radiant; €@@@so your faces shall never be ashamed. @@This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, €@@@and saved him out of all his troubles. @@The angel of the LORD encamps €@@@around those who fear him, and delivers them. @@O taste and see that the LORD is good! €@@@Happy is the man who takes refuge in him! @@O fear the LORD, you his saints, €@@@for those who fear him have no want! @@The young lions suffer want and hunger; €@@@but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. @@Come, O sons, listen to me, €@@@I will teach you the fear of the LORD. @@What man is there who desires life, €@@@and covets many days, that he may enjoy good? @@Keep your tongue from evil, €@@@and your lips from speaking deceit. @@Depart from evil, and do good; €@@@seek peace, and pursue it. @@The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, €@@@and his ears toward their cry. @@The face of the LORD is against evildoers, €@@@to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. @@When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, €@@@and delivers them out of all their troubles. @@The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, €@@@and saves the crushed in spirit. @@Many are the afflictions of the righteous; €@@@but the LORD delivers him out of them all. @@He keeps all his bones; €@@@not one of them is broken. @@Evil shall slay the wicked; €@@@and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. @@The LORD redeems the life of his servants; €@@@none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; €@@@fight against those who fight against me! @@Take hold of shield and buckler, €@@@and rise for my help! @@Draw the spear and javelin €@@@against my pursuers! €@@Say to my soul, €@@@"I am your deliverance!" @@Let them be put to shame and dishonor €@@@who seek after my life! €@@Let them be turned back and confounded €@@@who devise evil against me! @@Let them be like chaff before the wind, €@@@with the angel of the LORD driving them on! @@Let their way be dark and slippery, €@@@with the angel of the LORD pursuing them! @@For without cause they hid their net for me; €@@@without cause they dug a pit for my life. @@Let ruin come upon them unawares! €@@And let the net which they hid ensnare them; €@@@let them fall therein to ruin! @@Then my soul shall rejoice in the LORD, €@@@exulting in his deliverance. @@All my bones shall say, €@@@"O LORD, who is like thee, €@@thou who deliverest the weak €@@@from him who is too strong for him, €@@@the weak and needy from him who despoils him?" @@Malicious witnesses rise up; €@@@they ask me of things that I know not. @@They requite me evil for good; €@@@my soul is forlorn. @@But I, when they were sick --€@@@I wore sackcloth, €@@@I afflicted myself with fasting. €@@I prayed with head bowed on my bosom, @@@as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; €@@I went about as one who laments his mother, €@@@bowed down and in mourning. @@But at my stumbling they gathered in glee, €@@@they gathered together against me; €@@cripples whom I knew not €@@@slandered me without ceasing; @@they impiously mocked more and more, €@@@gnashing at me with their teeth. @@How long, O LORD, wilt thou look on? €@@@Rescue me from their ravages, €@@@my life from the lions! @@Then I will thank thee in the great congregation; €@@@in the mighty throng I will praise thee. @@Let not those rejoice over me €@@@who are wrongfully my foes, €@@and let not those wink the eye €@@@who hate me without cause. @@For they do not speak peace, €@@@but against those who are quiet in the land €@@@they conceive words of deceit. @@They open wide their mouths against me; €@@@they say, "Aha, Aha! €@@@our eyes have seen it!" @@Thou hast seen, O LORD; be not silent! €@@@O Lord, be not far from me! @@Bestir thyself, and awake for my right, €@@@for my cause, my God and my Lord! @@Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to thy righteousness; €@@@and let them not rejoice over me! @@Let them not say to themselves, €@@@"Aha, we have our heart's desire!" €@@Let them not say, "We have swallowed him up." @@Let them be put to shame and confusion altogether €@@@who rejoice at my calamity! €@@Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor €@@@who magnify themselves against me! @@Let those who desire my vindication €@@@shout for joy and be glad, €@@@and say evermore, €@@"Great is the LORD, €@@@who delights in the welfare of his servant!" @@Then my tongue shall tell of thy righteousness €@@@and of thy praise all the day long.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD. ‘@@Transgression speaks to the wicked €@@@deep in his heart; €@@there is no fear of God €@@@before his eyes. @@For he flatters himself in his own eyes €@@@that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. @@The words of his mouth are mischief and deceit; €@@@he has ceased to act wisely and do good. @@He plots mischief while on his bed; €@@@he sets himself in a way that is not good; €@@@he spurns not evil. @@Thy steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, €@@@thy faithfulness to the clouds. @@Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God, €@@@thy judgments are like the great deep; €@@@man and beast thou savest, O LORD. @@How precious is thy steadfast love, O God! €@@@The children of men take refuge in the shadow of thy wings. @@They feast on the abundance of thy house, €@@@and thou givest them drink from the river of thy delights. @@For with thee is the fountain of life; €@@@in thy light do we see light. @@O continue thy steadfast love to those who know thee, €@@@and thy salvation to the upright of heart! @@Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, €@@@nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. @@There the evildoers lie prostrate, €@@@they are thrust down, unable to rise.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@Fret not yourself because of the wicked, €@@@be not envious of wrongdoers! @@For they will soon fade like the grass, €@@@and wither like the green herb. @@Trust in the LORD, and do good; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’Ø„“‚@@@so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security. @@Take delight in the LORD, €@@@and he will give you the desires of your heart. @@Commit your way to the LORD; €@@@trust in him, and he will act. @@He will bring forth your vindication as the light, €@@@and your right as the noonday. @@Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him; €@@@fret not yourself over him who prospers in his way, €@@@over the man who carries out evil devices! @@Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! €@@@Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. @@For the wicked shall be cut off; €@@@but those who wait for the LORD shall possess the land. @@Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; €@@@though you look well at his place, he will not be there. @@But the meek shall possess the land, €@@@and delight themselves in abundant prosperity. @@The wicked plots against the righteous, €@@@and gnashes his teeth at him; @@but the LORD laughs at the wicked, €@@@for he sees that his day is coming. @@The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows, €@@@to bring down the poor and needy, €@@@to slay those who walk uprightly; @@their sword shall enter their own heart, €@@@and their bows shall be broken. @@Better is a little that the righteous has €@@@than the abundance of many wicked. @@For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; €@@@but the LORD upholds the righteous. @@The LORD knows the days of the blameless, €@@@and their heritage will abide for ever; @@they are not put to shame in evil times, €@@@in the days of famine they have abundance. @@But the wicked perish; €@@@the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures, €@@@they vanish -- like smoke they vanish away. @@The wicked borrows, and cannot pay back, €@@@but the righteous is generous and gives; @@for those blessed by the LORD shall possess the land, €@@@but those cursed by him shall be cut off. @@The steps of a man are from the LORD, €@@@and he establishes him in whose way he delights; @@though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, €@@@for the LORD is the stay of his hand. @@I have been young, and now am old; €@@@yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken €@@@or his children begging bread. @@He is ever giving liberally and lending, €@@@and his children become a blessing. @@Depart from evil, and do good; €@@@so shall you abide for ever. @@For the LORD loves justice; €@@@he will not forsake his saints. €@@The righteous shall be preserved for ever, €@@@but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. @@The righteous shall possess the land, €@@@and dwell upon it for ever. @@The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, €@@@and his tongue speaks justice. @@The law of his God is in his heart; €@@@his steps do not slip. @@The wicked watches the righteous, €@@@and seeks to slay him. @@The LORD will not abandon him to his power, €@@@or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial. @@Wait for the LORD, and keep to his way, €@@@and he will exalt you to possess the land; €@@@you will look on the destruction of the wicked. @@I have seen a wicked man overbearing, €@@@and towering like a cedar of Lebanon. @@@Again I passed by, and, lo, he was no more; €@@@though I sought him, he could not be found. @@Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright, €@@@for there is posterity for the man of peace. @@But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; €@@@the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off. @@The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; €@@@he is their refuge in the time of trouble. @@The LORD helps them and delivers them; €@@@he delivers them from the wicked, and saves them, €@@@because they take refuge in him.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering. ‘@@O LORD, rebuke me not in thy anger, €@@@nor chasten me in thy wrath! @@For thy arrows have sunk into me, €@@@and thy hand has come down on me. @@There is no soundness in my flesh €@@@because of thy indignation; €@@there is no health in my bones €@@@because of my sin. @@For my iniquities have gone over my head; €@@@they weigh like a burden too heavy for me. @@My wounds grow foul and fester €@@@because of my foolishness, @@I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; €@@@all the day I go about mourning. @@For my loins are filled with burning, €@@@and there is no soundness in my flesh. @@I am utterly spent and crushed; €@@@I groan because of the tumult of my heart. @@Lord, all my longing is known to thee, €@@@my sighing is not hidden from thee. @@My heart throbs, my strength fails me; €@@@and the light of my eyes -- it also has gone from me. @@My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, €@@@and my kinsmen stand afar off. @@Those who seek my life lay their snares, €@@@those who seek my hurt speak of ruin, €@@@and meditate treachery all the day long. @@But I am like a deaf man, I do not hear, €@@@like a dumb man who does not open his mouth. @@Yea, I am like a man who does not hear, €@@@and in whose mouth are no rebukes. @@But for thee, O LORD, do I wait; €@@@it is thou, O LORD my God, who wilt answer. @@For I pray, "Only let them not rejoice over me, €@@@who boast against me when my foot slips!" @@For I am ready to fall, €@@@and my pain is ever with me. @@I confess my iniquity, €@@@I am sorry for my sin. @@Those who are my foes without cause are mighty, €@@@and many are those who hate me wrongfully. @@Those who render me evil for good €@@@are my adversaries because I follow after good. @@Do not forsake me, O LORD! €@@@O my God, be not far from me! @@Make haste to help me, €@@@O Lord, my salvation!  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. ‘@@I said, "I will guard my ways, €@@@that I may not sin with my tongue; €@@I will bridle my mouth, €@@@so long as the wicked are in my presence." @@I was dumb and silent, €@@@I held my peace to no avail; €@@my distress grew worse, @@@my heart became hot within me. €@@As I mused, the fire burned; €@@@then I spoke with my tongue: @@"LORD, let me know my end, €@@@and what is the measure of my days; €@@@let me know how fleeting my life is! @@Behold, thou hast made my days a few handbreadths, €@@@and my lifetime is as nothing in thy sight. €@@Surely every man stands as a mere breath! [Selah] @@@Surely man goes about as a shadow! €@@Surely for nought are they in turmoil; €@@@man heaps up, and knows not who will gather! @@"And now, Lord, for what do I wait? €@@@My hope is in thee. @@Deliver me from all my transgressions. €@@@Make me not the scorn of the fool! @@I am dumb, I do not open my mouth; €@@@for it is thou who hast done it. @@Remove thy stroke from me; €@@@I am spent by the blows of thy hand. @@When thou dost chasten man €@@@with rebukes for sin, €@@thou dost consume like a moth what is dear to him; €@@@surely every man is a mere breath! [Selah] @@"Hear my prayer, O LORD, €@@@and give ear to my cry; €@@@hold not thy peace at my tears! €@@For I am thy passing guest, €@@@a sojourner, like all my fathers. @@Look away from me, that I may know gladness, €@@@before I depart and be no more!"  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. ‘@@I waited patiently for the LORD; €@@@he inclined to me and heard my cry. @@He drew me up from the desolate pit, €@@@out of the miry bog, €@@and set my feet upon a rock, €@@@making my steps secure. @@He put a new song in my mouth, €@@@a song of praise to our God. €@@Many will see and fear, €@@@and put their trust in the LORD. @@Blessed is the man who makes €@@@the LORD his trust, €@@who does not turn to the proud, €@@@to those who go astray after false gods! @@Thou hast multiplied, O LORD my God, €@@@thy wondrous deeds and thy thoughts toward us; €@@@none can compare with thee! €@@Were I to proclaim and tell of them, €@@@they would be more than can be numbered. @@Sacrifice and offering thou dost not desire; €@@@but thou hast given me an open ear. €@@@Burnt offering and sin offering €@@@thou hast not required. @@Then I said, "Lo, I come; €@@@in the roll of the book it is written of me; @@I delight to do thy will, O my God; €@@@thy law is within my heart." @@I have told the glad news of deliverance €@@@in the great congregation; €@@lo, I have not restrained my lips, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’Øؘ‰„@@@as thou knowest, O LORD. @@I have not hid thy saving help within my heart, €@@@I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation; €@@I have not concealed thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness €@@@from the great congregation. @@Do not thou, O LORD, withhold €@@@thy mercy from me, €@@let thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness €@@@ever preserve me! @@For evils have encompassed me €@@@without number; €@@my iniquities have overtaken me, €@@@till I cannot see; €@@they are more than the hairs of my head; €@@@my heart fails me. @@Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! €@@@O LORD, make haste to help me! @@Let them be put to shame and confusion altogether €@@@who seek to snatch away my life; €@@let them be turned back and brought to dishonor €@@@who desire my hurt! @@Let them be appalled because of their shame €@@@who say to me, "Aha, Aha!" @@But may all who seek thee €@@@rejoice and be glad in thee; €@@may those who love thy salvation €@@@say continually, "Great is the LORD!" @@As for me, I am poor and needy; €@@@but the Lord takes thought for me. €@@Thou art my help and my deliverer; €@@@do not tarry, O my God!  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. ‘@@Blessed is he who considers the poor! €@@@The LORD delivers him in the day of trouble; @@the LORD protects him and keeps him alive; €@@@he is called blessed in the land; €@@@thou dost not give him up to the will of his enemies. @@The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; €@@@in his illness thou healest all his infirmities. @@As for me, I said, "O LORD, be gracious to me; €@@@heal me, for I have sinned against thee!" @@My enemies say of me in malice: €@@@"When will he die, and his name perish?" @@And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, €@@@while his heart gathers mischief; €@@@when he goes out, he tells it abroad. @@All who hate me whisper together about me; €@@@they imagine the worst for me. @@They say, "A deadly thing has fastened upon him; €@@@he will not rise again from where he lies." @@Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, €@@@who ate of my bread, has lifted his heel against me. @@But do thou, O LORD, be gracious to me, €@@@and raise me up, that I may requite them! @@By this I know that thou art pleased with me, €@@@in that my enemy has not triumphed over me. @@But thou hast upheld me because of my integrity, €@@@and set me in thy presence for ever. @@Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, €@@@from everlasting to everlasting! €@@@Amen and Amen.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah. ‘@@As a hart longs €@@@for flowing streams, €@@so longs my soul €@@@for thee, O God. @@My soul thirsts for God, €@@@for the living God. €@@When shall I come and behold €@@@the face of God? @@My tears have been my food €@@@day and night, €@@while men say to me continually, €@@@"Where is your God?" @@These things I remember, €@@@as I pour out my soul: €@@how I went with the throng, €@@@and led them in procession to the house of God, €@@with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, €@@@a multitude keeping festival. @@Why are you cast down, O my soul, €@@@and why are you disquieted within me? €@@Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, €@@@my help @@@and my God. €@@My soul is cast down within me, €@@@therefore I remember thee €@@from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, €@@@from Mount Mizar. @@Deep calls to deep €@@@at the thunder of thy cataracts; €@@all thy waves and thy billows €@@@have gone over me. @@By day the LORD commands his steadfast love; €@@@and at night his song is with me, €@@@a prayer to the God of my life. @@I say to God, my rock: €@@@"Why hast thou forgotten me? €@@Why go I mourning €@@@because of the oppression of the enemy?" @@As with a deadly wound in my body, €@@@my adversaries taunt me, €@@while they say to me continually, €@@@"Where is your God?" @@Why are you cast down, O my soul, €@@@and why are you disquieted within me? €@@Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, €@@@my help and my God.  @@Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause €@@@against an ungodly people; €@@from deceitful and unjust men €@@@deliver me! @@For thou art the God in whom I take refuge; €@@@why hast thou cast me off? €@@Why go I mourning €@@@because of the oppression of the enemy? @@Oh send out thy light and thy truth; €@@@let them lead me, €@@let them bring me to thy holy hill €@@@and to thy dwelling! @@Then I will go to the altar of God, €@@@to God my exceeding joy; €@@and I will praise thee with the lyre, €@@@O God, my God. @@Why are you cast down, O my soul, €@@@and why are you disquieted within me? €@@Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, €@@@my help and my God.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah. ‘@@We have heard with our ears, O God, €@@@our fathers have told us, €@@what deeds thou didst perform in their days, €@@@in the days of old: @@thou with thy own hand didst drive out the nations, €@@@but them thou didst plant; €@@thou didst afflict the peoples, €@@@but them thou didst set free; @@for not by their own sword did they win the land, €@@@nor did their own arm give them victory; €@@but thy right hand, and thy arm, €@@@and the light of thy countenance; €@@@for thou didst delight in them. @@Thou art my King and my God, €@@@who ordainest victories for Jacob. @@Through thee we push down our foes; €@@@through thy name we tread down our assailants. @@For not in my bow do I trust, €@@@nor can my sword save me. @@But thou hast saved us from our foes, €@@@and hast put to confusion those who hate us. @@In God we have boasted continually, €@@@and we will give thanks to thy name for ever. [Selah] @@Yet thou hast cast us off and abased us, €@@@and hast not gone out with our armies. @@Thou hast made us turn back from the foe; €@@@and our enemies have gotten spoil. @@Thou hast made us like sheep for slaughter, €@@@and hast scattered us among the nations. @@Thou hast sold thy people for a trifle, €@@demanding no high price for them. @@Thou hast made us the taunt of our neighbors, €@@@the derision and scorn of those about us. @@Thou hast made us a byword among the nations, €@@@a laughingstock among the peoples. @@All day long my disgrace is before me, €@@@and shame has covered my face, @@at the words of the taunters and revilers, €@@@at the sight of the enemy and the avenger. @@All this has come upon us, €@@@though we have not forgotten thee, €@@@or been false to thy covenant. @@Our heart has not turned back, €@@@nor have our steps departed from thy way, @@that thou shouldst have broken us in the place of jackals, €@@@and covered us with deep darkness. @@If we had forgotten the name of our God, €@@@or spread forth our hands to a strange god, @@would not God discover this? €@@@For he knows the secrets of the heart. @@Nay, for thy sake we are slain all the day long, €@@@and accounted as sheep for the slaughter. @@Rouse thyself! Why sleepest thou, O Lord? €@@@Awake! Do not cast us off for ever! @@Why dost thou hide thy face? €@@@Why dost thou forget our affliction and oppression? @@For our soul is bowed down to the dust; €@@@our body cleaves to the ground. @@Rise up, come to our help! €@@@Deliver us for the sake of thy steadfast love!  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah €a love song. ‘@@My heart overflows with a goodly theme; €@@@I address my verses to the king; €@@@my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. @@You are the fairest of the sons of men; €@@@grace is poured upon your lips; €@@@therefore God has blessed you for ever. @@Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty one, €@@@in your glory and majesty! @@In your majesty ride forth victoriously €@@@for the cause of truth and to defend the right; €@@@let your right hand teach you dread deeds! @@Your arrows are sharp €@@@in the heart of the king's enemies; €@@@the peoples fall under you. @@Your divine throne endures for ever and ever. €@@@Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity; @@@you love righteousness and hate wickedness. €@@Therefore God, your God, has anointed you €@@@with the oil of gladness above your fellows; @@@your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’Ø­˜ˆ‚@@From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; @@@daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; €@@@at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir. @@Hear, O daughter, consider, and incline your ear; €@@@forget your people and your father's house; @@@and the king will desire your beauty. €@@Since he is your lord, bow to him; @@@the people of Tyre will sue your favor with gifts, €@@@the richest of the people @@@with all kinds of wealth. €@@The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes; @@@in many-colored robes she is led to the king, €@@@with her virgin companions, her escort, in her train. @@With joy and gladness they are led along €@@@as they enter the palace of the king. @@Instead of your fathers shall be your sons; €@@@you will make them princes in all the earth. @@I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations; €@@@therefore the peoples will praise you for ever and ever.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. €According to Alamoth. A Song. ‘@@God is our refuge and strength, €@@@a very present help in trouble. @@Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, €@@@though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; @@though its waters roar and foam, €@@@though the mountains tremble with its tumult. [Selah] @@There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, €@@@the holy habitation of the Most High. @@God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; €@@@God will help her right early. @@The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; €@@@he utters his voice, the earth melts. @@The LORD of hosts is with us; €@@@the God of Jacob is our refuge. [Selah] @@Come, behold the works of the LORD, €@@@how he has wrought desolations in the earth. @@He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; €@@@he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, €@@@he burns the chariots with fire! @@"Be still, and know that I am God. €@@@I am exalted among the nations, €@@@I am exalted in the earth!" @@The LORD of hosts is with us; €@@@the God of Jacob is our refuge. [Selah]  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. ‘@@Clap your hands, all peoples! €@@@Shout to God with loud songs of joy! @@For the LORD, the Most High, is terrible, €@@@a great king over all the earth. @@He subdued peoples under us, €@@@and nations under our feet. @@He chose our heritage for us, €@@@the pride of Jacob whom he loves. [Selah] @@God has gone up with a shout, €@@@the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. @@Sing praises to God, sing praises! €@@@Sing praises to our King, sing praises! @@For God is the king of all the earth; €@@@sing praises with a psalm! @@God reigns over the nations; €@@@God sits on his holy throne. @@The princes of the peoples gather €@@@as the people of the God of Abraham. €@@For the shields of the earth belong to God; €@@@he is highly exalted!  Ÿō’A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. ‘@@Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised €@@@in the city of our God! €@@His holy mountain, @@@beautiful in elevation, €@@@is the joy of all the earth, €@@Mount Zion, in the far north, €@@@the city of the great King. @@Within her citadels God €@@@has shown himself a sure defense. @@For lo, the kings assembled, €@@@they came on together. @@As soon as they saw it, they were astounded, €@@@they were in panic, they took to flight; @@trembling took hold of them there, €@@@anguish as of a woman in travail. @@By the east wind thou didst shatter €@@@the ships of Tarshish. @@As we have heard, so have we seen €@@@in the city of the LORD of hosts, €@@in the city of our God, €@@@which God establishes for ever. [Selah] @@We have thought on thy steadfast love, O God, €@@@in the midst of thy temple. @@As thy name, O God, €@@@so thy praise reaches to the ends of the earth. €@@Thy right hand is filled with victory; @@@let Mount Zion be glad! €@@Let the daughters of Judah rejoice €@@@because of thy judgments! @@Walk about Zion, go round about her, €@@@number her towers, @@consider well her ramparts, €@@@go through her citadels; €@@that you may tell the next generation @@@that this is God, €@@our God for ever and ever. €@@@He will be our guide for ever.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. ‘@@Hear this, all peoples! €@@@Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, @@both low and high, €@@@rich and poor together! @@My mouth shall speak wisdom; €@@@the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. @@I will incline my ear to a proverb; €@@@I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre. @@Why should I fear in times of trouble, €@@@when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me, @@men who trust in their wealth €@@@and boast of the abundance of their riches? @@Truly no man can ransom himself, €@@@or give to God the price of his life, @@for the ransom of his life is costly, €@@@and can never suffice, @@that he should continue to live on for ever, €@@@and never see the Pit. @@Yea, he shall see that even the wise die, €@@@the fool and the stupid alike must perish €@@@and leave their wealth to others. @@Their graves are their homes for ever, €@@@their dwelling places to all generations, €@@@though they named lands their own. @@Man cannot abide in his pomp, €@@@he is like the beasts that perish. @@This is the fate of those who have foolish confidence, €@@@the end of those who are pleased with their portion. [Selah] @@Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; €@@@Death shall be their shepherd; €@@straight to the grave they descend, €@@@and their form shall waste away; €@@@Sheol shall be their home. @@@But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, €@@@for he will receive me. [Selah] @@Be not afraid when one becomes rich, €@@@when the glory of his house increases. @@For when he dies he will carry nothing away; €@@@his glory will not go down after him. @@Though, while he lives, he counts himself happy, €@@@and though a man gets praise when he does well for himself, @@he will go to the generation of his fathers, €@@@who will never more see the light. @@Man cannot abide in his pomp, €@@@he is like the beasts that perish.  Ÿō’A Psalm of Asaph. ‘@@The Mighty One, God the LORD, €@@@speaks and summons the earth €@@@from the rising of the sun to its setting. @@Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, €@@@God shines forth. @@Our God comes, he does not keep silence, €@@@before him is a devouring fire, €@@@round about him a mighty tempest. @@He calls to the heavens above €@@@and to the earth, that he may judge his people: @@"Gather to me my faithful ones, €@@@who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!" @@The heavens declare his righteousness, €@@@for God himself is judge! [Selah] @@"Hear, O my people, and I will speak, €@@@O Israel, I will testify against you. €@@@I am God, your God. @@I do not reprove you for your sacrifices; €@@@your burnt offerings are continually before me. @@I will accept no bull from your house, €@@@nor he-goat from your folds. @@For every beast of the forest is mine, €@@@the cattle on a thousand hills. @@I know all the birds of the air, €@@@and all that moves in the field is mine. @@"If I were hungry, I would not tell you; €@@@for the world and all that is in it is mine. @@Do I eat the flesh of bulls, €@@@or drink the blood of goats? @@Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, €@@@and pay your vows to the Most High; @@and call upon me in the day of trouble; €@@@I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." @@But to the wicked God says: €@@@"What right have you to recite my statutes, €@@@or take my covenant on your lips? @@For you hate discipline, €@@@and you cast my words behind you. @@If you see a thief, you are a friend of his; €@@@and you keep company with adulterers. @@"You give your mouth free rein for evil, €@@@and your tongue frames deceit. @@You sit and speak against your brother; €@@@you slander your own mother's son. @@These things you have done and I have been silent; €@@@you thought that I was one like yourself. €@@But now I rebuke you, and lay the charge before you. @@"Mark this, then, you who forget God, €@@@lest I rend, and there be none to deliver! žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’ز˜—@@He who brings thanksgiving as his sacrifice honors me; €@@@to him who orders his way aright €@@@I will show the salvation of God!"  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to €him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. ‘@@Have mercy on me, O God, €@@@according to thy steadfast love; €@@@according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. @@Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, €@@@and cleanse me from my sin! @@For I know my transgressions, €@@@and my sin is ever before me. @@Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, €@@@and done that which is evil in thy sight, €@@so that thou art justified in thy sentence €@@@and blameless in thy judgment. @@Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, €@@@and in sin did my mother conceive me. @@Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward being; €@@@therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. @@Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; €@@@wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. @@Fill me with joy and gladness; €@@@let the bones which thou hast broken rejoice. @@Hide thy face from my sins, €@@@and blot out all my iniquities. @@Create in me a clean heart, O God, €@@@and put a new and right spirit within me. @@Cast me not away from thy presence, €@@@and take not thy holy Spirit from me. @@Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, €@@@and uphold me with a willing spirit. @@Then I will teach transgressors thy ways, €@@@and sinners will return to thee. @@Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, €@@@thou God of my salvation, €@@@and my tongue will sing aloud of thy deliverance. @@O Lord, open thou my lips, €@@@and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. @@For thou hast no delight in sacrifice; €@@@were I to give a burnt offering, thou wouldst not be pleased. @@The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; €@@@a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. @@Do good to Zion in thy good pleasure; €@@@rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, @@then wilt thou delight in right sacrifices, €@@@in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; €@@@then bulls will be offered on thy altar.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came €and told Saul, "David has come to the house of Ahimelech." ‘@@Why do you boast, O mighty man, €@@@of mischief done against the godly? €@@@All the day @@@you are plotting destruction. €@@Your tongue is like a sharp razor, €@@@you worker of treachery. @@You love evil more than good, €@@@and lying more than speaking the truth. [Selah] @@You love all words that devour, €@@@O deceitful tongue. @@But God will break you down for ever; €@@@he will snatch and tear you from your tent; €@@@he will uproot you from the land of the living. [Selah] @@The righteous shall see, and fear, €@@@and shall laugh at him, saying, @@"See the man who would not make €@@@God his refuge, €@@but trusted in the abundance of his riches, €@@@and sought refuge in his wealth!" @@But I am like a green olive tree €@@@in the house of God. €@@I trust in the steadfast love of God €@@@for ever and ever. @@I will thank thee for ever, €@@@because thou hast done it. €@@I will proclaim thy name, for it is good, €@@@in the presence of the godly.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. ‘@@The fool says in his heart, €@@@"There is no God." €@@They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; €@@@there is none that does good. @@God looks down from heaven €@@@upon the sons of men €@@to see if there are any that are wise, €@@@that seek after God. @@They have all fallen away; €@@@they are all alike depraved; €@@there is none that does good, €@@@no, not one. @@Have those who work evil no understanding, €@@@who eat up my people as they eat bread, €@@@and do not call upon God? @@There they are, in great terror, €@@@in terror such as has not been! €@@For God will scatter the bones of the ungodly; €@@@they will be put to shame, for God has rejected them. @@O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! €@@@When God restores the fortunes of his people, €@@@Jacob will rejoice and Israel be glad.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when €the Ziphites went and told Saul, "David is in hiding among us." ‘@@Save me, O God, by thy name, €@@@and vindicate me by thy might. @@Hear my prayer, O God; €@@@give ear to the words of my mouth. @@For insolent men have risen against me, €@@@ruthless men seek my life; €@@@they do not set God before them. [Selah] @@Behold, God is my helper; €@@@the Lord is the upholder of my life. @@He will requite my enemies with evil; €@@@in thy faithfulness put an end to them. @@With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to thee; €@@@I will give thanks to thy name, O LORD, for it is good. @@For thou hast delivered me from every trouble, €@@@and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. ‘@@Give ear to my prayer, O God; €@@@and hide not thyself from my supplication! @@Attend to me, and answer me; €@@@I am overcome by my trouble. €@@I am distraught @@@by the noise of the enemy, €@@@because of the oppression of the wicked. €@@For they bring trouble upon me, €@@@and in anger they cherish enmity against me. @@My heart is in anguish within me, €@@@the terrors of death have fallen upon me. @@Fear and trembling come upon me, €@@@and horror overwhelms me. @@And I say, "O that I had wings like a dove! €@@@I would fly away and be at rest; @@yea, I would wander afar, €@@@I would lodge in the wilderness, [Selah] @@I would haste to find me a shelter €@@@from the raging wind and tempest." @@Destroy their plans, O Lord, confuse their tongues; €@@@for I see violence and strife in the city. @@Day and night they go around it €@@@on its walls; €@@and mischief and trouble are within it, @@@ruin is in its midst; €@@oppression and fraud €@@@do not depart from its market place. @@It is not an enemy who taunts me --€@@@then I could bear it; €@@it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me --€@@@then I could hide from him. @@But it is you, my equal, €@@@my companion, my familiar friend. @@We used to hold sweet converse together; €@@@within God's house we walked in fellowship. @@Let death come upon them; €@@@let them go down to Sheol alive; €@@@let them go away in terror into their graves. @@@But I call upon God; €@@@and the LORD will save me. @@Evening and morning and at noon €@@@I utter my complaint and moan, €@@@and he will hear my voice. @@He will deliver my soul in safety €@@@from the battle that I wage, €@@@for many are arrayed against me. @@God will give ear, and humble them, €@@@he who is enthroned from of old; €@@because they keep no law, €@@@and do not fear God. [Selah] @@My companion stretched out his hand against his friends, €@@@he violated his covenant. @@His speech was smoother than butter, €@@@yet war was in his heart; €@@his words were softer than oil, €@@@yet they were drawn swords. @@Cast your burden on the LORD, €@@@and he will sustain you; €@@he will never permit €@@@the righteous to be moved. @@But thou, O God, wilt cast them down €@@@into the lowest pit; €@@men of blood and treachery €@@@shall not live out half their days. €@@But I will trust in thee.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A €Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. ‘@@Be gracious to me, O God, for men trample upon me; €@@@all day long foemen oppress me; @@my enemies trample upon me all day long, €@@@for many fight against me proudly. @@When I am afraid, €@@@I put my trust in thee. @@In God, whose word I praise, €@@@in God I trust without a fear. €@@@What can flesh do to me? @@All day long they seek to injure my cause; €@@@all their thoughts are against me for evil. @@They band themselves together, they lurk, €@@@they watch my steps. €@@As they have waited for my life, @@@so recompense them for their crime; €@@@in wrath cast down the peoples, O God! @@Thou hast kept count of my tossings; €@@@put thou my tears in thy bottle! €@@@Are they not in thy book? @@Then my enemies will be turned back €@@@in the day when I call. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’Øø˜‰ƒ@@@This I know, that God is for me. @@In God, whose word I praise, €@@@in the LORD, whose word I praise, @@in God I trust without a fear. €@@@What can man do to me? @@My vows to thee I must perform, O God; €@@@I will render thank offerings to thee. @@For thou hast delivered my soul from death, €@@@yea, my feet from falling, €@@that I may walk before God €@@@in the light of life.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, €@@when he fled from Saul, in the cave. ‘@@Be merdiful to me, O God, be merciful to me, €@@@for in thee my soul takes refuge; €@@in the shadow of thy wings I will take refuge, €@@@till the storms of destruction pass by. @@I cry to God Most High, €@@@to God who fulfils his purpose for me. @@He will send from heaven and save me, €@@@he will put to shame those who trample upon me. [Selah] €@@God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness! @@I lie in the midst of lions €@@@that greedily devour the sons of men; €@@their teeth are spears and arrows, €@@@their tongues sharp swords. @@Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! €@@@Let thy glory be over all the earth! @@They set a net for my steps; €@@@my soul was bowed down. €@@They dug a pit in my way, €@@@but they have fallen into it themselves. [Selah] @@My heart is steadfast, O God, €@@@my heart is steadfast! €@@I will sing and make melody! @@@Awake, my soul! €@@Awake, O harp and lyre! €@@@I will awake the dawn! @@I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, among the peoples; €@@@I will sing praises to thee among the nations. @@For thy steadfast love is great to the heavens, €@@@thy faithfulness to the clouds. @@Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! €@@@Let thy glory be over all the earth!  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David. ‘@@Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? €@@@Do you judge the sons of men uprightly? @@Nay, in your hearts you devise wrongs; €@@@your hands deal out violence on earth. @@The wicked go astray from the womb, €@@@they err from their birth, speaking lies. @@They have venom like the venom of a serpent, €@@@like the deaf adder that stops its ear, @@so that it does not hear the voice of charmers €@@@or of the cunning enchanter. @@O God, break the teeth in their mouths; €@@@tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD! @@Let them vanish like water that runs away; €@@@like grass let them be trodden down and wither. @@@Let them be like the snail which dissolves into slime, €@@@like the untimely birth that never sees the sun. @@Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns, €@@@whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away! @@The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; €@@@he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. @@Men will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; €@@@surely there is a God who judges on earth."  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, €@@when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him. ‘@@Deliver me from my enemies, O my God, €@@@protect me from those who rise up against me, @@deliver me from those who work evil, €@@@and save me from bloodthirsty men. @@For, lo, they lie in wait for my life; €@@@fierce men band themselves against me. €@@For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD, @@@for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. €@@Rouse thyself, come to my help, and see! @@@Thou, LORD God of hosts, art God of Israel. €@@Awake to punish all the nations; €@@@spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. [Selah] @@Each evening they come back, €@@@howling like dogs €@@@and prowling about the city. @@There they are, bellowing with their mouths, €@@@and snarling with their lips --€@@@for "Who," they think, "will hear us?" @@But thou, O LORD, dost laugh at them; €@@@thou dost hold all the nations in derision. @@O my Strength, I will sing praises to thee; €@@@for thou, O God, art my fortress. @@My God in his steadfast love will meet me; €@@@my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. @@Slay them not, lest my people forget; €@@@make them totter by thy power, and bring them down, €@@@O Lord, our shield! @@For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, €@@@let them be trapped in their pride. €@@For the cursing and lies which they utter, @@@consume them in wrath, €@@@consume them till they are no more, €@@that men may know that God rules over Jacob €@@@to the ends of the earth. [Selah] @@Each evening they come back, €@@@howling like dogs €@@@and prowling about the city. @@They roam about for food, €@@@and growl if they do not get their fill. @@But I will sing of thy might; €@@@I will sing aloud of thy steadfast love in the morning. €@@For thou hast been to me a fortress €@@@and a refuge in the day of my distress. @@O my Strength, I will sing praises to thee, €@@@for thou, O God, art my fortress, €@@@the God who shows me steadfast love.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to Shushan Eduth. A Miktam of David; for €instruction; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, €and when Joab on his return killed twelve thousand of Edom in the €Valley of Salt. ‘@@O God, thou hast rejected us, broken our defenses; €@@@thou hast been angry; oh, restore us. @@Thou hast made the land to quake, thou hast rent it open; €@@@repair its breaches, for it totters. @@Thou hast made thy people suffer hard things; €@@@thou hast given us wine to drink that made us reel. @@Thou hast set up a banner for those who fear thee, €@@@to rally to it from the bow. [Selah] @@That thy beloved may be delivered, €@@@give victory by thy right hand and answer us! @@God has spoken in his sanctuary: €@@@"With exultation I will divide up Shechem €@@@and portion out the Vale of Succoth. @@Gilead is mine; Manas'seh is mine; €@@@E'phraim is my helmet; €@@@Judah is my scepter. @@Moab is my washbasin; €@@@upon Edom I cast my shoe; €@@@over Philistia I shout in triumph." @@Who will bring me to the fortified city? €@@@Who will lead me to Edom? @@Hast thou not rejected us, O God? €@@@Thou dost not go forth, O God, with our armies. @@O grant us help against the foe, €@@@for vain is the help of man! @@With God we shall do valiantly; €@@@it is he who will tread down our foes.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. ‘@@Hear my cry, O God, €@@@listen to my prayer; @@from the end of the earth I call to thee, €@@@when my heart is faint. €@@Lead thou me €@@@to the rock that is higher than I; @@for thou art my refuge, €@@@a strong tower against the enemy. @@Let me dwell in thy tent for ever! €@@@Oh to be safe under the shelter of thy wings! [Selah] @@For thou, O God, hast heard my vows, €@@@thou hast given me the heritage of those who fear thy name. @@Prolong the life of the king; €@@@may his years endure to all generations! @@May he be enthroned for ever before God; €@@@bid steadfast love and faithfulness watch over him! @@So will I ever sing praises to thy name, €@@@as I pay my vows day after day.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. ‘@@For God alone my soul waits in silence; €@@@from him comes my salvation. @@He only is my rock and my salvation, €@@@my fortress; I shall not be greatly moved. @@How long will you set upon a man €@@@to shatter him, all of you, €@@@like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? @@They only plan to thrust him down from his eminence. €@@@They take pleasure in falsehood. €@@They bless with their mouths, €@@@but inwardly they curse. [Selah] @@For God alone my soul waits in silence, €@@@for my hope is from him. @@He only is my rock and my salvation, €@@@my fortress; I shall not be shaken. @@On God rests my deliverance and my honor; €@@@my mighty rock, my refuge is God. @@Trust in him at all times, O people; €@@@pour out your heart before him; €@@@God is a refuge for us. [Selah] @@Men of low estate are but a breath, €@@@men of high estate are a delusion; €@@in the balances they go up; €@@@they are together lighter than a breath. @@Put no confidence in extortion, €@@@set no vain hopes on robbery; €@@@if riches increase, set not your heart on them. @@Once God has spoken; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’ؾ˜‹‚@@@twice have I heard this: €@@that power belongs to God; @@@and that to thee, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. €@@For thou dost requite a man €@@@according to his work.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah. ‘@@O God, thou art my God, I seek thee, €@@@my soul thirsts for thee; €@@my flesh faints for thee, €@@@as in a dry and weary land where no water is. @@So I have looked upon thee in the sanctuary, €@@@beholding thy power and glory. @@Because thy steadfast love is better than life, €@@@my lips will praise thee. @@So I will bless thee as long as I live; €@@@I will lift up my hands and call on thy name. @@My soul is feasted as with marrow and fat, €@@@and my mouth praises thee with joyful lips, @@when I think of thee upon my bed, €@@@and meditate on thee in the watches of the night; @@for thou hast been my help, €@@@and in the shadow of thy wings I sing for joy. @@My soul clings to thee; €@@@thy right hand upholds me. @@But those who seek to destroy my life €@@@shall go down into the depths of the earth; @@they shall be given over to the power of the sword, €@@@they shall be prey for jackals. @@But the king shall rejoice in God; €@@@all who swear by him shall glory; €@@@for the mouths of liars will be stopped.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. ‘@@Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; €@@@preserve my life from dread of the enemy, @@hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, €@@@from the scheming of evildoers, @@who whet their tongues like swords, €@@@who aim bitter words like arrows, @@shooting from ambush at the blameless, €@@@shooting at him suddenly and without fear. @@They hold fast to their evil purpose; €@@@they talk of laying snares secretly, €@@thinking, "Who can see us? @@@Who can search out our crimes? €@@@We have thought out a cunningly conceived plot." €@@@For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep! @@But God will shoot his arrow at them; €@@@they will be wounded suddenly. @@Because of their tongue he will bring them to ruin; €@@@all who see them will wag their heads. @@Then all men will fear; €@@@they will tell what God has wrought, €@@@and ponder what he has done. @@Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD, €@@@and take refuge in him! €@@Let all the upright in heart glory!  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song. ‘@@Praise is due to thee, €@@@O God, in Zion; €@@and to thee shall vows be performed, @@@O thou who hearest prayer! €@@To thee shall all flesh come @@@on account of sins. €@@When our transgressions prevail over us, €@@@thou dost forgive them. @@Blessed is he whom thou dost choose and bring near, €@@@to dwell in thy courts! €@@We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, €@@@thy holy temple! @@By dread deeds thou dost answer us with deliverance, €@@@O God of our salvation, €@@who art the hope of all the ends of the earth, €@@@and of the farthest seas; @@who by thy strength hast established the mountains, €@@@being girded with might; @@who dost still the roaring of the seas, €@@@the roaring of their waves, €@@@the tumult of the peoples; @@so that those who dwell at earth's farthest bounds €@@@are afraid at thy signs; €@@thou makest the outgoings of the morning and the evening €@@@to shout for joy. @@Thou visitest the earth and waterest it, €@@@thou greatly enrichest it; €@@the river of God is full of water; €@@@thou providest their grain, €@@@for so thou hast prepared it. @@Thou waterest its furrows abundantly, €@@@settling its ridges, €@@softening it with showers, €@@@and blessing its growth. @@Thou crownest the year with thy bounty; €@@@the tracks of thy chariot drip with fatness. @@The pastures of the wilderness drip, €@@@the hills gird themselves with joy, @@the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, €@@@the valleys deck themselves with grain, €@@@they shout and sing together for joy.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Song. A Psalm. ‘@@Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; @@@sing the glory of his name; €@@@give to him glorious praise! @@Say to God, "How terrible are thy deeds! €@@@So great is thy power that thy enemies cringe before thee. @@All the earth worships thee; €@@@they sing praises to thee, €@@@sing praises to thy name." [Selah] @@Come and see what God has done: €@@@he is terrible in his deeds among men. @@He turned the sea into dry land; €@@@men passed through the river on foot. €@@There did we rejoice in him, @@@who rules by his might for ever, €@@whose eyes keep watch on the nations --€@@@let not the rebellious exalt themselves. [Selah] @@Bless our God, O peoples, €@@@let the sound of his praise be heard, @@who has kept us among the living, €@@@and has not let our feet slip. @@For thou, O God, hast tested us; €@@@thou hast tried us as silver is tried. @@Thou didst bring us into the net; €@@@thou didst lay affliction on our loins; @@thou didst let men ride over our heads; €@@@we went through fire and through water; €@@yet thou hast brought us forth to a spacious place. @@I will come into thy house with burnt offerings; €@@@I will pay thee my vows, @@that which my lips uttered €@@@and my mouth promised when I was in trouble. @@I will offer to thee burnt offerings of fatlings, €@@@with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; €@@I will make an offering of bulls and goats. [Selah] @@Come and hear, all you who fear God, €@@@and I will tell what he has done for me. @@I cried aloud to him, €@@@and he was extolled with my tongue. @@If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, €@@@the Lord would not have listened. @@But truly God has listened; €@@@he has given heed to the voice of my prayer. @@Blessed be God, €@@@because he has not rejected my prayer €@@@or removed his steadfast love from me!  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. ‘@@May God be gracious to us and bless us €@@@and make his face to shine upon us, [Selah] @@that thy way may be known upon earth, €@@@thy saving power among all nations. @@Let the peoples praise thee, O God; €@@@let all the peoples praise thee! @@Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, €@@@for thou dost judge the peoples with equity €@@@and guide the nations upon earth. [Selah] @@Let the peoples praise thee, O God; €@@@let all the peoples praise thee! @@The earth has yielded its increase; €@@@God, our God, has blessed us. @@God has blessed us; €@@@let all the ends of the earth fear him!  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song. ‘@@Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; €@@@let those who hate him flee before him! @@As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; €@@@as wax melts before fire, €@@@let the wicked perish before God! @@But let the righteous be joyful; €@@@let them exult before God; €@@@let them be jubilant with joy! @@Sing to God, sing praises to his name; €@@@lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds; €@@@his name is the LORD, exult before him! @@Father of the fatherless and protector of widows €@@@is God in his holy habitation. @@God gives the desolate a home to dwell in; €@@@he leads out the prisoners to prosperity; €@@@but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. @@O God, when thou didst go forth before thy people, €@@@when thou didst march through the wilderness, [Selah] @@the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, €@@@at the presence of God; €@@yon Sinai quaked at the presence of God, €@@@the God of Israel. @@Rain in abundance, O God, thou didst shed abroad; €@@@thou didst restore thy heritage as it languished; @@thy flock found a dwelling in it; €@@@in thy goodness, O God, thou didst provide for the needy. @@The Lord gives the command; €@@@great is the host of those who bore the tidings: @@@"The kings of the armies, they flee, they flee!" €@@The women at home divide the spoil, @@@though they stay among the sheepfolds --€@@the wings of a dove covered with silver, €@@@its pinions with green gold. @@When the Almighty scattered kings there, €@@@snow fell on Zalmon. @@O mighty mountain, mountain of Bashan; €@@@O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan! @@Why look you with envy, O many-peaked mountain, €@@@at the mount which God desired for his abode, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’Øʐƒ@@@yea, where the LORD will dwell for ever? @@With mighty chariotry, twice ten thousand, €@@@thousands upon thousands, €@@@the Lord came from Sinai into the holy place. @@@Thou didst ascend the high mount, €@@@leading captives in thy train, €@@@and receiving gifts among men, €@@even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there. @@Blessed be the Lord, €@@@who daily bears us up; €@@@God is our salvation. [Selah] @@Our God is a God of salvation; €@@@and to GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death. @@But God will shatter the heads of his enemies, €@@@the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways. @@The Lord said, €@@@"I will bring them back from Bashan, €@@@I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, @@that you may bathe your feet in blood, €@@@that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe." @@Thy solemn processions are seen, O God, €@@@the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary --@@the singers in front, the minstrels last, €@@@between them maidens playing timbrels: @@"Bless God in the great congregation, €@@@the LORD, O you who are of Israel's fountain!" @@There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, €@@@the princes of Judah in their throng, €@@@the princes of Zeb'ulun, the princes of Naph'tali. @@Summon thy might, O God; €@@@show thy strength, O God, thou who hast wrought for us. @@Because of thy temple at Jerusalem €@@@kings bear gifts to thee. @@Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, €@@@the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. €@@Trample under foot those who lust after tribute; €@@@scatter the peoples who delight in war. @@@Let bronze be brought from Egypt; €@@@let Ethiopia hasten to stretch out her hands to God. @@Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; €@@@sing praises to the Lord, [Selah] @@to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; €@@@lo, he sends forth his voice, his mighty voice. @@Ascribe power to God, €@@@whose majesty is over Israel, €@@@and his power is in the skies. @@Terrible is God in his sanctuary, €@@@the God of Israel, €@@@he gives power and strength to his people. €@@Blessed be God!  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Psalm of David. ‘@@Save me, O God! €@@@For the waters have come up to my neck. @@I sink in deep mire, €@@@where there is no foothold; €@@I have come into deep waters, €@@@and the flood sweeps over me. @@I am weary with my crying; €@@@my throat is parched. €@@My eyes grow dim €@@@with waiting for my God. @@More in number than the hairs of my head €@@@are those who hate me without cause; €@@mighty are those who would destroy me, €@@@those who attack me with lies. €@@What I did not steal €@@@must I now restore? @@O God, thou knowest my folly; €@@@the wrongs I have done are not hidden from thee. @@Let not those who hope in thee be put to shame through me, €@@@O Lord GOD of hosts; €@@let not those who seek thee be brought to dishonor through me, €@@@O God of Israel. @@For it is for thy sake that I have borne reproach, €@@@that shame has covered my face. @@I have become a stranger to my brethren, €@@@an alien to my mother's sons. @@For zeal for thy house has consumed me, €@@@and the insults of those who insult thee have fallen on me. @@When I humbled my soul with fasting, €@@@it became my reproach. @@When I made sackcloth my clothing, €@@@I became a byword to them. @@I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, €@@@and the drunkards make songs about me. @@But as for me, my prayer is to thee, O LORD. €@@@At an acceptable time, O God, €@@@in the abundance of thy steadfast love answer me. €@@With thy faithful help @@@rescue me €@@@from sinking in the mire; €@@let me be delivered from my enemies €@@@and from the deep waters. @@Let not the flood sweep over me, €@@@or the deep swallow me up, €@@@or the pit close its mouth over me. @@Answer me, O LORD, for thy steadfast love is good; €@@@according to thy abundant mercy, turn to me. @@Hide not thy face from thy servant; €@@@for I am in distress, make haste to answer me. @@Draw near to me, redeem me, €@@@set me free because of my enemies! @@Thou knowest my reproach, €@@@and my shame and my dishonor; €@@@my foes are all known to thee. @@Insults have broken my heart, €@@@so that I am in despair. €@@I looked for pity, but there was none; €@@@and for comforters, but I found none. @@They gave me poison for food, €@@@and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. @@Let their own table before them become a snare; €@@@let their sacrificial feasts be a trap. @@Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see; €@@@and make their loins tremble continually. @@Pour out thy indignation upon them, €@@@and let thy burning anger overtake them. @@May their camp be a desolation, €@@@let no one dwell in their tents. @@For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten, €@@@and him whom thou hast wounded, they afflict still more. @@@Add to them punishment upon punishment; €@@@may they have no acquittal from thee. @@Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; €@@@let them not be enrolled among the righteous. @@But I am afflicted and in pain; €@@@let thy salvation, O God, set me on high! @@I will praise the name of God with a song; €@@@I will magnify him with thanksgiving. @@This will please the LORD more than an ox €@@@or a bull with horns and hoofs. @@Let the oppressed see it and be glad; €@@@you who seek God, let your hearts revive. @@For the LORD hears the needy, €@@@and does not despise his own that are in bonds. @@Let heaven and earth praise him, €@@@the seas and everything that moves therein. @@For God will save Zion €@@@and rebuild the cities of Judah; €@@and his servants shall dwell there and possess it; @@@the children of his servants shall inherit it, €@@@and those who love his name shall dwell in it.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering. ‘@@Be pleased, O God, to deliver me! €@@@O LORD, make haste to help me! @@Let them be put to shame and confusion €@@@who seek my life! €@@Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor €@@@who desire my hurt! @@Let them be appalled because of their shame €@@@who say, "Aha, Aha!" @@May all who seek thee €@@@rejoice and be glad in thee! €@@May those who love thy salvation €@@@say evermore, "God is great!" @@But I am poor and needy; €@@@hasten to me, O God! €@@Thou art my help and my deliverer; €@@@O LORD, do not tarry!  @@In thee, O LORD, do I take refuge; €@@@let me never be put to shame! @@In thy righteousness deliver me and rescue me; €@@@incline thy ear to me, and save me! @@Be thou to me a rock of refuge, €@@@a strong fortress, to save me, €@@@for thou art my rock and my fortress. @@Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, €@@@from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. @@For thou, O Lord, art my hope, €@@@my trust, O LORD, from my youth. @@Upon thee I have leaned from my birth; €@@@thou art he who took me from my mother's womb. €@@My praise is continually of thee. @@I have been as a portent to many; €@@@but thou art my strong refuge. @@My mouth is filled with thy praise, €@@@and with thy glory all the day. @@Do not cast me off in the time of old age; €@@@forsake me not when my strength is spent. @@For my enemies speak concerning me, €@@@those who watch for my life consult together, @@and say, "God has forsaken him; €@@@pursue and seize him, €@@@for there is none to deliver him." @@O God, be not far from me; €@@@O my God, make haste to help me! @@May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; €@@@with scorn and disgrace may they be covered €@@@who seek my hurt. @@But I will hope continually, €@@@and will praise thee yet more and more. @@My mouth will tell of thy righteous acts, €@@@of thy deeds of salvation all the day, €@@@for their number is past my knowledge. @@With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come, €@@@I will praise thy righteousness, thine alone. @@O God, from my youth thou hast taught me, €@@@and I still proclaim thy wondrous deeds. @@So even to old age and gray hairs, €@@@O God, do not forsake me, €@@till I proclaim thy might €@@@to all the generations to come. €@@@Thy power žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’ØĒ˜“@@@and thy righteousness, O God, €@@@reach the high heavens. €@@Thou who hast done great things, €@@@O God, who is like thee? @@Thou who hast made me see many sore troubles €@@@wilt revive me again; €@@from the depths of the earth €@@@thou wilt bring me up again. @@Thou wilt increase my honor, €@@@and comfort me again. @@I will also praise thee with the harp €@@@for thy faithfulness, O my God; €@@I will sing praises to thee with the lyre, €@@@O Holy One of Israel. @@My lips will shout for joy, €@@@when I sing praises to thee; €@@@my soul also, which thou hast rescued. @@And my tongue will talk of thy righteous help €@@@all the day long, €@@for they have been put to shame and disgraced €@@@who sought to do me hurt.  Ÿō’A Psalm of Solomon. ‘@@Give the king thy justice, O God, €@@@and thy righteousness to the royal son! @@May he judge thy people with righteousness, €@@@and thy poor with justice! @@Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, €@@@and the hills, in righteousness! @@May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, €@@@give deliverance to the needy, €@@@and crush the oppressor! @@May he live while the sun endures, €@@@and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! @@May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, €@@@like showers that water the earth! @@In his days may righteousness flourish, €@@@and peace abound, till the moon be no more! @@May he have dominion from sea to sea, €@@@and from the River to the ends of the earth! @@May his foes bow down before him, €@@@and his enemies lick the dust! @@May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles €@@@render him tribute, €@@may the kings of Sheba and Seba €@@@bring gifts! @@May all kings fall down before him, €@@@all nations serve him! @@For he delivers the needy when he calls, €@@@the poor and him who has no helper. @@He has pity on the weak and the needy, €@@@and saves the lives of the needy. @@From oppression and violence he redeems their life; €@@@and precious is their blood in his sight. @@Long may he live, €@@@may gold of Sheba be given to him! €@@May prayer be made for him continually, €@@@and blessings invoked for him all the day! @@May there be abundance of grain in the land; €@@@on the tops of the mountains may it wave; €@@@may its fruit be like Lebanon; €@@and may men blossom forth from the cities €@@@like the grass of the field! @@May his name endure for ever, €@@@his fame continue as long as the sun! €@@May men bless themselves by him, €@@@all nations call him blessed! @@Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, €@@@who alone does wondrous things. @@Blessed be his glorious name for ever; €@@@may his glory fill the whole earth! €@@Amen and Amen! @@The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.  Ÿō’A Psalm of Asaph. ‘@@Truly God is good to the upright, €@@@to those who are pure in heart. @@@But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, €@@@my steps had well nigh slipped. @@For I was envious of the arrogant, €@@@when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. @@For they have no pangs; €@@@their bodies are sound and sleek. @@They are not in trouble as other men are; €@@@they are not stricken like other men. @@Therefore pride is their necklace; €@@@violence covers them as a garment. @@Their eyes swell out with fatness, €@@@their hearts overflow with follies. @@They scoff and speak with malice; €@@@loftily they threaten oppression. @@They set their mouths against the heavens, €@@@and their tongue struts through the earth. @@Therefore the people turn and praise them; €@@@and find no fault in them. @@@And they say, "How can God know? €@@@Is there knowledge in the Most High?" @@Behold, these are the wicked; €@@@always at ease, they increase in riches. @@All in vain have I kept my heart clean €@@@and washed my hands in innocence. @@For all the day long I have been stricken, €@@@and chastened every morning. @@If I had said, "I will speak thus," €@@@I would have been untrue to the generation of thy children. @@But when I thought how to understand this, €@@@it seemed to me a wearisome task, @@until I went into the sanctuary of God; €@@@then I perceived their end. @@Truly thou dost set them in slippery places; €@@@thou dost make them fall to ruin. @@How they are destroyed in a moment, €@@@swept away utterly by terrors! @@They are like a dream when one awakes, €@@@on awaking you despise their phantoms. @@When my soul was embittered, €@@@when I was pricked in heart, @@I was stupid and ignorant, €@@@I was like a beast toward thee. @@Nevertheless I am continually with thee; €@@@thou dost hold my right hand. @@Thou dost guide me with thy counsel, €@@@and afterward thou wilt receive me to glory. @@@Whom have I in heaven but thee? €@@@And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides thee. @@My flesh and my heart may fail, €@@@but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. @@For lo, those who are far from thee shall perish; €@@@thou dost put an end to those who are false to thee. @@But for me it is good to be near God; €@@@I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, €@@@that I may tell of all thy works.  Ÿō’A Maskil of Asaph. ‘@@O God, why dost thou cast us off for ever? €@@@Why does thy anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? @@Remember thy congregation, which thou hast gotten of old, €@@@which thou hast redeemed to be the tribe of thy heritage! €@@@Remember Mount Zion, where thou hast dwelt. @@Direct thy steps to the perpetual ruins; €@@@the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary! @@Thy foes have roared in the midst of thy holy place; €@@@they set up their own signs for signs. @@At the upper entrance they hacked €@@@the wooden trellis with axes. @@@And then all its carved wood €@@@they broke down with hatchets and hammers. @@They set thy sanctuary on fire; €@@@to the ground they desecrated the dwelling place of thy name. @@They said to themselves, "We will utterly subdue them"; €@@@they burned all the meeting places of God in the land. @@We do not see our signs; €@@@there is no longer any prophet, €@@@and there is none among us who knows how long. @@How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? €@@@Is the enemy to revile thy name for ever? @@Why dost thou hold back thy hand, €@@@why dost thou keep thy right hand in thy bosom? @@Yet God my King is from of old, €@@@working salvation in the midst of the earth. @@Thou didst divide the sea by thy might; €@@@thou didst break the heads of the dragons on the waters. @@Thou didst crush the heads of Leviathan, €@@@thou didst give him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. @@Thou didst cleave open springs and brooks; €@@@thou didst dry up ever-flowing streams. @@Thine is the day, thine also the night; €@@@thou hast established the luminaries and the sun. @@Thou hast fixed all the bounds of the earth; €@@@thou hast made summer and winter. @@Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs, €@@@and an impious people reviles thy name. @@Do not deliver the soul of thy dove to the wild beasts; €@@@do not forget the life of thy poor for ever. @@Have regard for thy covenant; €@@@for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of €@@violence. @@Let not the downtrodden be put to shame; €@@@let the poor and needy praise thy name. @@Arise, O God, plead thy cause; €@@@remember how the impious scoff at thee all the day! @@Do not forget the clamor of thy foes, €@@@the uproar of thy adversaries which goes up continually!  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Psalm of Asaph. A €Song. ‘@@We give thanks to thee, O God; we give thanks; €@@@we call on thy name and recount thy wondrous deeds. @@At the set time which I appoint €@@@I will judge with equity. @@When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, €@@@it is I who keep steady its pillars. [Selah] @@I say to the boastful, "Do not boast," €@@@and to the wicked, "Do not lift up your horn; @@do not lift up your horn on high, €@@@or speak with insolent neck." @@For not from the east or from the west €@@@and not from the wilderness comes lifting up; @@but it is God who executes judgment, €@@@putting down one and lifting up another. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’ØĖ˜ˆ@@For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, €@@@with foaming wine, well mixed; €@@and he will pour a draught from it, €@@@and all the wicked of the earth €@@@shall drain it down to the dregs. @@But I will rejoice for ever, €@@@I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. @@All the horns of the wicked he will cut off, €@@@but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. ‘@@In Judah God is known, €@@@his name is great in Israel. @@His abode has been established in Salem, €@@@his dwelling place in Zion. @@There he broke the flashing arrows, €@@@the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. [Selah] @@Glorious art thou, more majestic €@@@than the everlasting mountains. @@@The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; €@@@they sank into sleep; €@@all the men of war €@@@were unable to use their hands. @@At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, €@@@both rider and horse lay stunned. @@But thou, terrible art thou! €@@@Who can stand before thee €@@@when once thy anger is roused? @@From the heavens thou didst utter judgment; €@@@the earth feared and was still, @@when God arose to establish judgment €@@@to save all the oppressed of the earth. [Selah] @@Surely the wrath of men shall praise thee; €@@@the residue of wrath thou wilt gird upon thee. @@Make your vows to the LORD your God, and perform them; €@@@let all around him bring gifts €@@@to him who is to be feared, @@who cuts off the spirit of princes, €@@@who is terrible to the kings of the earth.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph. ‘@@I cry aloud to God, €@@@aloud to God, that he may hear me. @@In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; €@@@in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; €@@@my soul refuses to be comforted. @@I think of God, and I moan; €@@@I meditate, and my spirit faints. [Selah] @@Thou dost hold my eyelids from closing; €@@@I am so troubled that I cannot speak. @@I consider the days of old, €@@@I remember the years long ago. @@I commune with my heart in the night; €@@@I meditate and search my spirit: @@@"Will the Lord spurn for ever, €@@@and never again be favorable? @@Has his steadfast love for ever ceased? €@@@Are his promises at an end for all time? @@Has God forgotten to be gracious? €@@@Has he in anger shut up his compassion?" [Selah] @@And I say, "It is my grief €@@@that the right hand of the Most High has changed." @@I will call to mind the deeds of the LORD; €@@@yea, I will remember thy wonders of old. @@I will meditate on all thy work, €@@@and muse on thy mighty deeds. @@Thy way, O God, is holy. €@@@What god is great like our God? @@Thou art the God who workest wonders, €@@@who hast manifested thy might among the peoples. @@Thou didst with thy arm redeem thy people, €@@@the sons of Jacob and Joseph. [Selah] @@When the waters saw thee, O God, €@@@when the waters saw thee, they were afraid, €@@@yea, the deep trembled. @@The clouds poured out water; €@@@the skies gave forth thunder; €@@@thy arrows flashed on every side. @@The crash of thy thunder was in the whirlwind; €@@@thy lightnings lighted up the world; €@@@the earth trembled and shook. @@Thy way was through the sea, €@@@thy path through the great waters; €@@@yet thy footprints were unseen. @@Thou didst lead thy people like a flock €@@@by the hand of Moses and Aaron.  Ÿō’A Maskil of Asaph. ‘@@Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; €@@@incline your ears to the words of my mouth! @@I will open my mouth in a parable; €@@@I will utter dark sayings from of old, @@things that we have heard and known, €@@@that our fathers have told us. @@We will not hide them from their children, €@@@but tell to the coming generation €@@the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, €@@@and the wonders which he has wrought. @@He established a testimony in Jacob, €@@@and appointed a law in Israel, €@@which he commanded our fathers €@@@to teach to their children; @@that the next generation might know them, €@@@the children yet unborn, €@@and arise and tell them to their children, @@@so that they should set their hope in God, €@@and not forget the works of God, €@@@but keep his commandments; @@and that they should not be like their fathers, €@@@a stubborn and rebellious generation, €@@a generation whose heart was not steadfast, €@@@whose spirit was not faithful to God. @@The E'phraimites, armed with the bow, €@@@turned back on the day of battle. @@They did not keep God's covenant, €@@@but refused to walk according to his law. @@They forgot what he had done, €@@@and the miracles that he had shown them. @@In the sight of their fathers he wrought marvels €@@@in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zo'an. @@He divided the sea and let them pass through it, €@@@and made the waters stand like a heap. @@In the daytime he led them with a cloud, €@@@and all the night with a fiery light. @@He cleft rocks in the wilderness, €@@@and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. @@He made streams come out of the rock, €@@@and caused waters to flow down like rivers. @@Yet they sinned still more against him, €@@@rebelling against the Most High in the desert. @@They tested God in their heart €@@@by demanding the food they craved. @@They spoke against God, saying, €@@@"Can God spread a table in the wilderness? @@He smote the rock so that water gushed out €@@@and streams overflowed. €@@Can he also give bread, €@@@or provide meat for his people?" @@Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of wrath; €@@@a fire was kindled against Jacob, €@@@his anger mounted against Israel; @@because they had no faith in God, €@@@and did not trust his saving power. @@Yet he commanded the skies above, €@@@and opened the doors of heaven; @@and he rained down upon them manna to eat, €@@@and gave them the grain of heaven. @@Man ate of the bread of the angels; €@@@he sent them food in abundance. @@He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, €@@@and by his power he led out the south wind; @@he rained flesh upon them like dust, €@@@winged birds like the sand of the seas; @@he let them fall in the midst of their camp, €@@@all around their habitations. @@And they ate and were well filled, €@@@for he gave them what they craved. @@But before they had sated their craving, €@@@while the food was still in their mouths, @@the anger of God rose against them €@@@and he slew the strongest of them, €@@@and laid low the picked men of Israel. @@In spite of all this they still sinned; €@@@despite his wonders they did not believe. @@So he made their days vanish like a breath, €@@@and their years in terror. @@When he slew them, they sought for him; €@@@they repented and sought God earnestly. @@They remembered that God was their rock, €@@@the Most High God their redeemer. @@But they flattered him with their mouths; €@@@they lied to him with their tongues. @@Their heart was not steadfast toward him; €@@@they were not true to his covenant. @@Yet he, being compassionate, €@@@forgave their iniquity, €@@@and did not destroy them; €@@he restrained his anger often, €@@@and did not stir up all his wrath. @@He remembered that they were but flesh, €@@@a wind that passes and comes not again. @@How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness €@@@and grieved him in the desert! @@They tested him again and again, €@@@and provoked the Holy One of Israel. @@They did not keep in mind his power, €@@@or the day when he redeemed them from the foe; @@when he wrought his signs in Egypt, €@@@and his miracles in the fields of Zo'an. @@He turned their rivers to blood, €@@@so that they could not drink of their streams. @@He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them, €@@@and frogs, which destroyed them. @@He gave their crops to the caterpillar, €@@@and the fruit of their labor to the locust. @@He destroyed their vines with hail, €@@@and their sycamores with frost. @@He gave over their cattle to the hail, €@@@and their flocks to thunderbolts. @@He let loose on them his fierce anger, €@@@wrath, indignation, and distress, €@@@a company of destroying angels. @@He made a path for his anger; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’ØĪ˜²‚@@@he did not spare them from death, €@@@but gave their lives over to the plague. @@He smote all the first-born in Egypt, €@@@the first issue of their strength in the tents of Ham. @@Then he led forth his people like sheep, €@@@and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. @@He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid; €@@@but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. @@And he brought them to his holy land, €@@@to the mountain which his right hand had won. @@He drove out nations before them; €@@@he apportioned them for a possession €@@@and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents. @@Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God, €@@@and did not observe his testimonies, @@but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; €@@@they twisted like a deceitful bow. @@For they provoked him to anger with their high places; €@@@they moved him to jealousy with their graven images. @@When God heard, he was full of wrath, €@@@and he utterly rejected Israel. @@He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh, €@@@the tent where he dwelt among men, @@and delivered his power to captivity, €@@@his glory to the hand of the foe. @@He gave his people over to the sword, €@@@and vented his wrath on his heritage. @@Fire devoured their young men, €@@@and their maidens had no marriage song. @@Their priests fell by the sword, €@@@and their widows made no lamentation. @@Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, €@@@like a strong man shouting because of wine. @@And he put his adversaries to rout; €@@@he put them to everlasting shame. @@He rejected the tent of Joseph, €@@@he did not choose the tribe of E'phraim; @@but he chose the tribe of Judah, €@@@Mount Zion, which he loves. @@He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, €@@@like the earth, which he has founded for ever. @@He chose David his servant, €@@@and took him from the sheepfolds; @@from tending the ewes that had young he brought him €@@@to be the shepherd of Jacob his people, €@@@of Israel his inheritance. @@With upright heart he tended them, €@@@and guided them with skilful hand.  Ÿō’A Psalm of Asaph. ‘@@O God, the heathen have come into thy inheritance; €@@@they have defiled thy holy temple; €@@@they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. @@They have given the bodies of thy servants €@@@to the birds of the air for food, €@@@the flesh of thy saints to the beasts of the earth. @@They have poured out their blood like water €@@@round about Jerusalem, €@@@and there was none to bury them. @@We have become a taunt to our neighbors, €@@@mocked and derided by those round about us. @@How long, O LORD? Wilt thou be angry for ever? €@@@Will thy jealous wrath burn like fire? @@Pour out thy anger on the nations €@@@that do not know thee, €@@and on the kingdoms €@@@that do not call on thy name! @@For they have devoured Jacob, €@@@and laid waste his habitation. @@Do not remember against us the iniquities of our forefathers; €@@@let thy compassion come speedily to meet us, €@@@for we are brought very low. @@Help us, O God of our salvation, €@@@for the glory of thy name; €@@deliver us, and forgive our sins, €@@@for thy name's sake! @@Why should the nations say, €@@@"Where is their God?" €@@Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of thy servants €@@@be known among the nations before our eyes! @@Let the groans of the prisoners come before thee; €@@@according to thy great power preserve those doomed to die! @@Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors €@@@the taunts with which they have taunted thee, O Lord! @@Then we thy people, the flock of thy pasture, €@@@will give thanks to thee for ever; €@@@from generation to generation we will recount thy praise.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Testimony of Asaph. €A Psalm. ‘@@Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, €@@@thou who leadest Joseph like a flock! €@@Thou who art enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth @@@before E'phraim and Benjamin and Manas'seh! €@@Stir up thy might, €@@@and come to save us! @@Restore us, O God; €@@@let thy face shine, that we may be saved! @@O LORD God of hosts, €@@@how long wilt thou be angry with thy people's prayers? @@Thou hast fed them with the bread of tears, €@@@and given them tears to drink in full measure. @@Thou dost make us the scorn of our neighbors; €@@@and our enemies laugh among themselves. @@Restore us, O God of hosts; €@@@let thy face shine, that we may be saved! @@Thou didst bring a vine out of Egypt; €@@@thou didst drive out the nations and plant it. @@Thou didst clear the ground for it; €@@@it took deep root and filled the land. @@The mountains were covered with its shade, €@@@the mighty cedars with its branches; @@it sent out its branches to the sea, €@@@and its shoots to the River. @@Why then hast thou broken down its walls, €@@@so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit? @@The boar from the forest ravages it, €@@@and all that move in the field feed on it. @@Turn again, O God of hosts! €@@@Look down from heaven, and see; €@@have regard for this vine, @@@the stock which thy right hand planted. @@@They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down; €@@@may they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance! @@But let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, €@@@the son of man whom thou hast made strong for thyself! @@Then we will never turn back from thee; €@@@give us life, and we will call on thy name! @@Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! €@@@let thy face shine, that we may be saved!  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph. ‘@@Sing aloud to God our strength; €@@@shout for joy to the God of Jacob! @@Raise a song, sound the timbrel, €@@@the sweet lyre with the harp. @@Blow the trumpet at the new moon, €@@@at the full moon, on our feast day. @@For it is a statute for Israel, €@@@an ordinance of the God of Jacob. @@He made it a decree in Joseph, €@@@when he went out over the land of Egypt. €@@I hear a voice I had not known: @@"I relieved your shoulder of the burden; €@@@your hands were freed from the basket. @@In distress you called, and I delivered you; €@@@I answered you in the secret place of thunder; €@@@I tested you at the waters of Mer'ibah. [Selah] @@Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! €@@@O Israel, if you would but listen to me! @@There shall be no strange god among you; €@@@you shall not bow down to a foreign god. @@I am the LORD your God, €@@@who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. €@@@Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. @@"But my people did not listen to my voice; €@@@Israel would have none of me. @@So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, €@@@to follow their own counsels. @@O that my people would listen to me, €@@@that Israel would walk in my ways! @@I would soon subdue their enemies, €@@@and turn my hand against their foes. @@Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, €@@@and their fate would last for ever. @@I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, €@@@and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."  Ÿō’A Psalm of Asaph. ‘@@God has taken his place in the divine council; €@@@in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: @@"How long will you judge unjustly €@@@and show partiality to the wicked? [Selah] @@Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; €@@@maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. @@Rescue the weak and the needy; €@@@deliver them from the hand of the wicked." @@They have neither knowledge nor understanding, €@@@they walk about in darkness; €@@@all the foundations of the earth are shaken. @@I say, "You are gods, €@@@sons of the Most High, all of you; @@nevertheless, you shall die like men, €@@@and fall like any prince." @@@Arise, O God, judge the earth; €@@@for to thee belong all the nations!  Ÿō’A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. ‘@@O God, do not keep silence; €@@@do not hold thy peace or be still, O God! @@For lo, thy enemies are in tumult; €@@@those who hate thee have raised their heads. @@They lay crafty plans against thy people; €@@@they consult together against thy protected ones. @@They say, "Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; €@@@let the name of Israel be remembered no more!" @@Yea, they conspire with one accord; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’Øӕ‚@@@against thee they make a covenant --@@the tents of Edom and the Ish'maelites, €@@@Moab and the Hagrites, @@Gebal and Ammon and Am'alek, €@@@Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; @@Assyria also has joined them; €@@@they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. [Selah] @@Do to them as thou didst to Mid'ian, €@@@as to Sis'era and Jabin at the river Kishon, @@who were destroyed at En-dor, €@@@who became dung for the ground. @@Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, €@@@all their princes like Zebah and Zalmun'na, @@who said, "Let us take possession for ourselves €@@@of the pastures of God." @@O my God, make them like whirling dust, €@@@like chaff before the wind. @@As fire consumes the forest, €@@@as the flame sets the mountains ablaze, @@so do thou pursue them with thy tempest €@@@and terrify them with thy hurricane! @@Fill their faces with shame, €@@@that they may seek thy name, O LORD. @@Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever; €@@@let them perish in disgrace. @@Let them know that thou alone, €@@@whose name is the LORD, €@@@art the Most High over all the earth.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of the Sons of €Korah. ‘@@How lovely is thy dwelling place, €@@@O LORD of hosts! @@My soul longs, yea, faints €@@@for the courts of the LORD; €@@my heart and flesh sing for joy €@@@to the living God. @@Even the sparrow finds a home, €@@@and the swallow a nest for herself, €@@@where she may lay her young, €@@at thy altars, O LORD of hosts, €@@@my King and my God. @@Blessed are those who dwell in thy house, €@@@ever singing thy praise! [Selah] @@Blessed are the men whose strength is in thee, €@@@in whose heart are the highways to Zion. @@@As they go through the valley of Baca €@@@they make it a place of springs; €@@@the early rain also covers it with pools. @@They go from strength to strength; €@@@the God of gods will be seen in Zion. @@O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; €@@@give ear, O God of Jacob! [Selah] @@Behold our shield, O God; €@@@look upon the face of thine anointed! @@For a day in thy courts is better €@@@than a thousand elsewhere. €@@I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God €@@@than dwell in the tents of wickedness. @@For the LORD God is a sun and shield; €@@@he bestows favor and honor. €@@No good thing does the LORD withhold €@@@from those who walk uprightly. @@O LORD of hosts, €@@@blessed is the man who trusts in thee!  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. ‘@@LORD, thou wast favorable to thy land; €@@@thou didst restore the fortunes of Jacob. @@Thou didst forgive the iniquity of thy people; €@@@thou didst pardon all their sin. [Selah] @@Thou didst withdraw all thy wrath; €@@@thou didst turn from thy hot anger. @@Restore us again, O God of our salvation, €@@@and put away thy indignation toward us! @@Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? €@@@Wilt thou prolong thy anger to all generations? @@Wilt thou not revive us again, €@@@that thy people may rejoice in thee? @@Show us thy steadfast love, O LORD, €@@@and grant us thy salvation. @@Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, €@@@for he will speak peace to his people, €@@@to his saints, to those who turn to him in their hearts. @@@Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, €@@@that glory may dwell in our land. @@Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; €@@@righteousness and peace will kiss each other. @@Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, €@@@and righteousness will look down from the sky. @@Yea, the LORD will give what is good, €@@@and our land will yield its increase. @@Righteousness will go before him, €@@@and make his footsteps a way.  Ÿō’A Prayer of David. ‘@@Incline thy ear, O LORD, and answer me, €@@@for I am poor and needy. @@Preserve my life, for I am godly; €@@@save thy servant who trusts in thee. €@@Thou art my God; @@@be gracious to me, O Lord, €@@@for to thee do I cry all the day. @@Gladden the soul of thy servant, €@@@for to thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. @@For thou, O Lord, art good and forgiving, €@@@abounding in steadfast love to all who call on thee. @@Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; €@@@hearken to my cry of supplication. @@In the day of my trouble I call on thee, €@@@for thou dost answer me. @@There is none like thee among the gods, O Lord, €@@@nor are there any works like thine. @@All the nations thou hast made shall come €@@@and bow down before thee, O Lord, €@@@and shall glorify thy name. @@For thou art great and doest wondrous things, €@@@thou alone art God. @@Teach me thy way, O LORD, €@@@that I may walk in thy truth; €@@@unite my heart to fear thy name. @@I give thanks to thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, €@@@and I will glorify thy name for ever. @@For great is thy steadfast love toward me; €@@@thou hast delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. @@O God, insolent men have risen up against me; €@@@a band of ruthless men seek my life, €@@@and they do not set thee before them. @@But thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, €@@@slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. @@Turn to me and take pity on me; €@@@give thy strength to thy servant, €@@@and save the son of thy handmaid. @@Show me a sign of thy favor, €@@@that those who hate me may see and be put to shame €@@@because thou, LORD, hast helped me and comforted me.  Ÿō’A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A Song. ‘@@On the holy mount stands the city he founded; @@@the LORD loves the gates of Zion €@@@more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. @@Glorious things are spoken of you, €@@@O city of God. [Selah] @@Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; €@@@behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia --€@@@"This one was born there," they say. @@And of Zion it shall be said, €@@@"This one and that one were born in her"; €@@@for the Most High himself will establish her. @@The LORD records as he registers the peoples, €@@@"This one was born there." [Selah] @@Singers and dancers alike say, €@@@"All my springs are in you."  Ÿō’A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to €Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. ‘@@O LORD, my God, I call for help by day; €@@@I cry out in the night before thee. @@Let my prayer come before thee, €@@@incline thy ear to my cry! @@For my soul is full of troubles, €@@@and my life draws near to Sheol. @@I am reckoned among those who go down to the Pit; €@@@I am a man who has no strength, @@like one forsaken among the dead, €@@@like the slain that lie in the grave, €@@like those whom thou dost remember no more, €@@@for they are cut off from thy hand. @@Thou hast put me in the depths of the Pit, €@@@in the regions dark and deep. @@Thy wrath lies heavy upon me, €@@@and thou dost overwhelm me with all thy waves. [Selah] @@Thou hast caused my companions to shun me; €@@@thou hast made me a thing of horror to them. €@@I am shut in so that I cannot escape; @@@my eye grows dim through sorrow. €@@Every day I call upon thee, O LORD; €@@@I spread out my hands to thee. @@Dost thou work wonders for the dead? €@@@Do the shades rise up to praise thee? [Selah] @@Is thy steadfast love declared in the grave, €@@@or thy faithfulness in Abaddon? @@Are thy wonders known in the darkness, €@@@or thy saving help in the land of forgetfulness? @@But I, O LORD, cry to thee; €@@@in the morning my prayer comes before thee. @@O LORD, why dost thou cast me off? €@@@Why dost thou hide thy face from me? @@Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, €@@@I suffer thy terrors; I am helpless. @@@Thy wrath has swept over me; €@@@thy dread assaults destroy me. @@They surround me like a flood all day long; €@@@they close in upon me together. @@Thou hast caused lover and friend to shun me; €@@@my companions are in darkness.  Ÿō’A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. ‘@@I will sing of thy steadfast love, O LORD, for ever; €@@@with my mouth I will proclaim thy faithfulness to all generations. @@For thy steadfast love was established for ever, €@@@thy faithfulness is firm as the heavens. @@Thou hast said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’ØŁ“‚@@@I have sworn to David my servant: @@`I will establish your descendants for ever, €@@@and build your throne for all generations.'" [Selah] @@Let the heavens praise thy wonders, O LORD, €@@@thy faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! @@For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? €@@@Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, @@a God feared in the council of the holy ones, €@@@great and terrible above all that are round about him? @@O LORD God of hosts, €@@@who is mighty as thou art, O LORD, €@@@with thy faithfulness round about thee? @@Thou dost rule the raging of the sea; €@@@when its waves rise, thou stillest them. @@Thou didst crush Rahab like a carcass, €@@@thou didst scatter thy enemies with thy mighty arm. @@The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine; €@@@the world and all that is in it, thou hast founded them. @@The north and the south, thou hast created them; €@@@Tabor and Hermon joyously praise thy name. @@Thou hast a mighty arm; €@@@strong is thy hand, high thy right hand. @@Righteousness and justice are the foundation of thy throne; €@@@steadfast love and faithfulness go before thee. @@Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, €@@@who walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance, @@who exult in thy name all the day, €@@@and extol thy righteousness. @@For thou art the glory of their strength; €@@@by thy favor our horn is exalted. @@For our shield belongs to the LORD, €@@@our king to the Holy One of Israel. @@Of old thou didst speak in a vision €@@@to thy faithful one, and say: €@@"I have set the crown upon one who is mighty, €@@@I have exalted one chosen from the people. @@I have found David, my servant; €@@@with my holy oil I have anointed him; @@so that my hand shall ever abide with him, €@@@my arm also shall strengthen him. @@The enemy shall not outwit him, €@@@the wicked shall not humble him. @@I will crush his foes before him €@@@and strike down those who hate him. @@My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, €@@@and in my name shall his horn be exalted. @@I will set his hand on the sea €@@@and his right hand on the rivers. @@He shall cry to me, `Thou art my Father, €@@@my God, and the Rock of my salvation.' @@And I will make him the first-born, €@@@the highest of the kings of the earth. @@My steadfast love I will keep for him for ever, €@@@and my covenant will stand firm for him. @@I will establish his line for ever €@@@and his throne as the days of the heavens. @@If his children forsake my law €@@@and do not walk according to my ordinances, @@if they violate my statutes €@@@and do not keep my commandments, @@then I will punish their transgression with the rod €@@@and their iniquity with scourges; @@but I will not remove from him my steadfast love, €@@@or be false to my faithfulness. @@I will not violate my covenant, €@@@or alter the word that went forth from my lips. @@Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; €@@@I will not lie to David. @@His line shall endure for ever, €@@@his throne as long as the sun before me. @@Like the moon it shall be established for ever; €@@@it shall stand firm while the skies endure." [Selah] @@But now thou hast cast off and rejected, €@@@thou art full of wrath against thy anointed. @@Thou hast renounced the covenant with thy servant; €@@@thou hast defiled his crown in the dust. @@Thou hast breached all his walls; €@@@thou hast laid his strongholds in ruins. @@All that pass by despoil him; €@@@he has become the scorn of his neighbors. @@Thou hast exalted the right hand of his foes; €@@@thou hast made all his enemies rejoice. @@Yea, thou hast turned back the edge of his sword, €@@@and thou hast not made him stand in battle. @@Thou hast removed the scepter from his hand, €@@@and cast his throne to the ground. @@Thou hast cut short the days of his youth; €@@@thou hast covered him with shame. [Selah] @@How long, O LORD? Wilt thou hide thyself for ever? €@@@How long will thy wrath burn like fire? @@Remember, O Lord, what the measure of life is, €@@@for what vanity thou hast created all the sons of men! @@What man can live and never see death? €@@@Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? [Selah] @@Lord, where is thy steadfast love of old, €@@@which by thy faithfulness thou didst swear to David? @@Remember, O Lord, how thy servant is scorned; €@@@how I bear in my bosom the insults of the peoples, @@with which thy enemies taunt, O LORD, €@@@with which they mock the footsteps of thy anointed. @@Blessed be the LORD for ever! €@@Amen and Amen.  Ÿō’A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. ‘@@LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place €@@@in all generations. @@Before the mountains were brought forth, €@@@or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, €@@@from everlasting to everlasting thou art God. @@Thou turnest man back to the dust, €@@@and sayest, "Turn back, O children of men!" @@For a thousand years in thy sight €@@@are but as yesterday when it is past, €@@@or as a watch in the night. @@Thou dost sweep men away; they are like a dream, €@@@like grass which is renewed in the morning: @@in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; €@@@in the evening it fades and withers. @@For we are consumed by thy anger; €@@@by thy wrath we are overwhelmed. @@Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, €@@@our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. @@For all our days pass away under thy wrath, €@@@our years come to an end like a sigh. @@The years of our life are threescore and ten, €@@@or even by reason of strength fourscore; €@@yet their span is but toil and trouble; €@@@they are soon gone, and we fly away. @@Who considers the power of thy anger, €@@@and thy wrath according to the fear of thee? @@So teach us to number our days €@@@that we may get a heart of wisdom. @@Return, O LORD! How long? €@@@Have pity on thy servants! @@Satisfy us in the morning with thy steadfast love, €@@@that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. @@Make us glad as many days as thou hast afflicted us, €@@@and as many years as we have seen evil. @@Let thy work be manifest to thy servants, €@@@and thy glorious power to their children. @@Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, €@@@and establish thou the work of our hands upon us, €@@@yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.  @@He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, €@@@who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, @@will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; €@@@my God, in whom I trust." @@For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler €@@@and from the deadly pestilence; @@he will cover you with his pinions, €@@@and under his wings you will find refuge; €@@@his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. @@You will not fear the terror of the night, €@@@nor the arrow that flies by day, @@nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, €@@@nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. @@A thousand may fall at your side, €@@@ten thousand at your right hand; €@@@but it will not come near you. @@You will only look with your eyes €@@@and see the recompense of the wicked. @@Because you have made the LORD your refuge, €@@@the Most High your habitation, @@no evil shall befall you, €@@@no scourge come near your tent. @@For he will give his angels charge of you €@@@to guard you in all your ways. @@On their hands they will bear you up, €@@@lest you dash your foot against a stone. @@You will tread on the lion and the adder, €@@@the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. @@Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; €@@@I will protect him, because he knows my name. @@When he calls to me, I will answer him; €@@@I will be with him in trouble, €@@@I will rescue him and honor him. @@With long life I will satisfy him, €@@@and show him my salvation.  Ÿō’A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath. ‘@@It is good to give thanks to the LORD, €@@@to sing praises to thy name, O Most High; @@to declare thy steadfast love in the morning, €@@@and thy faithfulness by night, @@to the music of the lute and the harp, €@@@to the melody of the lyre. @@For thou, O LORD, hast made me glad by thy work; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’Øܔ‚@@@at the works of thy hands I sing for joy. @@How great are thy works, O LORD! €@@@Thy thoughts are very deep! @@The dull man cannot know, €@@@the stupid cannot understand this: @@that, though the wicked sprout like grass €@@@and all evildoers flourish, €@@they are doomed to destruction for ever, @@@but thou, O LORD, art on high for ever. @@For, lo, thy enemies, O LORD, €@@@for, lo, thy enemies shall perish; €@@@all evildoers shall be scattered. @@But thou hast exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; €@@@thou hast poured over me fresh oil. @@My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies, €@@@my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants. @@The righteous flourish like the palm tree, €@@@and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. @@They are planted in the house of the LORD, €@@@they flourish in the courts of our God. @@They still bring forth fruit in old age, €@@@they are ever full of sap and green, @@to show that the LORD is upright; €@@@he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.  @@The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; €@@@the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength. €@@Yea, the world is established; it shall never be moved; @@@thy throne is established from of old; €@@@thou art from everlasting. @@The floods have lifted up, O LORD, €@@@the floods have lifted up their voice, €@@@the floods lift up their roaring. @@Mightier than the thunders of many waters, €@@@mightier than the waves of the sea, €@@@the LORD on high is mighty! @@Thy decrees are very sure; €@@@holiness befits thy house, €@@@O LORD, for evermore.  @@O LORD, thou God of vengeance, €@@@thou God of vengeance, shine forth! @@Rise up, O judge of the earth; €@@@render to the proud their deserts! @@O LORD, how long shall the wicked, €@@@how long shall the wicked exult? @@They pour out their arrogant words, €@@@they boast, all the evildoers. @@They crush thy people, O LORD, €@@@and afflict thy heritage. @@They slay the widow and the sojourner, €@@@and murder the fatherless; @@and they say, "The LORD does not see; €@@@the God of Jacob does not perceive." @@Understand, O dullest of the people! €@@@Fools, when will you be wise? @@He who planted the ear, does he not hear? €@@He who formed the eye, does he not see? @@He who chastens the nations, does he not chastise? €@@He who teaches men knowledge, @@@the LORD, knows the thoughts of man, €@@@that they are but a breath. @@Blessed is the man whom thou dost chasten, O LORD, €@@@and whom thou dost teach out of thy law @@to give him respite from days of trouble, €@@@until a pit is dug for the wicked. @@For the LORD will not forsake his people; €@@@he will not abandon his heritage; @@for justice will return to the righteous, €@@@and all the upright in heart will follow it. @@Who rises up for me against the wicked? €@@@Who stands up for me against evildoers? @@If the LORD had not been my help, €@@@my soul would soon have dwelt in the land of silence. @@When I thought, "My foot slips," €@@@thy steadfast love, O LORD, held me up. @@When the cares of my heart are many, €@@@thy consolations cheer my soul. @@Can wicked rulers be allied with thee, €@@@who frame mischief by statute? @@They band together against the life of the righteous, €@@@and condemn the innocent to death. @@But the LORD has become my stronghold, €@@@and my God the rock of my refuge. @@He will bring back on them their iniquity €@@@and wipe them out for their wickedness; €@@@the LORD our God will wipe them out.  @@O come, let us sing to the LORD; €@@@let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! @@Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; €@@@let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! @@For the LORD is a great God, €@@@and a great King above all gods. @@In his hand are the depths of the earth; €@@@the heights of the mountains are his also. @@The sea is his, for he made it; €@@@for his hands formed the dry land. @@O come, let us worship and bow down, €@@@let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! @@For he is our God, €@@@and we are the people of his pasture, €@@@and the sheep of his hand. €@@O that today you would hearken to his voice! @@@Harden not your hearts, as at Mer'ibah, €@@@as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, @@when your fathers tested me, €@@@and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. @@For forty years I loathed that generation €@@@and said, "They are a people who err in heart, €@@@and they do not regard my ways." @@Therefore I swore in my anger €@@@that they should not enter my rest.  @@O sing to the LORD a new song; €@@@sing to the LORD, all the earth! @@Sing to the LORD, bless his name; €@@@tell of his salvation from day to day. @@Declare his glory among the nations, €@@@his marvelous works among all the peoples! @@For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; €@@@he is to be feared above all gods. @@For all the gods of the peoples are idols; €@@@but the LORD made the heavens. @@Honor and majesty are before him; €@@@strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. @@Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, €@@@ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! @@Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; €@@@bring an offering, and come into his courts! @@Worship the LORD in holy array; €@@@tremble before him, all the earth! @@Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! €@@@Yea, the world is established, it shall never be moved; €@@@he will judge the peoples with equity." @@Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; €@@@let the sea roar, and all that fills it; @@@let the field exult, and everything in it! €@@Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy @@@before the LORD, for he comes, €@@@for he comes to judge the earth. €@@He will judge the world with righteousness, €@@@and the peoples with his truth.  @@The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; €@@@let the many coastlands be glad! @@Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; €@@@righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. @@Fire goes before him, €@@@and burns up his adversaries round about. @@His lightnings lighten the world; €@@@the earth sees and trembles. @@The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, €@@@before the Lord of all the earth. @@The heavens proclaim his righteousness; €@@@and all the peoples behold his glory. @@All worshipers of images are put to shame, €@@@who make their boast in worthless idols; €@@@all gods bow down before him. @@Zion hears and is glad, €@@@and the daughters of Judah rejoice, €@@@because of thy judgments, O God. @@For thou, O LORD, art most high over all the earth; €@@@thou art exalted far above all gods. @@The LORD loves those who hate evil; €@@@he preserves the lives of his saints; €@@@he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. @@Light dawns for the righteous, €@@@and joy for the upright in heart. @@Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, €@@@and give thanks to his holy name!  Ÿō’A Psalm. ‘@@O sing to the LORD a new song, €@@@for he has done marvelous things! €@@His right hand and his holy arm €@@@have gotten him victory. @@The LORD has made known his victory, €@@@he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. @@He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness €@@@to the house of Israel. €@@All the ends of the earth have seen €@@@the victory of our God. @@Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; €@@@break forth into joyous song and sing praises! @@Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, €@@@with the lyre and the sound of melody! @@With trumpets and the sound of the horn €@@@make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD! @@Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; €@@@the world and those who dwell in it! @@Let the floods clap their hands; €@@@let the hills sing for joy together @@before the LORD, for he comes €@@@to judge the earth. €@@He will judge the world with righteousness, €@@@and the peoples with equity.  @@The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! €@@@He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! @@The LORD is great in Zion; €@@@he is exalted over all the peoples. @@Let them praise thy great and terrible name! €@@@Holy is he! žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’Øć”@@Mighty King, lover of justice, €@@@thou hast established equity; €@@thou hast executed justice €@@@and righteousness in Jacob. @@Extol the LORD our God; €@@@worship at his footstool! €@@@Holy is he! @@Moses and Aaron were among his priests, €@@@Samuel also was among those who called on his name. €@@@They cried to the LORD, and he answered them. @@He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; €@@@they kept his testimonies, €@@@and the statutes that he gave them. @@O LORD our God, thou didst answer them; €@@@thou wast a forgiving God to them, €@@@but an avenger of their wrongdoings. @@Extol the LORD our God, €@@@and worship at his holy mountain; €@@@for the LORD our God is holy!  Ÿō’A Psalm for the thank offering. ‘@@Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the lands! @@@Serve the LORD with gladness! €@@@Come into his presence with singing! @@Know that the LORD is God! €@@@It is he that made us, and we are his; €@@@we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. @@Enter his gates with thanksgiving, €@@@and his courts with praise! €@@@Give thanks to him, bless his name! @@For the LORD is good; €@@@his steadfast love endures for ever, €@@@and his faithfulness to all generations.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@I will sing of loyalty and of justice; €@@@to thee, O LORD, I will sing. @@I will give heed to the way that is blameless. €@@@Oh when wilt thou come to me? €@@I will walk with integrity of heart €@@@within my house; @@I will not set before my eyes €@@@anything that is base. €@@I hate the work of those who fall away; €@@@it shall not cleave to me. @@Perverseness of heart shall be far from me; €@@@I will know nothing of evil. @@Him who slanders his neighbor secretly €@@@I will destroy. €@@The man of haughty looks and arrogant heart €@@@I will not endure. @@I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, €@@@that they may dwell with me; €@@he who walks in the way that is blameless €@@@shall minister to me. @@No man who practices deceit €@@@shall dwell in my house; €@@no man who utters lies €@@@shall continue in my presence. @@Morning by morning I will destroy €@@@all the wicked in the land, €@@cutting off all the evildoers €@@@from the city of the LORD.  Ÿō’@@A prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint €@@before the LORD. ‘@@Hear my prayer, O LORD; €@@@let my cry come to thee! @@Do not hide thy face from me €@@@in the day of my distress! €@@Incline thy ear to me; €@@@answer me speedily in the day when I call! @@For my days pass away like smoke, €@@@and my bones burn like a furnace. @@My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; €@@@I forget to eat my bread. @@Because of my loud groaning €@@@my bones cleave to my flesh. @@I am like a vulture of the wilderness, €@@@like an owl of the waste places; @@I lie awake, €@@@I am like a lonely bird on the housetop. @@All the day my enemies taunt me, €@@@those who deride me use my name for a curse. @@For I eat ashes like bread, €@@@and mingle tears with my drink, @@because of thy indignation and anger; €@@@for thou hast taken me up and thrown me away. @@My days are like an evening shadow; €@@@I wither away like grass. @@But thou, O LORD, art enthroned for ever; €@@@thy name endures to all generations. @@Thou wilt arise and have pity on Zion; €@@@it is the time to favor her; €@@@the appointed time has come. @@For thy servants hold her stones dear, €@@@and have pity on her dust. @@The nations will fear the name of the LORD, €@@@and all the kings of the earth thy glory. @@For the LORD will build up Zion, €@@@he will appear in his glory; @@he will regard the prayer of the destitute, €@@@and will not despise their supplication. @@Let this be recorded for a generation to come, €@@@so that a people yet unborn may praise the LORD: @@that he looked down from his holy height, €@@@from heaven the LORD looked at the earth, @@to hear the groans of the prisoners, €@@@to set free those who were doomed to die; @@that men may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, €@@@and in Jerusalem his praise, @@when peoples gather together, €@@@and kingdoms, to worship the LORD. @@He has broken my strength in mid-course; €@@@he has shortened my days. @@"O my God," I say, "take me not hence €@@@in the midst of my days, €@@thou whose years endure €@@@throughout all generations!" @@Of old thou didst lay the foundation of the earth, €@@@and the heavens are the work of thy hands. @@They will perish, but thou dost endure; €@@@they will all wear out like a garment. €@@Thou changest them like raiment, and they pass away; @@@but thou art the same, and thy years have no end. @@The children of thy servants shall dwell secure; €@@@their posterity shall be established before thee.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@Bless the LORD, O my soul; €@@@and all that is within me, bless his holy name! @@Bless the LORD, O my soul, €@@@and forget not all his benefits, @@who forgives all your iniquity, €@@@who heals all your diseases, @@who redeems your life from the Pit, €@@@who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, @@who satisfies you with good as long as you live €@@@so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. @@The LORD works vindication €@@@and justice for all who are oppressed. @@He made known his ways to Moses, €@@@his acts to the people of Israel. @@The LORD is merciful and gracious, €@@@slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. @@He will not always chide, €@@@nor will he keep his anger for ever. @@He does not deal with us according to our sins, €@@@nor requite us according to our iniquities. @@For as the heavens are high above the earth, €@@@so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; @@as far as the east is from the west, €@@@so far does he remove our transgressions from us. @@As a father pities his children, €@@@so the LORD pities those who fear him. @@For he knows our frame; €@@@he remembers that we are dust. @@As for man, his days are like grass; €@@@he flourishes like a flower of the field; @@for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, €@@@and its place knows it no more. @@But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting €@@@upon those who fear him, €@@@and his righteousness to children's children, @@to those who keep his covenant €@@@and remember to do his commandments. @@The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, €@@@and his kingdom rules over all. @@Bless the LORD, O you his angels, €@@@you mighty ones who do his word, €@@@hearkening to the voice of his word! @@Bless the LORD, all his hosts, €@@@his ministers that do his will! @@Bless the LORD, all his works, €@@@in all places of his dominion. €@@Bless the LORD, O my soul!  @@Bless the LORD, O my soul! €@@@O LORD my God, thou art very great! €@@Thou art clothed with honor and majesty, @@@who coverest thyself with light as with a garment, €@@who hast stretched out the heavens like a tent, @@@who hast laid the beams of thy chambers on the waters, €@@who makest the clouds thy chariot, €@@@who ridest on the wings of the wind, @@who makest the winds thy messengers, €@@@fire and flame thy ministers. @@Thou didst set the earth on its foundations, €@@@so that it should never be shaken. @@Thou didst cover it with the deep as with a garment; €@@@the waters stood above the mountains. @@At thy rebuke they fled; €@@@at the sound of thy thunder they took to flight. @@The mountains rose, the valleys sank down €@@@to the place which thou didst appoint for them. @@Thou didst set a bound which they should not pass, €@@@so that they might not again cover the earth. @@Thou makest springs gush forth in the valleys; €@@@they flow between the hills, @@they give drink to every beast of the field; €@@@the wild asses quench their thirst. @@By them the birds of the air have their habitation; €@@@they sing among the branches. @@From thy lofty abode thou waterest the mountains; €@@@the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy work. @@Thou dost cause the grass to grow for the cattle, €@@@and plants for man to cultivate, €@@@that he may bring forth food from the earth, @@@and wine to gladden the heart of man, €@@oil to make his face shine, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’Ø蘏ƒ@@@and bread to strengthen man's heart. @@The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, €@@@the cedars of Lebanon which he planted. @@In them the birds build their nests; €@@@the stork has her home in the fir trees. @@The high mountains are for the wild goats; €@@@the rocks are a refuge for the badgers. @@Thou hast made the moon to mark the seasons; €@@@the sun knows its time for setting. @@Thou makest darkness, and it is night, €@@@when all the beasts of the forest creep forth. @@The young lions roar for their prey, €@@@seeking their food from God. @@When the sun rises, they get them away €@@@and lie down in their dens. @@Man goes forth to his work €@@@and to his labor until the evening. @@O LORD, how manifold are thy works! €@@@In wisdom hast thou made them all; €@@@the earth is full of thy creatures. @@Yonder is the sea, great and wide, €@@@which teems with things innumerable, €@@@living things both small and great. @@There go the ships, €@@@and Leviathan which thou didst form to sport in it. @@These all look to thee, €@@@to give them their food in due season. @@When thou givest to them, they gather it up; €@@@when thou openest thy hand, they are filled with good things. @@When thou hidest thy face, they are dismayed; €@@@when thou takest away their breath, they die €@@@and return to their dust. @@When thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; €@@@and thou renewest the face of the ground. @@May the glory of the LORD endure for ever, €@@@may the LORD rejoice in his works, @@who looks on the earth and it trembles, €@@@who touches the mountains and they smoke! @@I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; €@@@I will sing praise to my God while I have being. @@May my meditation be pleasing to him, €@@@for I rejoice in the LORD. @@Let sinners be consumed from the earth, €@@@and let the wicked be no more! €@@Bless the LORD, O my soul! €@@Praise the LORD!  @@O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, €@@@make known his deeds among the peoples! @@Sing to him, sing praises to him, €@@@tell of all his wonderful works! @@Glory in his holy name; €@@@let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! @@Seek the LORD and his strength, €@@@seek his presence continually! @@Remember the wonderful works that he has done, €@@@his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, @@O offspring of Abraham his servant, €@@@sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! @@He is the LORD our God; €@@@his judgments are in all the earth. @@He is mindful of his covenant for ever, €@@@of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, @@the covenant which he made with Abraham, €@@@his sworn promise to Isaac, @@which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, €@@@to Israel as an everlasting covenant, @@saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan €@@@as your portion for an inheritance." @@When they were few in number, €@@@of little account, and sojourners in it, @@wandering from nation to nation, €@@@from one kingdom to another people, @@he allowed no one to oppress them; €@@@he rebuked kings on their account, @@saying, "Touch not my anointed ones, €@@@do my prophets no harm!" @@When he summoned a famine on the land, €@@@and broke every staff of bread, @@he had sent a man ahead of them, €@@@Joseph, who was sold as a slave. @@His feet were hurt with fetters, €@@@his neck was put in a collar of iron; @@until what he had said came to pass €@@@the word of the LORD tested him. @@The king sent and released him, €@@@the ruler of the peoples set him free; @@he made him lord of his house, €@@@and ruler of all his possessions, @@to instruct his princes at his pleasure, €@@@and to teach his elders wisdom. @@Then Israel came to Egypt; €@@@Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. @@And the LORD made his people very fruitful, €@@@and made them stronger than their foes. @@He turned their hearts to hate his people, €@@@to deal craftily with his servants. @@He sent Moses his servant, €@@@and Aaron whom he had chosen. @@They wrought his signs among them, €@@@and miracles in the land of Ham. @@He sent darkness, and made the land dark; €@@@they rebelled against his words. @@He turned their waters into blood, €@@@and caused their fish to die. @@Their land swarmed with frogs, €@@@even in the chambers of their kings. @@He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, €@@@and gnats throughout their country. @@He gave them hail for rain, €@@@and lightning that flashed through their land. @@He smote their vines and fig trees, €@@@and shattered the trees of their country. @@He spoke, and the locusts came, €@@@and young locusts without number; @@which devoured all the vegetation in their land, €@@@and ate up the fruit of their ground. @@He smote all the first-born in their land, €@@@the first issue of all their strength. @@Then he led forth Israel with silver and gold, €@@@and there was none among his tribes who stumbled. @@Egypt was glad when they departed, €@@@for dread of them had fallen upon it. @@He spread a cloud for a covering, €@@@and fire to give light by night. @@They asked, and he brought quails, €@@@and gave them bread from heaven in abundance. @@He opened the rock, and water gushed forth; €@@@it flowed through the desert like a river. @@For he remembered his holy promise, €@@@and Abraham his servant. @@So he led forth his people with joy, €@@@his chosen ones with singing. @@And he gave them the lands of the nations; €@@@and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil, @@to the end that they should keep his statutes, €@@@and observe his laws. €@@Praise the LORD!  @@Praise the LORD! €@@@O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever! @@Who can utter the mighty doings of the LORD, €@@@or show forth all his praise? @@Blessed are they who observe justice, €@@@who do righteousness at all times! @@Remember me, O LORD, when thou showest favor to thy people; €@@@help me when thou deliverest them; @@that I may see the prosperity of thy chosen ones, €@@@that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, €@@@that I may glory with thy heritage. @@Both we and our fathers have sinned; €@@@we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly. @@Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, €@@@did not consider thy wonderful works; €@@they did not remember the abundance of thy steadfast love, €@@@but rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea. @@Yet he saved them for his name's sake, €@@@that he might make known his mighty power. @@He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry; €@@@and he led them through the deep as through a desert. @@So he saved them from the hand of the foe, €@@@and delivered them from the power of the enemy. @@And the waters covered their adversaries; €@@@not one of them was left. @@Then they believed his words; €@@@they sang his praise. @@But they soon forgot his works; €@@@they did not wait for his counsel. @@But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, €@@@and put God to the test in the desert; @@he gave them what they asked, €@@@but sent a wasting disease among them. @@When men in the camp were jealous of Moses €@@@and Aaron, the holy one of the LORD, @@the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, €@@@and covered the company of Abi'ram. @@Fire also broke out in their company; €@@@the flame burned up the wicked. @@They made a calf in Horeb €@@@and worshiped a molten image. @@They exchanged the glory of God €@@@for the image of an ox that eats grass. @@They forgot God, their Savior, €@@@who had done great things in Egypt, @@wondrous works in the land of Ham, €@@@and terrible things by the Red Sea. @@Therefore he said he would destroy them --€@@@had not Moses, his chosen one, €@@stood in the breach before him, €@@@to turn away his wrath from destroying them. @@Then they despised the pleasant land, €@@@having no faith in his promise. @@They murmured in their tents, €@@@and did not obey the voice of the LORD. @@Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them €@@@that he would make them fall in the wilderness, @@and would disperse their descendants among the nations, €@@@scattering them over the lands. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’Øź˜œ@@Then they attached themselves to the Ba'al of Pe'or, €@@@and ate sacrifices offered to the dead; @@they provoked the LORD to anger with their doings, €@@@and a plague broke out among them. @@Then Phin'ehas stood up and interposed, €@@@and the plague was stayed. @@And that has been reckoned to him as righteousness €@@@from generation to generation for ever. @@They angered him at the waters of Mer'ibah, €@@@and it went ill with Moses on their account; @@for they made his spirit bitter, €@@@and he spoke words that were rash. @@They did not destroy the peoples, €@@@as the LORD commanded them, @@but they mingled with the nations €@@@and learned to do as they did. @@They served their idols, €@@@which became a snare to them. @@They sacrificed their sons €@@@and their daughters to the demons; @@they poured out innocent blood, €@@@the blood of their sons and daughters, €@@whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; €@@@and the land was polluted with blood. @@Thus they became unclean by their acts, €@@@and played the harlot in their doings. @@Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, €@@@and he abhorred his heritage; @@he gave them into the hand of the nations, €@@@so that those who hated them ruled over them. @@Their enemies oppressed them, €@@@and they were brought into subjection under their power. @@Many times he delivered them, €@@@but they were rebellious in their purposes, €@@@and were brought low through their iniquity. @@Nevertheless he regarded their distress, €@@@when he heard their cry. @@He remembered for their sake his covenant, €@@@and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love. @@He caused them to be pitied €@@@by all those who held them captive. @@Save us, O LORD our God, €@@@and gather us from among the nations, €@@that we may give thanks to thy holy name €@@@and glory in thy praise. @@Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, €@@@from everlasting to everlasting! €@@And let all the people say, "Amen!" €@@@Praise the LORD!  @@O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever! @@Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, €@@@whom he has redeemed from trouble @@and gathered in from the lands, €@@@from the east and from the west, €@@@from the north and from the south. @@Some wandered in desert wastes, €@@@finding no way to a city to dwell in; @@hungry and thirsty, €@@@their soul fainted within them. @@Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, €@@@and he delivered them from their distress; @@he led them by a straight way, €@@@till they reached a city to dwell in. @@Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, €@@@for his wonderful works to the sons of men! @@For he satisfies him who is thirsty, €@@@and the hungry he fills with good things. @@Some sat in darkness and in gloom, €@@@prisoners in affliction and in irons, @@for they had rebelled against the words of God, €@@@and spurned the counsel of the Most High. @@Their hearts were bowed down with hard labor; €@@@they fell down, with none to help. @@Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, €@@@and he delivered them from their distress; @@he brought them out of darkness and gloom, €@@@and broke their bonds asunder. @@Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, €@@@for his wonderful works to the sons of men! @@For he shatters the doors of bronze, €@@@and cuts in two the bars of iron. @@Some were sick through their sinful ways, €@@@and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; @@they loathed any kind of food, €@@@and they drew near to the gates of death. @@Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, €@@@and he delivered them from their distress; @@he sent forth his word, and healed them, €@@@and delivered them from destruction. @@Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, €@@@for his wonderful works to the sons of men! @@And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, €@@@and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! @@Some went down to the sea in ships, €@@@doing business on the great waters; @@they saw the deeds of the LORD, €@@@his wondrous works in the deep. @@For he commanded, and raised the stormy wind, €@@@which lifted up the waves of the sea. @@They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; €@@@their courage melted away in their evil plight; @@they reeled and staggered like drunken men, €@@@and were at their wits' end. @@Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, €@@@and he delivered them from their distress; @@he made the storm be still, €@@@and the waves of the sea were hushed. @@Then they were glad because they had quiet, €@@@and he brought them to their desired haven. @@Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, €@@@for his wonderful works to the sons of men! @@Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, €@@@and praise him in the assembly of the elders. @@He turns rivers into a desert, €@@@springs of water into thirsty ground, @@a fruitful land into a salty waste, €@@@because of the wickedness of its inhabitants. @@He turns a desert into pools of water, €@@@a parched land into springs of water. @@And there he lets the hungry dwell, €@@@and they establish a city to live in; @@they sow fields, and plant vineyards, €@@@and get a fruitful yield. @@By his blessing they multiply greatly; €@@@and he does not let their cattle decrease. @@When they are diminished and brought low €@@@through oppression, trouble, and sorrow, @@he pours contempt upon princes €@@@and makes them wander in trackless wastes; @@but he raises up the needy out of affliction, €@@@and makes their families like flocks. @@The upright see it and are glad; €@@@and all wickedness stops its mouth. @@Whoever is wise, let him give heed to these things; €@@@let men consider the steadfast love of the LORD.  Ÿō’A Song. A Psalm of David. ‘@@My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! €@@I will sing and make melody! €@@@Awake, my soul! @@Awake, O harp and lyre! €@@@I will awake the dawn! @@I will give thanks to thee, O LORD, among the peoples, €@@@I will sing praises to thee among the nations. @@For thy steadfast love is great above the heavens, €@@@thy faithfulness reaches to the clouds. @@Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! €@@@Let thy glory be over all the earth! @@That thy beloved may be delivered, €@@@give help by thy right hand, and answer me! @@God has promised in his sanctuary: €@@@"With exultation I will divide up Shechem, €@@@and portion out the Vale of Succoth. @@Gilead is mine; Manas'seh is mine; €@@@E'phraim is my helmet; €@@@Judah my scepter. @@Moab is my washbasin; €@@@upon Edom I cast my shoe; €@@@over Philistia I shout in triumph." @@Who will bring me to the fortified city? €@@@Who will lead me to Edom? @@Hast thou not rejected us, O God? €@@@Thou dost not go forth, O God, with our armies. @@O grant us help against the foe, €@@@for vain is the help of man! @@With God we shall do valiantly; €@@@it is he who will tread down our foes.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. ‘@@Be not silent, O God of my praise! @@For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, €@@@speaking against me with lying tongues. @@They beset me with words of hate, €@@@and attack me without cause. @@In return for my love they accuse me, €@@@even as I make prayer for them. @@@So they reward me evil for good, €@@@and hatred for my love. @@Appoint a wicked man against him; €@@@let an accuser bring him to trial. @@@When he is tried, let him come forth guilty; €@@@let his prayer be counted as sin! @@May his days be few; €@@@may another seize his goods! @@May his children be fatherless, €@@@and his wife a widow! @@May his children wander about and beg; €@@@may they be driven out of the ruins they inhabit! @@May the creditor seize all that he has; €@@@may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil! @@Let there be none to extend kindness to him, €@@@nor any to pity his fatherless children! @@May his posterity be cut off; €@@@may his name be blotted out in the second generation! @@May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, €@@@and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out! žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’Øķ˜@@Let them be before the LORD continually; €@@@and may his memory be cut off from the earth! @@For he did not remember to show kindness, €@@@but pursued the poor and needy €@@@and the brokenhearted to their death. @@He loved to curse; let curses come on him! €@@@He did not like blessing; may it be far from him! @@He clothed himself with cursing as his coat, €@@@may it soak into his body like water, €@@@like oil into his bones! @@May it be like a garment which he wraps round him, €@@@like a belt with which he daily girds himself! @@May this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD, €@@@of those who speak evil against my life! @@But thou, O GOD my Lord, €@@@deal on my behalf for thy name's sake; €@@@because thy steadfast love is good, deliver me! @@For I am poor and needy, €@@@and my heart is stricken within me. @@I am gone, like a shadow at evening; €@@@I am shaken off like a locust. @@My knees are weak through fasting; €@@@my body has become gaunt. @@I am an object of scorn to my accusers; €@@@when they see me, they wag their heads. @@Help me, O LORD my God! €@@@Save me according to thy steadfast love! @@Let them know that this is thy hand; €@@@thou, O LORD, hast done it! @@Let them curse, but do thou bless! €@@@Let my assailants be put to shame; may thy servant be glad! @@May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; €@@@may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a mantle! @@With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; €@@@I will praise him in the midst of the throng. @@For he stands at the right hand of the needy, €@@@to save him from those who condemn him to death.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@The LORD says to my lord: €@@@"Sit at my right hand, €@@till I make your enemies your footstool." @@The LORD sends forth from Zion €@@@your mighty scepter. €@@@Rule in the midst of your foes! @@Your people will offer themselves freely €@@@on the day you lead your host €@@@upon the holy mountains. €@@@From the womb of the morning €@@@like dew your youth will come to you. @@The LORD has sworn €@@@and will not change his mind, €@@"You are a priest for ever €@@@after the order of Melchiz'edek." @@The Lord is at your right hand; €@@@he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. @@He will execute judgment among the nations, €@@@filling them with corpses; €@@he will shatter chiefs €@@@over the wide earth. @@He will drink from the brook by the way; €@@@therefore he will lift up his head.  @@Prasie the LORD. €@@I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, €@@@in the company of the upright, in the congregation. @@Great are the works of the LORD, €@@@studied by all who have pleasure in them. @@Full of honor and majesty is his work, €@@@and his righteousness endures for ever. @@He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered; €@@@the LORD is gracious and merciful. @@He provides food for those who fear him; €@@@he is ever mindful of his covenant. @@He has shown his people the power of his works, €@@@in giving them the heritage of the nations. @@The works of his hands are faithful and just; €@@@all his precepts are trustworthy, @@they are established for ever and ever, €@@@to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. @@He sent redemption to his people; €@@@he has commanded his covenant for ever. €@@@Holy and terrible is his name! @@The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; €@@@a good understanding have all those who practice it. €@@@His praise endures for ever!  @@Praise the LORD. €@@@Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, €@@@who greatly delights in his commandments! @@His descendants will be mighty in the land; €@@@the generation of the upright will be blessed. @@Wealth and riches are in his house; €@@@and his righteousness endures for ever. @@Light rises in the darkness for the upright; €@@@the LORD is gracious, merciful, and righteous. @@It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, €@@@who conducts his affairs with justice. @@For the righteous will never be moved; €@@@he will be remembered for ever. @@He is not afraid of evil tidings; €@@@his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. @@His heart is steady, he will not be afraid, €@@@until he sees his desire on his adversaries. @@He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; €@@@his righteousness endures for ever; €@@@his horn is exalted in honor. @@The wicked man sees it and is angry; €@@@he gnashes his teeth and melts away; €@@@the desire of the wicked man comes to nought.  @@Praise the LORD! €@@Praise, O servants of the LORD, €@@@praise the name of the LORD! @@Blessed be the name of the LORD €@@@from this time forth and for evermore! @@From the rising of the sun to its setting €@@@the name of the LORD is to be praised! @@The LORD is high above all nations, €@@@and his glory above the heavens! @@Who is like the LORD our God, €@@@who is seated on high, @@who looks far down €@@@upon the heavens and the earth? @@He raises the poor from the dust, €@@@and lifts the needy from the ash heap, @@to make them sit with princes, €@@@with the princes of his people. @@He gives the barren woman a home, €@@@making her the joyous mother of children. €@@Praise the LORD!  @@When Israel went forth from Egypt, €@@@the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, @@Judah became his sanctuary, €@@@Israel his dominion. @@The sea looked and fled, €@@@Jordan turned back. @@The mountains skipped like rams, €@@@the hills like lambs. @@What ails you, O sea, that you flee? €@@@O Jordan, that you turn back? @@O mountains, that you skip like rams? €@@@O hills, like lambs? @@Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the LORD, €@@@at the presence of the God of Jacob, @@who turns the rock into a pool of water, €@@@the flint into a spring of water.  @@Not to us, O LORD, not to us, €@@@but to thy name give glory, €@@@for the sake of thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness! @@Why should the nations say, €@@@"Where is their God?" @@Our God is in the heavens; €@@@he does whatever he pleases. @@Their idols are silver and gold, €@@@the work of men's hands. @@They have mouths, but do not speak; €@@@eyes, but do not see. @@They have ears, but do not hear; €@@@noses, but do not smell. @@They have hands, but do not feel; €@@@feet, but do not walk; €@@@and they do not make a sound in their throat. @@Those who make them are like them; €@@@so are all who trust in them. @@O Israel, trust in the LORD! €@@@He is their help and their shield. @@O house of Aaron, put your trust in the LORD! €@@@He is their help and their shield. @@You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! €@@@He is their help and their shield. @@The LORD has been mindful of us; he will bless us; €@@@he will bless the house of Israel; €@@@he will bless the house of Aaron; @@he will bless those who fear the LORD, €@@@both small and great. @@May the LORD give you increase, €@@@you and your children! @@May you be blessed by the LORD, €@@@who made heaven and earth! @@The heavens are the LORD's heavens, €@@@but the earth he has given to the sons of men. @@The dead do not praise the LORD, €@@@nor do any that go down into silence. @@But we will bless the LORD €@@@from this time forth and for evermore. €@@Praise the LORD!  @@I love the LORD, because he has heard €@@@my voice and my supplications. @@Because he inclined his ear to me, €@@@therefore I will call on him as long as I live. @@The snares of death encompassed me; €@@@the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; €@@@I suffered distress and anguish. @@Then I called on the name of the LORD: €@@@"O LORD, I beseech thee, save my life!" @@Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; €@@@our God is merciful. @@The LORD preserves the simple; €@@@when I was brought low, he saved me. @@Return, O my soul, to your rest; €@@@for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. @@For thou hast delivered my soul from death, €@@@my eyes from tears, €@@@my feet from stumbling; @@I walk before the LORD €@@@in the land of the living. @@I kept my faith, even when I said, €@@@"I am greatly afflicted"; @@I said in my consternation, €@@@"Men are all a vain hope." @@What shall I render to the LORD €@@@for all his bounty to me? žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’Øō˜@@I will lift up the cup of salvation €@@@and call on the name of the LORD, @@I will pay my vows to the LORD €@@@in the presence of all his people. @@Precious in the sight of the LORD €@@@is the death of his saints. @@O LORD, I am thy servant; €@@@I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid. €@@@Thou hast loosed my bonds. @@I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving €@@@and call on the name of the LORD. @@I will pay my vows to the LORD €@@@in the presence of all his people, @@in the courts of the house of the LORD, €@@@in your midst, O Jerusalem. €@@Praise the LORD!  @@Praise the LORD, all nations! €@@@Extol him, all peoples! @@For great is his steadfast love toward us; €@@@and the faithfulness of the LORD endures for ever. €@@Praise the LORD!  @@O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; €@@@his steadfast love endures for ever! @@Let Israel say, €@@@"His steadfast love endures for ever." @@Let the house of Aaron say, €@@@"His steadfast love endures for ever." @@Let those who fear the LORD say, €@@@"His steadfast love endures for ever." @@Out of my distress I called on the LORD; €@@@the LORD answered me and set me free. @@With the LORD on my side I do not fear. €@@@What can man do to me? @@The LORD is on my side to help me; €@@@I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. @@It is better to take refuge in the LORD €@@@than to put confidence in man. @@It is better to take refuge in the LORD €@@@than to put confidence in princes. @@All nations surrounded me; €@@@in the name of the LORD I cut them off! @@They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; €@@@in the name of the LORD I cut them off! @@They surrounded me like bees, €@@@they blazed like a fire of thorns; €@@@in the name of the LORD I cut them off! @@I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, €@@@but the LORD helped me. @@The LORD is my strength and my song; €@@@he has become my salvation. @@Hark, glad songs of victory €@@@in the tents of the righteous: €@@"The right hand of the LORD does valiantly, @@@the right hand of the LORD is exalted, €@@@the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!" @@I shall not die, but I shall live, €@@@and recount the deeds of the LORD. @@The LORD has chastened me sorely, €@@@but he has not given me over to death. @@Open to me the gates of righteousness, €@@@that I may enter through them €@@@and give thanks to the LORD. @@This is the gate of the LORD; €@@@the righteous shall enter through it. @@I thank thee that thou hast answered me €@@@and hast become my salvation. @@The stone which the builders rejected €@@@has become the head of the corner. @@This is the LORD's doing; €@@@it is marvelous in our eyes. @@This is the day which the LORD has made; €@@@let us rejoice and be glad in it. @@Save us, we beseech thee, O LORD! €@@@O LORD, we beseech thee, give us success! @@Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD! €@@@We bless you from the house of the LORD. @@The LORD is God, €@@@and he has given us light. €@@Bind the festal procession with branches, €@@@up to the horns of the altar! @@Thou art my God, and I will give thanks to thee; €@@@thou art my God, I will extol thee. @@O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever!  @@Blessed are those whose way is blameless, €@@@who walk in the law of the LORD! @@Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, €@@@who seek him with their whole heart, @@who also do no wrong, €@@@but walk in his ways! @@Thou hast commanded thy precepts €@@@to be kept diligently. @@O that my ways may be steadfast €@@@in keeping thy statutes! @@Then I shall not be put to shame, €@@@having my eyes fixed on all thy commandments. @@I will praise thee with an upright heart, €@@@when I learn thy righteous ordinances. @@I will observe thy statutes; €@@@O forsake me not utterly! @@How can a young man keep his way pure? €@@@By guarding it according to thy word. @@With my whole heart I seek thee; €@@@let me not wander from thy commandments! @@I have laid up thy word in my heart, €@@@that I might not sin against thee. @@Blessed be thou, O LORD; €@@@teach me thy statutes! @@With my lips I declare €@@@all the ordinances of thy mouth. @@In the way of thy testimonies I delight €@@@as much as in all riches. @@I will meditate on thy precepts, €@@@and fix my eyes on thy ways. @@I will delight in thy statutes; €@@@I will not forget thy word. @@Deal bountifully with thy servant, €@@@that I may live and observe thy word. @@Open my eyes, that I may behold €@@@wondrous things out of thy law. @@I am a sojourner on earth; €@@@hide not thy commandments from me! @@My soul is consumed with longing €@@@for thy ordinances at all times. @@Thou dost rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, €@@@who wander from thy commandments; @@take away from me their scorn and contempt, €@@@for I have kept thy testimonies. @@Even though princes sit plotting against me, €@@@thy servant will meditate on thy statutes. @@Thy testimonies are my delight, €@@@they are my counselors. @@My soul cleaves to the dust; €@@@revive me according to thy word! @@When I told of my ways, thou didst answer me; €@@@teach me thy statutes! @@Make me understand the way of thy precepts, €@@@and I will meditate on thy wondrous works. @@My soul melts away for sorrow; €@@@strengthen me according to thy word! @@Put false ways far from me; €@@@and graciously teach me thy law! @@I have chosen the way of faithfulness, €@@@I set thy ordinances before me. @@I cleave to thy testimonies, O LORD; €@@@let me not be put to shame! @@I will run in the way of thy commandments €@@@when thou enlargest my understanding! @@Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; €@@@and I will keep it to the end. @@Give me understanding, that I may keep thy law €@@@and observe it with my whole heart. @@Lead me in the path of thy commandments, €@@@for I delight in it. @@Incline my heart to thy testimonies, €@@@and not to gain! @@Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; €@@@and give me life in thy ways. @@Confirm to thy servant thy promise, €@@@which is for those who fear thee. @@Turn away the reproach which I dread; €@@@for thy ordinances are good. @@Behold, I long for thy precepts; €@@@in thy righteousness give me life! @@Let thy steadfast love come to me, O LORD, €@@@thy salvation according to thy promise; @@then shall I have an answer for those who taunt me, €@@@for I trust in thy word. @@And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, €@@@for my hope is in thy ordinances. @@I will keep thy law continually, €@@@for ever and ever; @@and I shall walk at liberty, €@@@for I have sought thy precepts. @@I will also speak of thy testimonies before kings, €@@@and shall not be put to shame; @@for I find my delight in thy commandments, €@@@which I love. @@I revere thy commandments, which I love, €@@@and I will meditate on thy statutes. @@Remember thy word to thy servant, €@@@in which thou hast made me hope. @@This is my comfort in my affliction €@@@that thy promise gives me life. @@Godless men utterly deride me, €@@@but I do not turn away from thy law. @@When I think of thy ordinances from of old, €@@@I take comfort, O LORD. @@Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, €@@@who forsake thy law. @@Thy statutes have been my songs €@@@in the house of my pilgrimage. @@I remember thy name in the night, O LORD, €@@@and keep thy law. @@This blessing has fallen to me, €@@@that I have kept thy precepts. @@The LORD is my portion; €@@@I promise to keep thy words. @@I entreat thy favor with all my heart; €@@@be gracious to me according to thy promise. @@When I think of thy ways, €@@@I turn my feet to thy testimonies; @@I hasten and do not delay €@@@to keep thy commandments. @@Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, €@@@I do not forget thy law. @@At midnight I rise to praise thee, €@@@because of thy righteous ordinances. @@I am a companion of all who fear thee, €@@@of those who keep thy precepts. @@The earth, O LORD, is full of thy steadfast love; €@@@teach me thy statutes! @@Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, €@@@O LORD, according to thy word. @@Teach me good judgment and knowledge, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’Ø÷˜Ā‚@@@for I believe in thy commandments. @@Before I was afflicted I went astray; €@@@but now I keep thy word. @@Thou art good and doest good; €@@@teach me thy statutes. @@The godless besmear me with lies, €@@@but with my whole heart I keep thy precepts; @@their heart is gross like fat, €@@@but I delight in thy law. @@It is good for me that I was afflicted, €@@@that I might learn thy statutes. @@The law of thy mouth is better to me €@@@than thousands of gold and silver pieces. @@Thy hands have made and fashioned me; €@@@give me understanding that I may learn thy commandments. @@Those who fear thee shall see me and rejoice, €@@@because I have hoped in thy word. @@I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, €@@@and that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me. @@Let thy steadfast love be ready to comfort me €@@@according to thy promise to thy servant. @@Let thy mercy come to me, that I may live; €@@@for thy law is my delight. @@Let the godless be put to shame, €@@@because they have subverted me with guile; €@@@as for me, I will meditate on thy precepts. @@Let those who fear thee turn to me, €@@@that they may know thy testimonies. @@May my heart be blameless in thy statutes, €@@@that I may not be put to shame! @@My soul languishes for thy salvation; €@@@I hope in thy word. @@My eyes fail with watching for thy promise; €@@@I ask, "When wilt thou comfort me?" @@For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, €@@@yet I have not forgotten thy statutes. @@How long must thy servant endure? €@@@When wilt thou judge those who persecute me? @@Godless men have dug pitfalls for me, €@@@men who do not conform to thy law. @@All thy commandments are sure; €@@@they persecute me with falsehood; help me! @@They have almost made an end of me on earth; €@@@but I have not forsaken thy precepts. @@In thy steadfast love spare my life, €@@@that I may keep the testimonies of thy mouth. @@For ever, O LORD, thy word €@@@is firmly fixed in the heavens. @@Thy faithfulness endures to all generations; €@@@thou hast established the earth, and it stands fast. @@By thy appointment they stand this day; €@@@for all things are thy servants. @@If thy law had not been my delight, €@@@I should have perished in my affliction. @@I will never forget thy precepts; €@@@for by them thou hast given me life. @@I am thine, save me; €@@@for I have sought thy precepts. @@The wicked lie in wait to destroy me; €@@@but I consider thy testimonies. @@I have seen a limit to all perfection, €@@@but thy commandment is exceedingly broad. @@Oh, how I love thy law! €@@@It is my meditation all the day. @@Thy commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, €@@@for it is ever with me. @@I have more understanding than all my teachers, €@@@for thy testimonies are my meditation. @@I understand more than the aged, €@@@for I keep thy precepts. @@I hold back my feet from every evil way, €@@@in order to keep thy word. @@I do not turn aside from thy ordinances, €@@@for thou hast taught me. @@How sweet are thy words to my taste, €@@@sweeter than honey to my mouth! @@Through thy precepts I get understanding; €@@@therefore I hate every false way. @@Thy word is a lamp to my feet €@@@and a light to my path. @@I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, €@@@to observe thy righteous ordinances. @@I am sorely afflicted; €@@@give me life, O LORD, according to thy word! @@Accept my offerings of praise, O LORD, €@@@and teach me thy ordinances. @@I hold my life in my hand continually, €@@@but I do not forget thy law. @@The wicked have laid a snare for me, €@@@but I do not stray from thy precepts. @@Thy testimonies are my heritage for ever; €@@@yea, they are the joy of my heart. @@I incline my heart to perform thy statutes €@@@for ever, to the end. @@I hate double-minded men, €@@@but I love thy law. @@Thou art my hiding place and my shield; €@@@I hope in thy word. @@Depart from me, you evildoers, €@@@that I may keep the commandments of my God. @@Uphold me according to thy promise, that I may live, €@@@and let me not be put to shame in my hope! @@Hold me up, that I may be safe €@@@and have regard for thy statutes continually! @@Thou dost spurn all who go astray from thy statutes; €@@@yea, their cunning is in vain. @@All the wicked of the earth thou dost count as dross; €@@@therefore I love thy testimonies. @@My flesh trembles for fear of thee, €@@@and I am afraid of thy judgments. @@I have done what is just and right; €@@@do not leave me to my oppressors. @@Be surety for thy servant for good; €@@@let not the godless oppress me. @@My eyes fail with watching for thy salvation, €@@@and for the fulfilment of thy righteous promise. @@Deal with thy servant according to thy steadfast love, €@@@and teach me thy statutes. @@I am thy servant; give me understanding, €@@@that I may know thy testimonies! @@It is time for the LORD to act, €@@@for thy law has been broken. @@Therefore I love thy commandments €@@@above gold, above fine gold. @@Therefore I direct my steps by all thy precepts; €@@@I hate every false way. @@Thy testimonies are wonderful; €@@@therefore my soul keeps them. @@The unfolding of thy words gives light; €@@@it imparts understanding to the simple. @@With open mouth I pant, €@@@because I long for thy commandments. @@Turn to me and be gracious to me, €@@@as is thy wont toward those who love thy name. @@Keep steady my steps according to thy promise, €@@@and let no iniquity get dominion over me. @@Redeem me from man's oppression, €@@@that I may keep thy precepts. @@Make thy face shine upon thy servant, €@@@and teach me thy statutes. @@My eyes shed streams of tears, €@@@because men do not keep thy law. @@Righteous art thou, O LORD, €@@@and right are thy judgments. @@Thou hast appointed thy testimonies in righteousness €@@@and in all faithfulness. @@My zeal consumes me, €@@@because my foes forget thy words. @@Thy promise is well tried, €@@@and thy servant loves it. @@I am small and despised, €@@@yet I do not forget thy precepts. @@Thy righteousness is righteous for ever, €@@@and thy law is true. @@Trouble and anguish have come upon me, €@@@but thy commandments are my delight. @@Thy testimonies are righteous for ever; €@@@give me understanding that I may live. @@With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! €@@@I will keep thy statutes. @@I cry to thee; save me, €@@@that I may observe thy testimonies. @@I rise before dawn and cry for help; €@@@I hope in thy words. @@My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, €@@@that I may meditate upon thy promise. @@Hear my voice in thy steadfast love; €@@@O LORD, in thy justice preserve my life. @@They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; €@@@they are far from thy law. @@But thou art near, O LORD, €@@@and all thy commandments are true. @@Long have I known from thy testimonies €@@@that thou hast founded them for ever. @@Look on my affliction and deliver me, €@@@for I do not forget thy law. @@Plead my cause and redeem me; €@@@give me life according to thy promise! @@Salvation is far from the wicked, €@@@for they do not seek thy statutes. @@Great is thy mercy, O LORD; €@@@give me life according to thy justice. @@Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, €@@@but I do not swerve from thy testimonies. @@I look at the faithless with disgust, €@@@because they do not keep thy commands. @@Consider how I love thy precepts! €@@@Preserve my life according to thy steadfast love. @@The sum of thy word is truth; €@@@and every one of thy righteous ordinances endures for ever. @@Princes persecute me without cause, €@@@but my heart stands in awe of thy words. @@I rejoice at thy word €@@@like one who finds great spoil. @@I hate and abhor falsehood, €@@@but I love thy law. @@Seven times a day I praise thee €@@@for thy righteous ordinances. @@Great peace have those who love thy law; €@@@nothing can make them stumble. @@I hope for thy salvation, O LORD, €@@@and I do thy commandments. @@My soul keeps thy testimonies; €@@@I love them exceedingly. @@I keep thy precepts and testimonies, €@@@for all my ways are before thee. @@Let my cry come before thee, O LORD; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’Ø÷›©‚@@@give me understanding according to thy word! @@Let my supplication come before thee; €@@@deliver me according to thy word. @@My lips will pour forth praise €@@@that thou dost teach me thy statutes. @@My tongue will sing of thy word, €@@@for all thy commandments are right. @@Let thy hand be ready to help me, €@@@for I have chosen thy precepts. @@I long for thy salvation, O LORD, €@@@and thy law is my delight. @@Let me live, that I may praise thee, €@@@and let thy ordinances help me. @@I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant, €@@@for I do not forget thy commandments.  Ÿō’A Song of Ascents. ‘@@In my distress I cry to the LORD, €@@@that he may answer me: @@"Deliver me, O LORD, €@@@from lying lips, €@@@from a deceitful tongue." @@What shall be given to you? €@@@And what more shall be done to you, €@@@you deceitful tongue? @@A warrior's sharp arrows, €@@@with glowing coals of the broom tree! @@Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech, €@@@that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! @@Too long have I had my dwelling €@@@among those who hate peace. @@I am for peace; €@@@but when I speak, €@@@they are for war!  Ÿō’A Song of Ascents. ‘@@I lift up my eyes to the hills. €@@@From whence does my help come? @@My help comes from the LORD, €@@@who made heaven and earth. @@He will not let your foot be moved, €@@@he who keeps you will not slumber. @@Behold, he who keeps Israel €@@@will neither slumber nor sleep. @@The LORD is your keeper; €@@@the LORD is your shade €@@@on your right hand. @@The sun shall not smite you by day, €@@@nor the moon by night. @@The LORD will keep you from all evil; €@@@he will keep your life. @@The LORD will keep €@@@your going out and your coming in €@@@from this time forth and for evermore.  Ÿō’A Song of Ascents. Of David. ‘@@I was glad when they said to me, €@@@"Let us go to the house of the LORD!" @@Our feet have been standing €@@@within your gates, O Jerusalem! @@Jerusalem, built as a city €@@@which is bound firmly together, @@to which the tribes go up, €@@@the tribes of the LORD, €@@as was decreed for Israel, €@@@to give thanks to the name of the LORD. @@There thrones for judgment were set, €@@@the thrones of the house of David. @@Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! €@@@"May they prosper who love you! @@Peace be within your walls, €@@@and security within your towers!" @@For my brethren and companions' sake €@@@I will say, "Peace be within you!" @@For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, €@@@I will seek your good.  Ÿō’A Song of Ascents. ‘@@To thee I lift up my eyes, €@@@O thou who art enthroned in the heavens! @@Behold, as the eyes of servants €@@@look to the hand of their master, €@@as the eyes of a maid €@@@to the hand of her mistress, €@@so our eyes look to the LORD our God, €@@@till he have mercy upon us. @@Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, €@@@for we have had more than enough of contempt. @@Too long our soul has been sated €@@@with the scorn of those who are at ease, €@@@the contempt of the proud.  Ÿō’A Song of Ascents. Of David. ‘@@If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, €@@@let Israel now say --@@if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, €@@@when men rose up against us, @@then they would have swallowed us up alive, €@@@when their anger was kindled against us; @@then the flood would have swept us away, €@@@the torrent would have gone over us; @@then over us would have gone €@@@the raging waters. @@Blessed be the LORD, €@@@who has not given us €@@@as prey to their teeth! @@We have escaped as a bird €@@@from the snare of the fowlers; €@@the snare is broken, €@@@and we have escaped! @@Our help is in the name of the LORD, €@@@who made heaven and earth.  Ÿō’A Song of Ascents. ‘@@Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, €@@@which cannot be moved, but abides for ever. @@As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, €@@@so the LORD is round about his people, €@@@from this time forth and for evermore. @@For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest €@@@upon the land allotted to the righteous, €@@lest the righteous put forth €@@@their hands to do wrong. @@Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, €@@@and to those who are upright in their hearts! @@But those who turn aside upon their crooked ways €@@@the LORD will lead away with evildoers! €@@@Peace be in Israel!  Ÿō’A Song of Ascents. ‘@@When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, €@@@we were like those who dream. @@Then our mouth was filled with laughter, €@@@and our tongue with shouts of joy; €@@then they said among the nations, €@@@"The LORD has done great things for them." @@The LORD has done great things for us; €@@@we are glad. @@Restore our fortunes, O LORD, €@@@like the watercourses in the Negeb! @@May those who sow in tears €@@@reap with shouts of joy! @@He that goes forth weeping, €@@@bearing the seed for sowing, €@@shall come home with shouts of joy, €@@@bringing his sheaves with him.  Ÿō’A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. ‘@@Unless the LORD builds the house, €@@@those who build it labor in vain. €@@Unless the LORD watches over the city, €@@@the watchman stays awake in vain. @@It is in vain that you rise up early €@@@and go late to rest, €@@eating the bread of anxious toil; €@@@for he gives to his beloved sleep. @@Lo, sons are a heritage from the LORD, €@@@the fruit of the womb a reward. @@Like arrows in the hand of a warrior €@@@are the sons of one's youth. @@Happy is the man who has €@@@his quiver full of them! €@@He shall not be put to shame €@@@when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.  Ÿō’A Song of Ascents. ‘@@Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, €@@@who walks in his ways! @@You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; €@@@you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. @@Your wife will be like a fruitful vine €@@@within your house; €@@your children will be like olive shoots €@@@around your table. @@Lo, thus shall the man be blessed €@@@who fears the LORD. @@The LORD bless you from Zion! €@@@May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem €@@@all the days of your life! @@May you see your children's children! €@@@Peace be upon Israel!  Ÿō’A Song of Ascents. ‘@@"Sorely have they afflicted me from my youth," €@@@let Israel now say --@@"Sorely have they afflicted me from my youth, €@@@yet they have not prevailed against me. @@The plowers plowed upon my back; €@@@they made long their furrows." @@The LORD is righteous; €@@@he has cut the cords of the wicked. @@May all who hate Zion €@@@be put to shame and turned backward! @@Let them be like the grass on the housetops, €@@@which withers before it grows up, @@with which the reaper does not fill his hand €@@@or the binder of sheaves his bosom, @@while those who pass by do not say, €@@@"The blessing of the LORD be upon you! €@@@We bless you in the name of the LORD!"  Ÿō’A Song of Ascents. ‘@@Out of the depths I cry to thee, O LORD! @@@Lord, hear my voice! €@@Let thy ears be attentive €@@@to the voice of my supplications! @@If thou, O LORD, shouldst mark iniquities, €@@@Lord, who could stand? @@But there is forgiveness with thee, €@@@that thou mayest be feared. @@I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, €@@@and in his word I hope; @@my soul waits for the LORD €@@@more than watchmen for the morning, €@@@more than watchmen for the morning. @@O Israel, hope in the LORD! €@@@For with the LORD there is steadfast love, €@@@and with him is plenteous redemption. @@And he will redeem Israel €@@@from all his iniquities.  Ÿō’A Song of Ascents. Of David. ‘@@O LORD, my heart is not lifted up, €@@@my eyes are not raised too high; €@@I do not occupy myself with things €@@@too great and too marvelous for me. @@But I have calmed and quieted my soul, €@@@like a child quieted at its mother's breast; €@@@like a child that is quieted is my soul. @@O Israel, hope in the LORD €@@@from this time forth and for evermore.  Ÿō’A Song of Ascents. ‘@@Remember, O LORD, in David's favor, €@@@all the hardships he endured; @@how he swore to the LORD €@@@and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, @@"I will not enter my house €@@@or get into my bed; @@I will not give sleep to my eyes €@@@or slumber to my eyelids, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’«„•@@until I find a place for the LORD, €@@@a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob." @@Lo, we heard of it in Eph'rathah, €@@@we found it in the fields of Ja'ar. @@"Let us go to his dwelling place; €@@@let us worship at his footstool!" @@Arise, O LORD, and go to thy resting place, €@@@thou and the ark of thy might. @@Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness, €@@@and let thy saints shout for joy. @@For thy servant David's sake €@@@do not turn away the face of thy anointed one. @@The LORD swore to David a sure oath €@@@from which he will not turn back: €@@"One of the sons of your body €@@@I will set on your throne. @@If your sons keep my covenant €@@@and my testimonies which I shall teach them, €@@their sons also for ever €@@@shall sit upon your throne." @@For the LORD has chosen Zion; €@@@he has desired it for his habitation: @@"This is my resting place for ever; €@@@here I will dwell, for I have desired it. @@I will abundantly bless her provisions; €@@@I will satisfy her poor with bread. @@Her priests I will clothe with salvation, €@@@and her saints will shout for joy. @@There I will make a horn to sprout for David; €@@@I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. @@His enemies I will clothe with shame, €@@@but upon himself his crown will shed its luster."  Ÿō’A Song of Ascents. ‘@@Behold, how good and pleasant it is €@@@when brothers dwell in unity! @@It is like the precious oil upon the head, €@@@running down upon the beard, €@@upon the beard of Aaron, €@@@running down on the collar of his robes! @@It is like the dew of Hermon, €@@@which falls on the mountains of Zion! €@@For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, €@@@life for evermore.  Ÿō’A Song of Ascents. ‘@@Come, bless the LORD, €@@@all you servants of the LORD, €@@@who stand by night in the house of the LORD! @@Lift up your hands to the holy place, €@@@and bless the LORD! @@May the LORD bless you from Zion, €@@@he who made heaven and earth!  @@Praise the LORD. €@@@Praise the name of the LORD, €@@@give praise, O servants of the LORD, @@you that stand in the house of the LORD, €@@@in the courts of the house of our God! @@Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; €@@@sing to his name, for he is gracious! @@For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, €@@@Israel as his own possession. @@For I know that the LORD is great, €@@@and that our Lord is above all gods. @@Whatever the LORD pleases he does, €@@@in heaven and on earth, €@@@in the seas and all deeps. @@He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, €@@@who makes lightnings for the rain €@@@and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. @@He it was who smote the first-born of Egypt, €@@@both of man and of beast; @@who in thy midst, O Egypt, €@@@sent signs and wonders €@@@against Pharaoh and all his servants; @@who smote many nations €@@@and slew mighty kings, @@Sihon, king of the Amorites, €@@@and Og, king of Bashan, €@@@and all the kingdoms of Canaan, @@and gave their land as a heritage, €@@@a heritage to his people Israel. @@Thy name, O LORD, endures for ever, €@@@thy renown, O LORD, throughout all ages. @@For the LORD will vindicate his people, €@@@and have compassion on his servants. @@The idols of the nations are silver and gold, €@@@the work of men's hands. @@They have mouths, but they speak not, €@@@they have eyes, but they see not, @@they have ears, but they hear not, €@@@nor is there any breath in their mouths. @@Like them be those who make them! --€@@@yea, every one who trusts in them! @@O house of Israel, bless the LORD! €@@@O house of Aaron, bless the LORD! @@O house of Levi, bless the LORD! €@@@You that fear the LORD, bless the LORD! @@Blessed be the LORD from Zion, €@@@he who dwells in Jerusalem! €@@Praise the LORD!  @@O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever. @@O give thanks to the God of gods, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever. @@O give thanks to the Lord of lords, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@to him who alone does great wonders, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@to him who by understanding made the heavens, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@to him who spread out the earth upon the waters, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@to him who made the great lights, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@the sun to rule over the day, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@the moon and stars to rule over the night, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@to him who smote the first-born of Egypt, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@and brought Israel out from among them, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@to him who divided the Red Sea in sunder, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@and made Israel pass through the midst of it, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@to him who led his people through the wilderness, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@to him who smote great kings, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@and slew famous kings, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@Sihon, king of the Amorites, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@and Og, king of Bashan, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@and gave their land as a heritage, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@a heritage to Israel his servant, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever. @@It is he who remembered us in our low estate, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@and rescued us from our foes, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever; @@he who gives food to all flesh, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever. @@O give thanks to the God of heaven, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever.  @@By the waters of Babylon, €@@@there we sat down and wept, €@@@when we remembered Zion. @@On the willows there €@@@we hung up our lyres. @@For there our captors €@@@required of us songs, €@@and our tormentors, mirth, saying, €@@@"Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" @@How shall we sing the LORD's song €@@@in a foreign land? @@If I forget you, O Jerusalem, €@@@let my right hand wither! @@Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, €@@@if I do not remember you, €@@if I do not set Jerusalem €@@@above my highest joy! @@Remember, O LORD, against the E'domites €@@@the day of Jerusalem, €@@how they said, "Rase it, rase it! €@@@Down to its foundations!" @@O daughter of Babylon, you devastator! €@@@Happy shall he be who requites you €@@@with what you have done to us! @@Happy shall he be who takes your little ones €@@@and dashes them against the rock!  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@I give thee thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; €@@@before the gods I sing thy praise; @@I bow down toward thy holy temple €@@@and give thanks to thy name for thy steadfast love and thy €@@faithfulness; €@@for thou hast exalted above everything €@@@thy name and thy word. @@@On the day I called, thou didst answer me, €@@@my strength of soul thou didst increase. @@All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, €@@@for they have heard the words of thy mouth; @@and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, €@@@for great is the glory of the LORD. @@For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly; €@@@but the haughty he knows from afar. @@Though I walk in the midst of trouble, €@@@thou dost preserve my life; €@@thou dost stretch out thy hand against the wrath of my enemies, €@@@and thy right hand delivers me. @@The LORD will fulfil his purpose for me; €@@@thy steadfast love, O LORD, endures for ever. €@@@Do not forsake the work of thy hands.  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. ‘@@O LORD, thou hast searched me and known me! @@Thou knowest when I sit down and when I rise up; €@@@thou discernest my thoughts from afar. @@Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, €@@@and art acquainted with all my ways. @@Even before a word is on my tongue, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’«‹”‚@@@lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. @@Thou dost beset me behind and before, €@@@and layest thy hand upon me. @@Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; €@@@it is high, I cannot attain it. @@Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? €@@@Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? @@If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! €@@@If I make my bed in Sheol, thou art there! @@If I take the wings of the morning €@@@and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, @@even there thy hand shall lead me, €@@@and thy right hand shall hold me. @@If I say, "Let only darkness cover me, €@@@and the light about me be night," @@even the darkness is not dark to thee, €@@@the night is bright as the day; €@@@for darkness is as light with thee. @@For thou didst form my inward parts, €@@@thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb. @@I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. €@@@Wonderful are thy works! €@@Thou knowest me right well; @@@my frame was not hidden from thee, €@@when I was being made in secret, €@@@intricately wrought in the depths of the earth. @@Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance; €@@@in thy book were written, every one of them, €@@the days that were formed for me, €@@@when as yet there was none of them. @@How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God! €@@@How vast is the sum of them! @@If I would count them, they are more than the sand. €@@@When I awake, I am still with thee. @@@O that thou wouldst slay the wicked, O God, €@@@and that men of blood would depart from me, @@men who maliciously defy thee, €@@@who lift themselves up against thee for evil! @@@Do I not hate them that hate thee, O LORD? €@@@And do I not loathe them that rise up against thee? @@I hate them with perfect hatred; €@@@I count them my enemies. @@Search me, O God, and know my heart! €@@@Try me and know my thoughts! @@And see if there be any wicked way in me, €@@@and lead me in the way everlasting!  Ÿō’To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. ‘@@Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; €@@@preserve me from violent men, @@who plan evil things in their heart, €@@@and stir up wars continually. @@They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, €@@@and under their lips is the poison of vipers. [Selah] @@Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; €@@@preserve me from violent men, €@@@who have planned to trip up my feet. @@Arrogant men have hidden a trap for me, €@@@and with cords they have spread a net, €@@@by the wayside they have set snares for me. [Selah] @@I say to the LORD, Thou art my God; €@@@give ear to the voice of my supplications, O LORD! @@O LORD, my Lord, my strong deliverer, €@@@thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. @@Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; €@@@do not further his evil plot! [Selah] @@Those who surround me lift up their head, €@@@let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! @@Let burning coals fall upon them! €@@@Let them be cast into pits, no more to rise! @@Let not the slanderer be established in the land; €@@@let evil hunt down the violent man speedily! @@I know that the LORD maintains the cause of the afflicted, €@@@and executes justice for the needy. @@Surely the righteous shall give thanks to thy name; €@@@the upright shall dwell in thy presence.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@I call upon thee, O LORD; make haste to me! €@@@Give ear to my voice, when I call to thee! @@Let my prayer be counted as incense before thee, €@@@and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice! @@Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD, €@@@keep watch over the door of my lips! @@Incline not my heart to any evil, €@@@to busy myself with wicked deeds €@@in company with men who work iniquity; €@@@and let me not eat of their dainties! @@Let a good man strike or rebuke me in kindness, €@@@but let the oil of the wicked never anoint my head; €@@@for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds. @@When they are given over to those who shall condemn them, €@@@then they shall learn that the word of the LORD is true. @@As a rock which one cleaves and shatters on the land, €@@@so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol. @@But my eyes are toward thee, O LORD God; €@@@in thee I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! @@Keep me from the trap which they have laid for me, €@@@and from the snares of evildoers! @@Let the wicked together fall into their own nets, €@@@while I escape.  Ÿō’A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer. ‘@@I cry with my voice to the LORD, €@@@with my voice I make supplication to the LORD, @@I pour out my complaint before him, €@@@I tell my trouble before him. @@When my spirit is faint, €@@@thou knowest my way! €@@In the path where I walk €@@@they have hidden a trap for me. @@I look to the right and watch, €@@@but there is none who takes notice of me; €@@no refuge remains to me, €@@@no man cares for me. @@I cry to thee, O LORD; €@@@I say, Thou art my refuge, €@@@my portion in the land of the living. @@Give heed to my cry; €@@@for I am brought very low! €@@Deliver me from my persecutors; €@@@for they are too strong for me! @@Bring me out of prison, €@@@that I may give thanks to thy name! €@@The righteous will surround me; €@@@for thou wilt deal bountifully with me.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@Hear my prayer, O LORD; €@@@give ear to my supplications! €@@@In thy faithfulness answer me, in thy righteousness! @@Enter not into judgment with thy servant; €@@@for no man living is righteous before thee. @@For the enemy has pursued me; €@@@he has crushed my life to the ground; €@@@he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. @@Therefore my spirit faints within me; €@@@my heart within me is appalled. @@I remember the days of old, €@@@I meditate on all that thou hast done; €@@@I muse on what thy hands have wrought. @@I stretch out my hands to thee; €@@@my soul thirsts for thee like a parched land. [Selah] @@Make haste to answer me, O LORD! €@@@My spirit fails! €@@Hide not thy face from me, €@@@lest I be like those who go down to the Pit. @@Let me hear in the morning of thy steadfast love, €@@@for in thee I put my trust. €@@Teach me the way I should go, €@@@for to thee I lift up my soul. @@Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies! €@@@I have fled to thee for refuge! @@@Teach me to do thy will, €@@@for thou art my God! €@@Let thy good spirit lead me €@@@on a level path! @@For thy name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life! €@@@In thy righteousness bring me out of trouble! @@And in thy steadfast love cut off my enemies, €@@@and destroy all my adversaries, €@@@for I am thy servant.  Ÿō’A Psalm of David. ‘@@Blessed be the LORD, my rock, €@@who trains my hands for war, €@@@and my fingers for battle; @@my rock and my fortress, €@@@my stronghold and my deliverer, €@@my shield and he in whom I take refuge, €@@@who subdues the peoples under him. @@O LORD, what is man that thou dost regard him, €@@@or the son of man that thou dost think of him? @@Man is like a breath, €@@@his days are like a passing shadow. @@Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down! €@@@Touch the mountains that they smoke! @@Flash forth the lightning and scatter them, €@@@send out thy arrows and rout them! @@Stretch forth thy hand from on high, €@@@rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, €@@@from the hand of aliens, @@whose mouths speak lies, €@@@and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. @@I will sing a new song to thee, O God; €@@@upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to thee, @@who givest victory to kings, €@@@who rescuest David thy servant. @@Rescue me from the cruel sword, €@@@and deliver me from the hand of aliens, €@@whose mouths speak lies, €@@@and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. @@May our sons in their youth €@@@be like plants full grown, €@@our daughters like corner pillars €@@@cut for the structure of a palace; @@may our garners be full, €@@@providing all manner of store; €@@may our sheep bring forth thousands €@@@and ten thousands in our fields; @@may our cattle be heavy with young, €@@@suffering no mischance or failure in bearing; €@@may there be no cry of distress in our streets! @@Happy the people to whom such blessings fall! žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°±¹’ļ‚Šó’«˜‚@@@Happy the people whose God is the LORD!  Ÿō’A Song of Praise. Of David. ‘@@I will extol thee, my God and King, €@@@and bless thy name for ever and ever. @@Every day I will bless thee, €@@@and praise thy name for ever and ever. @@Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, €@@@and his greatness is unsearchable. @@One generation shall laud thy works to another, €@@@and shall declare thy mighty acts. @@On the glorious splendor of thy majesty, €@@@and on thy wondrous works, I will meditate. @@Men shall proclaim the might of thy terrible acts, €@@@and I will declare thy greatness. @@They shall pour forth the fame of thy abundant goodness, €@@@and shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. @@The LORD is gracious and merciful, €@@@slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. @@The LORD is good to all, €@@@and his compassion is over all that he has made. @@All thy works shall give thanks to thee, O LORD, €@@@and all thy saints shall bless thee! @@They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, €@@@and tell of thy power, @@to make known to the sons of men thy mighty deeds, €@@@and the glorious splendor of thy kingdom. @@Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, €@@@and thy dominion endures throughout all generations. €@@The LORD is faithful in all his words, €@@@and gracious in all his deeds. @@@The LORD upholds all who are falling, €@@@and raises up all who are bowed down. @@The eyes of all look to thee, €@@@and thou givest them their food in due season. @@Thou openest thy hand, €@@@thou satisfiest the desire of every living thing. @@The LORD is just in all his ways, €@@@and kind in all his doings. @@The LORD is near to all who call upon him, €@@@to all who call upon him in truth. @@He fulfils the desire of all who fear him, €@@@he also hears their cry, and saves them. @@The LORD preserves all who love him; €@@@but all the wicked he will destroy. @@My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, €@@@and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.  @@Praise the LORD! €@@Praise the LORD, O my soul! @@I will praise the LORD as long as I live; €@@@I will sing praises to my God while I have being. @@Put not your trust in princes, €@@@in a son of man, in whom there is no help. @@When his breath departs he returns to his earth; €@@@on that very day his plans perish. @@Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, €@@@whose hope is in the LORD his God, @@who made heaven and earth, €@@@the sea, and all that is in them; €@@who keeps faith for ever; @@@who executes justice for the oppressed; €@@@who gives food to the hungry. €@@The LORD sets the prisoners free; @@@the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. €@@The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; €@@@the LORD loves the righteous. @@The LORD watches over the sojourners, €@@@he upholds the widow and the fatherless; €@@@but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. @@The LORD will reign for ever, €@@@thy God, O Zion, to all generations. €@@Praise the LORD!  @@Praise the LORD! €@@For it is good to sing praises to our God; €@@@for he is gracious, and a song of praise is seemly. @@The LORD builds up Jerusalem; €@@@he gathers the outcasts of Israel. @@He heals the brokenhearted, €@@@and binds up their wounds. @@He determines the number of the stars, €@@@he gives to all of them their names. @@Great is our LORD, and abundant in power; €@@@his understanding is beyond measure. @@The LORD lifts up the downtrodden, €@@@he casts the wicked to the ground. @@Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; €@@@make melody to our God upon the lyre! @@He covers the heavens with clouds, €@@@he prepares rain for the earth, €@@@he makes grass grow upon the hills. @@He gives to the beasts their food, €@@@and to the young ravens which cry. @@His delight is not in the strength of the horse, €@@@nor his pleasure in the legs of a man; @@but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, €@@@in those who hope in his steadfast love. @@Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! €@@@Praise your God, O Zion! @@For he strengthens the bars of your gates; €@@@he blesses your sons within you. @@He makes peace in your borders; €@@@he fills you with the finest of the wheat. @@He sends forth his command to the earth; €@@@his word runs swiftly. @@He gives snow like wool; €@@@he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. @@He casts forth his ice like morsels; €@@@who can stand before his cold? @@He sends forth his word, and melts them; €@@@he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow. @@He declares his word to Jacob, €@@@his statutes and ordinances to Israel. @@He has not dealt thus with any other nation; €@@@they do not know his ordinances. €@@Praise the LORD!  @@Praise the LORD! €@@Praise the LORD from the heavens, €@@@praise him in the heights! @@Praise him, all his angels, €@@@praise him, all his host! @@Praise him, sun and moon, €@@@praise him, all you shining stars! @@Praise him, you highest heavens, €@@@and you waters above the heavens! @@Let them praise the name of the LORD! €@@@For he commanded and they were created. @@And he established them for ever and ever; €@@@he fixed their bounds which cannot be passed. @@Praise the LORD from the earth, €@@@you sea monsters and all deeps, @@fire and hail, snow and frost, €@@@stormy wind fulfilling his command! @@Mountains and all hills, €@@@fruit trees and all cedars! @@Beasts and all cattle, €@@@creeping things and flying birds! @@Kings of the earth and all peoples, €@@@princes and all rulers of the earth! @@Young men and maidens together, €@@@old men and children! @@Let them praise the name of the LORD, €@@@for his name alone is exalted; €@@@his glory is above earth and heaven. @@He has raised up a horn for his people, €@@@praise for all his saints, €@@@for the people of Israel who are near to him. €@@Praise the LORD!  @@Praise the LORD! €@@Sing to the LORD a new song, €@@@his praise in the assembly of the faithful! @@Let Israel be glad in his Maker, €@@@let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King! @@Let them praise his name with dancing, €@@@making melody to him with timbrel and lyre! @@For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; €@@@he adorns the humble with victory. @@Let the faithful exult in glory; €@@@let them sing for joy on their couches. @@Let the high praises of God be in their throats €@@@and two-edged swords in their hands, @@to wreak vengeance on the nations €@@@and chastisement on the peoples, @@to bind their kings with chains €@@@and their nobles with fetters of iron, @@to execute on them the judgment written! €@@@This is glory for all his faithful ones. €@@Praise the LORD!  @@Praise the LORD! €@@Praise God in his sanctuary; €@@@praise him in his mighty firmament! @@Praise him for his mighty deeds; €@@@praise him according to his exceeding greatness! @@Praise him with trumpet sound; €@@@praise him with lute and harp! @@Praise him with timbrel and dance; €@@@praise him with strings and pipe! @@Praise him with sounding cymbals; €@@@praise him with loud clashing cymbals! @@Let everything that breathes praise the LORD! €@@Praise the LORD! ļ°²°’ļ‚Šņļö’”The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: @@That men may know wisdom and instruction, €@@@understand words of insight, @@receive instruction in wise dealing, €@@@righteousness, justice, and equity; @@that prudence may be given to the simple, €@@@knowledge and discretion to the youth --@@the wise man also may hear and increase in learning, €@@@and the man of understanding acquire skill, @@to understand a proverb and a figure, €@@@the words of the wise and their riddles. @@The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; €@@@fools despise wisdom and instruction. @@Hear, my son, your father's instruction, €@@@and reject not your mother's teaching; @@for they are a fair garland for your head, €@@@and pendants for your neck. @@My son, if sinners entice you, €@@@do not consent. @@If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, €@@@let us wantonly ambush the innocent; @@like Sheol let us swallow them alive €@@@and whole, like those who go down to the Pit; @@we shall find all precious goods, €@@@we shall fill our houses with spoil; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²°’ļ‚Šņļö’”˜Ž@@throw in your lot among us, €@@@we will all have one purse" --@@my son, do not walk in the way with them, €@@@hold back your foot from their paths; @@for their feet run to evil, €@@@and they make haste to shed blood. @@For in vain is a net spread €@@@in the sight of any bird; @@but these men lie in wait for their own blood, €@@@they set an ambush for their own lives. @@Such are the ways of all who get gain by violence; €@@@it takes away the life of its possessors. @@Wisdom cries aloud in the street; €@@@in the markets she raises her voice; @@on the top of the walls she cries out; €@@@at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: @@"How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? €@@How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing €@@@and fools hate knowledge? @@Give heed to my reproof; €@@behold, I will pour out my thoughts to you; €@@@I will make my words known to you. @@Because I have called and you refused to listen, €@@@have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, @@and you have ignored all my counsel €@@@and would have none of my reproof, @@I also will laugh at your calamity; €@@@I will mock when panic strikes you, @@when panic strikes you like a storm, €@@@and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, €@@@when distress and anguish come upon you. @@Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; €@@@they will seek me diligently but will not find me. @@Because they hated knowledge €@@@and did not choose the fear of the LORD, @@would have none of my counsel, €@@@and despised all my reproof, @@therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way €@@@and be sated with their own devices. @@For the simple are killed by their turning away, €@@@and the complacence of fools destroys them; @@but he who listens to me will dwell secure €@@@and will be at ease, without dread of evil."  @@My son, if you receive my words €@@@and treasure up my commandments with you, @@making your ear attentive to wisdom €@@@and inclining your heart to understanding; @@yes, if you cry out for insight €@@@and raise your voice for understanding, @@if you seek it like silver €@@@and search for it as for hidden treasures; @@then you will understand the fear of the LORD €@@@and find the knowledge of God. @@For the LORD gives wisdom; €@@@from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; @@he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; €@@@he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, @@guarding the paths of justice €@@@and preserving the way of his saints. @@Then you will understand righteousness and justice €@@@and equity, every good path; @@for wisdom will come into your heart, €@@@and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; @@discretion will watch over you; €@@@understanding will guard you; @@delivering you from the way of evil, €@@@from men of perverted speech, @@who forsake the paths of uprightness €@@@to walk in the ways of darkness, @@who rejoice in doing evil €@@@and delight in the perverseness of evil; @@men whose paths are crooked, €@@@and who are devious in their ways. @@You will be saved from the loose woman, €@@@from the adventuress with her smooth words, @@who forsakes the companion of her youth €@@@and forgets the covenant of her God; @@for her house sinks down to death, €@@@and her paths to the shades; @@none who go to her come back €@@@nor do they regain the paths of life. @@So you will walk in the way of good men €@@@and keep to the paths of the righteous. @@For the upright will inhabit the land, €@@@and men of integrity will remain in it; @@but the wicked will be cut off from the land, €@@@and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.  @@My son, do not forget my teaching, €@@@but let your heart keep my commandments; @@for length of days and years of life €@@@and abundant welfare will they give you. @@Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; €@@@bind them about your neck, €@@@write them on the tablet of your heart. @@So you will find favor and good repute €@@@in the sight of God and man. @@Trust in the LORD with all your heart, €@@@and do not rely on your own insight. @@In all your ways acknowledge him, €@@@and he will make straight your paths. @@Be not wise in your own eyes; €@@@fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. @@It will be healing to your flesh €@@@and refreshment to your bones. @@Honor the LORD with your substance €@@@and with the first fruits of all your produce; @@then your barns will be filled with plenty, €@@@and your vats will be bursting with wine. @@My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline €@@@or be weary of his reproof, @@for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, €@@@as a father the son in whom he delights. @@Happy is the man who finds wisdom, €@@@and the man who gets understanding, @@for the gain from it is better than gain from silver €@@@and its profit better than gold. @@She is more precious than jewels, €@@@and nothing you desire can compare with her. @@Long life is in her right hand; €@@@in her left hand are riches and honor. @@Her ways are ways of pleasantness, €@@@and all her paths are peace. @@She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; €@@@those who hold her fast are called happy. @@The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; €@@@by understanding he established the heavens; @@by his knowledge the deeps broke forth, €@@@and the clouds drop down the dew. @@My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion; €@@@let them not escape from your sight, @@@and they will be life for your soul €@@@and adornment for your neck. @@Then you will walk on your way securely €@@@and your foot will not stumble. @@If you sit down, you will not be afraid; €@@@when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. @@Do not be afraid of sudden panic, €@@@or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes; @@for the LORD will be your confidence €@@@and will keep your foot from being caught. @@Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, €@@@when it is in your power to do it. @@Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, €@@@tomorrow I will give it" -- when you have it with you. @@Do not plan evil against your neighbor €@@@who dwells trustingly beside you. @@Do not contend with a man for no reason, €@@@when he has done you no harm. @@Do not envy a man of violence €@@@and do not choose any of his ways; @@for the perverse man is an abomination to the LORD, €@@@but the upright are in his confidence. @@The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, €@@@but he blesses the abode of the righteous. @@Toward the scorners he is scornful, €@@@but to the humble he shows favor. @@The wise will inherit honor, €@@@but fools get disgrace.  @@Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, €@@@and be attentive, that you may gain insight; @@for I give you good precepts: €@@@do not forsake my teaching. @@When I was a son with my father, €@@@tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, @@he taught me, and said to me, €@@"Let your heart hold fast my words; €@@@keep my commandments, and live; @@do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. €@@@Get wisdom; get insight. @@@Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; €@@@love her, and she will guard you. @@The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, €@@@and whatever you get, get insight. @@Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; €@@@she will honor you if you embrace her. @@She will place on your head a fair garland; €@@@she will bestow on you a beautiful crown." @@Hear, my son, and accept my words, €@@@that the years of your life may be many. @@I have taught you the way of wisdom; €@@@I have led you in the paths of uprightness. @@When you walk, your step will not be hampered; €@@@and if you run, you will not stumble. @@Keep hold of instruction, do not let go; €@@@guard her, for she is your life. @@Do not enter the path of the wicked, €@@@and do not walk in the way of evil men. @@Avoid it; do not go on it; €@@@turn away from it and pass on. @@For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; €@@@they are robbed of sleep unless they have made some one stumble. @@For they eat the bread of wickedness €@@@and drink the wine of violence. @@But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²°’ļ‚Šņļö’¤˜’‚@@@which shines brighter and brighter until full day. @@The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; €@@@they do not know over what they stumble. @@My son, be attentive to my words; €@@@incline your ear to my sayings. @@Let them not escape from your sight; €@@@keep them within your heart. @@For they are life to him who finds them, €@@@and healing to all his flesh. @@Keep your heart with all vigilance; €@@@for from it flow the springs of life. @@Put away from you crooked speech, €@@@and put devious talk far from you. @@Let your eyes look directly forward, €@@@and your gaze be straight before you. @@Take heed to the path of your feet, €@@@then all your ways will be sure. @@Do not swerve to the right or to the left; €@@@turn your foot away from evil.  @@My son, be attentive to my wisdom, €@@@incline your ear to my understanding; @@that you may keep discretion, €@@@and your lips may guard knowledge. @@For the lips of a loose woman drip honey, €@@@and her speech is smoother than oil; @@but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, €@@@sharp as a two-edged sword. @@Her feet go down to death; €@@@her steps follow the path to Sheol; @@she does not take heed to the path of life; €@@@her ways wander, and she does not know it. @@And now, O sons, listen to me, €@@@and do not depart from the words of my mouth. @@Keep your way far from her, €@@@and do not go near the door of her house; @@lest you give your honor to others €@@@and your years to the merciless; @@lest strangers take their fill of your strength, €@@@and your labors go to the house of an alien; @@and at the end of your life you groan, €@@@when your flesh and body are consumed, @@and you say, "How I hated discipline, €@@@and my heart despised reproof! @@I did not listen to the voice of my teachers €@@@or incline my ear to my instructors. @@I was at the point of utter ruin €@@@in the assembled congregation." @@Drink water from your own cistern, €@@@flowing water from your own well. @@Should your springs be scattered abroad, €@@@streams of water in the streets? @@Let them be for yourself alone, €@@@and not for strangers with you. @@Let your fountain be blessed, €@@@and rejoice in the wife of your youth, @@@a lovely hind, a graceful doe. €@@Let her affection fill you at all times with delight, €@@@be infatuated always with her love. @@Why should you be infatuated, my son, with a loose woman €@@@and embrace the bosom of an adventuress? @@For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, €@@@and he watches all his paths. @@The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, €@@@and he is caught in the toils of his sin. @@He dies for lack of discipline, €@@@and because of his great folly he is lost.  @@My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, €@@@have given your pledge for a stranger; @@if you are snared in the utterance of your lips, €@@@caught in the words of your mouth; @@then do this, my son, and save yourself, €@@@for you have come into your neighbor's power: €@@@go, hasten, and importune your neighbor. @@Give your eyes no sleep €@@@and your eyelids no slumber; @@save yourself like a gazelle from the hunter, €@@@like a bird from the hand of the fowler. @@Go to the ant, O sluggard; €@@@consider her ways, and be wise. @@Without having any chief, €@@@officer or ruler, @@she prepares her food in summer, €@@@and gathers her sustenance in harvest. @@How long will you lie there, O sluggard? €@@@When will you arise from your sleep? @@A little sleep, a little slumber, €@@@a little folding of the hands to rest, @@and poverty will come upon you like a vagabond, €@@@and want like an armed man. @@A worthless person, a wicked man, €@@@goes about with crooked speech, @@winks with his eyes, scrapes with his feet, €@@@points with his finger, @@with perverted heart devises evil, €@@@continually sowing discord; @@therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; €@@@in a moment he will be broken beyond healing. @@There are six things which the LORD hates, €@@@seven which are an abomination to him: @@haughty eyes, a lying tongue, €@@@and hands that shed innocent blood, @@a heart that devises wicked plans, €@@@feet that make haste to run to evil, @@a false witness who breathes out lies, €@@@and a man who sows discord among brothers. @@My son, keep your father's commandment, €@@@and forsake not your mother's teaching. @@Bind them upon your heart always; €@@@tie them about your neck. @@When you walk, they will lead you; €@@@when you lie down, they will watch over you; €@@@and when you awake, they will talk with you. @@For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, €@@@and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, @@to preserve you from the evil woman, €@@@from the smooth tongue of the adventuress. @@Do not desire her beauty in your heart, €@@@and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; @@for a harlot may be hired for a loaf of bread, €@@@but an adulteress stalks a man's very life. @@Can a man carry fire in his bosom €@@@and his clothes not be burned? @@Or can one walk upon hot coals €@@@and his feet not be scorched? @@So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; €@@@none who touches her will go unpunished. @@Do not men despise a thief if he steals €@@@to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry? @@And if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; €@@@he will give all the goods of his house. @@He who commits adultery has no sense; €@@@he who does it destroys himself. @@Wounds and dishonor will he get, €@@@and his disgrace will not be wiped away. @@For jealousy makes a man furious, €@@@and he will not spare when he takes revenge. @@He will accept no compensation, €@@@nor be appeased though you multiply gifts.  @@My son, keep my words €@@@and treasure up my commandments with you; @@keep my commandments and live, €@@@keep my teachings as the apple of your eye; @@bind them on your fingers, €@@@write them on the tablet of your heart. @@Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," €@@@and call insight your intimate friend; @@to preserve you from the loose woman, €@@@from the adventuress with her smooth words. @@For at the window of my house €@@@I have looked out through my lattice, @@and I have seen among the simple, €@@@I have perceived among the youths, €@@@a young man without sense, @@passing along the street near her corner, €@@@taking the road to her house @@in the twilight, in the evening, €@@@at the time of night and darkness. @@And lo, a woman meets him, €@@@dressed as a harlot, wily of heart. @@@She is loud and wayward, €@@@her feet do not stay at home; @@now in the street, now in the market, €@@@and at every corner she lies in wait. @@She seizes him and kisses him, €@@@and with impudent face she says to him: @@"I had to offer sacrifices, €@@@and today I have paid my vows; @@so now I have come out to meet you, €@@@to seek you eagerly, and I have found you. @@I have decked my couch with coverings, €@@@colored spreads of Egyptian linen; @@I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, €@@@aloes, and cinnamon. @@Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; €@@@let us delight ourselves with love. @@For my husband is not at home; €@@@he has gone on a long journey; @@he took a bag of money with him; €@@@at full moon he will come home." @@With much seductive speech she persuades him; €@@@with her smooth talk she compels him. @@All at once he follows her, €@@@as an ox goes to the slaughter, €@@or as a stag is caught fast @@@till an arrow pierces its entrails; €@@as a bird rushes into a snare; €@@@he does not know that it will cost him his life. @@And now, O sons, listen to me, €@@@and be attentive to the words of my mouth. @@Let not your heart turn aside to her ways, €@@@do not stray into her paths; @@for many a victim has she laid low; €@@@yea, all her slain are a mighty host. @@Her house is the way to Sheol, €@@@going down to the chambers of death.  @@Does not wisdom call, €@@@does not understanding raise her voice? @@On the heights beside the way, €@@@in the paths she takes her stand; @@beside the gates in front of the town, €@@@at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: @@"To you, O men, I call, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²°’ļ‚Šņļö’؈”‚@@@and my cry is to the sons of men. @@O simple ones, learn prudence; €@@@O foolish men, pay attention. @@Hear, for I will speak noble things, €@@@and from my lips will come what is right; @@for my mouth will utter truth; €@@@wickedness is an abomination to my lips. @@All the words of my mouth are righteous; €@@@there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. @@They are all straight to him who understands €@@@and right to those who find knowledge. @@Take my instruction instead of silver, €@@@and knowledge rather than choice gold; @@for wisdom is better than jewels, €@@@and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. @@I, wisdom, dwell in prudence, €@@@and I find knowledge and discretion. @@The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. €@@Pride and arrogance and the way of evil €@@@and perverted speech I hate. @@I have counsel and sound wisdom, €@@@I have insight, I have strength. @@By me kings reign, €@@@and rulers decree what is just; @@by me princes rule, €@@@and nobles govern the earth. @@I love those who love me, €@@@and those who seek me diligently find me. @@Riches and honor are with me, €@@@enduring wealth and prosperity. @@My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, €@@@and my yield than choice silver. @@I walk in the way of righteousness, €@@@in the paths of justice, @@endowing with wealth those who love me, €@@@and filling their treasuries. @@The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, €@@@the first of his acts of old. @@Ages ago I was set up, €@@@at the first, before the beginning of the earth. @@When there were no depths I was brought forth, €@@@when there were no springs abounding with water. @@Before the mountains had been shaped, €@@@before the hills, I was brought forth; @@before he had made the earth with its fields, €@@@or the first of the dust of the world. @@When he established the heavens, I was there, €@@@when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, @@when he made firm the skies above, €@@@when he established the fountains of the deep, @@when he assigned to the sea its limit, €@@@so that the waters might not transgress his command, €@@when he marked out the foundations of the earth, @@@then I was beside him, like a master workman; €@@@and I was daily his delight, €@@@rejoicing before him always, @@rejoicing in his inhabited world €@@@and delighting in the sons of men. @@And now, my sons, listen to me: €@@@happy are those who keep my ways. @@Hear instruction and be wise, €@@@and do not neglect it. @@Happy is the man who listens to me, €@@@watching daily at my gates, €@@@waiting beside my doors. @@For he who finds me finds life €@@@and obtains favor from the LORD; @@but he who misses me injures himself; €@@@all who hate me love death."  @@Wisdom has built her house, €@@@she has set up her seven pillars. @@She has slaughtered her beasts, she has mixed her wine, €@@@she has also set her table. @@She has sent out her maids to call €@@@from the highest places in the town, @@"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" €@@@To him who is without sense she says, @@"Come, eat of my bread €@@@and drink of the wine I have mixed. @@Leave simpleness, and live, €@@@and walk in the way of insight." @@He who corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, €@@@and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. @@Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; €@@@reprove a wise man, and he will love you. @@Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; €@@@teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning. @@The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, €@@@and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. @@For by me your days will be multiplied, €@@@and years will be added to your life. @@If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; €@@@if you scoff, you alone will bear it. @@A foolish woman is noisy; €@@@she is wanton and knows no shame. @@@She sits at the door of her house, €@@@she takes a seat on the high places of the town, @@calling to those who pass by, €@@@who are going straight on their way, @@"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" €@@@And to him who is without sense she says, @@"Stolen water is sweet, €@@@and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." @@But he does not know that the dead are there, €@@@that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.  The proverbs of Solomon. €@@A wise son makes a glad father, €@@@but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. @@Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, €@@@but righteousness delivers from death. @@The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, €@@@but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. @@A slack hand causes poverty, €@@@but the hand of the diligent makes rich. @@A son who gathers in summer is prudent, €@@@but a son who sleeps in harvest brings shame. @@Blessings are on the head of the righteous, €@@@but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. @@The memory of the righteous is a blessing, €@@@but the name of the wicked will rot. @@The wise of heart will heed commandments, €@@@but a prating fool will come to ruin. @@He who walks in integrity walks securely, €@@@but he who perverts his ways will be found out. @@He who winks the eye causes trouble, €@@@but he who boldly reproves makes peace. @@@The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, €@@@but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. @@Hatred stirs up strife, €@@@but love covers all offenses. @@On the lips of him who has understanding wisdom is found, €@@@but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense. @@Wise men lay up knowledge, €@@@but the babbling of a fool brings ruin near. @@A rich man's wealth is his strong city; €@@@the poverty of the poor is their ruin. @@The wage of the righteous leads to life, €@@@the gain of the wicked to sin. @@He who heeds instruction is on the path to life, €@@@but he who rejects reproof goes astray. @@He who conceals hatred has lying lips, €@@@and he who utters slander is a fool. @@When words are many, transgression is not lacking, €@@@but he who restrains his lips is prudent. @@The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; €@@@the mind of the wicked is of little worth. @@The lips of the righteous feed many, €@@@but fools die for lack of sense. @@The blessing of the LORD makes rich, €@@@and he adds no sorrow with it. @@@It is like sport to a fool to do wrong, €@@@but wise conduct is pleasure to a man of understanding. @@What the wicked dreads will come upon him, €@@@but the desire of the righteous will be granted. @@When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, €@@@but the righteous is established for ever. @@Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, €@@@so is the sluggard to those who send him. @@The fear of the LORD prolongs life, €@@@but the years of the wicked will be short. @@The hope of the righteous ends in gladness, €@@@but the expectation of the wicked comes to nought. @@The LORD is a stronghold to him whose way is upright, €@@@but destruction to evildoers. @@The righteous will never be removed, €@@@but the wicked will not dwell in the land. @@The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, €@@@but the perverse tongue will be cut off. @@The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, €@@@but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.  @@A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, €@@@but a just weight is his delight. @@When pride comes, then comes disgrace; €@@@but with the humble is wisdom. @@The integrity of the upright guides them, €@@@but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. @@Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, €@@@but righteousness delivers from death. @@The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, €@@@but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. @@The righteousness of the upright delivers them, €@@@but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust. @@When the wicked dies, his hope perishes, €@@@and the expectation of the godless comes to nought. @@The righteous is delivered from trouble, €@@@and the wicked gets into it instead. @@With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, €@@@but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. @@When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²°’ļ‚Šņļö’؋˜Š‚@@@and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. @@By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, €@@@but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. @@He who belittles his neighbor lacks sense, €@@@but a man of understanding remains silent. @@He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, €@@@but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing hidden. @@Where there is no guidance, a people falls; €@@@but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. @@He who gives surety for a stranger will smart for it, €@@@but he who hates suretyship is secure. @@A gracious woman gets honor, €@@@and violent men get riches. @@A man who is kind benefits himself, €@@@but a cruel man hurts himself. @@A wicked man earns deceptive wages, €@@@but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. @@He who is steadfast in righteousness will live, €@@@but he who pursues evil will die. @@Men of perverse mind are an abomination to the LORD, €@@@but those of blameless ways are his delight. @@Be assured, an evil man will not go unpunished, €@@@but those who are righteous will be delivered. @@Like a gold ring in a swine's snout €@@@is a beautiful woman without discretion. @@The desire of the righteous ends only in good; €@@@the expectation of the wicked in wrath. @@One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer; €@@@another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. @@A liberal man will be enriched, €@@@and one who waters will himself be watered. @@The people curse him who holds back grain, €@@@but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. @@He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, €@@@but evil comes to him who searches for it. @@He who trusts in his riches will wither, €@@@but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. @@He who troubles his household will inherit wind, €@@@and the fool will be servant to the wise. @@The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, €@@@but lawlessness takes away lives. @@If the righteous is requited on earth, €@@@how much more the wicked and the sinner!  @@Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, €@@@but he who hates reproof is stupid. @@A good man obtains favor from the LORD, €@@@but a man of evil devices he condemns. @@A man is not established by wickedness, €@@@but the root of the righteous will never be moved. @@A good wife is the crown of her husband, €@@@but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones. @@The thoughts of the righteous are just; €@@@the counsels of the wicked are treacherous. @@The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, €@@@but the mouth of the upright delivers men. @@The wicked are overthrown and are no more, €@@@but the house of the righteous will stand. @@A man is commended according to his good sense, €@@@but one of perverse mind is despised. @@Better is a man of humble standing who works for himself €@@@than one who plays the great man but lacks bread. @@A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast, €@@@but the mercy of the wicked is cruel. @@He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, €@@@but he who follows worthless pursuits has no sense. @@The strong tower of the wicked comes to ruin, €@@@but the root of the righteous stands firm. @@@An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, €@@@but the righteous escapes from trouble. @@From the fruit of his words a man is satisfied with good, €@@@and the work of a man's hand comes back to him. @@The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, €@@@but a wise man listens to advice. @@The vexation of a fool is known at once, €@@@but the prudent man ignores an insult. @@He who speaks the truth gives honest evidence, €@@@but a false witness utters deceit. @@There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, €@@@but the tongue of the wise brings healing. @@Truthful lips endure for ever, €@@@but a lying tongue is but for a moment. @@Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, €@@@but those who plan good have joy. @@No ill befalls the righteous, €@@@but the wicked are filled with trouble. @@Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, €@@@but those who act faithfully are his delight. @@A prudent man conceals his knowledge, €@@@but fools proclaim their folly. @@The hand of the diligent will rule, €@@@while the slothful will be put to forced labor. @@Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, €@@@but a good word makes him glad. @@A righteous man turns away from evil, €@@@but the way of the wicked leads them astray. @@A slothful man will not catch his prey, €@@@but the diligent man will get precious wealth. @@@In the path of righteousness is life, €@@@but the way of error leads to death.  @@A wise son hears his father's instruction, €@@@but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. @@From the fruit of his mouth a good man eats good, €@@@but the desire of the treacherous is for violence. @@He who guards his mouth preserves his life; €@@@he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. @@The soul of the sluggard craves, and gets nothing, €@@@while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. @@A righteous man hates falsehood, €@@@but a wicked man acts shamefully and disgracefully. @@Righteousness guards him whose way is upright, €@@@but sin overthrows the wicked. @@One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; €@@@another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. @@The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, €@@@but a poor man has no means of redemption. @@@The light of the righteous rejoices, €@@@but the lamp of the wicked will be put out. @@By insolence the heedless make strife, €@@@but with those who take advice is wisdom. @@Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle, €@@@but he who gathers little by little will increase it. @@Hope deferred makes the heart sick, €@@@but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. @@He who despises the word brings destruction on himself, €@@@but he who respects the commandment will be rewarded. @@The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, €@@@that one may avoid the snares of death. @@Good sense wins favor, €@@@but the way of the faithless is their ruin. @@@In everything a prudent man acts with knowledge, €@@@but a fool flaunts his folly. @@A bad messenger plunges men into trouble, €@@@but a faithful envoy brings healing. @@Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, €@@@but he who heeds reproof is honored. @@A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul; €@@@but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools. @@He who walks with wise men becomes wise, €@@@but the companion of fools will suffer harm. @@Misfortune pursues sinners, €@@@but prosperity rewards the righteous. @@A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, €@@@but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous. @@The fallow ground of the poor yields much food, €@@@but it is swept away through injustice. @@He who spares the rod hates his son, €@@@but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. @@The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, €@@@but the belly of the wicked suffers want.  @@Wisdom builds her house, €@@@but folly with her own hands tears it down. @@He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, €@@@but he who is devious in his ways despises him. @@The talk of a fool is a rod for his back, €@@@but the lips of the wise will preserve them. @@Where there are no oxen, there is no grain; €@@@but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. @@A faithful witness does not lie, €@@@but a false witness breathes out lies. @@A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, €@@@but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. @@Leave the presence of a fool, €@@@for there you do not meet words of knowledge. @@The wisdom of a prudent man is to discern his way, €@@@but the folly of fools is deceiving. @@God scorns the wicked, €@@@but the upright enjoy his favor. @@The heart knows its own bitterness, €@@@and no stranger shares its joy. @@The house of the wicked will be destroyed, €@@@but the tent of the upright will flourish. @@There is a way which seems right to a man, €@@@but its end is the way to death. @@@Even in laughter the heart is sad, €@@@and the end of joy is grief. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²°’ļ‚Šņļö’؎˜Ž@@A perverse man will be filled with the fruit of his ways, €@@@and a good man with the fruit of his deeds. @@@The simple believes everything, €@@@but the prudent looks where he is going. @@A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, €@@@but a fool throws off restraint and is careless. @@A man of quick temper acts foolishly, €@@@but a man of discretion is patient. @@@The simple acquire folly, €@@@but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. @@The evil bow down before the good, €@@@the wicked at the gates of the righteous. @@The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, €@@@but the rich has many friends. @@He who despises his neighbor is a sinner, €@@@but happy is he who is kind to the poor. @@Do they not err that devise evil? €@@@Those who devise good meet loyalty and faithfulness. @@In all toil there is profit, €@@@but mere talk tends only to want. @@The crown of the wise is their wisdom, €@@@but folly is the garland of fools. @@A truthful witness saves lives, €@@@but one who utters lies is a betrayer. @@In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, €@@@and his children will have a refuge. @@The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, €@@@that one may avoid the snares of death. @@In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, €@@@but without people a prince is ruined. @@He who is slow to anger has great understanding, €@@@but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. @@A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh, €@@@but passion makes the bones rot. @@He who oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, €@@@but he who is kind to the needy honors him. @@The wicked is overthrown through his evil-doing, €@@@but the righteous finds refuge through his integrity. @@@Wisdom abides in the mind of a man of understanding, €@@@but it is not known in the heart of fools. @@Righteousness exalts a nation, €@@@but sin is a reproach to any people. @@A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, €@@@but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.  @@A soft answer turns away wrath, €@@@but a harsh word stirs up anger. @@The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge, €@@@but the mouths of fools pour out folly. @@The eyes of the LORD are in every place, €@@@keeping watch on the evil and the good. @@A gentle tongue is a tree of life, €@@@but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. @@A fool despises his father's instruction, €@@@but he who heeds admonition is prudent. @@In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, €@@@but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. @@The lips of the wise spread knowledge; €@@@not so the minds of fools. @@The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, €@@@but the prayer of the upright is his delight. @@The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, €@@@but he loves him who pursues righteousness. @@There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; €@@@he who hates reproof will die. @@Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD, €@@@how much more the hearts of men! @@A scoffer does not like to be reproved; €@@@he will not go to the wise. @@A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, €@@@but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken. @@The mind of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, €@@@but the mouths of fools feed on folly. @@All the days of the afflicted are evil, €@@@but a cheerful heart has a continual feast. @@Better is a little with the fear of the LORD €@@@than great treasure and trouble with it. @@Better is a dinner of herbs where love is €@@@than a fatted ox and hatred with it. @@A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, €@@@but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. @@The way of a sluggard is overgrown with thorns, €@@@but the path of the upright is a level highway. @@A wise son makes a glad father, €@@@but a foolish man despises his mother. @@Folly is a joy to him who has no sense, €@@@but a man of understanding walks aright. @@Without counsel plans go wrong, €@@@but with many advisers they succeed. @@To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, €@@@and a word in season, how good it is! @@The wise man's path leads upward to life, €@@@that he may avoid Sheol beneath. @@The LORD tears down the house of the proud, €@@@but maintains the widow's boundaries. @@The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, €@@@the words of the pure are pleasing to him. @@@He who is greedy for unjust gain makes trouble for his household, €@@@but he who hates bribes will live. @@The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer, €@@@but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. @@The LORD is far from the wicked, €@@@but he hears the prayer of the righteous. @@The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, €@@@and good news refreshes the bones. @@He whose ear heeds wholesome admonition €@@@will abide among the wise. @@He who ignores instruction despises himself, €@@@but he who heeds admonition gains understanding. @@The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, €@@@and humility goes before honor.  @@The plans of the mind belong to man, €@@@but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. @@All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, €@@@but the LORD weighs the spirit. @@Commit your work to the LORD, €@@@and your plans will be established. @@The LORD has made everything for its purpose, €@@@even the wicked for the day of trouble. @@Every one who is arrogant is an abomination to the LORD; €@@@be assured, he will not go unpunished. @@By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, €@@@and by the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil. @@When a man's ways please the LORD, €@@@he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. @@Better is a little with righteousness €@@@than great revenues with injustice. @@A man's mind plans his way, €@@@but the LORD directs his steps. @@Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king; €@@@his mouth does not sin in judgment. @@A just balance and scales are the LORD's; €@@@all the weights in the bag are his work. @@It is an abomination to kings to do evil, €@@@for the throne is established by righteousness. @@Righteous lips are the delight of a king, €@@@and he loves him who speaks what is right. @@A king's wrath is a messenger of death, €@@@and a wise man will appease it. @@In the light of a king's face there is life, €@@@and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain. @@To get wisdom is better than gold; €@@@to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. @@The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; €@@@he who guards his way preserves his life. @@Pride goes before destruction, €@@@and a haughty spirit before a fall. @@It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor €@@@than to divide the spoil with the proud. @@He who gives heed to the word will prosper, €@@@and happy is he who trusts in the LORD. @@The wise of heart is called a man of discernment, €@@@and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness. @@Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it, €@@@but folly is the chastisement of fools. @@The mind of the wise makes his speech judicious, €@@@and adds persuasiveness to his lips. @@Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, €@@@sweetness to the soul and health to the body. @@There is a way which seems right to a man, €@@@but its end is the way to death. @@@A worker's appetite works for him; €@@@his mouth urges him on. @@A worthless man plots evil, €@@@and his speech is like a scorching fire. @@A perverse man spreads strife, €@@@and a whisperer separates close friends. @@A man of violence entices his neighbor €@@@and leads him in a way that is not good. @@He who winks his eyes plans perverse things, €@@@he who compresses his lips brings evil to pass. @@A hoary head is a crown of glory; €@@@it is gained in a righteous life. @@He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, €@@@and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. @@The lot is cast into the lap, €@@@but the decision is wholly from the LORD.  @@Better is a dry morsel with quiet €@@@than a house full of feasting with strife. @@A slave who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, €@@@and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²°’ļ‚Šņļö’ؑ“@@The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, €@@@and the LORD tries hearts. @@An evildoer listens to wicked lips; €@@@and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue. @@He who mocks the poor insults his Maker; €@@@he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. @@Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, €@@@and the glory of sons is their fathers. @@Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; €@@@still less is false speech to a prince. @@A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of him who gives it; €@@@wherever he turns he prospers. @@He who forgives an offense seeks love, €@@@but he who repeats a matter alienates a friend. @@A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding €@@@than a hundred blows into a fool. @@An evil man seeks only rebellion, €@@@and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. @@Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs, €@@@rather than a fool in his folly. @@If a man returns evil for good, €@@@evil will not depart from his house. @@The beginning of strife is like letting out water; €@@@so quit before the quarrel breaks out. @@He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous €@@@are both alike an abomination to the LORD. @@Why should a fool have a price in his hand to buy wisdom, €@@@when he has no mind? @@A friend loves at all times, €@@@and a brother is born for adversity. @@A man without sense gives a pledge, €@@@and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor. @@He who loves transgression loves strife; €@@@he who makes his door high seeks destruction. @@A man of crooked mind does not prosper, €@@@and one with a perverse tongue falls into calamity. @@A stupid son is a grief to a father; €@@@and the father of a fool has no joy. @@A cheerful heart is a good medicine, €@@@but a downcast spirit dries up the bones. @@A wicked man accepts a bribe from the bosom €@@@to pervert the ways of justice. @@A man of understanding sets his face toward wisdom, €@@@but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. @@A foolish son is a grief to his father €@@@and bitterness to her who bore him. @@To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good; €@@@to flog noble men is wrong. @@He who restrains his words has knowledge, €@@@and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. @@Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; €@@@when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.  @@He who is estranged seeks pretexts €@@@to break out against all sound judgment. @@A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, €@@@but only in expressing his opinion. @@When wickedness comes, contempt comes also; €@@@and with dishonor comes disgrace. @@The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; €@@@the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream. @@It is not good to be partial to a wicked man, €@@@or to deprive a righteous man of justice. @@A fool's lips bring strife, €@@@and his mouth invites a flogging. @@A fool's mouth is his ruin, €@@@and his lips are a snare to himself. @@The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; €@@@they go down into the inner parts of the body. @@He who is slack in his work €@@@is a brother to him who destroys. @@The name of the LORD is a strong tower; €@@@the righteous man runs into it and is safe. @@A rich man's wealth is his strong city, €@@@and like a high wall protecting him. @@@Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, €@@@but humility goes before honor. @@If one gives answer before he hears, €@@@it is his folly and shame. @@A man's spirit will endure sickness; €@@@but a broken spirit who can bear? @@An intelligent mind acquires knowledge, €@@@and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. @@A man's gift makes room for him €@@@and brings him before great men. @@He who states his case first seems right, €@@@until the other comes and examines him. @@The lot puts an end to disputes €@@@and decides between powerful contenders. @@A brother helped is like a strong city, €@@@but quarreling is like the bars of a castle. @@From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied; €@@@he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. @@Death and life are in the power of the tongue, €@@@and those who love it will eat its fruits. @@He who finds a wife finds a good thing, €@@@and obtains favor from the LORD. @@The poor use entreaties, €@@@but the rich answer roughly. @@There are friends who pretend to be friends, €@@@but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  @@Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity €@@@than a man who is perverse in speech, and is a fool. @@It is not good for a man to be without knowledge, €@@@and he who makes haste with his feet misses his way. @@When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, €@@@his heart rages against the LORD. @@Wealth brings many new friends, €@@@but a poor man is deserted by his friend. @@A false witness will not go unpunished, €@@@and he who utters lies will not escape. @@Many seek the favor of a generous man, €@@@and every one is a friend to a man who gives gifts. @@All a poor man's brothers hate him; €@@@how much more do his friends go far from him! €@@He pursues them with words, but does not have them. @@He who gets wisdom loves himself; €@@@he who keeps understanding will prosper. @@A false witness will not go unpunished, €@@@and he who utters lies will perish. @@It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, €@@@much less for a slave to rule over princes. @@Good sense makes a man slow to anger, €@@@and it is his glory to overlook an offense. @@A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, €@@@but his favor is like dew upon the grass. @@A foolish son is ruin to his father, €@@@and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain. @@House and wealth are inherited from fathers, €@@@but a prudent wife is from the LORD. @@Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, €@@@and an idle person will suffer hunger. @@He who keeps the commandment keeps his life; €@@@he who despises the word will die. @@He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, €@@@and he will repay him for his deed. @@Discipline your son while there is hope; €@@@do not set your heart on his destruction. @@A man of great wrath will pay the penalty; €@@@for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again. @@@Listen to advice and accept instruction, €@@@that you may gain wisdom for the future. @@Many are the plans in the mind of a man, €@@@but it is the purpose of the LORD that will be established. @@What is desired in a man is loyalty, €@@@and a poor man is better than a liar. @@The fear of the LORD leads to life; €@@@and he who has it rests satisfied; €@@@he will not be visited by harm. @@The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, €@@@and will not even bring it back to his mouth. @@Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; €@@@reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge. @@He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother €@@@is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. @@Cease, my son, to hear instruction €@@@only to stray from the words of knowledge. @@A worthless witness mocks at justice, €@@@and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. @@Condemnation is ready for scoffers, €@@@and flogging for the backs of fools.  @@Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; €@@@and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. @@The dread wrath of a king is like the growling of a lion; €@@@he who provokes him to anger forfeits his life. @@It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; €@@@but every fool will be quarreling. @@The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; €@@@he will seek at harvest and have nothing. @@The purpose in a man's mind is like deep water, €@@@but a man of understanding will draw it out. @@Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, €@@@but a faithful man who can find? @@A righteous man who walks in his integrity --€@@@blessed are his sons after him! @@A king who sits on the throne of judgment €@@@winnows all evil with his eyes. @@Who can say, "I have made my heart clean; €@@@I am pure from my sin"? @@Diverse weights and diverse measures €@@@are both alike an abomination to the LORD. @@Even a child makes himself known by his acts, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²°’ļ‚Šņļö’ؔ˜‹‚@@@whether what he does is pure and right. @@The hearing ear and the seeing eye, €@@@the LORD has made them both. @@Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; €@@@open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread. @@"It is bad, it is bad," says the buyer; €@@@but when he goes away, then he boasts. @@There is gold, and abundance of costly stones; €@@@but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. @@Take a man's garment when he has given surety for a stranger, €@@@and hold him in pledge when he gives surety for foreigners. @@Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, €@@@but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel. @@Plans are established by counsel; €@@@by wise guidance wage war. @@He who goes about gossiping reveals secrets; €@@@therefore do not associate with one who speaks foolishly. @@If one curses his father or his mother, €@@@his lamp will be put out in utter darkness. @@An inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning €@@@will in the end not be blessed. @@Do not say, "I will repay evil"; €@@@wait for the LORD, and he will help you. @@Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, €@@@and false scales are not good. @@A man's steps are ordered by the LORD; €@@@how then can man understand his way? @@It is a snare for a man to say rashly, "It is holy," €@@@and to reflect only after making his vows. @@A wise king winnows the wicked, €@@@and drives the wheel over them. @@The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, €@@@searching all his innermost parts. @@Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king, €@@@and his throne is upheld by righteousness. @@@The glory of young men is their strength, €@@@but the beauty of old men is their gray hair. @@Blows that wound cleanse away evil; €@@@strokes make clean the innermost parts.  @@The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; €@@@he turns it wherever he will. @@Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, €@@@but the LORD weighs the heart. @@To do righteousness and justice €@@@is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. @@Haughty eyes and a proud heart, €@@@the lamp of the wicked, are sin. @@The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, €@@@but every one who is hasty comes only to want. @@The getting of treasures by a lying tongue €@@@is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death. @@The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, €@@@because they refuse to do what is just. @@The way of the guilty is crooked, €@@@but the conduct of the pure is right. @@It is better to live in a corner of the housetop €@@@than in a house shared with a contentious woman. @@The soul of the wicked desires evil; €@@@his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes. @@When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; €@@@when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge. @@The righteous observes the house of the wicked; €@@@the wicked are cast down to ruin. @@He who closes his ear to the cry of the poor €@@@will himself cry out and not be heard. @@A gift in secret averts anger; €@@@and a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath. @@When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, €@@@but dismay to evildoers. @@A man who wanders from the way of understanding €@@@will rest in the assembly of the dead. @@He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; €@@@he who loves wine and oil will not be rich. @@The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, €@@@and the faithless for the upright. @@It is better to live in a desert land €@@@than with a contentious and fretful woman. @@Precious treasure remains in a wise man's dwelling, €@@@but a foolish man devours it. @@He who pursues righteousness and kindness €@@@will find life and honor. @@A wise man scales the city of the mighty €@@@and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. @@He who keeps his mouth and his tongue €@@@keeps himself out of trouble. @@"Scoffer" is the name of the proud, haughty man €@@@who acts with arrogant pride. @@The desire of the sluggard kills him €@@@for his hands refuse to labor. @@All day long the wicked covets, €@@@but the righteous gives and does not hold back. @@The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; €@@@how much more when he brings it with evil intent. @@A false witness will perish, €@@@but the word of a man who hears will endure. @@A wicked man puts on a bold face, €@@@but an upright man considers his ways. @@No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel, €@@@can avail against the LORD. @@The horse is made ready for the day of battle, €@@@but the victory belongs to the LORD.  @@A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, €@@@and favor is better than silver or gold. @@The rich and the poor meet together; €@@@the LORD is the maker of them all. @@A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; €@@@but the simple go on, and suffer for it. @@The reward for humility and fear of the LORD €@@@is riches and honor and life. @@Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; €@@@he who guards himself will keep far from them. @@Train up a child in the way he should go, €@@@and when he is old he will not depart from it. @@The rich rules over the poor, €@@@and the borrower is the slave of the lender. @@He who sows injustice will reap calamity, €@@@and the rod of his fury will fail. @@He who has a bountiful eye will be blessed, €@@@for he shares his bread with the poor. @@Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, €@@@and quarreling and abuse will cease. @@He who loves purity of heart, €@@@and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend. @@The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, €@@@but he overthrows the words of the faithless. @@The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! €@@@I shall be slain in the streets!" @@The mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit; €@@@he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it. @@Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, €@@@but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. @@He who oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, €@@@or gives to the rich, will only come to want. @@Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, €@@@and apply your mind to my knowledge; @@for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, €@@@if all of them are ready on your lips. @@That your trust may be in the LORD, €@@@I have made them known to you today, even to you. @@Have I not written for you thirty sayings €@@@of admonition and knowledge, @@to show you what is right and true, €@@@that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? @@Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, €@@@or crush the afflicted at the gate; @@for the LORD will plead their cause €@@@and despoil of life those who despoil them. @@Make no friendship with a man given to anger, €@@@nor go with a wrathful man, @@lest you learn his ways €@@@and entangle yourself in a snare. @@Be not one of those who give pledges, €@@@who become surety for debts. @@If you have nothing with which to pay, €@@@why should your bed be taken from under you? @@Remove not the ancient landmark €@@@which your fathers have set. @@Do you see a man skilful in his work? €@@@he will stand before kings; €@@@he will not stand before obscure men.  @@When you sit down to eat with a ruler, €@@@observe carefully what is before you; @@and put a knife to your throat €@@@if you are a man given to appetite. @@Do not desire his delicacies, €@@@for they are deceptive food. @@Do not toil to acquire wealth; €@@@be wise enough to desist. @@When your eyes light upon it, it is gone; €@@@for suddenly it takes to itself wings, €@@@flying like an eagle toward heaven. @@Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; €@@@do not desire his delicacies; @@for he is like one who is inwardly reckoning. €@@@"Eat and drink!" he says to you; €@@@but his heart is not with you. @@You will vomit up the morsels which you have eaten, €@@@and waste your pleasant words. @@Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, €@@@for he will despise the wisdom of your words. @@Do not remove an ancient landmark €@@@or enter the fields of the fatherless; @@for their Redeemer is strong; €@@@he will plead their cause against you. @@Apply your mind to instruction €@@@and your ear to words of knowledge. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²°’ļ‚Šņļö’ؗ˜@@Do not withhold discipline from a child; €@@@if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. @@If you beat him with the rod €@@@you will save his life from Sheol. @@My son, if your heart is wise, €@@@my heart too will be glad. @@My soul will rejoice €@@@when your lips speak what is right. @@Let not your heart envy sinners, €@@@but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day. @@Surely there is a future, €@@@and your hope will not be cut off. @@Hear, my son, and be wise, €@@@and direct your mind in the way. @@Be not among winebibbers, €@@@or among gluttonous eaters of meat; @@for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, €@@@and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags. @@Hearken to your father who begot you, €@@@and do not despise your mother when she is old. @@Buy truth, and do not sell it; €@@@buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. @@The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; €@@@he who begets a wise son will be glad in him. @@Let your father and mother be glad, €@@@let her who bore you rejoice. @@My son, give me your heart, €@@@and let your eyes observe my ways. @@For a harlot is a deep pit; €@@@an adventuress is a narrow well. @@She lies in wait like a robber €@@@and increases the faithless among men. @@Who has woe? Who has sorrow? €@@@Who has strife? Who has complaining? €@@Who has wounds without cause? €@@@Who has redness of eyes? @@Those who tarry long over wine, €@@@those who go to try mixed wine. @@Do not look at wine when it is red, €@@@when it sparkles in the cup €@@@and goes down smoothly. @@At the last it bites like a serpent, €@@@and stings like an adder. @@Your eyes will see strange things, €@@@and your mind utter perverse things. @@You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, €@@@like one who lies on the top of a mast. @@@"They struck me," you will say, "but I was not hurt; €@@@they beat me, but I did not feel it. €@@When shall I awake? €@@@I will seek another drink."  @@Be not envious of evil men, €@@@nor desire to be with them; @@for their minds devise violence, €@@@and their lips talk of mischief. @@By wisdom a house is built, €@@@and by understanding it is established; @@by knowledge the rooms are filled €@@@with all precious and pleasant riches. @@A wise man is mightier than a strong man, €@@@and a man of knowledge than he who has strength; @@for by wise guidance you can wage your war, €@@@and in abundance of counselors there is victory. @@Wisdom is too high for a fool; €@@@in the gate he does not open his mouth. @@He who plans to do evil €@@@will be called a mischief-maker. @@The devising of folly is sin, €@@@and the scoffer is an abomination to men. @@If you faint in the day of adversity, €@@@your strength is small. @@Rescue those who are being taken away to death; €@@@hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. @@If you say, "Behold, we did not know this," €@@@does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? €@@Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, €@@@and will he not requite man according to his work? @@My son, eat honey, for it is good, €@@@and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. @@Know that wisdom is such to your soul; €@@@if you find it, there will be a future, €@@@and your hope will not be cut off. @@Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; €@@@do not violence to his home; @@for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again; €@@@but the wicked are overthrown by calamity. @@Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, €@@@and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles; @@lest the LORD see it, and be displeased, €@@@and turn away his anger from him. @@Fret not yourself because of evildoers, €@@@and be not envious of the wicked; @@for the evil man has no future; €@@@the lamp of the wicked will be put out. @@My son, fear the LORD and the king, €@@@and do not disobey either of them; @@@for disaster from them will rise suddenly, €@@@and who knows the ruin that will come from them both? @@@These also are sayings of the wise. €@@Partiality in judging is not good. @@He who says to the wicked, "You are innocent," €@@@will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations; @@but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, €@@@and a good blessing will be upon them. @@He who gives a right answer €@@@kisses the lips. @@Prepare your work outside, €@@@get everything ready for you in the field; €@@@and after that build your house. @@Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, €@@@and do not deceive with your lips. @@Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; €@@@I will pay the man back for what he has done." @@I passed by the field of a sluggard, €@@@by the vineyard of a man without sense; @@and lo, it was all overgrown with thorns; €@@@the ground was covered with nettles, €@@@and its stone wall was broken down. @@Then I saw and considered it; €@@@I looked and received instruction. @@A little sleep, a little slumber, €@@@a little folding of the hands to rest, @@and poverty will come upon you like a robber, €@@@and want like an armed man.  These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezeki'ah king of €Judah copied. @@It is the glory of God to conceal things, €@@@but the glory of kings is to search things out. @@As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, €@@@so the mind of kings is unsearchable. @@Take away the dross from the silver, €@@@and the smith has material for a vessel; @@take away the wicked from the presence of the king, €@@@and his throne will be established in righteousness. @@Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence €@@@or stand in the place of the great; @@for it is better to be told, "Come up here," €@@@than to be put lower in the presence of the prince. €@@What your eyes have seen @@@do not hastily bring into court; €@@for what will you do in the end, €@@@when your neighbor puts you to shame? @@Argue your case with your neighbor himself, €@@@and do not disclose another's secret; @@lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, €@@@and your ill repute have no end. @@A word fitly spoken €@@@is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. @@Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold €@@@is a wise reprover to a listening ear. @@Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest €@@@is a faithful messenger to those who send him, €@@@he refreshes the spirit of his masters. @@Like clouds and wind without rain €@@@is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. @@With patience a ruler may be persuaded, €@@@and a soft tongue will break a bone. @@If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, €@@@lest you be sated with it and vomit it. @@Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, €@@@lest he become weary of you and hate you. @@A man who bears false witness against his neighbor €@@@is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow. @@Trust in a faithless man in time of trouble €@@@is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips. @@He who sings songs to a heavy heart €@@@is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, €@@@and like vinegar on a wound. @@@If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; €@@@and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; @@for you will heap coals of fire on his head, €@@@and the LORD will reward you. @@The north wind brings forth rain; €@@@and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. @@It is better to live in a corner of the housetop €@@@than in a house shared with a contentious woman. @@Like cold water to a thirsty soul, €@@@so is good news from a far country. @@Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain €@@@is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. @@It is not good to eat much honey, €@@@so be sparing of complimentary words. @@@A man without self-control €@@@is like a city broken into and left without walls.  @@Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, €@@@so honor is not fitting for a fool. @@Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, €@@@a curse that is causeless does not alight. @@A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, €@@@and a rod for the back of fools. @@Answer not a fool according to his folly, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²°’ļ‚Šņļö’ؚ”‚@@@lest you be like him yourself. @@Answer a fool according to his folly, €@@@lest he be wise in his own eyes. @@He who sends a message by the hand of a fool €@@@cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. @@Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, €@@@is a proverb in the mouth of fools. @@Like one who binds the stone in the sling €@@@is he who gives honor to a fool. @@Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard €@@@is a proverb in the mouth of fools. @@Like an archer who wounds everybody €@@@is he who hires a passing fool or drunkard. @@@Like a dog that returns to his vomit €@@@is a fool that repeats his folly. @@Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? €@@@There is more hope for a fool than for him. @@The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! €@@@There is a lion in the streets!" @@As a door turns on its hinges, €@@@so does a sluggard on his bed. @@The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; €@@@it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. @@The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes €@@@than seven men who can answer discreetly. @@He who meddles in a quarrel not his own €@@@is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. @@Like a madman who throws firebrands, €@@@arrows, and death, @@is the man who deceives his neighbor €@@@and says, "I am only joking!" @@For lack of wood the fire goes out; €@@@and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. @@As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, €@@@so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. @@The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; €@@@they go down into the inner parts of the body. @@Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel €@@@are smooth lips with an evil heart. @@He who hates, dissembles with his lips €@@@and harbors deceit in his heart; @@when he speaks graciously, believe him not, €@@@for there are seven abominations in his heart; @@though his hatred be covered with guile, €@@@his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. @@He who digs a pit will fall into it, €@@@and a stone will come back upon him who starts it rolling. @@A lying tongue hates its victims, €@@@and a flattering mouth works ruin.  @@Do not boast about tomorrow, €@@@for you do not know what a day may bring forth. @@Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; €@@@a stranger, and not your own lips. @@A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, €@@@but a fool's provocation is heavier than both. @@Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming; €@@@but who can stand before jealousy? @@Better is open rebuke €@@@than hidden love. @@Faithful are the wounds of a friend; €@@@profuse are the kisses of an enemy. @@He who is sated loathes honey, €@@@but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet. @@Like a bird that strays from its nest, €@@@is a man who strays from his home. @@Oil and perfume make the heart glad, €@@@but the soul is torn by trouble. @@@Your friend, and your father's friend, do not forsake; €@@@and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity. €@@Better is a neighbor who is near €@@@than a brother who is far away. @@Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, €@@@that I may answer him who reproaches me. @@A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; €@@@but the simple go on, and suffer for it. @@Take a man's garment when he has given surety for a stranger, €@@@and hold him in pledge when he gives surety for foreigners. @@@He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, €@@@rising early in the morning, €@@@will be counted as cursing. @@A continual dripping on a rainy day €@@@and a contentious woman are alike; @@to restrain her is to restrain the wind €@@@or to grasp oil in his right hand. @@Iron sharpens iron, €@@@and one man sharpens another. @@He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, €@@@and he who guards his master will be honored. @@As in water face answers to face, €@@@so the mind of man reflects the man. @@Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, €@@@and never satisfied are the eyes of man. @@The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, €@@@and a man is judged by his praise. @@Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle €@@@along with crushed grain, €@@@yet his folly will not depart from him. @@Know well the condition of your flocks, €@@@and give attention to your herds; @@for riches do not last for ever; €@@@and does a crown endure to all generations? @@When the grass is gone, and the new growth appears, €@@@and the herbage of the mountains is gathered, @@the lambs will provide your clothing, €@@@and the goats the price of a field; @@there will be enough goats' milk for your food, €@@@for the food of your household €@@@and maintenance for your maidens.  @@The wicked flee when no one pursues, €@@@but the righteous are bold as a lion. @@When a land transgresses €@@@it has many rulers; €@@but with men of understanding and knowledge €@@@its stability will long continue. @@A poor man who oppresses the poor €@@@is a beating rain that leaves no food. @@Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, €@@@but those who keep the law strive against them. @@Evil men do not understand justice, €@@@but those who seek the LORD understand it completely. @@Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity €@@@than a rich man who is perverse in his ways. @@He who keeps the law is a wise son, €@@@but a companion of gluttons shames his father. @@He who augments his wealth by interest and increase €@@@gathers it for him who is kind to the poor. @@If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, €@@@even his prayer is an abomination. @@He who misleads the upright into an evil way €@@@will fall into his own pit; €@@@but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance. @@A rich man is wise in his own eyes, €@@@but a poor man who has understanding will find him out. @@When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; €@@@but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. @@He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, €@@@but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. @@Blessed is the man who fears the LORD always; €@@@but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. @@Like a roaring lion or a charging bear €@@@is a wicked ruler over a poor people. @@A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor; €@@@but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. @@If a man is burdened with the blood of another, €@@@let him be a fugitive until death; €@@@let no one help him. @@He who walks in integrity will be delivered, €@@@but he who is perverse in his ways will fall into a pit. @@@He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, €@@@but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. @@A faithful man will abound with blessings, €@@@but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. @@To show partiality is not good; €@@@but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong. @@A miserly man hastens after wealth, €@@@and does not know that want will come upon him. @@He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor €@@@than he who flatters with his tongue. @@He who robs his father or his mother €@@@and says, "That is no transgression," €@@@is the companion of a man who destroys. @@A greedy man stirs up strife, €@@@but he who trusts in the LORD will be enriched. @@He who trusts in his own mind is a fool; €@@@but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. @@He who gives to the poor will not want, €@@@but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse. @@When the wicked rise, men hide themselves, €@@@but when they perish, the righteous increase.  @@He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck €@@@will suddenly be broken beyond healing. @@When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; €@@@but when the wicked rule, the people groan. @@He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, €@@@but one who keeps company with harlots squanders his substance. @@By justice a king gives stability to the land, €@@@but one who exacts gifts ruins it. @@A man who flatters his neighbor €@@@spreads a net for his feet. @@An evil man is ensnared in his transgression, €@@@but a righteous man sings and rejoices. @@A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²°’ļ‚Šņļö’؝—‚@@@a wicked man does not understand such knowledge. @@Scoffers set a city aflame, €@@@but wise men turn away wrath. @@If a wise man has an argument with a fool, €@@@the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet. @@Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless, €@@@and the wicked seek his life. @@A fool gives full vent to his anger, €@@@but a wise man quietly holds it back. @@If a ruler listens to falsehood, €@@@all his officials will be wicked. @@The poor man and the oppressor meet together; €@@@the LORD gives light to the eyes of both. @@If a king judges the poor with equity €@@@his throne will be established for ever. @@The rod and reproof give wisdom, €@@@but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. @@When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases; €@@@but the righteous will look upon their downfall. @@Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; €@@@he will give delight to your heart. @@Where there is no prophecy the people cast off restraint, €@@@but blessed is he who keeps the law. @@By mere words a servant is not disciplined, €@@@for though he understands, he will not give heed. @@Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? €@@@There is more hope for a fool than for him. @@He who pampers his servant from childhood, €@@@will in the end find him his heir. @@@A man of wrath stirs up strife, €@@@and a man given to anger causes much transgression. @@A man's pride will bring him low, €@@@but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. @@The partner of a thief hates his own life; €@@@he hears the curse, but discloses nothing. @@The fear of man lays a snare, €@@@but he who trusts in the LORD is safe. @@Many seek the favor of a ruler, €@@@but from the LORD a man gets justice. @@An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, €@@@but he whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.  The words of Agur son of Jakeh of Massa. €@@The man says to Ith'i-el, €@@@to Ith'i-el and Ucal: @@@Surely I am too stupid to be a man. €@@@I have not the understanding of a man. @@I have not learned wisdom, €@@@nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. @@Who has ascended to heaven and come down? €@@@Who has gathered the wind in his fists? €@@Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? €@@@Who has established all the ends of the earth? €@@What is his name, and what is his son's name? €@@@Surely you know! @@Every word of God proves true; €@@@he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. @@Do not add to his words, €@@@lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar. @@Two things I ask of thee; €@@@deny them not to me before I die: @@Remove far from me falsehood and lying; €@@@give me neither poverty nor riches; €@@@feed me with the food that is needful for me, @@lest I be full, and deny thee, €@@@and say, "Who is the LORD?" €@@or lest I be poor, and steal, €@@@and profane the name of my God. @@Do not slander a servant to his master, €@@@lest he curse you, and you be held guilty. @@There are those who curse their fathers €@@@and do not bless their mothers. @@There are those who are pure in their own eyes €@@@but are not cleansed of their filth. @@There are those -- how lofty are their eyes, €@@@how high their eyelids lift! @@There are those whose teeth are swords, €@@@whose teeth are knives, €@@to devour the poor from off the earth, €@@@the needy from among men. @@The leech has two daughters; €@@@"Give, give," they cry. €@@Three things are never satisfied; €@@@four never say, "Enough": @@Sheol, the barren womb, €@@@the earth ever thirsty for water, €@@@and the fire which never says, "Enough." @@The eye that mocks a father €@@@and scorns to obey a mother €@@will be picked out by the ravens of the valley €@@@and eaten by the vultures. @@Three things are too wonderful for me; €@@@four I do not understand: @@the way of an eagle in the sky, €@@@the way of a serpent on a rock, €@@the way of a ship on the high seas, €@@@and the way of a man with a maiden. @@This is the way of an adulteress: €@@@she eats, and wipes her mouth, €@@@and says, "I have done no wrong." @@Under three things the earth trembles; €@@@under four it cannot bear up: @@a slave when he becomes king, €@@@and a fool when he is filled with food; @@an unloved woman when she gets a husband, €@@@and a maid when she succeeds her mistress. @@Four things on earth are small, €@@@but they are exceedingly wise: @@the ants are a people not strong, €@@@yet they provide their food in the summer; @@the badgers are a people not mighty, €@@@yet they make their homes in the rocks; @@the locusts have no king, €@@@yet all of them march in rank; @@the lizard you can take in your hands, €@@@yet it is in kings' palaces. @@Three things are stately in their tread; €@@@four are stately in their stride: @@the lion, which is mightiest among beasts €@@@and does not turn back before any; @@the strutting cock, the he-goat, €@@@and a king striding before his people. @@If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, €@@@or if you have been devising evil, €@@@put your hand on your mouth. @@For pressing milk produces curds, €@@@pressing the nose produces blood, €@@@and pressing anger produces strife.  The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, which his mother taught him: @@What, my son? What, son of my womb? €@@@What, son of my vows? @@Give not your strength to women, €@@@your ways to those who destroy kings. @@It is not for kings, O Lemuel, €@@@it is not for kings to drink wine, €@@@or for rulers to desire strong drink; @@lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, €@@@and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. @@Give strong drink to him who is perishing, €@@@and wine to those in bitter distress; @@let them drink and forget their poverty, €@@@and remember their misery no more. @@Open your mouth for the dumb, €@@@for the rights of all who are left desolate. @@@Open your mouth, judge righteously, €@@@maintain the rights of the poor and needy. @@A good wife who can find? €@@@She is far more precious than jewels. @@The heart of her husband trusts in her, €@@@and he will have no lack of gain. @@She does him good, and not harm, €@@@all the days of her life. @@She seeks wool and flax, €@@@and works with willing hands. @@She is like the ships of the merchant, €@@@she brings her food from afar. @@She rises while it is yet night €@@@and provides food for her household €@@@and tasks for her maidens. @@She considers a field and buys it; €@@@with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. @@She girds her loins with strength and makes her arms strong. @@She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. €@@@Her lamp does not go out at night. @@She puts her hands to the distaff, €@@@and her hands hold the spindle. @@She opens her hand to the poor, €@@@and reaches out her hands to the needy. @@She is not afraid of snow for her household, €@@@for all her household are clothed in scarlet. @@She makes herself coverings; €@@@her clothing is fine linen and purple. @@Her husband is known in the gates, €@@@when he sits among the elders of the land. @@She makes linen garments and sells them; €@@@she delivers girdles to the merchant. @@Strength and dignity are her clothing, €@@@and she laughs at the time to come. @@She opens her mouth with wisdom, €@@@and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. @@She looks well to the ways of her household, €@@@and does not eat the bread of idleness. @@Her children rise up and call her blessed; €@@@her husband also, and he praises her: @@"Many women have done excellently, €@@@but you surpass them all." @@Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, €@@@but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. @@Give her of the fruit of her hands, €@@@and let her works praise her in the gates. ąļ‚Ńļč’”The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. @@Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, €@@@vanity of vanities! All is vanity. @@What does man gain by all the toil €@@@at which he toils under the sun? @@A generation goes, and a generation comes, €@@@but the earth remains for ever. @@The sun rises and the sun goes down, €@@@and hastens to the place where it rises. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²±’ļ‚Ńļč’”–@@The wind blows to the south, €@@@and goes round to the north; €@@round and round goes the wind, €@@@and on its circuits the wind returns. @@All streams run to the sea, €@@@but the sea is not full; €@@to the place where the streams flow, €@@@there they flow again. @@All things are full of weariness; €@@@a man cannot utter it; €@@the eye is not satisfied with seeing, €@@@nor the ear filled with hearing. @@What has been is what will be, €@@@and what has been done is what will be done; €@@@and there is nothing new under the sun. @@Is there a thing of which it is said, €@@@"See, this is new"? €@@It has been already, €@@@in the ages before us. @@There is no remembrance of former things, €@@@nor will there be any remembrance €@@of later things yet to happen €@@@among those who come after. @I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is €done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to the €sons of men to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun; and behold, all is €vanity and a striving after wind. @@What is crooked cannot be made straight, €@@@and what is lacking cannot be numbered. @I said to myself, "I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who €were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has had great experience of €wisdom and knowledge." And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I €perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. @@For in much wisdom is much vexation, €@@and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.  I said to myself, "Come now, I will make a test of pleasure; enjoy €yourself." But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?" I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine -- my mind still €guiding me with wisdom -- and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see €what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven during the few €days of their life. I made great works; I built houses and planted vineyards for myself; I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit €trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my €house; I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any €who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings €and provinces; I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, €man's delight. @So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; €also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them; I kept my heart €from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this €was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent €in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and €there was nothing to be gained under the sun. @So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what can €the man do who comes after the king? Only what he has already done. Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. The wise man has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness; €and yet I perceived that one fate comes to all of them. Then I said to myself, "What befalls the fool will befall me also; why €then have I been so very wise?" And I said to myself that this also €is vanity. For of the wise man as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, €seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How €the wise man dies just like the fool! So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me; €for all is vanity and a striving after wind. @I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that €I must leave it to the man who will come after me; and who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be €master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. €This also is vanity. So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of €my labors under the sun, because sometimes a man who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and €skill must leave all to be enjoyed by a man who did not toil for it. €This also is vanity and a great evil. What has a man from all the toil and strain with which he toils beneath €the sun? For all his days are full of pain, and his work is a vexation; even in €the night his mind does not rest. This also is vanity. @There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, €and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of €God; for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the man who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; €but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to €give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after €wind.  For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under €heaven: @@a time to be born, and a time to die; €@@a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; @@a time to kill, and a time to heal; €@@a time to break down, and a time to build up; @@a time to weep, and a time to laugh; €@@a time to mourn, and a time to dance; @@a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; €@@a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; @@a time to seek, and a time to lose; €@@a time to keep, and a time to cast away; @@a time to rend, and a time to sew; €@@a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; @@a time to love, and a time to hate; €@@a time for war, and a time for peace. @@What gain has the worker from his toil? @I have seen the business that God has given to the sons of men to be €busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity €into man's mind, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from €the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy €themselves as long as they live; also that it is God's gift to man that every one should eat and drink €and take pleasure in all his toil. I know that whatever God does endures for ever; nothing can be added to €it, nor anything taken from it; God has made it so, in order that men €should fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; €and God seeks what has been driven away. @Moreover I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there €was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was €wickedness. I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for he €has appointed a time for every matter, and for every work. I said in my heart with regard to the sons of men that God is testing €them to show them that they are but beasts. For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same; as €one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has €no advantage over the beasts; for all is vanity. All go to one place; all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the €beast goes down to the earth? So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should enjoy his €work, for that is his lot; who can bring him to see what will be after €him?  Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. And €behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort €them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no €one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the €living who are still alive; but better than both is he who has not yet been, and has not seen the €evil deeds that are done under the sun. @Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy €of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. @The fool folds his hands, and eats his own flesh. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²±’ļ‚Ńļč’¤–@Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a €striving after wind. @Again, I saw vanity under the sun: a person who has no one, either son or brother, yet there is no end to €all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he €never asks, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" €This also is vanity and an unhappy business. @Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their €toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is €alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up. Again, if two lie together, they are warm; but how can one be warm €alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will €withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. @Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who €will no longer take advice, even though he had gone from prison to the throne or in his own kingdom €had been born poor. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, as well as that €youth, who was to stand in his place; there was no end of all the people; he was over all of them. Yet those €who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and €a striving after wind.  Guard your steps when you go to the house of God; to draw near to €listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not €know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a €word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore €let your words be few. @For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many €words. @When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it; for he has no €pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not €pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the €messenger that it was a mistake; why should God be angry at your voice, €and destroy the work of your hands? @For when dreams increase, empty words grow many: but do you fear €God. @If you see in a province the poor oppressed and justice and right €violently taken away, do not be amazed at the matter; for the high €official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over €them. But in all, a king is an advantage to a land with cultivated fields. @He who loves money will not be satisfied with money; nor he who loves €wealth, with gain: this also is vanity. @When goods increase, they increase who eat them; and what gain has €their owner but to see them with his eyes? @Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much; but €the surfeit of the rich will not let him sleep. @There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches were €kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture; and he is father of a son, €but he has nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, €and shall take nothing for his toil, which he may carry away in his €hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go; and what €gain has he that he toiled for the wind, and spent all his days in darkness and grief, in much vexation and €sickness and resentment? @Behold, what I have seen to be good and to be fitting is to eat and €drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under €the sun the few days of his life which God has given him, for this is €his lot. Every man also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power €to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and find enjoyment in his €toil -- this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps €him occupied with joy in his heart.  There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy €upon men: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he €lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power €to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them; this is vanity; it is a sore €affliction. If a man begets a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the €days of his years are many, but he does not enjoy life's good things, €and also has no burial, I say that an untimely birth is better off €than he. For it comes into vanity and goes into darkness, and in darkness its €name is covered; moreover it has not seen the sun or known anything; yet it finds rest €rather than he. Even though he should live a thousand years twice told, yet enjoy no €good -- do not all go to the one place? @All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not €satisfied. For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the €poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also €is vanity and a striving after wind. @Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what €man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is man the better? For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his €vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what €will be after him under the sun?  @@A good name is better than precious ointment; €@@@and the day of death, than the day of birth. @@It is better to go to the house of mourning €@@@than to go to the house of feasting; €@@for this is the end of all men, €@@@and the living will lay it to heart. @@Sorrow is better than laughter, €@@@for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad. @@The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; €@@@but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. @@It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise €@@@than to hear the song of fools. @@For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, €@@@so is the laughter of the fools; €@@@this also is vanity. @@Surely oppression makes the wise man foolish, €@@@and a bribe corrupts the mind. @@Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; €@@@and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. @@Be not quick to anger, €@@@for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. @@Say not, "Why were the former days better than these?" €@@@For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. @@Wisdom is good with an inheritance, €@@@an advantage to those who see the sun. @@For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money; €@@@and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life €@@@@of him who has it. @@Consider the work of God; €@@@who can make straight what he has made crooked? @In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity €consider; God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may €not find out anything that will be after him. @In my vain life I have seen everything; there is a righteous man who €perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs €his life in his evil-doing. Be not righteous overmuch, and do not make yourself overwise; why €should you destroy yourself? Be not wicked overmuch, neither be a fool; why should you die before €your time? It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold €not your hand; for he who fears God shall come forth from them all. @Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are €in a city. @Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never €sins. @Do not give heed to all the things that men say, lest you hear your €servant cursing you; your heart knows that many times you have yourself cursed others. @All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, "I will be wise"; but it €was far from me. That which is, is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? I turned my mind to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the €sum of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness €which is madness. And I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and €nets, and whose hands are fetters; he who pleases God escapes her, but €the sinner is taken by her. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²±’ļ‚Ńļč’§˜›Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, adding one thing to €another to find the sum, which my mind has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man €among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found. Behold, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have €sought out many devices.  @@Who is like the wise man? €@@@And who knows the interpretation of a thing? €@@A man's wisdom makes his face shine, €@@@and the hardness of his countenance is changed. @Keep the king's command, and because of your sacred oath be not €dismayed; go from his presence, do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, for €he does whatever he pleases. For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, "What are €you doing?" He who obeys a command will meet no harm, and the mind of a wise man €will know the time and way. For every matter has its time and way, although man's trouble lies €heavy upon him. For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? No man has power to retain the spirit, or authority over the day of €death; there is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver €those who are given to it. All this I observed while applying my mind to all that is done under €the sun, while man lords it over man to his hurt. @Then I saw the wicked buried; they used to go in and out of the holy €place, and were praised in the city where they had done such things. €This also is vanity. Because sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the €heart of the sons of men is fully set to do evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I €know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear €before him; but it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his €days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God. @There is a vanity which takes place on earth, that there are €righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, €and there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the deeds of €the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. And I commend enjoyment, for man has no good thing under the sun but to €eat and drink, and enjoy himself, for this will go with him in his €toil through the days of life which God gives him under the sun. @When I applied my mind to know wisdom, and to see the business that €is done on earth, how neither day nor night one's eyes see sleep; then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that €is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will €not find it out; even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find €it out.  But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and €the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God; whether it is love or €hate man does not know. Everything before them is vanity, since one fate comes to all, to the righteous and the wicked, to the €good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices €and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good man, so is the sinner; €and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath. This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that one fate comes €to all; also the hearts of men are full of evil, and madness is in €their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is €better than a dead lion. For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and €they have no more reward; but the memory of them is lost. Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and €they have no more for ever any share in all that is done under the sun. @Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry €heart; for God has already approved what you do. @Let your garments be always white; let not oil be lacking on your €head. @Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain €life which he has given you under the sun, because that is your €portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no €work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are €going. @Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the €battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the €intelligent, nor favor to the men of skill; but time and chance happen €to them all. For man does not know his time. Like fish which are taken in an evil €net, and like birds which are caught in a snare, so the sons of men are €snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them. @I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed €great to me. There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came €against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. But there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom €delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's €wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded. @The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of €a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.  @@Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off an evil odor; €@@@so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. @@A wise man's heart inclines him toward the right, €@@@but a fool's heart toward the left. @@Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, €@@@and he says to every one that he is a fool. @@If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, €@@@for deference will make amends for great offenses. @There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error €proceeding from the ruler: folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on foot like slaves. @@He who digs a pit will fall into it; €@@@and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. @@He who quarries stones is hurt by them; €@@@and he who splits logs is endangered by them. @@If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, €@@@he must put forth more strength; €@@@but wisdom helps one to succeed. @@If the serpent bites before it is charmed, €@@@there is no advantage in a charmer. @@The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, €@@@but the lips of a fool consume him. @@The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, €@@@and the end of his talk is wicked madness. @@A fool multiplies words, €@@@though no man knows what is to be, €@@@and who can tell him what will be after him? @@The toil of a fool wearies him, €@@@so that he does not know the way to the city. @@Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, €@@@and your princes feast in the morning! @@Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of free men, €@@@and your princes feast at the proper time, €@@@for strength, and not for drunkenness! @@Through sloth the roof sinks in, €@@@and through indolence the house leaks. @@Bread is made for laughter, €@@@and wine gladdens life, €@@@and money answers everything. @@Even in your thought, do not curse the king, €@@@nor in your bedchamber curse the rich; €@@for a bird of the air will carry your voice, €@@@or some winged creature tell the matter.  @@Cast your bread upon the waters, €@@@for you will find it after many days. @@Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, €@@@for you know not what evil may happen on earth. @@If the clouds are full of rain, €@@@they empty themselves on the earth; €@@and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, €@@@in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. @@He who observes the wind will not sow; €@@@and he who regards the clouds will not reap. @As you do not know how the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of €a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes €everything. @In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand; €for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²±’ļ‚Ńļč’؋–ƒalike will be good. @Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun. @For if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let €him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is €vanity. @Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in €the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart and the sight €of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you €into judgment. @Remove vexation from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for €youth and the dawn of life are vanity.  Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil €days come, and the years draw nigh, when you will say, "I have no €pleasure in them"; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened €and the clouds return after the rain; in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men €are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that €look through the windows are dimmed, and the doors on the street are shut; when the sound of the grinding is €low, and one rises up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of €song are brought low; they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the €almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along and desire €fails; because man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about €the streets; before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the €pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to €God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. @Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, €weighing and studying and arranging proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find pleasing words, and uprightly he wrote €words of truth. @The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed €are the collected sayings which are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is €no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. @The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his €commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. @For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret €thing, whether good or evil. ąļ‚Ćįīō’”The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's. @@O that you would kiss me with the kisses of your mouth! €@@For your love is better than wine, @@@your anointing oils are fragrant, €@@your name is oil poured out; €@@@therefore the maidens love you. @@Draw me after you, let us make haste. €@@@The king has brought me into his chambers. €@@We will exult and rejoice in you; €@@@we will extol your love more than wine; €@@@rightly do they love you. @@I am very dark, but comely, €@@@O daughters of Jerusalem, €@@like the tents of Kedar, €@@@like the curtains of Solomon. @@Do not gaze at me because I am swarthy, €@@@because the sun has scorched me. €@@My mother's sons were angry with me, €@@@they made me keeper of the vineyards; €@@@but, my own vineyard I have not kept! @@Tell me, you whom my soul loves, €@@@where you pasture your flock, €@@@where you make it lie down at noon; €@@for why should I be like one who wanders €@@@beside the flocks of your companions? @@If you do not know, €@@@O fairest among women, €@@follow in the tracks of the flock, €@@@and pasture your kids €@@@beside the shepherds' tents. @@I compare you, my love, €@@@to a mare of Pharaoh's chariots. @@Your cheeks are comely with ornaments, €@@@your neck with strings of jewels. @@We will make you ornaments of gold, €@@@studded with silver. @@While the king was on his couch, €@@@my nard gave forth its fragrance. @@My beloved is to me a bag of myrrh, €@@@that lies between my breasts. @@My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms €@@@in the vineyards of Enge'di. @@Behold, you are beautiful, my love; €@@@behold, you are beautiful; €@@@your eyes are doves. @@Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, €@@@truly lovely. €@@Our couch is green; @@@the beams of our house are cedar, €@@@our rafters are pine.  @@I am a rose of Sharon, €@@@a lily of the valleys. @@As a lily among brambles, €@@@so is my love among maidens. @@As an apple tree among the trees of the wood, €@@@so is my beloved among young men. €@@With great delight I sat in his shadow, €@@@and his fruit was sweet to my taste. @@He brought me to the banqueting house, €@@@and his banner over me was love. @@Sustain me with raisins, €@@@refresh me with apples; €@@@for I am sick with love. @@O that his left hand were under my head, €@@@and that his right hand embraced me! @@I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, €@@@by the gazelles or the hinds of the field, €@@that you stir not up nor awaken love €@@@until it please. @@The voice of my beloved! €@@@Behold, he comes, €@@leaping upon the mountains, €@@@bounding over the hills. @@My beloved is like a gazelle, €@@@or a young stag. €@@Behold, there he stands €@@@behind our wall, €@@gazing in at the windows, €@@@looking through the lattice. @@My beloved speaks and says to me: €@@"Arise, my love, my fair one, €@@@and come away; @@for lo, the winter is past, €@@@the rain is over and gone. @@The flowers appear on the earth, €@@@the time of singing has come, €@@and the voice of the turtledove €@@@is heard in our land. @@The fig tree puts forth its figs, €@@@and the vines are in blossom; €@@@they give forth fragrance. €@@Arise, my love, my fair one, €@@@and come away. @@O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, €@@@in the covert of the cliff, €@@let me see your face, €@@@let me hear your voice, €@@for your voice is sweet, €@@@and your face is comely. @@Catch us the foxes, €@@@the little foxes, €@@that spoil the vineyards, €@@@for our vineyards are in blossom." @@My beloved is mine and I am his, €@@@he pastures his flock among the lilies. @@Until the day breathes €@@@and the shadows flee, €@@turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle, €@@@or a young stag upon rugged mountains.  @@Upon my bed by night €@@@I sought him whom my soul loves; €@@I sought him, but found him not; €@@@I called him, but he gave no answer. @@@"I will rise now and go about the city, €@@@in the streets and in the squares; €@@I will seek him whom my soul loves." €@@@I sought him, but found him not. @@The watchmen found me, €@@@as they went about in the city. €@@"Have you seen him whom my soul loves?" @@Scarcely had I passed them, €@@@when I found him whom my soul loves. €@@I held him, and would not let him go €@@@until I had brought him into my mother's house, €@@@and into the chamber of her that conceived me. @@I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, €@@@by the gazelles or the hinds of the field, €@@that you stir not up nor awaken love €@@@until it please. @@What is that coming up from the wilderness, €@@@like a column of smoke, €@@perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, €@@@with all the fragrant powders of the merchant? @@Behold, it is the litter of Solomon! €@@About it are sixty mighty men €@@@of the mighty men of Israel, @@all girt with swords €@@@and expert in war, €@@each with his sword at his thigh, €@@@against alarms by night. @@King Solomon made himself a palanquin €@@@from the wood of Lebanon. @@He made its posts of silver, €@@@its back of gold, its seat of purple; €@@it was lovingly wrought within €@@@by the daughters of Jerusalem. @@Go forth, O daughters of Zion, €@@@and behold King Solomon, €@@with the crown with which his mother crowned him €@@@on the day of his wedding, €@@@on the day of the gladness of his heart.  @@Behold, you are beautiful, my love, €@@@behold, you are beautiful! €@@Your eyes are doves €@@@behind your veil. €@@Your hair is like a flock of goats, €@@@moving down the slopes of Gilead. @@Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes €@@@that have come up from the washing, €@@all of which bear twins, €@@@and not one among them is bereaved. @@Your lips are like a scarlet thread, €@@@and your mouth is lovely. €@@Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate €@@@behind your veil. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²²’ļ‚Ćįīō’¤”@@Your neck is like the tower of David, €@@@built for an arsenal, €@@@whereon hang a thousand bucklers, €@@@all of them shields of warriors. @@Your two breasts are like two fawns, €@@@twins of a gazelle, €@@@that feed among the lilies. @@Until the day breathes €@@@and the shadows flee, €@@I will hie me to the mountain of myrrh €@@@and the hill of frankincense. @@You are all fair, my love; €@@@there is no flaw in you. @@Come with me from Lebanon, my bride; €@@@come with me from Lebanon. €@@Depart from the peak of Ama'na, €@@@from the peak of Senir and Hermon, €@@from the dens of lions, €@@@from the mountains of leopards. @@You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride, €@@@you have ravished my heart with a glance of your eyes, €@@@with one jewel of your necklace. @@How sweet is your love, my sister, my bride! €@@@how much better is your love than wine, €@@@and the fragrance of your oils than any spice! @@Your lips distil nectar, my bride; €@@@honey and milk are under your tongue; €@@@the scent of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon. @@A garden locked is my sister, my bride, €@@@a garden locked, a fountain sealed. @@Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates €@@@with all choicest fruits, €@@@henna with nard, @@nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, €@@@with all trees of frankincense, €@@myrrh and aloes, €@@@with all chief spices --@@a garden fountain, a well of living water, €@@@and flowing streams from Lebanon. @@Awake, O north wind, €@@@and come, O south wind! €@@Blow upon my garden, €@@@let its fragrance be wafted abroad. €@@Let my beloved come to his garden, €@@@and eat its choicest fruits.  @@I come to my garden, my sister, my bride, €@@@I gather my myrrh with my spice, €@@@I eat my honeycomb with my honey, €@@@I drink my wine with my milk. €@@Eat, O friends, and drink: €@@@drink deeply, O lovers! @@I slept, but my heart was awake. €@@Hark! my beloved is knocking. €@@"Open to me, my sister, my love, €@@@my dove, my perfect one; €@@for my head is wet with dew, €@@@my locks with the drops of the night." @@I had put off my garment, €@@@how could I put it on? €@@I had bathed my feet, €@@@how could I soil them? @@My beloved put his hand to the latch, €@@@and my heart was thrilled within me. @@I arose to open to my beloved, €@@@and my hands dripped with myrrh, €@@my fingers with liquid myrrh, €@@@upon the handles of the bolt. @@I opened to my beloved, €@@@but my beloved had turned and gone. €@@My soul failed me when he spoke. €@@I sought him, but found him not; €@@@I called him, but he gave no answer. @@The watchmen found me, €@@@as they went about in the city; €@@they beat me, they wounded me, €@@@they took away my mantle, €@@@those watchmen of the walls. @@I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, €@@@if you find my beloved, €@@that you tell him €@@@I am sick with love. @@What is your beloved more than another beloved, €@@@O fairest among women? €@@What is your beloved more than another beloved, €@@@that you thus adjure us? @@My beloved is all radiant and ruddy, €@@@distinguished among ten thousand. @@His head is the finest gold; €@@@his locks are wavy, €@@@black as a raven. @@His eyes are like doves €@@@beside springs of water, €@@bathed in milk, €@@@fitly set. @@@His cheeks are like beds of spices, €@@@yielding fragrance. €@@His lips are lilies, €@@@distilling liquid myrrh. @@His arms are rounded gold, €@@@set with jewels. €@@His body is ivory work, €@@@encrusted with sapphires. @@@His legs are alabaster columns, €@@@set upon bases of gold. €@@His appearance is like Lebanon, €@@@choice as the cedars. @@His speech is most sweet, €@@@and he is altogether desirable. €@@This is my beloved and this is my friend, €@@@O daughters of Jerusalem.  @@Whither has your beloved gone, €@@@O fairest among women? €@@Whither has your beloved turned, €@@@that we may seek him with you? @@My beloved has gone down to his garden, €@@@to the beds of spices, €@@to pasture his flock in the gardens, €@@@and to gather lilies. @@I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine; €@@@he pastures his flock among the lilies. @@You are beautiful as Tirzah, my love, €@@@comely as Jerusalem, €@@@terrible as an army with banners. @@Turn away your eyes from me, €@@@for they disturb me --€@@Your hair is like a flock of goats, €@@@moving down the slopes of Gilead. @@Your teeth are like a flock of ewes, €@@@that have come up from the washing, €@@all of them bear twins, €@@@not one among them is bereaved. @@Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate €@@@behind your veil. @@There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, €@@@and maidens without number. @@My dove, my perfect one, is only one, €@@@the darling of her mother, €@@@flawless to her that bore her. €@@The maidens saw her and called her happy; €@@@the queens and concubines also, and they praised her. @@"Who is this that looks forth like the dawn, €@@@fair as the moon, bright as the sun, €@@@terrible as an army with banners?" @@I went down to the nut orchard, €@@@to look at the blossoms of the valley, €@@to see whether the vines had budded, €@@@whether the pomegranates were in bloom. @@Before I was aware, my fancy set me €@@@in a chariot beside my prince. @@Return, return, O Shu'lammite, €@@@return, return, that we may look upon you. €@@Why should you look upon the Shu'lammite, €@@@as upon a dance before two armies?  @@How graceful are your feet in sandals, €@@@O queenly maiden! €@@Your rounded thighs are like jewels, €@@@the work of a master hand. @@Your navel is a rounded bowl €@@@that never lacks mixed wine. €@@Your belly is a heap of wheat, €@@@encircled with lilies. @@Your two breasts are like two fawns, €@@@twins of a gazelle. @@Your neck is like an ivory tower. €@@Your eyes are pools in Heshbon, €@@@by the gate of Bath-rab'bim. €@@Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon, €@@@overlooking Damascus. @@Your head crowns you like Carmel, €@@@and your flowing locks are like purple; €@@@a king is held captive in the tresses. @@How fair and pleasant you are, €@@@O loved one, delectable maiden! @@@You are stately as a palm tree, €@@@and your breasts are like its clusters. @@I say I will climb the palm tree €@@@and lay hold of its branches. €@@Oh, may your breasts be like clusters of the vine, €@@@and the scent of your breath like apples, @@and your kisses like the best wine €@@@that goes down smoothly, €@@@gliding over lips and teeth. @@@I am my beloved's, €@@@and his desire is for me. @@Come, my beloved, €@@@let us go forth into the fields, €@@@and lodge in the villages; @@let us go out early to the vineyards, €@@@and see whether the vines have budded, €@@whether the grape blossoms have opened €@@@and the pomegranates are in bloom. €@@There I will give you my love. @@The mandrakes give forth fragrance, €@@@and over our doors are all choice fruits, €@@new as well as old, €@@@which I have laid up for you, O my beloved.  @@O that you were like a brother to me, €@@@that nursed at my mother's breast! €@@If I met you outside, I would kiss you, €@@@and none would despise me. @@I would lead you and bring you €@@@into the house of my mother, €@@@and into the chamber of her that conceived me. €@@@I would give you spiced wine to drink, €@@@the juice of my pomegranates. @@O that his left hand were under my head, €@@@and that his right hand embraced me! @@I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, €@@@that you stir not up nor awaken love €@@@until it please. @@Who is that coming up from the wilderness, €@@@leaning upon her beloved? €@@Under the apple tree I awakened you. €@@There your mother was in travail with you, €@@@there she who bore you was in travail. @@Set me as a seal upon your heart, €@@@as a seal upon your arm; €@@for love is strong as death, €@@@jealousy is cruel as the grave. €@@Its flashes are flashes of fire, €@@@a most vehement flame. @@Many waters cannot quench love, €@@@neither can floods drown it. €@@If a man offered for love €@@@all the wealth of his house, €@@@it would be utterly scorned. @@We have a little sister, €@@@and she has no breasts. €@@What shall we do for our sister, €@@@on the day when she is spoken for? @@If she is a wall, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²²’ļ‚Ćįīō’؈˜‰‚@@@we will build upon her a battlement of silver; €@@but if she is a door, €@@@we will enclose her with boards of cedar. @@I was a wall, €@@@and my breasts were like towers; €@@then I was in his eyes €@@@as one who brings peace. @@Solomon had a vineyard at Ba'al-ha'mon; €@@@he let out the vineyard to keepers; €@@@each one was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver. @@My vineyard, my very own, is for myself; €@@@you, O Solomon, may have the thousand, €@@@and the keepers of the fruit two hundred. @@O you who dwell in the gardens, €@@@my companions are listening for your voice; €@@@let me hear it. @@Make haste, my beloved, €@@@and be like a gazelle €@@or a young stag €@@@upon the mountains of spices. ąļ‚Éóį’”The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and €Jerusalem in the days of Uzzi'ah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezeki'ah, kings of €Judah. @@Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; €@@@for the LORD has spoken: €@@"Sons have I reared and brought up, €@@@but they have rebelled against me. @@The ox knows its owner, €@@@and the ass its master's crib; €@@but Israel does not know, €@@@my people does not understand." @@Ah, sinful nation, €@@@a people laden with iniquity, €@@offspring of evildoers, €@@@sons who deal corruptly! €@@They have forsaken the LORD, €@@@they have despised the Holy One of Israel, €@@@they are utterly estranged. @@Why will you still be smitten, €@@@that you continue to rebel? €@@The whole head is sick, €@@@and the whole heart faint. @@From the sole of the foot even to the head, €@@@there is no soundness in it, €@@but bruises and sores €@@@and bleeding wounds; €@@they are not pressed out, or bound up, €@@@or softened with oil. @@Your country lies desolate, €@@@your cities are burned with fire; €@@in your very presence €@@@aliens devour your land; €@@@it is desolate, as overthrown by aliens. @@And the daughter of Zion is left €@@@like a booth in a vineyard, €@@like a lodge in a cucumber field, €@@@like a besieged city. @@If the LORD of hosts €@@@had not left us a few survivors, €@@we should have been like Sodom, €@@@and become like Gomor'rah. @@Hear the word of the LORD, €@@@you rulers of Sodom! €@@Give ear to the teaching of our God, €@@@you people of Gomor'rah! @@"What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? €@@@says the LORD; €@@I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams €@@@and the fat of fed beasts; €@@I do not delight in the blood of bulls, €@@@or of lambs, or of he-goats. @@"When you come to appear before me, €@@@who requires of you €@@@this trampling of my courts? @@Bring no more vain offerings; €@@@incense is an abomination to me. €@@New moon and sabbath and the calling of assemblies --€@@@I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. @@Your new moons and your appointed feasts €@@@my soul hates; €@@they have become a burden to me, €@@@I am weary of bearing them. @@When you spread forth your hands, €@@@I will hide my eyes from you; €@@even though you make many prayers, €@@@I will not listen; €@@@your hands are full of blood. @@Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; €@@@remove the evil of your doings €@@@from before my eyes; €@@cease to do evil, @@@learn to do good; €@@seek justice, €@@@correct oppression; €@@defend the fatherless, €@@@plead for the widow. @@"Come now, let us reason together, €@@@says the LORD: €@@though your sins are like scarlet, €@@@they shall be as white as snow; €@@though they are red like crimson, €@@@they shall become like wool. @@If you are willing and obedient, €@@@you shall eat the good of the land; @@But if you refuse and rebel, €@@@you shall be devoured by the sword; €@@@for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." @@How the faithful city €@@@has become a harlot, €@@@she that was full of justice! €@@Righteousness lodged in her, €@@@but now murderers. @@Your silver has become dross, €@@@your wine mixed with water. @@Your princes are rebels €@@@and companions of thieves. €@@Every one loves a bribe €@@@and runs after gifts. €@@They do not defend the fatherless, €@@@and the widow's cause does not come to them. @@Therefore the Lord says, €@@@the LORD of hosts, €@@@the Mighty One of Israel: €@@"Ah, I will vent my wrath on my enemies, €@@@and avenge myself on my foes. @@I will turn my hand against you €@@@and will smelt away your dross as with lye €@@@and remove all your alloy. @@And I will restore your judges as at the first, €@@@and your counselors as at the beginning. €@@Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, €@@@the faithful city." @@Zion shall be redeemed by justice, €@@@and those in her who repent, by righteousness. @@But rebels and sinners shall be destroyed together, €@@@and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed. @@For you shall be ashamed of the oaks €@@@in which you delighted; €@@and you shall blush for the gardens €@@@which you have chosen. @@For you shall be like an oak €@@@whose leaf withers, €@@@and like a garden without water. @@And the strong shall become tow, €@@@and his work a spark, €@@and both of them shall burn together, €@@@with none to quench them.  @The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and €Jerusalem. @@It shall come to pass in the latter days €@@@that the mountain of the house of the LORD €@@shall be established as the highest of the mountains, €@@@and shall be raised above the hills; €@@and all the nations shall flow to it, @@@and many peoples shall come, and say: €@@"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, €@@@to the house of the God of Jacob; €@@that he may teach us his ways €@@@and that we may walk in his paths." €@@For out of Zion shall go forth the law, €@@@and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. @@He shall judge between the nations, €@@@and shall decide for many peoples; €@@and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, €@@@and their spears into pruning hooks; €@@nation shall not lift up sword against nation, €@@@neither shall they learn war any more. @@O house of Jacob, €@@@come, let us walk €@@@in the light of the LORD. @@For thou hast rejected thy people, €@@@the house of Jacob, €@@because they are full of diviners from the east €@@@and of soothsayers like the Philistines, €@@@and they strike hands with foreigners. @@Their land is filled with silver and gold, €@@@and there is no end to their treasures; €@@their land is filled with horses, €@@@and there is no end to their chariots. @@Their land is filled with idols; €@@@they bow down to the work of their hands, €@@@to what their own fingers have made. @@So man is humbled, €@@@and men are brought low --€@@@forgive them not! @@Enter into the rock, €@@@and hide in the dust €@@from before the terror of the LORD, €@@@and from the glory of his majesty. @@The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, €@@@and the pride of men shall be humbled; €@@and the LORD alone will be exalted €@@@in that day. @@For the LORD of hosts has a day €@@@against all that is proud and lofty, €@@@against all that is lifted up and high; @@against all the cedars of Lebanon, €@@@lofty and lifted up; €@@@and against all the oaks of Bashan; @@against all the high mountains, €@@@and against all the lofty hills; @@against every high tower, €@@@and against every fortified wall; @@against all the ships of Tarshish, €@@@and against all the beautiful craft. @@And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, €@@@and the pride of men shall be brought low; €@@@and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. @@And the idols shall utterly pass away. @@And men shall enter the caves of the rocks €@@@and the holes of the ground, €@@from before the terror of the LORD, €@@@and from the glory of his majesty, €@@@when he rises to terrify the earth. @@In that day men will cast forth €@@@their idols of silver and their idols of gold, €@@which they made for themselves to worship, €@@@to the moles and to the bats, @@to enter the caverns of the rocks €@@@and the clefts of the cliffs, €@@from before the terror of the LORD, €@@@and from the glory of his majesty, €@@@when he rises to terrify the earth. @@Turn away from man €@@@in whose nostrils is breath, €@@@for of what account is he? žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’£@For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, €@@@is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah €@@stay and staff, €@@@the whole stay of bread, €@@@and the whole stay of water; @@the mighty man and the soldier, €@@@the judge and the prophet, €@@@the diviner and the elder, @@the captain of fifty €@@@and the man of rank, €@@the counselor and the skilful magician €@@@and the expert in charms. @@And I will make boys their princes, €@@@and babes shall rule over them. @@And the people will oppress one another, €@@@every man his fellow €@@@and every man his neighbor; €@@the youth will be insolent to the elder, €@@@and the base fellow to the honorable. @@When a man takes hold of his brother €@@@in the house of his father, saying: €@@"You have a mantle; €@@@you shall be our leader, €@@and this heap of ruins €@@@shall be under your rule"; @@in that day he will speak out, saying: €@@"I will not be a healer; €@@@in my house there is neither bread nor mantle; €@@you shall not make me €@@@leader of the people." @@For Jerusalem has stumbled, €@@@and Judah has fallen; €@@because their speech and their deeds are against the LORD, €@@@defying his glorious presence. @@Their partiality witnesses against them; €@@@they proclaim their sin like Sodom, €@@@they do not hide it. €@@Woe to them! €@@@For they have brought evil upon themselves. @@Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, €@@@for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. @@Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, €@@@for what his hands have done shall be done to him. @@My people -- children are their oppressors, €@@@and women rule over them. €@@O my people, your leaders mislead you, €@@@and confuse the course of your paths. @@The LORD has taken his place to contend, €@@@he stands to judge his people. @@The LORD enters into judgment €@@@with the elders and princes of his people: €@@"It is you who have devoured the vineyard, €@@@the spoil of the poor is in your houses. @@What do you mean by crushing my people, €@@@by grinding the face of the poor?" says the Lord GOD of hosts. @@The LORD said: €@@Because the daughters of Zion are haughty €@@@and walk with outstretched necks, €@@@glancing wantonly with their eyes, €@@mincing along as they go, €@@@tinkling with their feet; @@the Lord will smite with a scab €@@@the heads of the daughters of Zion, €@@@and the LORD will lay bare their secret parts. @In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the €headbands, and the crescents; the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarfs; the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the €amulets; the signet rings and nose rings; the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; the garments of gauze, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils. @@Instead of perfume there will be rottenness; €@@@and instead of a girdle, a rope; €@@and instead of well-set hair, baldness; €@@@and instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth; €@@@instead of beauty, shame. @@Your men shall fall by the sword €@@@and your mighty men in battle. @@And her gates shall lament and mourn; €@@@ravaged, she shall sit upon the ground.  @And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, "We €will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called €by your name; take away our reproach." @In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, €and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of the survivors €of Israel. And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called €holy, every one who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion €and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of €judgment and by a spirit of burning. Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over €her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming €fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy and a €pavilion. It will be for a shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a €shelter from the storm and rain.  @Let me sing for my beloved €@@@a love song concerning his vineyard: €@@My beloved had a vineyard €@@@on a very fertile hill. @@He digged it and cleared it of stones, €@@@and planted it with choice vines; €@@he built a watchtower in the midst of it, €@@@and hewed out a wine vat in it; €@@and he looked for it to yield grapes, €@@@but it yielded wild grapes. @@And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem €@@@and men of Judah, €@@judge, I pray you, between me €@@@and my vineyard. @@What more was there to do for my vineyard, €@@@that I have not done in it? €@@When I looked for it to yield grapes, €@@@why did it yield wild grapes? @@And now I will tell you €@@@what I will do to my vineyard. €@@I will remove its hedge, €@@@and it shall be devoured; €@@I will break down its wall, €@@@and it shall be trampled down. @@I will make it a waste; €@@@it shall not be pruned or hoed, €@@@and briers and thorns shall grow up; €@@I will also command the clouds €@@@that they rain no rain upon it. @@For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts €@@@is the house of Israel, €@@and the men of Judah €@@@are his pleasant planting; €@@and he looked for justice, €@@@but behold, bloodshed; €@@for righteousness, €@@@but behold, a cry! @@Woe to those who join house to house, €@@@who add field to field, €@@until there is no more room, €@@@and you are made to dwell alone €@@@in the midst of the land. @@The LORD of hosts has sworn in my hearing: €@@"Surely many houses shall be desolate, €@@@large and beautiful houses, without inhabitant. @@For ten acres of vineyard shall yield but one bath, €@@@and a homer of seed shall yield but an ephah." @@Woe to those who rise early in the morning, €@@@that they may run after strong drink, €@@who tarry late into the evening €@@@till wine inflames them! @@They have lyre and harp, €@@@timbrel and flute and wine at their feasts; €@@but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, €@@@or see the work of his hands. @@Therefore my people go into exile for want of knowledge; €@@their honored men are dying of hunger, €@@@and their multitude is parched with thirst. @@Therefore Sheol has enlarged its appetite €@@@and opened its mouth beyond measure, €@@and the nobility of Jerusalem and her multitude go down, €@@@her throng and he who exults in her. @@Man is bowed down, and men are brought low, €@@@and the eyes of the haughty are humbled. @@But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, €@@@and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness. @@Then shall the lambs graze as in their pasture, €@@@fatlings and kids shall feed among the ruins. @@Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, €@@@who draw sin as with cart ropes, @@who say: "Let him make haste, €@@@let him speed his work €@@@that we may see it; €@@let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near, €@@@and let it come, that we may know it!" @@Woe to those who call evil good €@@@and good evil, €@@who put darkness for light €@@@and light for darkness, €@@who put bitter for sweet €@@@and sweet for bitter! @@Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, €@@@and shrewd in their own sight! @@Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, €@@@and valiant men in mixing strong drink, @@who acquit the guilty for a bribe, €@@@and deprive the innocent of his right! @@Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, €@@@and as dry grass sinks down in the flame, €@@so their root will be as rottenness, €@@@and their blossom go up like dust; €@@for they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, €@@@and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. @@Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, €@@@and he stretched out his hand against them and smote them, €@@@and the mountains quaked; €@@and their corpses were as refuse €@@@in the midst of the streets. €@@For all this his anger is not turned away €@@@and his hand is stretched out still. @@He will raise a signal for a nation afar off, €@@@and whistle for it from the ends of the earth; €@@and lo, swiftly, speedily it comes! žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’„˜›@@None is weary, none stumbles, €@@@none slumbers or sleeps, €@@not a waistcloth is loose, €@@@not a sandal-thong broken; @@their arrows are sharp, €@@@all their bows bent, €@@their horses' hoofs seem like flint, €@@@and their wheels like the whirlwind. @@Their roaring is like a lion, €@@@like young lions they roar; €@@they growl and seize their prey, €@@@they carry it off, and none can rescue. @@They will growl over it on that day, €@@@like the roaring of the sea. €@@And if one look to the land, €@@@behold, darkness and distress; €@@and the light is darkened by its clouds.  @In the year that King Uzzi'ah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a €throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two he covered €his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: €@@"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; €@@the whole earth is full of his glory." And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who €called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, €and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have €seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" @Then flew one of the seraphim to me, having in his hand a burning €coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; €your guilt is taken away, and your sin forgiven." And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who €will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." And he said, "Go, and say to this people: €@@`Hear and hear, but do not understand; €@@see and see, but do not perceive.' @@Make the heart of this people fat, €@@@and their ears heavy, €@@@and shut their eyes; €@@lest they see with their eyes, €@@@and hear with their ears, €@@and understand with their hearts, €@@@and turn and be healed." @@Then I said, "How long, O Lord?" And he said: €@@"Until cities lie waste €@@@without inhabitant, €@@and houses without men, €@@@and the land is utterly desolate, @@and the LORD removes men far away, €@@@and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. @@And though a tenth remain in it, €@@@it will be burned again, €@@like a terebinth or an oak, €@@@whose stump remains standing €@@@when it is felled." €@@The holy seed is its stump.  @In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzzi'ah, king of Judah, €Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remali'ah the king of €Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but they could not €conquer it. When the house of David was told, "Syria is in league with E'phraim," €his heart and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest €shake before the wind. @And the LORD said to Isaiah, "Go forth to meet Ahaz, you and €She'ar-jash'ub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on €the highway to the Fuller's Field, and say to him, `Take heed, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your €heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at €the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remali'ah. Because Syria, with E'phraim and the son of Remali'ah, has devised evil €against you, saying, "Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for €ourselves, and set up the son of Ta'be-el as king in the midst of it," thus says the Lord GOD: €@@It shall not stand, €@@@and it shall not come to pass. @@For the head of Syria is Damascus, €@@@and the head of Damascus is Rezin. €(Within sixty-five years E'phraim will be broken to pieces so that €it will no longer be a people.) @@And the head of E'phraim is Sama'ria, €@@@and the head of Sama'ria is the son of Remali'ah. €@@If you will not believe, €@@@surely you shall not be established.'" @Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, "Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as €heaven." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the €test." And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to €weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman €shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Imman'u-el. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and €choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, €the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. The LORD will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your €father's house such days as have not come since the day that E'phraim €departed from Judah -- the king of Assyria." @In that day the LORD will whistle for the fly which is at the sources €of the streams of Egypt, and for the bee which is in the land of €Assyria. And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines, and in the €clefts of the rocks, and on all the thornbushes, and on all the €pastures. @In that day the Lord will shave with a razor which is hired beyond €the River -- with the king of Assyria -- the head and the hair of the €feet, and it will sweep away the beard also. @In that day a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep; and because of the abundance of milk which they give, he will eat €curds; for every one that is left in the land will eat curds and honey. @In that day every place where there used to be a thousand vines, €worth a thousand shekels of silver, will become briers and thorns. With bow and arrows men will come there, for all the land will be €briers and thorns; and as for all the hills which used to be hoed with a hoe, you will not €come there for fear of briers and thorns; but they will become a place €where cattle are let loose and where sheep tread.  @Then the LORD said to me, "Take a large tablet and write upon it in €common characters, `Belonging to Ma'her-shal'al-hash-baz.'" And I got reliable witnesses, Uri'ah the priest and Zechari'ah the son €of Jeberechi'ah, to attest for me. And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then €the LORD said to me, "Call his name Ma'her-shal'al-hash-baz; for before the child knows how to cry `My father' or `My mother,' the €wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Sama'ria will be carried away €before the king of Assyria." @The LORD spoke to me again: "Because this people have refused the waters of Shilo'ah that flow €gently, and melt in fear before Rezin and the son of Remali'ah; therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of €the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory; and €it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks; and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching €even to the neck; and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your €land, O Imman'u-el." @@Be broken, you peoples, and be dismayed; €@@@give ear, all you far countries; €@@gird yourselves and be dismayed; €@@@gird yourselves and be dismayed. @@Take counsel together, but it will come to nought; €@@@speak a word, but it will not stand, €@@@for God is with us. @For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and €warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: "Do not call conspiracy all that this people call conspiracy, and do €not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall regard as holy; let him be your €fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary, and a stone of offense, and a rock of €stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the €inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble thereon; they shall fall and be broken; they €shall be snared and taken." @Bind up the testimony, seal the teaching among my disciples. I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of €Jacob, and I will hope in him. Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and €portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. And when they say to you, "Consult the mediums and the wizards who žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’؈˜“‚chirp and mutter," should not a people consult their God? Should they €consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the teaching and to the testimony! Surely for this word which they €speak there is no dawn. They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry; and €when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will curse their king €and their God, and turn their faces upward; and they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the €gloom of anguish; and they will be thrust into thick darkness.  @But there will be no gloom for her that was in anguish. In the former €time he brought into contempt the land of Zeb'ulun and the land of €Naph'tali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the €sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. @@The people who walked in darkness €@@@have seen a great light; €@@those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, €@@@on them has light shined. @@Thou hast multiplied the nation, €@@@thou hast increased its joy; €@@they rejoice before thee €@@@as with joy at the harvest, €@@@as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. @@For the yoke of his burden, €@@@and the staff for his shoulder, €@@@the rod of his oppressor, €@@@thou hast broken as on the day of Mid'ian. @@For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult €@@@and every garment rolled in blood €@@@will be burned as fuel for the fire. @@For to us a child is born, €@@@to us a son is given; €@@and the government will be upon his shoulder, €@@@and his name will be called €@@"Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, €@@@Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." @@Of the increase of his government and of peace €@@@there will be no end, €@@upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, €@@@to establish it, and to uphold it €@@with justice and with righteousness €@@@from this time forth and for evermore. €@@The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. @@The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, €@@@and it will light upon Israel; @@and all the people will know, €@@@E'phraim and the inhabitants of Sama'ria, €@@@who say in pride and in arrogance of heart: @@"The bricks have fallen, €@@@but we will build with dressed stones; €@@the sycamores have been cut down, €@@@but we will put cedars in their place." @@So the LORD raises adversaries against them, €@@@and stirs up their enemies. @@The Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west €@@@devour Israel with open mouth. €@@For all this his anger is not turned away €@@@and his hand is stretched out still. @@The people did not turn to him who smote them, €@@@nor seek the LORD of hosts. @@So the LORD cut off from Israel head and tail, €@@@palm branch and reed in one day --@@the elder and honored man is the head, €@@@and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail; @@for those who lead this people lead them astray, €@@@and those who are led by them are swallowed up. @@Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, €@@@and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; €@@for every one is godless and an evildoer, €@@@and every mouth speaks folly. €@@For all this his anger is not turned away €@@@and his hand is stretched out still. @@For wickedness burns like a fire, €@@@it consumes briers and thorns; €@@it kindles the thickets of the forest, €@@@and they roll upward in a column of smoke. @@Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts €@@@the land is burned, €@@and the people are like fuel for the fire; €@@@no man spares his brother. @@They snatch on the right, but are still hungry, €@@@and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; €@@each devours his neighbor's flesh, @@Manas'seh E'phraim, and E'phraim Manas'seh, €@@@and together they are against Judah. €@@For all this his anger is not turned away €@@@and his hand is stretched out still.  @Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, €@@@and the writers who keep writing oppression, @@to turn aside the needy from justice €@@@and to rob the poor of my people of their right, €@@that widows may be their spoil, €@@@and that they may make the fatherless their prey! @@What will you do on the day of punishment, €@@@in the storm which will come from afar? €@@To whom will you flee for help, €@@@and where will you leave your wealth? @@Nothing remains but to crouch among the prisoners €@@@or fall among the slain. €@@For all this his anger is not turned away €@@@and his hand is stretched out still. @@Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger, €@@@the staff of my fury! @@Against a godless nation I send him, €@@@and against the people of my wrath I command him, €@@to take spoil and seize plunder, €@@@and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. @@But he does not so intend, €@@@and his mind does not so think; €@@but it is in his mind to destroy, €@@@and to cut off nations not a few; @@for he says: €@@"Are not my commanders all kings? @@Is not Calno like Car'chemish? €@@@Is not Hamath like Arpad? €@@@Is not Sama'ria like Damascus? @@As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols €@@@whose graven images were greater than those of Jerusalem and €@@@@Sama'ria, @@shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols €@@@as I have done to Sama'ria and her images?" @When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on €Jerusalem he will punish the arrogant boasting of the king of Assyria €and his haughty pride. For he says: €@@"By the strength of my hand I have done it, €@@@and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; €@@I have removed the boundaries of peoples, €@@@and have plundered their treasures; €@@@like a bull I have brought down those who sat on thrones. @@My hand has found like a nest €@@@the wealth of the peoples; €@@and as men gather eggs that have been forsaken €@@@so I have gathered all the earth; €@@and there was none that moved a wing, €@@@or opened the mouth, or chirped." @@Shall the axe vaunt itself over him who hews with it, €@@@or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? €@@As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, €@@@or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood! @@Therefore the Lord, the LORD of hosts, €@@@will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors, €@@and under his glory a burning will be kindled, €@@@like the burning of fire. @@The light of Israel will become a fire, €@@@and his Holy One a flame; €@@and it will burn and devour €@@@his thorns and briers in one day. @@The glory of his forest and of his fruitful land €@@@the LORD will destroy, both soul and body, €@@@and it will be as when a sick man wastes away. @@The remnant of the trees of his forest will be so few €@@@that a child can write them down. @In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of €Jacob will no more lean upon him that smote them, but will lean upon €the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant €of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with €righteousness. For the Lord, the LORD of hosts, will make a full end, as decreed, in €the midst of all the earth. @Therefore thus says the Lord, the LORD of hosts: "O my people, who €dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrians when they smite with the €rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. For in a very little while my indignation will come to an end, and my €anger will be directed to their destruction. And the LORD of hosts will wield against them a scourge, as when he €smote Mid'ian at the rock of Oreb; and his rod will be over the sea, €and he will lift it as he did in Egypt. And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his €yoke will be destroyed from your neck." €@@He has gone up from Rimmon, @@@he has come to Ai'ath; €@@he has passed through Migron, €@@@at Michmash he stores his baggage; @@they have crossed over the pass, €@@@at Geba they lodge for the night; €@@Ramah trembles, €@@@Gib'e-ah of Saul has fled. @@Cry aloud, O daughter of Gallim! €@@@Hearken, O La'ishah! €@@@Answer her, O An'athoth! @@Madme'nah is in flight, €@@@the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’؊˜ @@This very day he will halt at Nob, €@@@he will shake his fist €@@@at the mount of the daughter of Zion, €@@@the hill of Jerusalem. @@Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts €@@@will lop the boughs with terrifying power; €@@the great in height will be hewn down, €@@@and the lofty will be brought low. @@He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an axe, €@@@and Lebanon with its majestic trees will fall.  @There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, €@@@and a branch shall grow out of his roots. @@And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, €@@@the spirit of wisdom and understanding, €@@@the spirit of counsel and might, €@@@the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. @@And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. €@@He shall not judge by what his eyes see, €@@@or decide by what his ears hear; @@but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, €@@@and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; €@@and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, €@@@and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. @@Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, €@@@and faithfulness the girdle of his loins. @@The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, €@@@and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, €@@and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, €@@@and a little child shall lead them. @@The cow and the bear shall feed; €@@@their young shall lie down together; €@@@and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. @@The sucking child shall play over the hole of the asp, €@@@and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. @@They shall not hurt or destroy €@@@in all my holy mountain; €@@for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD €@@@as the waters cover the sea. @In that day the root of Jesse shall stand as an ensign to the €peoples; him shall the nations seek, and his dwellings shall be €glorious. @In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to €recover the remnant which is left of his people, from Assyria, from €Egypt, from Pathros, from Ethiopia, from Elam, from Shinar, from €Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. @@He will raise an ensign for the nations, €@@@and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, €@@and gather the dispersed of Judah €@@@from the four corners of the earth. @@The jealousy of E'phraim shall depart, €@@@and those who harass Judah shall be cut off; €@@E'phraim shall not be jealous of Judah, €@@@and Judah shall not harass E'phraim. @@But they shall swoop down upon the shoulder of the Philistines in €@@@@the west, €@@@and together they shall plunder the people of the east. €@@They shall put forth their hand against Edom and Moab, €@@@and the Ammonites shall obey them. @@And the LORD will utterly destroy €@@@the tongue of the sea of Egypt; €@@and will wave his hand over the River €@@@with his scorching wind, €@@and smite it into seven channels €@@@that men may cross dryshod. @@And there will be a highway from Assyria €@@@for the remnant which is left of his people, €@@as there was for Israel €@@@when they came up from the land of Egypt.  @You will say in that day: €@@"I will give thanks to thee, O LORD, €@@@for though thou wast angry with me, €@@thy anger turned away, €@@@and thou didst comfort me. @@"Behold, God is my salvation; €@@@I will trust, and will not be afraid; €@@for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, €@@@and he has become my salvation." @With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: €@@"Give thanks to the LORD, €@@@call upon his name; €@@make known his deeds among the nations, €@@@proclaim that his name is exalted. @@"Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; €@@@let this be known in all the earth. @@Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, €@@@for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."  @The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. @@On a bare hill raise a signal, €@@@cry aloud to them; €@@wave the hand for them to enter €@@@the gates of the nobles. @@I myself have commanded my consecrated ones, €@@@have summoned my mighty men to execute my anger, €@@@my proudly exulting ones. @@Hark, a tumult on the mountains €@@@as of a great multitude! €@@Hark, an uproar of kingdoms, €@@@of nations gathering together! €@@The LORD of hosts is mustering €@@@a host for battle. @@They come from a distant land, €@@@from the end of the heavens, €@@the LORD and the weapons of his indignation, €@@@to destroy the whole earth. @@Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; €@@@as destruction from the Almighty it will come! @@Therefore all hands will be feeble, €@@@and every man's heart will melt, @@@and they will be dismayed. €@@Pangs and agony will seize them; €@@@they will be in anguish like a woman in travail. €@@They will look aghast at one another; €@@@their faces will be aflame. @@Behold, the day of the LORD comes, €@@@cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, €@@to make the earth a desolation €@@@and to destroy its sinners from it. @@For the stars of the heavens and their constellations €@@@will not give their light; €@@the sun will be dark at its rising €@@@and the moon will not shed its light. @@I will punish the world for its evil, €@@@and the wicked for their iniquity; €@@I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant, €@@@and lay low the haughtiness of the ruthless. @@I will make men more rare than fine gold, €@@@and mankind than the gold of Ophir. @@Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, €@@@and the earth will be shaken out of its place, €@@at the wrath of the LORD of hosts €@@@in the day of his fierce anger. @@And like a hunted gazelle, €@@@or like sheep with none to gather them, €@@every man will turn to his own people, €@@@and every man will flee to his own land. @@Whoever is found will be thrust through, €@@@and whoever is caught will fall by the sword. @@Their infants will be dashed in pieces €@@@before their eyes; €@@their houses will be plundered €@@@and their wives ravished. @@Behold, I am stirring up the Medes against them, €@@@who have no regard for silver €@@@and do not delight in gold. @@Their bows will slaughter the young men; €@@@they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; €@@@their eyes will not pity children. @@And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, €@@@the splendor and pride of the Chalde'ans, €@@will be like Sodom and Gomor'rah €@@@when God overthrew them. @@It will never be inhabited €@@@or dwelt in for all generations; €@@no Arab will pitch his tent there, €@@@no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there. @@But wild beasts will lie down there, €@@@and its houses will be full of howling creatures; €@@there ostriches will dwell, €@@@and there satyrs will dance. @@Hyenas will cry in its towers, €@@@and jackals in the pleasant palaces; €@@its time is close at hand €@@@and its days will not be prolonged.  @The LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, €and will set them in their own land, and aliens will join them and will €cleave to the house of Jacob. And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the €house of Israel will possess them in the LORD's land as male and female €slaves; they will take captive those who were their captors, and rule €over those who oppressed them. @When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the €hard service with which you were made to serve, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: €@@"How the oppressor has ceased, €@@@the insolent fury ceased! @@The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, €@@@the scepter of rulers, @@that smote the peoples in wrath €@@@with unceasing blows, €@@that ruled the nations in anger €@@@with unrelenting persecution. @@The whole earth is at rest and quiet; €@@@they break forth into singing. @@The cypresses rejoice at you, €@@@the cedars of Lebanon, saying, €@@`Since you were laid low, €@@@no hewer comes up against us.' @@Sheol beneath is stirred up €@@@to meet you when you come, €@@it rouses the shades to greet you, €@@@all who were leaders of the earth; €@@it raises from their thrones €@@@all who were kings of the nations. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’؎˜Š@@All of them will speak €@@@and say to you: €@@`You too have become as weak as we! €@@@You have become like us!' @@Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, €@@@the sound of your harps; €@@maggots are the bed beneath you, €@@@and worms are your covering. @@"How you are fallen from heaven, €@@@O Day Star, son of Dawn! €@@How you are cut down to the ground, €@@@you who laid the nations low! @@You said in your heart, €@@@`I will ascend to heaven; €@@above the stars of God €@@@I will set my throne on high; €@@I will sit on the mount of assembly €@@@in the far north; @@I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, €@@@I will make myself like the Most High.' @@But you are brought down to Sheol, €@@@to the depths of the Pit. @@Those who see you will stare at you, €@@@and ponder over you: €@@`Is this the man who made the earth tremble, €@@@who shook kingdoms, @@who made the world like a desert €@@@and overthrew its cities, €@@@who did not let his prisoners go home?' @@All the kings of the nations lie in glory, €@@@each in his own tomb; @@but you are cast out, away from your sepulchre, €@@@like a loathed untimely birth, €@@clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword, €@@@who go down to the stones of the Pit, €@@@like a dead body trodden under foot. @@You will not be joined with them in burial, €@@@because you have destroyed your land, €@@@you have slain your people. €@@"May the descendants of evildoers €@@@nevermore be named! @@Prepare slaughter for his sons €@@@because of the guilt of their fathers, €@@lest they rise and possess the earth, €@@@and fill the face of the world with cities." @"I will rise up against them," says the LORD of hosts, "and will cut €off from Babylon name and remnant, offspring and posterity, says the €LORD. And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, €and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, says the LORD of €hosts." @@The LORD of hosts has sworn: €@@"As I have planned, €@@@so shall it be, €@@and as I have purposed, €@@@so shall it stand, @@that I will break the Assyrian in my land, €@@@and upon my mountains trample him under foot; €@@and his yoke shall depart from them, €@@@and his burden from their shoulder." @@This is the purpose that is purposed €@@@concerning the whole earth; €@@and this is the hand that is stretched out €@@@over all the nations. @@For the LORD of hosts has purposed, €@@@and who will annul it? €@@His hand is stretched out, €@@@and who will turn it back? @@In the year that King Ahaz died came this oracle: @@"Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of you, €@@@that the rod which smote you is broken, €@@for from the serpent's root will come forth an adder, €@@@and its fruit will be a flying serpent. @@And the first-born of the poor will feed, €@@@and the needy lie down in safety; €@@but I will kill your root with famine, €@@@and your remnant I will slay. @@Wail, O gate; cry, O city; €@@@melt in fear, O Philistia, all of you! €@@For smoke comes out of the north, €@@@and there is no straggler in his ranks." @@What will one answer the messengers of the nation? €@@"The LORD has founded Zion, €@@@and in her the afflicted of his people find refuge."  @An oracle concerning Moab. €@@Because Ar is laid waste in a night €@@@Moab is undone; €@@because Kir is laid waste in a night €@@@Moab is undone. @@The daughter of Dibon has gone up €@@@to the high places to weep; €@@over Nebo and over Med'eba €@@@Moab wails. €@@On every head is baldness, €@@@every beard is shorn; @@in the streets they gird on sackcloth; €@@@on the housetops and in the squares €@@@every one wails and melts in tears. @@Heshbon and Ele-a'leh cry out, €@@@their voice is heard as far as Jahaz; €@@therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; €@@@his soul trembles. @@My heart cries out for Moab; €@@@his fugitives flee to Zo'ar, €@@@to Eg'lath-shelish'iyah. €@@For at the ascent of Luhith €@@@they go up weeping; €@@on the road to Horona'im €@@@they raise a cry of destruction; @@the waters of Nimrim €@@@are a desolation; €@@the grass is withered, the new growth fails, €@@@the verdure is no more. @@Therefore the abundance they have gained €@@@and what they have laid up €@@they carry away €@@@over the Brook of the Willows. @@For a cry has gone €@@@round the land of Moab; €@@the wailing reaches to Egla'im, €@@@the wailing reaches to Beer-e'lim. @@For the waters of Dibon are full of blood; €@@@yet I will bring upon Dibon even more, €@@a lion for those of Moab who escape, €@@@for the remnant of the land.  @They have sent lambs €@@@to the ruler of the land, €@@from Sela, by way of the desert, €@@@to the mount of the daughter of Zion. @@Like fluttering birds, €@@@like scattered nestlings, €@@so are the daughters of Moab €@@@at the fords of the Arnon. @@"Give counsel, €@@@grant justice; €@@make your shade like night €@@@at the height of noon; €@@hide the outcasts, €@@@betray not the fugitive; @@let the outcasts of Moab €@@@sojourn among you; €@@be a refuge to them €@@@from the destroyer. €@@When the oppressor is no more, €@@@and destruction has ceased, €@@and he who tramples under foot €@@@has vanished from the land, @@then a throne will be established in steadfast love €@@@and on it will sit in faithfulness €@@@in the tent of David €@@one who judges and seeks justice €@@@and is swift to do righteousness." @@We have heard of the pride of Moab, €@@@how proud he was; €@@of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence --€@@@his boasts are false. @@Therefore let Moab wail, €@@@let every one wail for Moab. €@@Mourn, utterly stricken, €@@@for the raisin-cakes of Kir-har'eseth. @@For the fields of Heshbon languish, €@@@and the vine of Sibmah; €@@the lords of the nations €@@@have struck down its branches, €@@which reached to Jazer €@@@and strayed to the desert; €@@its shoots spread abroad €@@@and passed over the sea. @@Therefore I weep with the weeping of Jazer €@@@for the vine of Sibmah; €@@I drench you with my tears, €@@@O Heshbon and Ele-a'leh; €@@for upon your fruit and your harvest €@@@the battle shout has fallen. @@And joy and gladness are taken away €@@@from the fruitful field; €@@and in the vineyards no songs are sung, €@@@no shouts are raised; €@@no treader treads out wine in the presses; €@@@the vintage shout is hushed. @@Therefore my soul moans like a lyre for Moab, €@@@and my heart for Kir-he'res. @And when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself upon the high €place, when he comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail. @This is the word which the LORD spoke concerning Moab in the past. But now the LORD says, "In three years, like the years of a hireling, €the glory of Moab will be brought into contempt, in spite of all his €great multitude, and those who survive will be very few and feeble."  @An oracle concerning Damascus. €@@Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city, €@@@and will become a heap of ruins. @@Her cities will be deserted for ever; €@@@they will be for flocks, €@@@which will lie down, and none will make them afraid. @@The fortress will disappear from E'phraim, €@@@and the kingdom from Damascus; €@@and the remnant of Syria will be €@@@like the glory of the children of Israel, says the LORD of hosts. @@And in that day €@@@the glory of Jacob will be brought low, €@@@and the fat of his flesh will grow lean. @@And it shall be as when the reaper gathers standing grain €@@@and his arm harvests the ears, €@@and as when one gleans the ears of grain €@@@in the Valley of Reph'aim. @@Gleanings will be left in it, €@@@as when an olive tree is beaten --€@@two or three berries €@@@in the top of the highest bough, €@@four or five €@@@on the branches of a fruit tree, says the LORD God of Israel. @In that day men will regard their Maker, and their eyes will look to €the Holy One of Israel; they will not have regard for the altars, the work of their hands, and €they will not look to what their own fingers have made, either the €Ashe'rim or the altars of incense. @In that day their strong cities will be like the deserted places of €the Hivites and the Amorites, which they deserted because of the €children of Israel, and there will be desolation. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’ؑ˜Š@@For you have forgotten the God of your salvation, €@@@and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge; €@@therefore, though you plant pleasant plants €@@@and set out slips of an alien god, @@though you make them grow on the day that you plant them, €@@@and make them blossom in the morning that you sow; €@@yet the harvest will flee away €@@@in a day of grief and incurable pain. @@Ah, the thunder of many peoples, €@@@they thunder like the thundering of the sea! €@@Ah, the roar of nations, €@@@they roar like the roaring of mighty waters! @@The nations roar like the roaring of many waters, €@@@but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, €@@chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind €@@@and whirling dust before the storm. @@At evening time, behold, terror! €@@@Before morning, they are no more! €@@This is the portion of those who despoil us, €@@@and the lot of those who plunder us.  @Ah, land of whirring wings €@@@which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia; @@which sends ambassadors by the Nile, €@@@in vessels of papyrus upon the waters! €@@Go, you swift messengers, €@@@to a nation, tall and smooth, €@@to a people feared near and far, €@@@a nation mighty and conquering, €@@@whose land the rivers divide. @@All you inhabitants of the world, €@@@you who dwell on the earth, €@@when a signal is raised on the mountains, look! €@@@When a trumpet is blown, hear! @@For thus the LORD said to me: €@@"I will quietly look from my dwelling €@@@like clear heat in sunshine, €@@@like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest." @@For before the harvest, when the blossom is over, €@@@and the flower becomes a ripening grape, €@@he will cut off the shoots with pruning hooks, €@@@and the spreading branches he will hew away. @@They shall all of them be left €@@@to the birds of prey of the mountains €@@@and to the beasts of the earth. €@@And the birds of prey will summer upon them, €@@@and all the beasts of the earth will winter upon them. @At that time gifts will be brought to the LORD of hosts €@@from a people tall and smooth, €@@@from a people feared near and far, €@@a nation mighty and conquering, €@@@whose land the rivers divide, €to Mount Zion, the place of the name of the LORD of hosts.  @An oracle concerning Egypt. €@@Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud €@@@and comes to Egypt; €@@and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, €@@@and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. @@And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, €@@@and they will fight, every man against his brother €@@@and every man against his neighbor, €@@@city against city, kingdom against kingdom; @@and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, €@@@and I will confound their plans; €@@and they will consult the idols and the sorcerers, €@@@and the mediums and the wizards; @@and I will give over the Egyptians €@@@into the hand of a hard master; €@@and a fierce king will rule over them, €@@@says the Lord, the LORD of hosts. @@And the waters of the Nile will be dried up, €@@@and the river will be parched and dry; @@and its canals will become foul, €@@@and the branches of Egypt's Nile will diminish and dry up, €@@@reeds and rushes will rot away. @@There will be bare places by the Nile, €@@@on the brink of the Nile, €@@and all that is sown by the Nile will dry up, €@@@be driven away, and be no more. @@The fishermen will mourn and lament, €@@@all who cast hook in the Nile; €@@and they will languish €@@@who spread nets upon the water. @@The workers in combed flax will be in despair, €@@@and the weavers of white cotton. @@Those who are the pillars of the land will be crushed, €@@@and all who work for hire will be grieved. @@The princes of Zo'an are utterly foolish; €@@@the wise counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. €@@How can you say to Pharaoh, €@@@"I am a son of the wise, €@@@a son of ancient kings"? @@Where then are your wise men? €@@@Let them tell you and make known €@@@what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt. @@The princes of Zo'an have become fools, €@@@and the princes of Memphis are deluded; €@@those who are the cornerstones of her tribes €@@@have led Egypt astray. @@The LORD has mingled within her €@@@a spirit of confusion; €@@and they have made Egypt stagger in all her doings €@@@as a drunken man staggers in his vomit. @@And there will be nothing for Egypt €@@@which head or tail, palm branch or reed, may do. @In that day the Egyptians will be like women, and tremble with fear €before the hand which the LORD of hosts shakes over them. And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians; every one €to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the purpose which the LORD €of hosts has purposed against them. @In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt which €speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. €One of these will be called the City of the Sun. @In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the €land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border. It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of €Egypt; when they cry to the LORD because of oppressors he will send €them a savior, and will defend and deliver them. And the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians; and the €Egyptians will know the LORD in that day and worship with sacrifice and €burnt offering, and they will make vows to the LORD and perform them. And the LORD will smite Egypt, smiting and healing, and they will €return to the LORD, and he will heed their supplications and heal them. @In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the €Assyrian will come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the €Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. @In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a €blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my €people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my heritage."  @In the year that the commander in chief, who was sent by Sargon the €king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought against it and took it, --at that time the LORD had spoken by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, €"Go, and loose the sackcloth from your loins and take off your shoes €from your feet," and he had done so, walking naked and barefoot --the LORD said, "As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for €three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Ethiopia, so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians captives and the €Ethiopians exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with €buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. Then they shall be dismayed and confounded because of Ethiopia their €hope and of Egypt their boast. And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, `Behold, €this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled €for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we €escape?'"  @The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. €@@As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, €@@@it comes from the desert, €@@@from a terrible land. @@A stern vision is told to me; €@@@the plunderer plunders, €@@@and the destroyer destroys. €@@Go up, O Elam, €@@@lay siege, O Media; €@@all the sighing she has caused €@@@I bring to an end. @@Therefore my loins are filled with anguish; €@@@pangs have seized me, €@@@like the pangs of a woman in travail; €@@I am bowed down so that I cannot hear, €@@@I am dismayed so that I cannot see. @@My mind reels, horror has appalled me; €@@@the twilight I longed for €@@@has been turned for me into trembling. @@They prepare the table, €@@@they spread the rugs, €@@@they eat, they drink. €@@Arise, O princes, €@@@oil the shield! @@For thus the Lord said to me: €@@"Go, set a watchman, €@@@let him announce what he sees. @@When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, €@@@riders on asses, riders on camels, €@@let him listen diligently, €@@@very diligently." @@Then he who saw cried: €@@"Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, €@@@continually by day, €@@and at my post I am stationed €@@@whole nights. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’ؕ˜‰@@And, behold, here come riders, €@@@horsemen in pairs!" €@@And he answered, €@@@"Fallen, fallen is Babylon; €@@and all the images of her gods €@@@he has shattered to the ground." @@O my threshed and winnowed one, €@@@what I have heard from the LORD of hosts, €@@@the God of Israel, I announce to you. @@The oracle concerning Dumah. €@@One is calling to me from Se'ir, €@@@"Watchman, what of the night? €@@@Watchman, what of the night?" @@The watchman says: €@@"Morning comes, and also the night. €@@@If you will inquire, inquire; €@@@come back again." @@The oracle concerning Arabia. €@@In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, €@@@O caravans of De'danites. @@To the thirsty bring water, €@@@meet the fugitive with bread, €@@@O inhabitants of the land of Tema. @@For they have fled from the swords, €@@@from the drawn sword, €@@from the bent bow, €@@@and from the press of battle. For thus the Lord said to me, "Within a year, according to the years of €a hireling, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end; and the remainder of the archers of the mighty men of the sons of Kedar €will be few; for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken."  @The oracle concerning the valley of vision. €@@What do you mean that you have gone up, €@@@all of you, to the housetops, @@you who are full of shoutings, €@@@tumultuous city, exultant town? €@@Your slain are not slain with the sword €@@@or dead in battle. @@All your rulers have fled together, €@@@without the bow they were captured. €@@All of you who were found were captured, €@@@though they had fled far away. @@Therefore I said: €@@"Look away from me, €@@@let me weep bitter tears; €@@do not labor to comfort me €@@@for the destruction of the daughter of my people." @@For the Lord GOD of hosts has a day €@@@of tumult and trampling and confusion €@@@in the valley of vision, €@@a battering down of walls €@@@and a shouting to the mountains. @@And Elam bore the quiver €@@@with chariots and horsemen, €@@@and Kir uncovered the shield. @@Your choicest valleys were full of chariots, €@@@and the horsemen took their stand at the gates. @@He has taken away the covering of Judah. €@In that day you looked to the weapons of the House of the Forest, and you saw that the breaches of the city of David were many, and you €collected the waters of the lower pool, and you counted the houses of Jerusalem, and you broke down the houses €to fortify the wall. You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old €pool. But you did not look to him who did it, or have regard for him €who planned it long ago. @@In that day the Lord GOD of hosts €@@@called to weeping and mourning, €@@@to baldness and girding with sackcloth; @@and behold, joy and gladness, €@@@slaying oxen and killing sheep, €@@@eating flesh and drinking wine. €@@"Let us eat and drink, €@@@for tomorrow we die." @@The LORD of hosts has revealed himself in my ears: €@@"Surely this iniquity will not be forgiven you €@@@till you die," €@@@says the Lord GOD of hosts. @Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, "Come, go to this steward, to €Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him: What have you to do here and whom have you here, that you have hewn €here a tomb for yourself, you who hew a tomb on the height, and carve a €habitation for yourself in the rock? Behold, the LORD will hurl you away violently, O you strong man. He €will seize firm hold on you, and whirl you round and round, and throw you like a ball into a wide €land; there you shall die, and there shall be your splendid chariots, €you shame of your master's house. I will thrust you from your office, and you will be cast down from your €station. In that day I will call my servant Eli'akim the son of Hilki'ah, and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your girdle on him, €and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to €the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he €shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him like a peg in a sure place, and he will become a €throne of honor to his father's house. And they will hang on him the whole weight of his father's house, the €offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the €flagons. In that day, says the LORD of hosts, the peg that was fastened in a €sure place will give way; and it will be cut down and fall, and the €burden that was upon it will be cut off, for the LORD has spoken."  @The oracle concerning Tyre. €@@Wail, O ships of Tarshish, €@@@for Tyre is laid waste, without house or haven! €@@From the land of Cyprus €@@@it is revealed to them. @@Be still, O inhabitants of the coast, €@@@O merchants of Sidon; €@@your messengers passed over the sea @@@and were on many waters; €@@your revenue was the grain of Shihor, €@@@the harvest of the Nile; €@@@you were the merchant of the nations. @@Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken, €@@@the stronghold of the sea, saying: €@@"I have neither travailed nor given birth, €@@@I have neither reared young men €@@@nor brought up virgins." @@When the report comes to Egypt, €@@@they will be in anguish over the report about Tyre. @@Pass over to Tarshish, €@@@wail, O inhabitants of the coast! @@Is this your exultant city €@@@whose origin is from days of old, €@@whose feet carried her €@@@to settle afar? @@Who has purposed this €@@@against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, €@@whose merchants were princes, €@@@whose traders were the honored of the earth? @@The LORD of hosts has purposed it, €@@@to defile the pride of all glory, €@@@to dishonor all the honored of the earth. @@Overflow your land like the Nile, €@@@O daughter of Tarshish; €@@@there is no restraint any more. @@He has stretched out his hand over the sea, €@@@he has shaken the kingdoms; €@@the LORD has given command concerning Canaan €@@@to destroy its strongholds. @@And he said: €@@"You will no more exult, €@@@O oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon; €@@arise, pass over to Cyprus, €@@@even there you will have no rest." @Behold the land of the Chalde'ans! This is the people; it was not €Assyria. They destined Tyre for wild beasts. They erected their €siegetowers, they razed her palaces, they made her a ruin. @@Wail, O ships of Tarshish, €@@@for your stronghold is laid waste. In that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, like the days of €one king. At the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the €song of the harlot: @@"Take a harp, €@@@go about the city, €@@@O forgotten harlot! €@@Make sweet melody, €@@@sing many songs, €@@@that you may be remembered." At the end of seventy years, the LORD will visit Tyre, and she will €return to her hire, and will play the harlot with all the kingdoms of €the world upon the face of the earth. Her merchandise and her hire will be dedicated to the LORD; it will not €be stored or hoarded, but her merchandise will supply abundant food and €fine clothing for those who dwell before the LORD.  @Behold, the LORD will lay waste the earth and make it desolate, €@@@and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants. @@And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; €@@@as with the slave, so with his master; €@@@as with the maid, so with her mistress; €@@as with the buyer, so with the seller; €@@@as with the lender, so with the borrower; €@@@as with the creditor, so with the debtor. @@The earth shall be utterly laid waste and utterly despoiled; €@@@for the LORD has spoken this word. @@The earth mourns and withers, €@@@the world languishes and withers; €@@@the heavens languish together with the earth. @@The earth lies polluted €@@@under its inhabitants; €@@for they have transgressed the laws, €@@@violated the statutes, €@@@broken the everlasting covenant. @@Therefore a curse devours the earth, €@@@and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; €@@therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, €@@@and few men are left. @@The wine mourns, €@@@the vine languishes, €@@@all the merry-hearted sigh. @@The mirth of the timbrels is stilled, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’ؘ˜ˆ‚@@@the noise of the jubilant has ceased, €@@@the mirth of the lyre is stilled. @@No more do they drink wine with singing; €@@@strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. @@The city of chaos is broken down, €@@@every house is shut up so that none can enter. @@There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine; €@@@all joy has reached its eventide; €@@@the gladness of the earth is banished. @@Desolation is left in the city, €@@@the gates are battered into ruins. @@For thus it shall be in the midst of the earth €@@@among the nations, €@@as when an olive tree is beaten, €@@@as at the gleaning when the vintage is done. @@They lift up their voices, they sing for joy; €@@@over the majesty of the LORD they shout from the west. @@Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; €@@@in the coastlands of the sea, to the name of the LORD, the God of €@@@@Israel. @@From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise, €@@@of glory to the Righteous One. €@@But I say, "I pine away, €@@@I pine away. Woe is me! €@@For the treacherous deal treacherously, €@@@the treacherous deal very treacherously." @@Terror, and the pit, and the snare €@@@are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth! @@He who flees at the sound of the terror €@@@shall fall into the pit; €@@and he who climbs out of the pit €@@@shall be caught in the snare. €@@For the windows of heaven are opened, €@@@and the foundations of the earth tremble. @@The earth is utterly broken, €@@@the earth is rent asunder, €@@@the earth is violently shaken. @@The earth staggers like a drunken man, €@@@it sways like a hut; €@@its transgression lies heavy upon it, €@@@and it falls, and will not rise again. @@On that day the LORD will punish €@@@the host of heaven, in heaven, €@@@and the kings of the earth, on the earth. @@They will be gathered together €@@@as prisoners in a pit; €@@they will be shut up in a prison, €@@@and after many days they will be punished. @@Then the moon will be confounded, €@@@and the sun ashamed; €@@for the LORD of hosts will reign €@@@on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem €@@and before his elders he will manifest his glory.  @O LORD, thou art my God; €@@@I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; €@@for thou hast done wonderful things, €@@@plans formed of old, faithful and sure. @@For thou hast made the city a heap, €@@@the fortified city a ruin; €@@the palace of aliens is a city no more, €@@@it will never be rebuilt. @@Therefore strong peoples will glorify thee; €@@@cities of ruthless nations will fear thee. @@For thou hast been a stronghold to the poor, €@@@a stronghold to the needy in his distress, €@@@a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; €@@for the blast of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, @@@like heat in a dry place. €@@Thou dost subdue the noise of the aliens; €@@@as heat by the shade of a cloud, €@@@so the song of the ruthless is stilled. @On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast €of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of €marrow, of wine on the lees well refined. And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all €peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away €tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away €from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. @It will be said on that day, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for €him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; €let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." @For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall €be trodden down in his place, as straw is trodden down in a dung-pit. And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it as a swimmer €spreads his hands out to swim; but the LORD will lay low his pride €together with the skill of his hands. And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down, lay low, €and cast to the ground, even to the dust.  @In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: €@@"We have a strong city; €@@@he sets up salvation €@@@as walls and bulwarks. @@Open the gates, €@@@that the righteous nation which keeps faith €@@@may enter in. @@Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, €@@@whose mind is stayed on thee, €@@@because he trusts in thee. @@Trust in the LORD for ever, €@@@for the LORD GOD €@@@is an everlasting rock. @@For he has brought low €@@@the inhabitants of the height, €@@@the lofty city. €@@He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, €@@@casts it to the dust. @@The foot tramples it, €@@@the feet of the poor, €@@@the steps of the needy." @@The way of the righteous is level; €@@@thou dost make smooth the path of the righteous. @@In the path of thy judgments, €@@@O LORD, we wait for thee; €@@thy memorial name €@@@is the desire of our soul. @@My soul yearns for thee in the night, €@@@my spirit within me earnestly seeks thee. €@@For when thy judgments are in the earth, €@@@the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. @@If favor is shown to the wicked, €@@@he does not learn righteousness; €@@in the land of uprightness he deals perversely €@@@and does not see the majesty of the LORD. @@O LORD, thy hand is lifted up, €@@@but they see it not. €@@Let them see thy zeal for thy people, and be ashamed. €@@@Let the fire for thy adversaries consume them. @@O LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us, €@@@thou hast wrought for us all our works. @@O LORD our God, €@@@other lords besides thee have ruled over us, €@@@but thy name alone we acknowledge. @@They are dead, they will not live; €@@@they are shades, they will not arise; €@@to that end thou hast visited them with destruction €@@@and wiped out all remembrance of them. @@But thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, €@@@thou hast increased the nation; thou art glorified; €@@@thou hast enlarged all the borders of the land. @@O LORD, in distress they sought thee, €@@@they poured out a prayer €@@@when thy chastening was upon them. @@Like a woman with child, €@@@who writhes and cries out in her pangs, €@@@when she is near her time, €@@so were we because of thee, O LORD; @@@we were with child, we writhed, €@@@we have as it were brought forth wind. €@@We have wrought no deliverance in the earth, €@@@and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen. @@Thy dead shall live, their bodies shall rise. €@@@O dwellers in the dust, awake and sing for joy! €@@For thy dew is a dew of light, €@@@and on the land of the shades thou wilt let it fall. @@Come, my people, enter your chambers, €@@@and shut your doors behind you; €@@hide yourselves for a little while €@@@until the wrath is past. @@For behold, the LORD is coming forth out of his place €@@@to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, €@@and the earth will disclose the blood shed upon her, €@@@and will no more cover her slain.  @In that day the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword will €punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, €and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea. @@In that day: €@@"A pleasant vineyard, sing of it! @@@I, the LORD, am its keeper; €@@@every moment I water it. €@@Lest any one harm it, €@@@I guard it night and day; @@@I have no wrath. €@@Would that I had thorns and briers to battle! €@@@I would set out against them, €@@@I would burn them up together. @@Or let them lay hold of my protection, €@@@let them make peace with me, €@@@let them make peace with me." @@In days to come Jacob shall take root, €@@@Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots, €@@@and fill the whole world with fruit. @@Has he smitten them as he smote those who smote them? €@@@Or have they been slain as their slayers were slain? @@Measure by measure, by exile thou didst contend with them; €@@@he removed them with his fierce blast in the day of the east wind. @@Therefore by this the guilt of Jacob will be expiated, €@@@and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin: €@@when he makes all the stones of the altars €@@@like chalkstones crushed to pieces, €@@@no Ashe'rim or incense altars will remain standing. @@For the fortified city is solitary, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’؛˜Š‚@@@a habitation deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness; €@@there the calf grazes, €@@@there he lies down, and strips its branches. @@When its boughs are dry, they are broken; €@@@women come and make a fire of them. €@@For this is a people without discernment; €@@@therefore he who made them will not have compassion on them, €@@@he that formed them will show them no favor. @In that day from the river Euphra'tes to the Brook of Egypt the LORD €will thresh out the grain, and you will be gathered one by one, O €people of Israel. And in that day a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were lost €in the land of Assyria and those who were driven out to the land of €Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain at Jerusalem.  @Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of E'phraim, €@@@and to the fading flower of its glorious beauty, €@@@which is on the head of the rich valley of those overcome with €@@@@wine! @@Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong; €@@@like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, €@@like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters, €@@@he will cast down to the earth with violence. @@The proud crown of the drunkards of E'phraim €@@@will be trodden under foot; @@and the fading flower of its glorious beauty, €@@@which is on the head of the rich valley, €@@will be like a first-ripe fig before the summer: €@@@when a man sees it, he eats it up €@@@as soon as it is in his hand. @@In that day the LORD of hosts will be a crown of glory, €@@@and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people; @@and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, €@@@and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. @@These also reel with wine €@@@and stagger with strong drink; €@@the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, €@@@they are confused with wine, €@@@they stagger with strong drink; €@@they err in vision, €@@@they stumble in giving judgment. @@For all tables are full of vomit, €@@@no place is without filthiness. @@"Whom will he teach knowledge, €@@@and to whom will he explain the message? €@@Those who are weaned from the milk, €@@@those taken from the breast? @@For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, €@@@line upon line, line upon line, €@@@here a little, there a little." @@Nay, but by men of strange lips €@@@and with an alien tongue €@@the LORD will speak to this people, @@@to whom he has said, €@@"This is rest; €@@@give rest to the weary; €@@and this is repose"; €@@@yet they would not hear. @@Therefore the word of the LORD will be to them €@@@precept upon precept, precept upon precept, €@@@line upon line, line upon line, €@@@here a little, there a little; €@@that they may go, and fall backward, €@@@and be broken, and snared, and taken. @@Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, €@@@who rule this people in Jerusalem! @@Because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, €@@@and with Sheol we have an agreement; €@@when the overwhelming scourge passes through €@@@it will not come to us; €@@for we have made lies our refuge, €@@@and in falsehood we have taken shelter"; @@therefore thus says the Lord GOD, €@@"Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation €@@@a stone, a tested stone, €@@a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: €@@`He who believes will not be in haste.' @@And I will make justice the line, €@@@and righteousness the plummet; €@@and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, €@@@and waters will overwhelm the shelter." @@Then your covenant with death will be annulled, €@@@and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; €@@when the overwhelming scourge passes through €@@@you will be beaten down by it. @@As often as it passes through it will take you; €@@@for morning by morning it will pass through, €@@@by day and by night; €@@and it will be sheer terror to understand the message. @@For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on it, €@@@and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in it. @@For the LORD will rise up as on Mount Pera'zim, €@@@he will be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon; €@@to do his deed -- strange is his deed! €@@@and to work his work -- alien is his work! @@Now therefore do not scoff, €@@@lest your bonds be made strong; €@@for I have heard a decree of destruction €@@@from the Lord GOD of hosts upon the whole land. @@Give ear, and hear my voice; €@@@hearken, and hear my speech. @@Does he who plows for sowing plow continually? €@@@does he continually open and harrow his ground? @@When he has leveled its surface, €@@@does he not scatter dill, sow cummin, €@@and put in wheat in rows €@@@and barley in its proper place, €@@@and spelt as the border? @@For he is instructed aright; €@@@his God teaches him. @@Dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge, €@@@nor is a cart wheel rolled over cummin; €@@but dill is beaten out with a stick, €@@@and cummin with a rod. @@Does one crush bread grain? €@@@No, he does not thresh it for ever; €@@when he drives his cart wheel over it €@@@with his horses, he does not crush it. @@This also comes from the LORD of hosts; €@@@he is wonderful in counsel, €@@@and excellent in wisdom.  @Ho Ariel, Ariel, €@@@the city where David encamped! €@@Add year to year; €@@@let the feasts run their round. @@Yet I will distress Ariel, €@@@and there shall be moaning and lamentation, €@@@and she shall be to me like an Ariel. @@And I will encamp against you round about, €@@@and will besiege you with towers €@@@and I will raise siegeworks against you. @@Then deep from the earth you shall speak, €@@@from low in the dust your words shall come; €@@your voice shall come from the ground like the voice of a ghost, €@@@and your speech shall whisper out of the dust. @@But the multitude of your foes shall be like small dust, €@@@and the multitude of the ruthless like passing chaff. €@@And in an instant, suddenly, @@@you will be visited by the LORD of hosts €@@with thunder and with earthquake and great noise, €@@@with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire. @@And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, €@@@all that fight against her and her stronghold and distress her, €@@@shall be like a dream, a vision of the night. @@As when a hungry man dreams he is eating €@@@and awakes with his hunger not satisfied, €@@or as when a thirsty man dreams he is drinking €@@@and awakes faint, with his thirst not quenched, €@@so shall the multitude of all the nations be €@@@that fight against Mount Zion. @@Stupefy yourselves and be in a stupor, €@@@blind yourselves and be blind! €@@Be drunk, but not with wine; €@@@stagger, but not with strong drink! @@For the LORD has poured out upon you €@@@a spirit of deep sleep, €@@and has closed your eyes, the prophets, €@@@and covered your heads, the seers. @And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book €that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, "Read €this," he says, "I cannot, for it is sealed." And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, "Read €this," he says, "I cannot read." @@And the Lord said: €@@"Because this people draw near with their mouth €@@@and honor me with their lips, €@@@while their hearts are far from me, €@@and their fear of me is a commandment of men learned by rote; @@therefore, behold, I will again €@@@do marvelous things with this people, €@@@wonderful and marvelous; €@@and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, €@@@and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hid." @@Woe to those who hide deep from the LORD their counsel, €@@@whose deeds are in the dark, €@@@and who say, "Who sees us? Who knows us?" @@You turn things upside down! €@@@Shall the potter be regarded as the clay; €@@that the thing made should say of its maker, €@@@"He did not make me"; €@@or the thing formed say of him who formed it, €@@@"He has no understanding"? @@Is it not yet a very little while €@@@until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, €@@@and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest? @@In that day the deaf shall hear €@@@the words of a book, €@@and out of their gloom and darkness €@@@the eyes of the blind shall see. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’؝˜“@@The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, €@@@and the poor among men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. @@For the ruthless shall come to nought and the scoffer cease, €@@@and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off, @@who by a word make a man out to be an offender, €@@@and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, €@@@and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right. @Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the €house of Jacob: €@@"Jacob shall no more be ashamed, €@@@no more shall his face grow pale. @@For when he sees his children, €@@@the work of my hands, in his midst, €@@@they will sanctify my name; €@@they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, €@@@and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. @@And those who err in spirit will come to understanding, €@@@and those who murmur will accept instruction."  @"Woe to the rebellious children," says the LORD, €@@"who carry out a plan, but not mine; €@@and who make a league, but not of my spirit, €@@@that they may add sin to sin; @@who set out to go down to Egypt, €@@@without asking for my counsel, €@@to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh, €@@@and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! @@Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, €@@@and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation. @@For though his officials are at Zo'an €@@@and his envoys reach Ha'nes, @@every one comes to shame €@@@through a people that cannot profit them, €@@that brings neither help nor profit, €@@@but shame and disgrace." @@An oracle on the beasts of the Negeb. €@@Through a land of trouble and anguish, €@@@from where come the lioness and the lion, €@@@the viper and the flying serpent, €@@they carry their riches on the backs of asses, €@@@and their treasures on the humps of camels, €@@@to a people that cannot profit them. @@For Egypt's help is worthless and empty, €@@@therefore I have called her €@@@"Rahab who sits still." @@And now, go, write it before them on a tablet, €@@@and inscribe it in a book, €@@that it may be for the time to come €@@@as a witness for ever. @@For they are a rebellious people, €@@@lying sons, €@@sons who will not hear €@@@the instruction of the LORD; @@who say to the seers, "See not"; €@@@and to the prophets, "Prophesy not to us what is right; €@@speak to us smooth things, €@@@prophesy illusions, @@leave the way, turn aside from the path, €@@@let us hear no more of the Holy One of Israel." @@Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, €@@"Because you despise this word, €@@@and trust in oppression and perverseness, €@@@and rely on them; @@therefore this iniquity shall be to you €@@@like a break in a high wall, bulging out, and about to collapse, €@@@whose crash comes suddenly, in an instant; @@and its breaking is like that of a potter's vessel €@@@which is smashed so ruthlessly €@@that among its fragments not a sherd is found €@@@with which to take fire from the hearth, €@@@or to dip up water out of the cistern." @@For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, €@@"In returning and rest you shall be saved; €@@@in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." €@@And you would not, but you said, €@@"No! We will speed upon horses," €@@@therefore you shall speed away; €@@and, "We will ride upon swift steeds," €@@@therefore your pursuers shall be swift. @@A thousand shall flee at the threat of one, €@@@at the threat of five you shall flee, €@@till you are left €@@@like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, €@@@like a signal on a hill. @@Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you; €@@@therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. €@@For the LORD is a God of justice; €@@@blessed are all those who wait for him. Yea, O people in Zion who dwell at Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. €He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he €hears it, he will answer you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of €affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your €eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, €walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Then you will defile your silver-covered graven images and your €gold-plated molten images. You will scatter them as unclean things; you €will say to them, "Begone!" @And he will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and €grain, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. In €that day your cattle will graze in large pastures; and the oxen and the asses that till the ground will eat salted €provender, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. And upon every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks €running with water, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers €fall. Moreover the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the €light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the €day when the LORD binds up the hurt of his people, and heals the wounds €inflicted by his blow. @@Behold, the name of the LORD comes from far, €@@@burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke; €@@his lips are full of indignation, €@@@and his tongue is like a devouring fire; @@his breath is like an overflowing stream €@@@that reaches up to the neck; €@@to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction, €@@@and to place on the jaws of the peoples a bridle that leads astray. @You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept; and €gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go €to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. And the LORD will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the €descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of €devouring fire, with a cloudburst and tempest and hailstones. The Assyrians will be terror-stricken at the voice of the LORD, when he €smites with his rod. And every stroke of the staff of punishment which the LORD lays upon €them will be to the sound of timbrels and lyres; battling with €brandished arm he will fight with them. For a burning place has long been prepared; yea, for the king it is €made ready, its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in €abundance; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, kindles €it.  @Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help €@@@and rely on horses, €@@who trust in chariots because they are many €@@@and in horsemen because they are very strong, €@@but do not look to the Holy One of Israel €@@@or consult the LORD! @@And yet he is wise and brings disaster, €@@@he does not call back his words, €@@but will arise against the house of the evildoers, €@@@and against the helpers of those who work iniquity. @@The Egyptians are men, and not God; €@@@and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. €@@When the LORD stretches out his hand, €@@@the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall, €@@@and they will all perish together. @@For thus the LORD said to me, €@@As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey, €@@@and when a band of shepherds is called forth against him €@@is not terrified by their shouting €@@@or daunted at their noise, €@@so the LORD of hosts will come down €@@@to fight upon Mount Zion and upon its hill. @@Like birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts €@@@will protect Jerusalem; €@@he will protect and deliver it, €@@@he will spare and rescue it. @Turn to him from whom you have deeply revolted, O people of Israel. For in that day every one shall cast away his idols of silver and his €idols of gold, which your hands have sinfully made for you. @@"And the Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of man; €@@@and a sword, not of man, shall devour him; €@@and he shall flee from the sword, €@@@and his young men shall be put to forced labor. @@His rock shall pass away in terror, €@@@and his officers desert the standard in panic," €@@says the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, €@@@and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.  @Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, €@@@and princes will rule in justice. @@Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’Ø ’‚@@@a covert from the tempest, €@@like streams of water in a dry place, €@@@like the shade of a great rock in a weary land. @@Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, €@@@and the ears of those who hear will hearken. @@The mind of the rash will have good judgment, €@@@and the tongue of the stammerers will speak readily and distinctly. @@The fool will no more be called noble, €@@@nor the knave said to be honorable. @@For the fool speaks folly, €@@@and his mind plots iniquity: €@@to practice ungodliness, €@@@to utter error concerning the LORD, €@@to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, €@@@and to deprive the thirsty of drink. @@The knaveries of the knave are evil; €@@@he devises wicked devices €@@to ruin the poor with lying words, €@@@even when the plea of the needy is right. @@But he who is noble devises noble things, €@@@and by noble things he stands. @@Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; €@@@you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech. @@In little more than a year €@@@you will shudder, you complacent women; €@@for the vintage will fail, €@@@the fruit harvest will not come. @@Tremble, you women who are at ease, €@@@shudder, you complacent ones; €@@strip, and make yourselves bare, €@@@and gird sackcloth upon your loins. @@Beat upon your breasts for the pleasant fields, €@@@for the fruitful vine, @@for the soil of my people €@@@growing up in thorns and briers; €@@yea, for all the joyous houses €@@@in the joyful city. @@For the palace will be forsaken, €@@@the populous city deserted; €@@the hill and the watchtower €@@@will become dens for ever, €@@a joy of wild asses, €@@@a pasture of flocks; @@until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, €@@@and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, €@@@and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. @@Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, €@@@and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. @@And the effect of righteousness will be peace, €@@@and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust for ever. @@My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, €@@@in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. @@And the forest will utterly go down, €@@@and the city will be utterly laid low. @@Happy are you who sow beside all waters, €@@@who let the feet of the ox and the ass range free.  @Woe to you, destroyer, €@@@who yourself have not been destroyed; €@@you treacherous one, €@@@with whom none has dealt treacherously! €@@When you have ceased to destroy, €@@@you will be destroyed; €@@and when you have made an end of dealing treacherously, €@@@you will be dealt with treacherously. @@O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for thee. €@@@Be our arm every morning, €@@@our salvation in the time of trouble. @@At the thunderous noise peoples flee, €@@@at the lifting up of thyself nations are scattered; @@and spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; €@@@as locusts leap, men leap upon it. @@The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; €@@@he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness; @@and he will be the stability of your times, €@@@abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; €@@@the fear of the LORD is his treasure. @@Behold, the valiant ones cry without; €@@@the envoys of peace weep bitterly. @@The highways lie waste, €@@@the wayfaring man ceases. €@@Covenants are broken, €@@@witnesses are despised, €@@@there is no regard for man. @@The land mourns and languishes; €@@@Lebanon is confounded and withers away; €@@Sharon is like a desert; €@@@and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves. @@"Now I will arise," says the LORD, €@@@"now I will lift myself up; €@@@now I will be exalted. @@You conceive chaff, you bring forth stubble; €@@@your breath is a fire that will consume you. @@And the peoples will be as if burned to lime, €@@@like thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire." @@Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; €@@@and you who are near, acknowledge my might. @@The sinners in Zion are afraid; €@@@trembling has seized the godless: €@@"Who among us can dwell with the devouring fire? €@@@Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?" @@He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, €@@@who despises the gain of oppressions, €@@who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, €@@@who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed €@@@and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil, @@he will dwell on the heights; €@@@his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; €@@@his bread will be given him, his water will be sure. @@Your eyes will see the king in his beauty; €@@@they will behold a land that stretches afar. @@Your mind will muse on the terror: €@@@"Where is he who counted, where is he who weighed the tribute? €@@@Where is he who counted the towers?" @@You will see no more the insolent people, €@@@the people of an obscure speech which you cannot comprehend, €@@@stammering in a tongue which you cannot understand. @@Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts! €@@@Your eyes will see Jerusalem, €@@@a quiet habitation, an immovable tent, €@@whose stakes will never be plucked up, €@@@nor will any of its cords be broken. @@But there the LORD in majesty will be for us €@@@a place of broad rivers and streams, €@@where no galley with oars can go, €@@@nor stately ship can pass. @@For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our ruler, €@@@the LORD is our king; he will save us. @@Your tackle hangs loose; €@@@it cannot hold the mast firm in its place, €@@@or keep the sail spread out. €@@Then prey and spoil in abundance will be divided; €@@@even the lame will take the prey. @@And no inhabitant will say, "I am sick"; €@@@the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.  @Draw near, O nations, to hear, €@@@and hearken, O peoples! €@@Let the earth listen, and all that fills it; €@@@the world, and all that comes from it. @@For the LORD is enraged against all the nations, €@@@and furious against all their host, €@@@he has doomed them, has given them over for slaughter. @@Their slain shall be cast out, €@@@and the stench of their corpses shall rise; €@@@the mountains shall flow with their blood. @@All the host of heaven shall rot away, €@@@and the skies roll up like a scroll. €@@All their host shall fall, €@@@as leaves fall from the vine, €@@@like leaves falling from the fig tree. @@For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; €@@@behold, it descends for judgment upon Edom, €@@@upon the people I have doomed. @@The LORD has a sword; it is sated with blood, €@@@it is gorged with fat, €@@@with the blood of lambs and goats, €@@@with the fat of the kidneys of rams. €@@For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, €@@@a great slaughter in the land of Edom. @@Wild oxen shall fall with them, €@@@and young steers with the mighty bulls. €@@Their land shall be soaked with blood, €@@@and their soil made rich with fat. @@For the LORD has a day of vengeance, €@@@a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. @@And the streams of Edom shall be turned into pitch, €@@@and her soil into brimstone; €@@@her land shall become burning pitch. @@Night and day it shall not be quenched; €@@@its smoke shall go up for ever. €@@From generation to generation it shall lie waste; €@@@none shall pass through it for ever and ever. @@But the hawk and the porcupine shall possess it, €@@@the owl and the raven shall dwell in it. €@@He shall stretch the line of confusion over it, €@@@and the plummet of chaos over its nobles. @@They shall name it No Kingdom There, €@@@and all its princes shall be nothing. @@Thorns shall grow over its strongholds, €@@@nettles and thistles in its fortresses. €@@It shall be the haunt of jackals, €@@@an abode for ostriches. @@And wild beasts shall meet with hyenas, €@@@the satyr shall cry to his fellow; €@@yea, there shall the night hag alight, €@@@and find for herself a resting place. @@There shall the owl nest and lay €@@@and hatch and gather her young in her shadow; €@@yea, there shall the kites be gathered, €@@@each one with her mate. @@Seek and read from the book of the LORD: €@@@Not one of these shall be missing; €@@@none shall be without her mate. €@@For the mouth of the LORD has commanded, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’Ø¢˜…@@@and his Spirit has gathered them. @@He has cast the lot for them, €@@@his hand has portioned it out to them with the line; €@@they shall possess it for ever, €@@@from generation to generation they shall dwell in it.  @The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, €@@@the desert shall rejoice and blossom; €@@like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, €@@@and rejoice with joy and singing. €@@The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, €@@@the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. €@@They shall see the glory of the LORD, €@@@the majesty of our God. @@Strengthen the weak hands, €@@@and make firm the feeble knees. @@Say to those who are of a fearful heart, €@@@"Be strong, fear not! €@@Behold, your God €@@@will come with vengeance, €@@with the recompense of God. €@@@He will come and save you." @@Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, €@@@and the ears of the deaf unstopped; @@then shall the lame man leap like a hart, €@@@and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy. €@@For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, €@@@and streams in the desert; @@the burning sand shall become a pool, €@@@and the thirsty ground springs of water; €@@the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, €@@@the grass shall become reeds and rushes. @@And a highway shall be there, €@@@and it shall be called the Holy Way; €@@the unclean shall not pass over it, €@@@and fools shall not err therein. @@No lion shall be there, €@@@nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; €@@they shall not be found there, €@@@but the redeemed shall walk there. @@And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, €@@@and come to Zion with singing; €@@everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; €@@@they shall obtain joy and gladness, €@@@and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.  @In the fourteenth year of King Hezeki'ah, Sennach'erib king of €Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. And the king of Assyria sent the Rab'shakeh from Lachish to King €Hezeki'ah at Jerusalem, with a great army. And he stood by the conduit €of the upper pool on the highway to the Fuller's Field. And there came out to him Eli'akim the son of Hilki'ah, who was over €the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Jo'ah the son of Asaph, €the recorder. @And the Rab'shakeh said to them, "Say to Hezeki'ah, `Thus says the €great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this confidence of €yours? Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? On whom do €you now rely, that you have rebelled against me? Behold, you are relying on Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which €will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king €of Egypt to all who rely on him. But if you say to me, "We rely on the LORD our God," is it not he whose €high places and altars Hezeki'ah has removed, saying to Judah and to €Jerusalem, "You shall worship before this altar"? Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give €you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders €upon them. How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my €master's servants, when you rely on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? Moreover, is it without the LORD that I have come up against this land €to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and €destroy it.'" @Then Eli'akim, Shebna, and Jo'ah said to the Rab'shakeh, "Pray, speak €to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; do not speak to us €in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on €the wall." But the Rab'shakeh said, "Has my master sent me to speak these words to €your master and to you, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are €doomed with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?" @Then the Rab'shakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the €language of Judah: "Hear the words of the great king, the king of €Assyria! Thus says the king: `Do not let Hezeki'ah deceive you, for he will not €be able to deliver you. Do not let Hezeki'ah make you rely on the LORD by saying, "The LORD €will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of €the king of Assyria." Do not listen to Hezeki'ah; for thus says the king of Assyria: Make €your peace with me and come out to me; then every one of you will eat €of his own vine, and every one of his own fig tree, and every one of €you will drink the water of his own cistern; until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of €grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. Beware lest Hezeki'ah mislead you by saying, "The LORD will deliver €us." Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the €hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of €Sepharva'im? Have they delivered Sama'ria out of my hand? Who among all the gods of these countries have delivered their €countries out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of €my hand?'" @But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's €command was, "Do not answer him." Then Eli'akim the son of Hilki'ah, who was over the household, and €Shebna the secretary, and Jo'ah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to €Hezeki'ah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of the €Rab'shakeh.  @When King Hezeki'ah heard it, he rent his clothes, and covered €himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. And he sent Eli'akim, who was over the household, and Shebna the €secretary, and the senior priests, clothed with sackcloth, to the €prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz. They said to him, "Thus says Hezeki'ah, `This day is a day of distress, €of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the birth, and there €is no strength to bring them forth. It may be that the LORD your God heard the words of the Rab'shakeh, €whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, €and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard; therefore €lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.'" @When the servants of King Hezeki'ah came to Isaiah, Isaiah said to them, "Say to your master, `Thus says the LORD: Do not €be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the €servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me. Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor, and €return to his own land; and I will make him fall by the sword in his €own land.'" @The Rab'shakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria fighting €against Libnah; for he had heard that the king had left Lachish. Now the king heard concerning Tirha'kah king of Ethiopia, "He has set €out to fight against you." And when he heard it, he sent messengers to €Hezeki'ah, saying, "Thus shall you speak to Hezeki'ah king of Judah: `Do not let your God €on whom you rely deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be €given into the hand of the king of Assyria. Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all €lands, destroying them utterly. And shall you be delivered? Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations which my €fathers destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who €were in Tel-assar? Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of €Sepharva'im, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?'" @Hezeki'ah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and €read it; and Hezeki'ah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it €before the LORD. And Hezeki'ah prayed to the LORD: "O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, who art enthroned above the cherubim, €thou art the God, thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou €hast made heaven and earth. Incline thy ear, O LORD, and hear; open thy eyes, O LORD, and see; and €hear all the words of Sennach'erib, which he has sent to mock the €living God. Of a truth, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the €nations and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the €work of men's hands, wood and stone; therefore they were destroyed. So now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’Ø„˜”‚the earth may know that thou alone art the LORD." @Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezeki'ah, saying, "Thus says the €LORD, the God of Israel: Because you have prayed to me concerning €Sennach'erib king of Assyria, this is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him: €@@`She despises you, she scorns you --€@@@the virgin daughter of Zion; €@@she wags her head behind you --€@@@the daughter of Jerusalem. @@`Whom have you mocked and reviled? €@@@Against whom have you raised your voice €@@and haughtily lifted your eyes? €@@@Against the Holy One of Israel! @@By your servants you have mocked the Lord, €@@@and you have said, With my many chariots €@@I have gone up the heights of the mountains, €@@@to the far recesses of Lebanon; €@@I felled its tallest cedars, €@@@its choicest cypresses; €@@I came to its remotest height, €@@@its densest forest. @@I dug wells €@@@and drank waters, €@@and I dried up with the sole of my foot €@@@all the streams of Egypt. @@`Have you not heard €@@@that I determined it long ago? €@@I planned from days of old €@@@what now I bring to pass, €@@that you should make fortified cities €@@@crash into heaps of ruins, @@while their inhabitants, shorn of strength, €@@@are dismayed and confounded, €@@and have become like plants of the field €@@@and like tender grass, €@@like grass on the housetops, €@@@blighted before it is grown. @@`I know your sitting down €@@@and your going out and coming in, €@@@and your raging against me. @@Because you have raged against me €@@@and your arrogance has come to my ears, €@@I will put my hook in your nose €@@@and my bit in your mouth, €@@and I will turn you back on the way €@@@by which you came.' @"And this shall be the sign for you: this year eat what grows of €itself, and in the second year what springs of the same; then in the €third year sow and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root €downward, and bear fruit upward; for out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a €band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. @"Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: He €shall not come into this city, or shoot an arrow there, or come before €it with a shield, or cast up a siege mound against it. By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not €come into this city, says the LORD. For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the €sake of my servant David." @And the angel of the LORD went forth, and slew a hundred and €eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose €early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. Then Sennach'erib king of Assyria departed, and went home and dwelt at €Nin'eveh. And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adram'melech €and Share'zer, his sons, slew him with the sword, and escaped into the €land of Ar'arat. And E'sar-had'don his son reigned in his stead.  @In those days Hezeki'ah became sick and was at the point of death. €And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, €"Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order; for you shall die, you €shall not recover." Then Hezeki'ah turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the LORD, and said, "Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked €before thee in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what €is good in thy sight." And Hezeki'ah wept bitterly. Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: "Go and say to Hezeki'ah, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your €father: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I €will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of €Assyria, and defend this city. @"This is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this €thing that he has promised: Behold, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of €Ahaz turn back ten steps." So the sun turned back on the dial the ten €steps by which it had declined. @A writing of Hezeki'ah king of Judah, after he had been sick and had €recovered from his sickness: @@I said, In the noontide of my days €@@@I must depart; €@@I am consigned to the gates of Sheol €@@@for the rest of my years. @@I said, I shall not see the LORD €@@@in the land of the living; €@@I shall look upon man no more €@@@among the inhabitants of the world. @@My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me €@@@like a shepherd's tent; €@@like a weaver I have rolled up my life; €@@@he cuts me off from the loom; €@@from day to night thou dost bring me to an end; @@@I cry for help until morning; €@@like a lion he breaks all my bones; €@@@from day to night thou dost bring me to an end. @@Like a swallow or a crane I clamor, €@@@I moan like a dove. €@@My eyes are weary with looking upward. €@@@O Lord, I am oppressed; be thou my security! @@But what can I say? For he has spoken to me, €@@@and he himself has done it. €@@All my sleep has fled €@@@because of the bitterness of my soul. @@O Lord, by these things men live, €@@@and in all these is the life of my spirit. €@@@Oh, restore me to health and make me live! @@Lo, it was for my welfare €@@@that I had great bitterness; €@@but thou hast held back my life €@@@from the pit of destruction, €@@for thou hast cast all my sins €@@@behind thy back. @@For Sheol cannot thank thee, €@@@death cannot praise thee; €@@those who go down to the pit cannot hope €@@@for thy faithfulness. @@The living, the living, he thanks thee, €@@@as I do this day; €@@the father makes known to the children €@@@thy faithfulness. @@The LORD will save me, €@@@and we will sing to stringed instruments €@@all the days of our life, €@@@at the house of the LORD. @Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a cake of figs, and apply it to €the boil, that he may recover." Hezeki'ah also had said, "What is the sign that I shall go up to the €house of the LORD?"  @At that time Mer'odach-bal'adan the son of Bal'adan, king of Babylon, €sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezeki'ah, for he heard that €he had been sick and had recovered. And Hezeki'ah welcomed them; and he showed them his treasure house, the €silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory, all €that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in €all his realm that Hezeki'ah did not show them. Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezeki'ah, and said to him, "What €did these men say? And whence did they come to you?" Hezeki'ah said, €"They have come to me from a far country, from Babylon." He said, "What have they seen in your house?" Hezeki'ah answered, "They €have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my storehouses €that I did not show them." @Then Isaiah said to Hezeki'ah, "Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that €which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to €Babylon; nothing shall be left, says the LORD. And some of your own sons, who are born to you, shall be taken away; €and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." Then said Hezeki'ah to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD which you have €spoken is good." For he thought, "There will be peace and security in €my days."  @Comfort, comfort my people, €@@@says your God. @@Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, €@@@and cry to her €@@that her warfare is ended, €@@@that her iniquity is pardoned, €@@that she has received from the LORD's hand €@@@double for all her sins. @@A voice cries: €@@"In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, €@@@make straight in the desert a highway for our God. @@Every valley shall be lifted up, €@@@and every mountain and hill be made low; €@@the uneven ground shall become level, €@@@and the rough places a plain. @@And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, €@@@and all flesh shall see it together, €@@@for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." @@A voice says, "Cry!" €@@@And I said, "What shall I cry?" €@@All flesh is grass, €@@@and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’Øؗ@@The grass withers, the flower fades, €@@@when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; €@@@surely the people is grass. @@The grass withers, the flower fades; €@@@but the word of our God will stand for ever. @@Get you up to a high mountain, €@@@O Zion, herald of good tidings; €@@lift up your voice with strength, €@@@O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, €@@@lift it up, fear not; €@@say to the cities of Judah, €@@@"Behold your God!" @@Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, €@@@and his arm rules for him; €@@behold, his reward is with him, €@@@and his recompense before him. @@He will feed his flock like a shepherd, €@@@he will gather the lambs in his arms, €@@he will carry them in his bosom, €@@@and gently lead those that are with young. @@Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand €@@@and marked off the heavens with a span, €@@enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure €@@@and weighed the mountains in scales €@@@and the hills in a balance? @@Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, €@@@or as his counselor has instructed him? @@Whom did he consult for his enlightenment, €@@@and who taught him the path of justice, €@@and taught him knowledge, €@@@and showed him the way of understanding? @@Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, €@@@and are accounted as the dust on the scales; €@@@behold, he takes up the isles like fine dust. @@Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, €@@@nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering. @@All the nations are as nothing before him, €@@@they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness. @@To whom then will you liken God, €@@@or what likeness compare with him? @@The idol! a workman casts it, €@@@and a goldsmith overlays it with gold, €@@@and casts for it silver chains. @@He who is impoverished chooses for an offering €@@@wood that will not rot; €@@he seeks out a skilful craftsman €@@@to set up an image that will not move. @@Have you not known? Have you not heard? €@@@Has it not been told you from the beginning? €@@@Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? @@It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, €@@@and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; €@@who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, €@@@and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; @@who brings princes to nought, €@@@and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. @@Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, €@@@scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, €@@when he blows upon them, and they wither, €@@@and the tempest carries them off like stubble. @@To whom then will you compare me, €@@@that I should be like him? says the Holy One. @@Lift up your eyes on high and see: €@@@who created these? €@@He who brings out their host by number, €@@@calling them all by name; €@@by the greatness of his might, €@@@and because he is strong in power €@@@not one is missing. @@Why do you say, O Jacob, €@@@and speak, O Israel, €@@"My way is hid from the LORD, €@@@and my right is disregarded by my God"? @@Have you not known? Have you not heard? €@@The LORD is the everlasting God, €@@@the Creator of the ends of the earth. €@@He does not faint or grow weary, €@@@his understanding is unsearchable. @@He gives power to the faint, €@@@and to him who has no might he increases strength. @@Even youths shall faint and be weary, €@@@and young men shall fall exhausted; @@but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, €@@@they shall mount up with wings like eagles, €@@they shall run and not be weary, €@@@they shall walk and not faint.  @Listen to me in silence, O coastlands; €@@@let the peoples renew their strength; €@@let them approach, then let them speak; €@@@let us together draw near for judgment. @@Who stirred up one from the east €@@@whom victory meets at every step? €@@He gives up nations before him, €@@@so that he tramples kings under foot; €@@he makes them like dust with his sword, €@@@like driven stubble with his bow. @@He pursues them and passes on safely, €@@@by paths his feet have not trod. @@Who has performed and done this, €@@@calling the generations from the beginning? €@@I, the LORD, the first, €@@@and with the last; I am He. @@The coastlands have seen and are afraid, €@@@the ends of the earth tremble; €@@@they have drawn near and come. @@Every one helps his neighbor, €@@@and says to his brother, "Take courage!" @@The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, €@@@and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil, €@@saying of the soldering, "It is good"; €@@@and they fasten it with nails so that it cannot be moved. @@But you, Israel, my servant, €@@@Jacob, whom I have chosen, €@@@the offspring of Abraham, my friend; @@you whom I took from the ends of the earth, €@@@and called from its farthest corners, €@@saying to you, "You are my servant, €@@@I have chosen you and not cast you off"; @@fear not, for I am with you, €@@@be not dismayed, for I am your God; €@@I will strengthen you, I will help you, €@@@I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. @@Behold, all who are incensed against you €@@@shall be put to shame and confounded; €@@those who strive against you €@@@shall be as nothing and shall perish. @@You shall seek those who contend with you, €@@@but you shall not find them; €@@those who war against you €@@@shall be as nothing at all. @@For I, the LORD your God, €@@@hold your right hand; €@@it is I who say to you, "Fear not, €@@@I will help you." @@Fear not, you worm Jacob, €@@@you men of Israel! €@@I will help you, says the LORD; €@@@your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. @@Behold, I will make of you a threshing sledge, €@@@new, sharp, and having teeth; €@@you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, €@@@and you shall make the hills like chaff; @@You shall winnow them and the wind shall carry them away, €@@@and the tempest shall scatter them. €@@And you shall rejoice in the LORD; €@@@in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory. @@When the poor and needy seek water, €@@@and there is none, €@@@and their tongue is parched with thirst, €@@I the LORD will answer them, €@@@I the God of Israel will not forsake them. @@I will open rivers on the bare heights, €@@@and fountains in the midst of the valleys; €@@I will make the wilderness a pool of water, €@@@and the dry land springs of water. @@I will put in the wilderness the cedar, €@@@the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; €@@I will set in the desert the cypress, €@@@the plane and the pine together; @@that men may see and know, €@@@may consider and understand together, €@@that the hand of the LORD has done this, €@@@the Holy One of Israel has created it. @@Set forth your case, says the LORD; €@@@bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob. @@Let them bring them, and tell us €@@@what is to happen. €@@Tell us the former things, what they are, €@@@that we may consider them, €@@that we may know their outcome; €@@@or declare to us the things to come. @@Tell us what is to come hereafter, €@@@that we may know that you are gods; €@@do good, or do harm, €@@@that we may be dismayed and terrified. @@Behold, you are nothing, €@@@and your work is nought; €@@@an abomination is he who chooses you. @@I stirred up one from the north, and he has come, €@@@from the rising of the sun, and he shall call on my name; €@@he shall trample on rulers as on mortar, €@@@as the potter treads clay. @@Who declared it from the beginning, that we might know, €@@@and beforetime, that we might say, "He is right"? €@@There was none who declared it, none who proclaimed, €@@@none who heard your words. @@I first have declared it to Zion, €@@@and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good tidings. @@But when I look there is no one; €@@@among these there is no counselor €@@@who, when I ask, gives an answer. @@Behold, they are all a delusion; €@@@their works are nothing; €@@@their molten images are empty wind.  @Behold my servant, whom I uphold, €@@@my chosen, in whom my soul delights; €@@I have put my Spirit upon him, €@@@he will bring forth justice to the nations. @@He will not cry or lift up his voice, €@@@or make it heard in the street; @@a bruised reed he will not break, €@@@and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’ØŖ“ƒ@@@he will faithfully bring forth justice. @@He will not fail or be discouraged €@@@till he has established justice in the earth; €@@@and the coastlands wait for his law. @@Thus says God, the LORD, €@@@who created the heavens and stretched them out, €@@@who spread forth the earth and what comes from it, €@@who gives breath to the people upon it €@@@and spirit to those who walk in it: @@"I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, €@@@I have taken you by the hand and kept you; €@@I have given you as a covenant to the people, €@@@a light to the nations, @@@to open the eyes that are blind, €@@to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, €@@@from the prison those who sit in darkness. @@I am the LORD, that is my name; €@@@my glory I give to no other, €@@@nor my praise to graven images. @@Behold, the former things have come to pass, €@@@and new things I now declare; €@@before they spring forth €@@@I tell you of them." @@Sing to the LORD a new song, €@@@his praise from the end of the earth! €@@Let the sea roar and all that fills it, €@@@the coastlands and their inhabitants. @@Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice, €@@@the villages that Kedar inhabits; €@@let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy, €@@@let them shout from the top of the mountains. @@Let them give glory to the LORD, €@@@and declare his praise in the coastlands. @@The LORD goes forth like a mighty man, €@@@like a man of war he stirs up his fury; €@@he cries out, he shouts aloud, €@@@he shows himself mighty against his foes. @@For a long time I have held my peace, €@@@I have kept still and restrained myself; €@@now I will cry out like a woman in travail, €@@@I will gasp and pant. @@I will lay waste mountains and hills, €@@@and dry up all their herbage; €@@I will turn the rivers into islands, €@@@and dry up the pools. @@And I will lead the blind €@@@in a way that they know not, €@@in paths that they have not known €@@@I will guide them. €@@I will turn the darkness before them into light, €@@@the rough places into level ground. €@@These are the things I will do, €@@@and I will not forsake them. @@They shall be turned back and utterly put to shame, €@@@who trust in graven images, €@@who say to molten images, €@@@"You are our gods." @@Hear, you deaf; €@@@and look, you blind, that you may see! @@Who is blind but my servant, €@@@or deaf as my messenger whom I send? €@@Who is blind as my dedicated one, €@@@or blind as the servant of the LORD? @@He sees many things, but does not observe them; €@@@his ears are open, but he does not hear. @@The LORD was pleased, for his righteousness' sake, €@@@to magnify his law and make it glorious. @@But this is a people robbed and plundered, €@@@they are all of them trapped in holes €@@@and hidden in prisons; €@@they have become a prey with none to rescue, €@@@a spoil with none to say, "Restore!" @@Who among you will give ear to this, €@@@will attend and listen for the time to come? @@Who gave up Jacob to the spoiler, €@@@and Israel to the robbers? €@@Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, €@@@in whose ways they would not walk, €@@@and whose law they would not obey? @@So he poured upon him the heat of his anger €@@@and the might of battle; €@@it set him on fire round about, but he did not understand; €@@@it burned him, but he did not take it to heart.  @But now thus says the LORD, €@@@he who created you, O Jacob, €@@@he who formed you, O Israel: €@@"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; €@@@I have called you by name, you are mine. @@When you pass through the waters I will be with you; €@@@and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; €@@when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, €@@@and the flame shall not consume you. @@For I am the LORD your God, €@@@the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. €@@I give Egypt as your ransom, €@@@Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. @@Because you are precious in my eyes, €@@@and honored, and I love you, €@@I give men in return for you, €@@@peoples in exchange for your life. @@Fear not, for I am with you; €@@@I will bring your offspring from the east, €@@@and from the west I will gather you; @@I will say to the north, Give up, €@@@and to the south, Do not withhold; €@@bring my sons from afar €@@@and my daughters from the end of the earth, @@every one who is called by my name, €@@@whom I created for my glory, €@@@whom I formed and made." @@Bring forth the people who are blind, yet have eyes, €@@@who are deaf, yet have ears! @@Let all the nations gather together, €@@@and let the peoples assemble. €@@Who among them can declare this, €@@@and show us the former things? €@@Let them bring their witnesses to justify them, €@@@and let them hear and say, It is true. @@"You are my witnesses," says the LORD, €@@@"and my servant whom I have chosen, €@@that you may know and believe me €@@@and understand that I am He. €@@Before me no god was formed, €@@@nor shall there be any after me. @@I, I am the LORD, €@@@and besides me there is no savior. @@I declared and saved and proclaimed, €@@@when there was no strange god among you; €@@@and you are my witnesses," says the LORD. @@"I am God, and also henceforth I am He; €@@@there is none who can deliver from my hand; €@@@I work and who can hinder it?" @@Thus says the LORD, €@@@your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: €@@"For your sake I will send to Babylon €@@@and break down all the bars, €@@@and the shouting of the Chalde'ans will be turned to lamentations. @@I am the LORD, your Holy One, €@@@the Creator of Israel, your King." @@Thus says the LORD, €@@@who makes a way in the sea, €@@@a path in the mighty waters, @@who brings forth chariot and horse, €@@@army and warrior; €@@they lie down, they cannot rise, €@@@they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: @@"Remember not the former things, €@@@nor consider the things of old. @@Behold, I am doing a new thing; €@@@now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? €@@I will make a way in the wilderness €@@@and rivers in the desert. @@The wild beasts will honor me, €@@@the jackals and the ostriches; €@@for I give water in the wilderness, €@@@rivers in the desert, €@@to give drink to my chosen people, @@@the people whom I formed for myself €@@that they might declare my praise. @@"Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; €@@@but you have been weary of me, O Israel! @@You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, €@@@or honored me with your sacrifices. €@@I have not burdened you with offerings, €@@@or wearied you with frankincense. @@You have not bought me sweet cane with money, €@@@or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. €@@But you have burdened me with your sins, €@@@you have wearied me with your iniquities. @@"I, I am He €@@@who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, €@@@and I will not remember your sins. @@Put me in remembrance, let us argue together; €@@@set forth your case, that you may be proved right. @@Your first father sinned, €@@@and your mediators transgressed against me. @@Therefore I profaned the princes of the sanctuary, €@@@I delivered Jacob to utter destruction €@@@and Israel to reviling.  @"But now hear, O Jacob my servant, €@@@Israel whom I have chosen! @@Thus says the LORD who made you, €@@@who formed you from the womb and will help you: €@@Fear not, O Jacob my servant, €@@@Jeshu'run whom I have chosen. @@For I will pour water on the thirsty land, €@@@and streams on the dry ground; €@@I will pour my Spirit upon your descendants, €@@@and my blessing on your offspring. @@They shall spring up like grass amid waters, €@@@like willows by flowing streams. @@This one will say, `I am the LORD's,' €@@@another will call himself by the name of Jacob, €@@and another will write on his hand, `The LORD's,' €@@@and surname himself by the name of Israel." @@Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel €@@@and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: €@@"I am the first and I am the last; €@@@besides me there is no god. @@Who is like me? Let him proclaim it, €@@@let him declare and set it forth before me. €@@Who has announced from of old the things to come? €@@@Let them tell us what is yet to be. @@Fear not, nor be afraid; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’ج˜ˆ‚@@@have I not told you from of old and declared it? €@@@And you are my witnesses! €@@Is there a God besides me? €@@@There is no Rock; I know not any." @All who make idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not €profit; their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to €shame. Who fashions a god or casts an image, that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his fellows shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are €but men; let them all assemble, let them stand forth, they shall be €terrified, they shall be put to shame together. @The ironsmith fashions it and works it over the coals; he shapes it €with hammers, and forges it with his strong arm; he becomes hungry and €his strength fails, he drinks no water and is faint. The carpenter stretches a line, he marks it out with a pencil; he €fashions it with planes, and marks it with a compass; he shapes it into €the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. He cuts down cedars; or he chooses a holm tree or an oak and lets it €grow strong among the trees of the forest; he plants a cedar and the €rain nourishes it. Then it becomes fuel for a man; he takes a part of it and warms €himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread; also he makes a god and €worships it, he makes it a graven image and falls down before it. Half of it he burns in the fire; over the half he eats flesh, he roasts €meat and is satisfied; also he warms himself and says, "Aha, I am warm, €I have seen the fire!" And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol; and falls down to it €and worships it; he prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for thou art my €god!" @They know not, nor do they discern; for he has shut their eyes, so €that they cannot see, and their minds, so that they cannot understand. No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, "Half €of it I burned in the fire, I also baked bread on its coals, I roasted €flesh and have eaten; and shall I make the residue of it an €abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?" He feeds on ashes; a deluded mind has led him astray, and he cannot €deliver himself or say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?" @@Remember these things, O Jacob, €@@@and Israel, for you are my servant; €@@I formed you, you are my servant; €@@@O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. @@I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, €@@@and your sins like mist; €@@return to me, for I have redeemed you. @@Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it; €@@@shout, O depths of the earth; €@@break forth into singing, O mountains, €@@@O forest, and every tree in it! €@@For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, €@@@and will be glorified in Israel. @@Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, €@@@who formed you from the womb: €@@"I am the LORD, who made all things, €@@@who stretched out the heavens alone, €@@@who spread out the earth -- Who was with me? --@@who frustrates the omens of liars, €@@@and makes fools of diviners; €@@who turns wise men back, €@@@and makes their knowledge foolish; @@who confirms the word of his servant, €@@@and performs the counsel of his messengers; €@@who says of Jerusalem, `She shall be inhabited,' €@@@and of the cities of Judah, `They shall be built, €@@@and I will raise up their ruins'; @@who says to the deep, `Be dry, €@@@I will dry up your rivers'; @@who says of Cyrus, `He is my shepherd, €@@@and he shall fulfil all my purpose'; €@@saying of Jerusalem, `She shall be built,' €@@@and of the temple, `Your foundation shall be laid.'"  @Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, €@@@whose right hand I have grasped, €@@to subdue nations before him €@@@and ungird the loins of kings, €@@to open doors before him €@@@that gates may not be closed: @@"I will go before you €@@@and level the mountains, €@@I will break in pieces the doors of bronze €@@@and cut asunder the bars of iron, @@I will give you the treasures of darkness €@@@and the hoards in secret places, €@@that you may know that it is I, the LORD, €@@@the God of Israel, who call you by your name. @@For the sake of my servant Jacob, €@@@and Israel my chosen, €@@I call you by your name, €@@@I surname you, though you do not know me. @@I am the LORD, and there is no other, €@@@besides me there is no God; €@@@I gird you, though you do not know me, @@that men may know, from the rising of the sun €@@@and from the west, that there is none besides me; €@@@I am the LORD, and there is no other. @@I form light and create darkness, €@@@I make weal and create woe, €@@@I am the LORD, who do all these things. @@"Shower, O heavens, from above, €@@@and let the skies rain down righteousness; €@@let the earth open, that salvation may sprout forth, €@@@and let it cause righteousness to spring up also; €@@@I the LORD have created it. @@"Woe to him who strives with his Maker, €@@@an earthen vessel with the potter! €@@Does the clay say to him who fashions it, `What are you making'? €@@@or `Your work has no handles'? @@Woe to him who says to a father, `What are you begetting?' €@@@or to a woman, `With what are you in travail?'" @@Thus says the LORD, €@@@the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: €@@"Will you question me about my children, €@@@or command me concerning the work of my hands? @@I made the earth, €@@@and created man upon it; €@@it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, €@@@and I commanded all their host. @@I have aroused him in righteousness, €@@@and I will make straight all his ways; €@@he shall build my city €@@@and set my exiles free, €@@not for price or reward," €@@@says the LORD of hosts. @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Ethiopia, €@@@and the Sabe'ans, men of stature, €@@shall come over to you and be yours, €@@@they shall follow you; €@@@they shall come over in chains and bow down to you. €@@They will make supplication to you, saying: €@@@`God is with you only, and there is no other, €@@@no god besides him.'" @@Truly, thou art a God who hidest thyself, €@@@O God of Israel, the Savior. @@All of them are put to shame and confounded, €@@@the makers of idols go in confusion together. @@But Israel is saved by the LORD €@@@with everlasting salvation; €@@you shall not be put to shame or confounded €@@@to all eternity. @@For thus says the LORD, €@@who created the heavens €@@@(he is God!), €@@who formed the earth and made it €@@@(he established it; €@@he did not create it a chaos, €@@@he formed it to be inhabited!): €@@"I am the LORD, and there is no other. @@I did not speak in secret, €@@@in a land of darkness; €@@I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, €@@@`Seek me in chaos.' €@@I the LORD speak the truth, €@@@I declare what is right. @@"Assemble yourselves and come, €@@@draw near together, €@@@you survivors of the nations! €@@They have no knowledge €@@@who carry about their wooden idols, €@@and keep on praying to a god €@@@that cannot save. @@Declare and present your case; €@@@let them take counsel together! €@@Who told this long ago? €@@@Who declared it of old? €@@Was it not I, the LORD? €@@@And there is no other god besides me, €@@a righteous God and a Savior; €@@@there is none besides me. @@"Turn to me and be saved, €@@@all the ends of the earth! €@@@For I am God, and there is no other. @@By myself I have sworn, €@@@from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness €@@@a word that shall not return: €@@`To me every knee shall bow, €@@@every tongue shall swear.' @@"Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, €@@@are righteousness and strength; €@@to him shall come and be ashamed, €@@@all who were incensed against him. @@In the LORD all the offspring of Israel €@@@shall triumph and glory."  @Bel bows down, Nebo stoops, €@@@their idols are on beasts and cattle; €@@these things you carry are loaded €@@@as burdens on weary beasts. @@They stoop, they bow down together, €@@@they cannot save the burden, €@@@but themselves go into captivity. @@"Hearken to me, O house of Jacob, €@@@all the remnant of the house of Israel, €@@who have been borne by me from your birth, €@@@carried from the womb; @@even to your old age I am He, €@@@and to gray hairs I will carry you. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’Ø®”ƒ@@I have made, and I will bear; €@@@I will carry and will save. @@"To whom will you liken me and make me equal, €@@@and compare me, that we may be alike? @@Those who lavish gold from the purse, €@@@and weigh out silver in the scales, €@@hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; €@@@then they fall down and worship! @@They lift it upon their shoulders, they carry it, €@@@they set it in its place, and it stands there; €@@@it cannot move from its place. €@@If one cries to it, it does not answer €@@@or save him from his trouble. @@"Remember this and consider, €@@@recall it to mind, you transgressors, @@@remember the former things of old; €@@for I am God, and there is no other; €@@@I am God, and there is none like me, @@declaring the end from the beginning €@@@and from ancient times things not yet done, €@@saying, `My counsel shall stand, €@@@and I will accomplish all my purpose,' @@calling a bird of prey from the east, €@@@the man of my counsel from a far country. €@@I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; €@@@I have purposed, and I will do it. @@"Hearken to me, you stubborn of heart, €@@@you who are far from deliverance: @@I bring near my deliverance, it is not far off, €@@@and my salvation will not tarry; €@@I will put salvation in Zion, €@@@for Israel my glory."  @Come down and sit in the dust, €@@@O virgin daughter of Babylon; €@@sit on the ground without a throne, €@@@O daughter of the Chalde'ans! €@@For you shall no more be called €@@@tender and delicate. @@Take the millstones and grind meal, €@@@put off your veil, €@@strip off your robe, uncover your legs, €@@@pass through the rivers. @@Your nakedness shall be uncovered, €@@@and your shame shall be seen. €@@I will take vengeance, €@@@and I will spare no man. @@Our Redeemer -- the LORD of hosts is his name --€@@@is the Holy One of Israel. @@Sit in silence, and go into darkness, €@@@O daughter of the Chalde'ans; €@@for you shall no more be called €@@@the mistress of kingdoms. @@I was angry with my people, €@@@I profaned my heritage; €@@I gave them into your hand, €@@@you showed them no mercy; €@@on the aged you made your yoke €@@@exceedingly heavy. @@You said, "I shall be mistress for ever," €@@@so that you did not lay these things to heart €@@@or remember their end. @@Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures, €@@@who sit securely, €@@who say in your heart, €@@@"I am, and there is no one besides me; €@@I shall not sit as a widow €@@@or know the loss of children": @@These two things shall come to you €@@@in a moment, in one day; €@@the loss of children and widowhood €@@@shall come upon you in full measure, €@@in spite of your many sorceries €@@@and the great power of your enchantments. @@You felt secure in your wickedness, €@@@you said, "No one sees me"; €@@your wisdom and your knowledge €@@@led you astray, €@@and you said in your heart, €@@@"I am, and there is no one besides me." @@But evil shall come upon you, €@@@for which you cannot atone; €@@disaster shall fall upon you, €@@@which you will not be able to expiate; €@@and ruin shall come on you suddenly, €@@@of which you know nothing. @@Stand fast in your enchantments €@@@and your many sorceries, €@@@with which you have labored from your youth; €@@perhaps you may be able to succeed, €@@@perhaps you may inspire terror. @@You are wearied with your many counsels; €@@@let them stand forth and save you, €@@those who divide the heavens, €@@@who gaze at the stars, €@@who at the new moons predict €@@@what shall befall you. @@Behold, they are like stubble, €@@@the fire consumes them; €@@they cannot deliver themselves €@@@from the power of the flame. €@@No coal for warming oneself is this, €@@@no fire to sit before! @@Such to you are those with whom you have labored, €@@@who have trafficked with you from your youth; €@@they wander about each in his own direction; €@@@there is no one to save you.  @Hear this, O house of Jacob, €@@@who are called by the name of Israel, €@@@and who came forth from the loins of Judah; €@@who swear by the name of the LORD, €@@@and confess the God of Israel, €@@@but not in truth or right. @@For they call themselves after the holy city, €@@@and stay themselves on the God of Israel; €@@@the LORD of hosts is his name. @@"The former things I declared of old, €@@@they went forth from my mouth and I made them known; €@@@then suddenly I did them and they came to pass. @@Because I know that you are obstinate, €@@@and your neck is an iron sinew €@@@and your forehead brass, @@I declared them to you from of old, €@@@before they came to pass I announced them to you, €@@lest you should say, `My idol did them, €@@@my graven image and my molten image commanded them.' @@"You have heard; now see all this; €@@@and will you not declare it? €@@From this time forth I make you hear new things, €@@@hidden things which you have not known. @@They are created now, not long ago; €@@@before today you have never heard of them, €@@@lest you should say, `Behold, I knew them.' @@You have never heard, you have never known, €@@@from of old your ear has not been opened. €@@For I knew that you would deal very treacherously, €@@@and that from birth you were called a rebel. @@"For my name's sake I defer my anger, €@@@for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, €@@@that I may not cut you off. @@Behold, I have refined you, but not like silver; €@@@I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. @@For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, €@@@for how should my name be profaned? €@@@My glory I will not give to another. @@"Hearken to me, O Jacob, €@@@and Israel, whom I called! €@@I am He, I am the first, €@@@and I am the last. @@My hand laid the foundation of the earth, €@@@and my right hand spread out the heavens; €@@when I call to them, €@@@they stand forth together. @@"Assemble, all of you, and hear! €@@@Who among them has declared these things? €@@The LORD loves him; €@@@he shall perform his purpose on Babylon, €@@@and his arm shall be against the Chalde'ans. @@I, even I, have spoken and called him, €@@@I have brought him, and he will prosper in his way. @@Draw near to me, hear this: €@@@from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, €@@@from the time it came to be I have been there." €@@And now the Lord GOD has sent me and his Spirit. @@Thus says the LORD, €@@@your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: €@@"I am the LORD your God, €@@@who teaches you to profit, €@@@who leads you in the way you should go. @@O that you had hearkened to my commandments! €@@@Then your peace would have been like a river, €@@@and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; @@your offspring would have been like the sand, €@@@and your descendants like its grains; €@@their name would never be cut off €@@@or destroyed from before me." @@Go forth from Babylon, flee from Chalde'a, €@@@declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, €@@send it forth to the end of the earth; €@@@say, "The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob!" @@They thirsted not when he led them through the deserts; €@@@he made water flow for them from the rock; €@@@he cleft the rock and the water gushed out. @@"There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked."  @Listen to me, O coastlands, €@@@and hearken, you peoples from afar. €@@The LORD called me from the womb, €@@@from the body of my mother he named my name. @@He made my mouth like a sharp sword, €@@@in the shadow of his hand he hid me; €@@he made me a polished arrow, €@@@in his quiver he hid me away. @@And he said to me, "You are my servant, €@@@Israel, in whom I will be glorified." @@But I said, "I have labored in vain, €@@@I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; €@@yet surely my right is with the LORD, €@@@and my recompense with my God." @@And now the LORD says, €@@@who formed me from the womb to be his servant, €@@to bring Jacob back to him, €@@@and that Israel might be gathered to him, €@@for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, €@@@and my God has become my strength --@@he says: €@@"It is too light a thing that you should be my servant €@@@to raise up the tribes of Jacob €@@@and to restore the preserved of Israel; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’ر–…@@I will give you as a light to the nations, €@@@that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." @@Thus says the LORD, €@@@the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, €@@to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, €@@@the servant of rulers: €@@"Kings shall see and arise; €@@@princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; €@@because of the LORD, who is faithful, €@@@the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you." @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"In a time of favor I have answered you, €@@@in a day of salvation I have helped you; €@@I have kept you and given you €@@@as a covenant to the people, €@@to establish the land, €@@@to apportion the desolate heritages; @@saying to the prisoners, `Come forth,' €@@@to those who are in darkness, `Appear.' €@@They shall feed along the ways, €@@@on all bare heights shall be their pasture; @@they shall not hunger or thirst, €@@@neither scorching wind nor sun shall smite them, €@@for he who has pity on them will lead them, €@@@and by springs of water will guide them. @@And I will make all my mountains a way, €@@@and my highways shall be raised up. @@Lo, these shall come from afar, €@@@and lo, these from the north and from the west, €@@@and these from the land of Syene." @@Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; €@@@break forth, O mountains, into singing! €@@For the LORD has comforted his people, €@@@and will have compassion on his afflicted. @@But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, €@@@my Lord has forgotten me." @@"Can a woman forget her sucking child, €@@@that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? €@@Even these may forget, €@@@yet I will not forget you. @@Behold, I have graven you on the palms of my hands; €@@@your walls are continually before me. @@Your builders outstrip your destroyers, €@@@and those who laid you waste go forth from you. @@Lift up your eyes round about and see; €@@@they all gather, they come to you. €@@As I live, says the LORD, €@@@you shall put them all on as an ornament, €@@@you shall bind them on as a bride does. @@"Surely your waste and your desolate places €@@@and your devastated land --€@@surely now you will be too narrow for your inhabitants, €@@@and those who swallowed you up will be far away. @@The children born in the time of your bereavement €@@@will yet say in your ears: €@@`The place is too narrow for me; €@@@make room for me to dwell in.' @@Then you will say in your heart: €@@@`Who has borne me these? €@@I was bereaved and barren, €@@@exiled and put away, €@@@but who has brought up these? €@@Behold, I was left alone; €@@@whence then have these come?'" @@Thus says the Lord GOD: €@@"Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, €@@@and raise my signal to the peoples; €@@and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, €@@@and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders. @@Kings shall be your foster fathers, €@@@and their queens your nursing mothers. €@@With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, €@@@and lick the dust of your feet. €@@Then you will know that I am the LORD; €@@@those who wait for me shall not be put to shame." @@Can the prey be taken from the mighty, €@@@or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? @@Surely, thus says the LORD: €@@"Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, €@@@and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, €@@for I will contend with those who contend with you, €@@@and I will save your children. @@I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, €@@@and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine. €@@Then all flesh shall know €@@@that I am the LORD your Savior, €@@@and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."  @Thus says the LORD: €@@"Where is your mother's bill of divorce, €@@@with which I put her away? €@@Or which of my creditors is it €@@@to whom I have sold you? €@@Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, €@@@and for your transgressions your mother was put away. @@Why, when I came, was there no man? €@@@When I called, was there no one to answer? €@@Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? €@@@Or have I no power to deliver? €@@Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea, €@@@I make the rivers a desert; €@@their fish stink for lack of water, €@@@and die of thirst. @@I clothe the heavens with blackness, €@@@and make sackcloth their covering." @@The Lord GOD has given me €@@@the tongue of those who are taught, €@@that I may know how to sustain with a word €@@@him that is weary. €@@Morning by morning he wakens, €@@@he wakens my ear €@@@to hear as those who are taught. @@The Lord GOD has opened my ear, €@@@and I was not rebellious, €@@@I turned not backward. @@I gave my back to the smiters, €@@@and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; €@@I hid not my face €@@@from shame and spitting. @@For the Lord GOD helps me; €@@@therefore I have not been confounded; €@@therefore I have set my face like a flint, €@@@and I know that I shall not be put to shame; @@@he who vindicates me is near. €@@Who will contend with me? €@@@Let us stand up together. €@@Who is my adversary? €@@@Let him come near to me. @@Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; €@@@who will declare me guilty? €@@Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; €@@@the moth will eat them up. @@Who among you fears the LORD €@@@and obeys the voice of his servant, €@@who walks in darkness €@@@and has no light, €@@yet trusts in the name of the LORD €@@@and relies upon his God? @@Behold, all you who kindle a fire, €@@@who set brands alight! €@@Walk by the light of your fire, €@@@and by the brands which you have kindled! €@@This shall you have from my hand: €@@@you shall lie down in torment.  @"Hearken to me, you who pursue deliverance, €@@@you who seek the LORD; €@@look to the rock from which you were hewn, €@@@and to the quarry from which you were digged. @@Look to Abraham your father €@@@and to Sarah who bore you; €@@for when he was but one I called him, €@@@and I blessed him and made him many. @@For the LORD will comfort Zion; €@@@he will comfort all her waste places, €@@and will make her wilderness like Eden, €@@@her desert like the garden of the LORD; €@@joy and gladness will be found in her, €@@@thanksgiving and the voice of song. @@"Listen to me, my people, €@@@and give ear to me, my nation; €@@for a law will go forth from me, €@@@and my justice for a light to the peoples. @@My deliverance draws near speedily, €@@@my salvation has gone forth, €@@@and my arms will rule the peoples; €@@the coastlands wait for me, €@@@and for my arm they hope. @@Lift up your eyes to the heavens, €@@@and look at the earth beneath; €@@for the heavens will vanish like smoke, €@@@the earth will wear out like a garment, €@@@and they who dwell in it will die like gnats; €@@but my salvation will be for ever, €@@@and my deliverance will never be ended. @@"Hearken to me, you who know righteousness, €@@@the people in whose heart is my law; €@@fear not the reproach of men, €@@@and be not dismayed at their revilings. @@For the moth will eat them up like a garment, €@@@and the worm will eat them like wool; €@@but my deliverance will be for ever, €@@@and my salvation to all generations." @@Awake, awake, put on strength, €@@@O arm of the LORD; €@@awake, as in days of old, €@@@the generations of long ago. €@@Was it not thou that didst cut Rahab in pieces, €@@@that didst pierce the dragon? @@Was it not thou that didst dry up the sea, €@@@the waters of the great deep; €@@that didst make the depths of the sea a way €@@@for the redeemed to pass over? @@And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, €@@@and come to Zion with singing; €@@everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; €@@@they shall obtain joy and gladness, €@@@and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. @@"I, I am he that comforts you; €@@@who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, €@@@of the son of man who is made like grass, @@and have forgotten the LORD, your Maker, €@@@who stretched out the heavens €@@@and laid the foundations of the earth, €@@and fear continually all the day €@@@because of the fury of the oppressor, €@@when he sets himself to destroy? €@@@And where is the fury of the oppressor? @@He who is bowed down shall speedily be released; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’س˜Ž‚@@@he shall not die and go down to the Pit, €@@@neither shall his bread fail. @@For I am the LORD your God, €@@@who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar --€@@@the LORD of hosts is his name. @@And I have put my words in your mouth, €@@@and hid you in the shadow of my hand, €@@stretching out the heavens €@@@and laying the foundations of the earth, €@@@and saying to Zion, `You are my people.'" @@Rouse yourself, rouse yourself, €@@@stand up, O Jerusalem, €@@you who have drunk at the hand of the LORD €@@@the cup of his wrath, €@@who have drunk to the dregs €@@@the bowl of staggering. @@There is none to guide her €@@@among all the sons she has borne; €@@there is none to take her by the hand €@@@among all the sons she has brought up. @@These two things have befallen you --€@@@who will condole with you? --€@@devastation and destruction, famine and sword; €@@@who will comfort you? @@Your sons have fainted, €@@@they lie at the head of every street €@@@like an antelope in a net; €@@they are full of the wrath of the LORD, €@@@the rebuke of your God. @@Therefore hear this, you who are afflicted, €@@@who are drunk, but not with wine: @@Thus says your Lord, the LORD, €@@@your God who pleads the cause of his people: €@@"Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering; €@@the bowl of my wrath €@@@you shall drink no more; @@and I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, €@@@who have said to you, €@@@`Bow down, that we may pass over'; €@@and you have made your back like the ground €@@@and like the street for them to pass over."  @Awake, awake, €@@@put on your strength, O Zion; €@@put on your beautiful garments, €@@@O Jerusalem, the holy city; €@@for there shall no more come into you €@@@the uncircumcised and the unclean. @@Shake yourself from the dust, arise, €@@@O captive Jerusalem; €@@loose the bonds from your neck, €@@@O captive daughter of Zion. @For thus says the LORD: "You were sold for nothing, and you shall be €redeemed without money. For thus says the Lord GOD: My people went down at the first into Egypt €to sojourn there, and the Assyrian oppressed them for nothing. Now therefore what have I here, says the LORD, seeing that my people €are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail, says the LORD, and €continually all the day my name is despised. Therefore my people shall know my name; therefore in that day they €shall know that it is I who speak; here am I." @@How beautiful upon the mountains €@@@are the feet of him who brings good tidings, €@@who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, €@@@who publishes salvation, €@@@who says to Zion, "Your God reigns." @@Hark, your watchmen lift up their voice, €@@@together they sing for joy; €@@for eye to eye they see €@@@the return of the LORD to Zion. @@Break forth together into singing, €@@@you waste places of Jerusalem; €@@for the LORD has comforted his people, €@@@he has redeemed Jerusalem. @@The LORD has bared his holy arm €@@@before the eyes of all the nations; €@@and all the ends of the earth shall see €@@@the salvation of our God. @@Depart, depart, go out thence, €@@@touch no unclean thing; €@@go out from the midst of her, purify yourselves, €@@@you who bear the vessels of the LORD. @@For you shall not go out in haste, €@@@and you shall not go in flight, €@@for the LORD will go before you, €@@@and the God of Israel will be your rear guard. @@Behold, my servant shall prosper, €@@@he shall be exalted and lifted up, €@@@and shall be very high. @@As many were astonished at him --€@@@his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, €@@@and his form beyond that of the sons of men --@@so shall he startle many nations; €@@@kings shall shut their mouths because of him; €@@for that which has not been told them they shall see, €@@@and that which they have not heard they shall understand.  @Who has believed what we have heard? €@@@And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? @@For he grew up before him like a young plant, €@@@and like a root out of dry ground; €@@he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, €@@@and no beauty that we should desire him. @@He was despised and rejected by men; €@@@a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; €@@and as one from whom men hide their faces €@@@he was despised, and we esteemed him not. @@Surely he has borne our griefs €@@@and carried our sorrows; €@@yet we esteemed him stricken, €@@@smitten by God, and afflicted. @@But he was wounded for our transgressions, €@@@he was bruised for our iniquities; €@@upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, €@@@and with his stripes we are healed. @@All we like sheep have gone astray; €@@@we have turned every one to his own way; €@@and the LORD has laid on him €@@@the iniquity of us all. @@He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, €@@@yet he opened not his mouth; €@@like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, €@@@and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, €@@@so he opened not his mouth. @@By oppression and judgment he was taken away; €@@@and as for his generation, who considered €@@that he was cut off out of the land of the living, €@@@stricken for the transgression of my people? @@And they made his grave with the wicked €@@@and with a rich man in his death, €@@although he had done no violence, €@@@and there was no deceit in his mouth. @@Yet it was the will of the LORD to bruise him; €@@@he has put him to grief; €@@when he makes himself an offering for sin, €@@@he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; €@@the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand; @@@he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; €@@by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, €@@@make many to be accounted righteous; €@@@and he shall bear their iniquities. @@Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, €@@@and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; €@@because he poured out his soul to death, €@@@and was numbered with the transgressors; €@@yet he bore the sin of many, €@@@and made intercession for the transgressors.  @"Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; €@@@break forth into singing and cry aloud, €@@@you who have not been in travail! €@@For the children of the desolate one will be more €@@@than the children of her that is married, says the LORD. @@Enlarge the place of your tent, €@@@and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; €@@hold not back, lengthen your cords €@@@and strengthen your stakes. @@For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, €@@@and your descendants will possess the nations €@@@and will people the desolate cities. @@"Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; €@@@be not confounded, for you will not be put to shame; €@@for you will forget the shame of your youth, €@@@and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. @@For your Maker is your husband, €@@@the LORD of hosts is his name; €@@and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, €@@@the God of the whole earth he is called. @@For the LORD has called you €@@@like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, €@@like a wife of youth when she is cast off, €@@@says your God. @@For a brief moment I forsook you, €@@@but with great compassion I will gather you. @@In overflowing wrath for a moment €@@@I hid my face from you, €@@but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, €@@@says the LORD, your Redeemer. @@"For this is like the days of Noah to me: €@@@as I swore that the waters of Noah €@@@should no more go over the earth, €@@so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you €@@@and will not rebuke you. @@For the mountains may depart €@@@and the hills be removed, €@@but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, €@@@and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, €@@@says the LORD, who has compassion on you. @@"O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, €@@@behold, I will set your stones in antimony, €@@@and lay your foundations with sapphires. @@I will make your pinnacles of agate, €@@@your gates of carbuncles, €@@@and all your wall of precious stones. @@All your sons shall be taught by the LORD, €@@@and great shall be the prosperity of your sons. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’ض˜Ž@@In righteousness you shall be established; €@@@you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; €@@@and from terror, for it shall not come near you. @@If any one stirs up strife, €@@@it is not from me; €@@whoever stirs up strife with you €@@@shall fall because of you. @@Behold, I have created the smith €@@@who blows the fire of coals, €@@@and produces a weapon for its purpose. €@@I have also created the ravager to destroy; @@@no weapon that is fashioned against you shall prosper, €@@@and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in €@@@@judgment. €@@This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD €@@@and their vindication from me, says the LORD."  @"Ho, every one who thirsts, €@@@come to the waters; €@@and he who has no money, €@@@come, buy and eat! €@@Come, buy wine and milk €@@@without money and without price. @@Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, €@@@and your labor for that which does not satisfy? €@@Hearken diligently to me, and eat what is good, €@@@and delight yourselves in fatness. @@Incline your ear, and come to me; €@@@hear, that your soul may live; €@@and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, €@@@my steadfast, sure love for David. @@Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, €@@@a leader and commander for the peoples. @@Behold, you shall call nations that you know not, €@@@and nations that knew you not shall run to you, €@@because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, €@@@for he has glorified you. @@"Seek the LORD while he may be found, €@@@call upon him while he is near; @@let the wicked forsake his way, €@@@and the unrighteous man his thoughts; €@@let him return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on him, €@@@and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. @@For my thoughts are not your thoughts, €@@@neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. @@For as the heavens are higher than the earth, €@@@so are my ways higher than your ways €@@@and my thoughts than your thoughts. @@"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, €@@@and return not thither but water the earth, €@@making it bring forth and sprout, €@@@giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, @@so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; €@@@it shall not return to me empty, €@@but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, €@@@and prosper in the thing for which I sent it. @@"For you shall go out in joy, €@@@and be led forth in peace; €@@the mountains and the hills before you €@@@shall break forth into singing, €@@@and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. @@Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; €@@@instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; €@@and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, €@@@for an everlasting sign which shall not be cut off."  @Thus says the LORD: €@@@"Keep justice, and do righteousness, €@@for soon my salvation will come, €@@@and my deliverance be revealed. @@Blessed is the man who does this, €@@@and the son of man who holds it fast, €@@who keeps the sabbath, not profaning it, €@@@and keeps his hand from doing any evil." @@Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, €@@@"The LORD will surely separate me from his people"; €@@and let not the eunuch say, €@@@"Behold, I am a dry tree." @@For thus says the LORD: €@@"To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, €@@@who choose the things that please me €@@@and hold fast my covenant, @@I will give in my house and within my walls €@@@a monument and a name €@@@better than sons and daughters; €@@I will give them an everlasting name €@@@which shall not be cut off. @@"And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, €@@@to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, €@@@and to be his servants, €@@every one who keeps the sabbath, and does not profane it, €@@@and holds fast my covenant --@@these I will bring to my holy mountain, €@@@and make them joyful in my house of prayer; €@@their burnt offerings and their sacrifices €@@@will be accepted on my altar; €@@for my house shall be called a house of prayer €@@@for all peoples. @@Thus says the Lord GOD, €@@@who gathers the outcasts of Israel, €@@I will gather yet others to him €@@@besides those already gathered." @@All you beasts of the field, come to devour --€@@@all you beasts in the forest. @@His watchmen are blind, €@@@they are all without knowledge; €@@they are all dumb dogs, €@@@they cannot bark; €@@dreaming, lying down, €@@@loving to slumber. @@The dogs have a mighty appetite; €@@@they never have enough. €@@The shepherds also have no understanding; €@@@they have all turned to their own way, €@@@each to his own gain, one and all. @@"Come," they say, "let us get wine, €@@@let us fill ourselves with strong drink; €@@and tomorrow will be like this day, €@@@great beyond measure."  @The righteous man perishes, €@@@and no one lays it to heart; €@@devout men are taken away, €@@@while no one understands. €@@For the righteous man is taken away from calamity, @@@he enters into peace; €@@they rest in their beds €@@@who walk in their uprightness. @@But you, draw near hither, €@@@sons of the sorceress, €@@@offspring of the adulterer and the harlot. @@Of whom are you making sport? €@@@Against whom do you open your mouth wide €@@@and put out your tongue? €@@Are you not children of transgression, €@@@the offspring of deceit, @@you who burn with lust among the oaks, €@@@under every green tree; €@@who slay your children in the valleys, €@@@under the clefts of the rocks? @@Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; €@@@they, they, are your lot; €@@to them you have poured out a drink offering, €@@@you have brought a cereal offering. €@@@Shall I be appeased for these things? @@Upon a high and lofty mountain €@@@you have set your bed, €@@@and thither you went up to offer sacrifice. @@Behind the door and the doorpost €@@@you have set up your symbol; €@@for, deserting me, you have uncovered your bed, €@@@you have gone up to it, €@@@you have made it wide; €@@and you have made a bargain for yourself with them, €@@@you have loved their bed, €@@@you have looked on nakedness. @@You journeyed to Molech with oil €@@@and multiplied your perfumes; €@@you sent your envoys far off, €@@@and sent down even to Sheol. @@You were wearied with the length of your way, €@@@but you did not say, "It is hopeless"; €@@you found new life for your strength, €@@@and so you were not faint. @@Whom did you dread and fear, €@@@so that you lied, €@@and did not remember me, €@@@did not give me a thought? €@@Have I not held my peace, even for a long time, €@@@and so you do not fear me? @@I will tell of your righteousness and your doings, €@@@but they will not help you. @@When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! €@@@The wind will carry them off, €@@@a breath will take them away. €@@But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land, €@@@and shall inherit my holy mountain. @@And it shall be said, €@@"Build up, build up, prepare the way, €@@@remove every obstruction from my people's way." @@For thus says the high and lofty One €@@@who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: €@@"I dwell in the high and holy place, €@@@and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, €@@to revive the spirit of the humble, €@@@and to revive the heart of the contrite. @@For I will not contend for ever, €@@@nor will I always be angry; €@@for from me proceeds the spirit, €@@@and I have made the breath of life. @@Because of the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry, €@@@I smote him, I hid my face and was angry; €@@@but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. @@I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; €@@@I will lead him and requite him with comfort, €@@@creating for his mourners the fruit of the lips. @@Peace, peace, to the far and to the near, says the LORD; €@@@and I will heal him. @@But the wicked are like the tossing sea; €@@@for it cannot rest, €@@@and its waters toss up mire and dirt. @@There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked."  @"Cry aloud, spare not, €@@@lift up your voice like a trumpet; €@@declare to my people their transgression, €@@@to the house of Jacob their sins. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’Øŗ’@@Yet they seek me daily, €@@@and delight to know my ways, €@@as if they were a nation that did righteousness €@@@and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; €@@they ask of me righteous judgments, €@@@they delight to draw near to God. @@`Why have we fasted, and thou seest it not? €@@@Why have we humbled ourselves, and thou takest no knowledge of it?' €@@Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, €@@@and oppress all your workers. @@Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight €@@@and to hit with wicked fist. €@@Fasting like yours this day €@@@will not make your voice to be heard on high. @@Is such the fast that I choose, €@@@a day for a man to humble himself? €@@Is it to bow down his head like a rush, €@@@and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? €@@Will you call this a fast, €@@@and a day acceptable to the LORD? @@"Is not this the fast that I choose: €@@@to loose the bonds of wickedness, €@@@to undo the thongs of the yoke, €@@to let the oppressed go free, €@@@and to break every yoke? @@Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, €@@@and bring the homeless poor into your house; €@@when you see the naked, to cover him, €@@@and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? @@Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, €@@@and your healing shall spring up speedily; €@@your righteousness shall go before you, €@@@the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. @@Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; €@@@you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. €@@"If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, €@@@the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, @@if you pour yourself out for the hungry €@@@and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, €@@then shall your light rise in the darkness €@@@and your gloom be as the noonday. @@And the LORD will guide you continually, €@@@and satisfy your desire with good things, €@@@and make your bones strong; €@@and you shall be like a watered garden, €@@@like a spring of water, €@@@whose waters fail not. @@And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; €@@@you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; €@@you shall be called the repairer of the breach, €@@@the restorer of streets to dwell in. @@"If you turn back your foot from the sabbath, €@@@from doing your pleasure on my holy day, €@@and call the sabbath a delight €@@@and the holy day of the LORD honorable; €@@if you honor it, not going your own ways, €@@@or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; @@then you shall take delight in the LORD, €@@@and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; €@@I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, €@@@for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."  @Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, €@@@or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; @@but your iniquities have made a separation €@@@between you and your God, €@@and your sins have hid his face from you €@@@so that he does not hear. @@For your hands are defiled with blood €@@@and your fingers with iniquity; €@@your lips have spoken lies, €@@@your tongue mutters wickedness. @@No one enters suit justly, €@@@no one goes to law honestly; €@@they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, €@@@they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity. @@They hatch adders' eggs, €@@@they weave the spider's web; €@@he who eats their eggs dies, €@@@and from one which is crushed a viper is hatched. @@Their webs will not serve as clothing; €@@@men will not cover themselves with what they make. €@@Their works are works of iniquity, €@@@and deeds of violence are in their hands. @@Their feet run to evil, €@@@and they make haste to shed innocent blood; €@@their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, €@@@desolation and destruction are in their highways. @@The way of peace they know not, €@@@and there is no justice in their paths; €@@they have made their roads crooked, €@@@no one who goes in them knows peace. @@Therefore justice is far from us, €@@@and righteousness does not overtake us; €@@we look for light, and behold, darkness, €@@@and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. @@We grope for the wall like the blind, €@@@we grope like those who have no eyes; €@@we stumble at noon as in the twilight, €@@@among those in full vigor we are like dead men. @@We all growl like bears, €@@@we moan and moan like doves; €@@we look for justice, but there is none; €@@@for salvation, but it is far from us. @@For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, €@@@and our sins testify against us; €@@for our transgressions are with us, €@@@and we know our iniquities: @@transgressing, and denying the LORD, €@@@and turning away from following our God, €@@speaking oppression and revolt, €@@@conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words. @@Justice is turned back, €@@@and righteousness stands afar off; €@@for truth has fallen in the public squares, €@@@and uprightness cannot enter. @@Truth is lacking, €@@@and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. €@@The LORD saw it, and it displeased him €@@@that there was no justice. @@He saw that there was no man, €@@@and wondered that there was no one to intervene; €@@then his own arm brought him victory, €@@@and his righteousness upheld him. @@He put on righteousness as a breastplate, €@@@and a helmet of salvation upon his head; €@@he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, €@@@and wrapped himself in fury as a mantle. @@According to their deeds, so will he repay, €@@@wrath to his adversaries, requital to his enemies; €@@@to the coastlands he will render requital. @@So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, €@@@and his glory from the rising of the sun; €@@for he will come like a rushing stream, €@@@which the wind of the LORD drives. @@"And he will come to Zion as Redeemer, €@@@to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, says the LORD. "And as for me, this is my covenant with them, says the LORD: my spirit €which is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall €not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your children, or €out of the mouth of your children's children, says the LORD, from this €time forth and for evermore."  @Arise, shine; for your light has come, €@@@and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. @@For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, €@@@and thick darkness the peoples; €@@but the LORD will arise upon you, €@@@and his glory will be seen upon you. @@And nations shall come to your light, €@@@and kings to the brightness of your rising. @@Lift up your eyes round about, and see; €@@@they all gather together, they come to you; €@@your sons shall come from far, €@@@and your daughters shall be carried in the arms. @@Then you shall see and be radiant, €@@@your heart shall thrill and rejoice; €@@because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, €@@@the wealth of the nations shall come to you. @@A multitude of camels shall cover you, €@@@the young camels of Mid'ian and Ephah; €@@@all those from Sheba shall come. €@@They shall bring gold and frankincense, €@@@and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD. @@All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you, €@@@the rams of Nebai'oth shall minister to you; €@@they shall come up with acceptance on my altar, €@@@and I will glorify my glorious house. @@Who are these that fly like a cloud, €@@@and like doves to their windows? @@For the coastlands shall wait for me, €@@@the ships of Tarshish first, €@@to bring your sons from far, €@@@their silver and gold with them, €@@for the name of the LORD your God, €@@@and for the Holy One of Israel, €@@@because he has glorified you. @@Foreigners shall build up your walls, €@@@and their kings shall minister to you; €@@for in my wrath I smote you, €@@@but in my favor I have had mercy on you. @@Your gates shall be open continually; €@@@day and night they shall not be shut; €@@that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, €@@@with their kings led in procession. @@For the nation and kingdom €@@@that will not serve you shall perish; €@@@those nations shall be utterly laid waste. @@The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, €@@@the cypress, the plane, and the pine, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’ؼ˜ƒ@@to beautify the place of my sanctuary; €@@@and I will make the place of my feet glorious. @@The sons of those who oppressed you €@@@shall come bending low to you; €@@and all who despised you €@@@shall bow down at your feet; €@@they shall call you the City of the LORD, €@@@the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. @@Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, €@@@with no one passing through, €@@I will make you majestic for ever, €@@@a joy from age to age. @@You shall suck the milk of nations, €@@@you shall suck the breast of kings; €@@and you shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior €@@@and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. @@Instead of bronze I will bring gold, €@@@and instead of iron I will bring silver; €@@instead of wood, bronze, €@@@instead of stones, iron. €@@I will make your overseers peace €@@@and your taskmasters righteousness. @@Violence shall no more be heard in your land, €@@@devastation or destruction within your borders; €@@you shall call your walls Salvation, €@@@and your gates Praise. @@The sun shall be no more €@@@your light by day, €@@nor for brightness shall the moon €@@@give light to you by night; €@@but the LORD will be your everlasting light, €@@@and your God will be your glory. @@Your sun shall no more go down, €@@@nor your moon withdraw itself; €@@for the LORD will be your everlasting light, €@@@and your days of mourning shall be ended. @@Your people shall all be righteous; €@@@they shall possess the land for ever, €@@the shoot of my planting, the work of my hands, €@@@that I might be glorified. @@The least one shall become a clan, €@@@and the smallest one a mighty nation; €@@I am the LORD; €@@@in its time I will hasten it.  @The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, €@@@because the LORD has anointed me €@@to bring good tidings to the afflicted; €@@@he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, €@@to proclaim liberty to the captives, €@@@and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; @@to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, €@@@and the day of vengeance of our God; €@@@to comfort all who mourn; @@to grant to those who mourn in Zion --€@@@to give them a garland instead of ashes, €@@the oil of gladness instead of mourning, €@@@the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit; €@@that they may be called oaks of righteousness, €@@@the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. @@They shall build up the ancient ruins, €@@@they shall raise up the former devastations; €@@they shall repair the ruined cities, €@@@the devastations of many generations. @@Aliens shall stand and feed your flocks, €@@@foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; @@but you shall be called the priests of the LORD, €@@@men shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; €@@you shall eat the wealth of the nations, €@@@and in their riches you shall glory. @@Instead of your shame you shall have a double portion, €@@@instead of dishonor you shall rejoice in your lot; €@@therefore in your land you shall possess a double portion; €@@@yours shall be everlasting joy. @@For I the LORD love justice, €@@@I hate robbery and wrong; €@@I will faithfully give them their recompense, €@@@and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. @@Their descendants shall be known among the nations, €@@@and their offspring in the midst of the peoples; €@@all who see them shall acknowledge them, €@@@that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed. @@I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, €@@@my soul shall exult in my God; €@@for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, €@@@he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, €@@as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, €@@@and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. @@For as the earth brings forth its shoots, €@@@and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, €@@so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise €@@@to spring forth before all the nations.  @For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, €@@@and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, €@@until her vindication goes forth as brightness, €@@@and her salvation as a burning torch. @@The nations shall see your vindication, €@@@and all the kings your glory; €@@and you shall be called by a new name €@@@which the mouth of the LORD will give. @@You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, €@@@and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. @@You shall no more be termed Forsaken, €@@@and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; €@@but you shall be called My delight is in her, €@@@and your land Married; €@@for the LORD delights in you, €@@@and your land shall be married. @@For as a young man marries a virgin, €@@@so shall your sons marry you, €@@and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, €@@@so shall your God rejoice over you. @@Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, €@@@I have set watchmen; €@@all the day and all the night €@@@they shall never be silent. €@@You who put the LORD in remembrance, €@@@take no rest, @@and give him no rest €@@@until he establishes Jerusalem €@@@and makes it a praise in the earth. @@The LORD has sworn by his right hand €@@@and by his mighty arm: €@@"I will not again give your grain €@@@to be food for your enemies, €@@and foreigners shall not drink your wine €@@@for which you have labored; @@but those who garner it shall eat it €@@@and praise the LORD, €@@and those who gather it shall drink it €@@@in the courts of my sanctuary." @@Go through, go through the gates, €@@@prepare the way for the people; €@@build up, build up the highway, €@@@clear it of stones, €@@@lift up an ensign over the peoples. @@Behold, the LORD has proclaimed €@@@to the end of the earth: €@@Say to the daughter of Zion, €@@@"Behold, your salvation comes; €@@behold, his reward is with him, €@@@and his recompense before him." @@And they shall be called The holy people, €@@@The redeemed of the LORD; €@@and you shall be called Sought out, €@@@a city not forsaken.  @Who is this that comes from Edom, €@@@in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, €@@he that is glorious in his apparel, €@@@marching in the greatness of his strength? €@@"It is I, announcing vindication, €@@@mighty to save." @@Why is thy apparel red, €@@@and thy garments like his that treads in the wine press? @@"I have trodden the wine press alone, €@@@and from the peoples no one was with me; €@@I trod them in my anger €@@@and trampled them in my wrath; €@@their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, €@@@and I have stained all my raiment. @@For the day of vengeance was in my heart, €@@@and my year of redemption has come. @@I looked, but there was no one to help; €@@@I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold; €@@so my own arm brought me victory, €@@@and my wrath upheld me. @@I trod down the peoples in my anger, €@@@I made them drunk in my wrath, €@@@and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth." @@I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, €@@@the praises of the LORD, €@@according to all that the LORD has granted us, €@@@and the great goodness to the house of Israel €@@which he has granted them according to his mercy, €@@@according to the abundance of his steadfast love. @@For he said, Surely they are my people, €@@@sons who will not deal falsely; €@@@and he became their Savior. @@In all their affliction he was afflicted, €@@@and the angel of his presence saved them; €@@in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; €@@@he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. @@But they rebelled €@@@and grieved his holy Spirit; €@@therefore he turned to be their enemy, €@@@and himself fought against them. @@Then he remembered the days of old, €@@@of Moses his servant. €@@Where is he who brought up out of the sea €@@@the shepherds of his flock? €@@Where is he who put in the midst of them €@@@his holy Spirit, @@who caused his glorious arm €@@@to go at the right hand of Moses, €@@who divided the waters before them €@@@to make for himself an everlasting name, @@@who led them through the depths? €@@Like a horse in the desert, €@@@they did not stumble. @@Like cattle that go down into the valley, €@@@the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. €@@So thou didst lead thy people, €@@@to make for thyself a glorious name. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’Ø昏@@Look down from heaven and see, €@@@from thy holy and glorious habitation. €@@Where are thy zeal and thy might? €@@@The yearning of thy heart and thy compassion €@@@are withheld from me. @@For thou art our Father, €@@@though Abraham does not know us €@@@and Israel does not acknowledge us; €@@thou, O LORD, art our Father, €@@@our Redeemer from of old is thy name. @@O LORD, why dost thou make us err from thy ways €@@@and harden our heart, so that we fear thee not? €@@Return for the sake of thy servants, €@@@the tribes of thy heritage. @@Thy holy people possessed thy sanctuary a little while; €@@@our adversaries have trodden it down. @@We have become like those over whom thou hast never ruled, €@@@like those who are not called by thy name.  @O that thou wouldst rend the heavens and come down, €@@@that the mountains might quake at thy presence --@@as when fire kindles brushwood €@@@and the fire causes water to boil --€@@to make thy name known to thy adversaries, €@@@and that the nations might tremble at thy presence! @@When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, €@@@thou camest down, the mountains quaked at thy presence. @@From of old no one has heard €@@@or perceived by the ear, €@@no eye has seen a God besides thee, €@@@who works for those who wait for him. @@Thou meetest him that joyfully works righteousness, €@@@those that remember thee in thy ways. €@@Behold, thou wast angry, and we sinned; €@@@in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? @@We have all become like one who is unclean, €@@@and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. €@@We all fade like a leaf, €@@@and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. @@There is no one that calls upon thy name, €@@@that bestirs himself to take hold of thee; €@@for thou hast hid thy face from us, €@@@and hast delivered us into the hand of our iniquities. @@Yet, O LORD, thou art our Father; €@@@we are the clay, and thou art our potter; €@@@we are all the work of thy hand. @@Be not exceedingly angry, O LORD, €@@@and remember not iniquity for ever. €@@@Behold, consider, we are all thy people. @@Thy holy cities have become a wilderness, €@@@Zion has become a wilderness, €@@@Jerusalem a desolation. @@Our holy and beautiful house, €@@@where our fathers praised thee, €@@has been burned by fire, €@@@and all our pleasant places have become ruins. @@Wilt thou restrain thyself at these things, O LORD? €@@@Wilt thou keep silent, and afflict us sorely?  @I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; €@@@I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. €@@I said, "Here am I, here am I," €@@@to a nation that did not call on my name. @@I spread out my hands all the day €@@@to a rebellious people, €@@who walk in a way that is not good, €@@@following their own devices; @@a people who provoke me €@@@to my face continually, €@@sacrificing in gardens €@@@and burning incense upon bricks; @@who sit in tombs, €@@@and spend the night in secret places; €@@who eat swine's flesh, €@@@and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; @@who say, "Keep to yourself, €@@@do not come near me, for I am set apart from you." €@@These are a smoke in my nostrils, €@@@a fire that burns all the day. @@Behold, it is written before me: €@@@"I will not keep silent, but I will repay, €@@yea, I will repay into their bosom @@@their iniquities and their fathers' iniquities together, says the €@@@@LORD; €@@because they burned incense upon the mountains €@@@and reviled me upon the hills, €@@I will measure into their bosom €@@@payment for their former doings." @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"As the wine is found in the cluster, €@@@and they say, `Do not destroy it, €@@@for there is a blessing in it,' €@@so I will do for my servants' sake, €@@@and not destroy them all. @@I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, €@@@and from Judah inheritors of my mountains; €@@my chosen shall inherit it, €@@@and my servants shall dwell there. @@Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, €@@@and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, €@@@for my people who have sought me. @@But you who forsake the LORD, €@@@who forget my holy mountain, €@@who set a table for Fortune €@@@and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny; @@I will destine you to the sword, €@@@and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter; €@@because, when I called, you did not answer, €@@@when I spoke, you did not listen, €@@but you did what was evil in my eyes, €@@@and chose what I did not delight in." @@Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: €@@"Behold, my servants shall eat, €@@@but you shall be hungry; €@@behold, my servants shall drink, €@@@but you shall be thirsty; €@@behold, my servants shall rejoice, €@@@but you shall be put to shame; @@behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, €@@@but you shall cry out for pain of heart, €@@@and shall wail for anguish of spirit. @@You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse, €@@@and the Lord GOD will slay you; €@@@but his servants he will call by a different name. @@So that he who blesses himself in the land €@@@shall bless himself by the God of truth, €@@and he who takes an oath in the land €@@@shall swear by the God of truth; €@@because the former troubles are forgotten €@@@and are hid from my eyes. @@"For behold, I create new heavens €@@@and a new earth; €@@and the former things shall not be remembered €@@@or come into mind. @@But be glad and rejoice for ever €@@@in that which I create; €@@for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, €@@@and her people a joy. @@I will rejoice in Jerusalem, €@@@and be glad in my people; €@@no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping €@@@and the cry of distress. @@No more shall there be in it €@@@an infant that lives but a few days, €@@@or an old man who does not fill out his days, €@@for the child shall die a hundred years old, €@@@and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. @@They shall build houses and inhabit them; €@@@they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. @@They shall not build and another inhabit; €@@@they shall not plant and another eat; €@@for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, €@@@and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. @@They shall not labor in vain, €@@@or bear children for calamity; €@@for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, €@@@and their children with them. @@Before they call I will answer, €@@@while they are yet speaking I will hear. @@The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, €@@@the lion shall eat straw like the ox; €@@@and dust shall be the serpent's food. €@@They shall not hurt or destroy €@@@in all my holy mountain, says the LORD."  @Thus says the LORD: €@@"Heaven is my throne €@@@and the earth is my footstool; €@@what is the house which you would build for me, €@@@and what is the place of my rest? @@All these things my hand has made, €@@@and so all these things are mine, says the LORD. €@@But this is the man to whom I will look, €@@@he that is humble and contrite in spirit, €@@@and trembles at my word. @@"He who slaughters an ox is like him who kills a man; €@@@he who sacrifices a lamb, like him who breaks a dog's neck; €@@he who presents a cereal offering, like him who offers swine's €@@@@blood; €@@@he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like him who €@@@@blesses an idol. €@@These have chosen their own ways, €@@@and their soul delights in their abominations; @@I also will choose affliction for them, €@@@and bring their fears upon them; €@@because, when I called, no one answered, €@@@when I spoke they did not listen; €@@but they did what was evil in my eyes, €@@@and chose that in which I did not delight." @@Hear the word of the LORD, €@@@you who tremble at his word: €@@"Your brethren who hate you €@@@and cast you out for my name's sake €@@have said, `Let the LORD be glorified, €@@@that we may see your joy'; €@@@but it is they who shall be put to shame. @@"Hark, an uproar from the city! €@@@A voice from the temple! €@@The voice of the LORD, €@@@rendering recompense to his enemies! @@"Before she was in labor €@@@she gave birth; €@@before her pain came upon her žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²³’ļ‚Éóį’ØĀ—„@@@she was delivered of a son. @@Who has heard such a thing? €@@@Who has seen such things? €@@Shall a land be born in one day? €@@@Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? €@@For as soon as Zion was in labor €@@@she brought forth her sons. @@Shall I bring to the birth and not cause to bring forth? €@@@says the LORD; €@@shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb? €@@@says your God. @@"Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, €@@@all you who love her; €@@rejoice with her in joy, €@@@all you who mourn over her; @@that you may suck and be satisfied €@@@with her consoling breasts; €@@that you may drink deeply with delight €@@@from the abundance of her glory." @@For thus says the LORD: €@@"Behold, I will extend prosperity to her like a river, €@@@and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream; €@@and you shall suck, you shall be carried upon her hip, €@@@and dandled upon her knees. @@As one whom his mother comforts, €@@@so I will comfort you; €@@@you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. @@You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; €@@@your bones shall flourish like the grass; €@@and it shall be known that the hand of the LORD is with his €@@@@servants, €@@@and his indignation is against his enemies. @@"For behold, the LORD will come in fire, €@@@and his chariots like the stormwind, €@@to render his anger in fury, €@@@and his rebuke with flames of fire. @@For by fire will the LORD execute judgment, €@@@and by his sword, upon all flesh; €@@@and those slain by the LORD shall be many. @"Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, €following one in the midst, eating swine's flesh and the abomination €and mice, shall come to an end together, says the LORD. @"For I know their works and their thoughts, and I am coming to gather €all nations and tongues; and they shall come and shall see my glory, and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors €to the nations, to Tarshish, Put, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal €and Javan, to the coastlands afar off, that have not heard my fame or €seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations. And they shall bring all your brethren from all the nations as an €offering to the LORD, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and €upon mules, and upon dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says €the LORD, just as the Israelites bring their cereal offering in a clean €vessel to the house of the LORD. And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the €LORD. @@"For as the new heavens and the new earth €@@@which I will make €@@shall remain before me, says the LORD; €@@@so shall your descendants and your name remain. @@From new moon to new moon, €@@@and from sabbath to sabbath, €@@all flesh shall come to worship before me, €@@says the LORD. @"And they shall go forth and look on the dead bodies of the men that €have rebelled against me; for their worm shall not die, their fire €shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh." ąļ‚Źåņ’”The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilki'ah, of the priests who were in €An'athoth in the land of Benjamin, to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josi'ah the son of €Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. It came also in the days of Jehoi'akim the son of Josi'ah, king of €Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedeki'ah, the son of €Josi'ah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth €month. @Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, @@"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, €@@and before you were born I consecrated you; €@@I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I €am only a youth." But the LORD said to me, €@@"Do not say, `I am only a youth'; €@@for to all to whom I send you you shall go, €@@and whatever I command you you shall speak. @@Be not afraid of them, €@@for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD." Then the LORD put forth his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD €said to me, €@@"Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. @@See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, €@@to pluck up and to break down, €@@to destroy and to overthrow, €@@to build and to plant." @And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you €see?" And I said, "I see a rod of almond." Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over €my word to perform it." @The word of the LORD came to me a second time, saying, "What do you €see?" And I said, "I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north." Then the LORD said to me, "Out of the north evil shall break forth upon €all the inhabitants of the land. For, lo, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, says €the LORD; and they shall come and every one shall set his throne at the €entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls round about, €and against all the cities of Judah. And I will utter my judgments against them, for all their wickedness in €forsaking me; they have burned incense to other gods, and worshiped the €works of their own hands. But you, gird up your loins; arise, and say to them everything that I €command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, €and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, €its princes, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, €for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you."  @The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, €@@I remember the devotion of your youth, €@@@your love as a bride, €@@how you followed me in the wilderness, €@@@in a land not sown. @@Israel was holy to the LORD, €@@@the first fruits of his harvest. €@@All who ate of it became guilty; €@@@evil came upon them, says the LORD." @Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of €the house of Israel. Thus says the LORD: €@@"What wrong did your fathers find in me €@@@that they went far from me, €@@and went after worthlessness, and became worthless? @@They did not say, `Where is the LORD €@@@who brought us up from the land of Egypt, €@@who led us in the wilderness, €@@@in a land of deserts and pits, €@@in a land of drought and deep darkness, €@@@in a land that none passes through, €@@@where no man dwells?' @@And I brought you into a plentiful land €@@@to enjoy its fruits and its good things. €@@But when you came in you defiled my land, €@@@and made my heritage an abomination. @@The priests did not say, `Where is the LORD?' €@@@Those who handle the law did not know me; €@@the rulers transgressed against me; €@@@the prophets prophesied by Ba'al, €@@@and went after things that do not profit. @@"Therefore I still contend with you, says the LORD, €@@@and with your children's children I will contend. @@For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see, €@@@or send to Kedar and examine with care; €@@@see if there has been such a thing. @@Has a nation changed its gods, €@@@even though they are no gods? €@@But my people have changed their glory €@@@for that which does not profit. @@Be appalled, O heavens, at this, €@@@be shocked, be utterly desolate, says the LORD, @@for my people have committed two evils: €@@@they have forsaken me, €@@the fountain of living waters, €@@@and hewed out cisterns for themselves, €@@broken cisterns, €@@@that can hold no water. @@"Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? €@@@Why then has he become a prey? @@The lions have roared against him, €@@@they have roared loudly. €@@They have made his land a waste; €@@@his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant. @@Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tah'panhes €@@@have broken the crown of your head. @@Have you not brought this upon yourself €@@@by forsaking the LORD your God, €@@@when he led you in the way? @@And now what do you gain by going to Egypt, €@@@to drink the waters of the Nile? žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’¢˜’ƒ@@Or what do you gain by going to Assyria, €@@@to drink the waters of the Euphra'tes? @@Your wickedness will chasten you, €@@@and your apostasy will reprove you. €@@Know and see that it is evil and bitter €@@@for you to forsake the LORD your God; €@@@the fear of me is not in you, says the Lord GOD of hosts. @@"For long ago you broke your yoke €@@@and burst your bonds; €@@@and you said, `I will not serve.' €@@Yea, upon every high hill €@@@and under every green tree €@@@you bowed down as a harlot. @@Yet I planted you a choice vine, €@@@wholly of pure seed. €@@How then have you turned degenerate €@@@and become a wild vine? @@Though you wash yourself with lye €@@@and use much soap, €@@@the stain of your guilt is still before me, says the Lord GOD. @@How can you say, `I am not defiled, €@@@I have not gone after the Ba'als'? €@@Look at your way in the valley; €@@@know what you have done --€@@a restive young camel interlacing her tracks, @@@a wild ass used to the wilderness, €@@in her heat sniffing the wind! €@@@Who can restrain her lust? €@@None who seek her need weary themselves; €@@@in her month they will find her. @@Keep your feet from going unshod €@@@and your throat from thirst. €@@But you said, `It is hopeless, €@@@for I have loved strangers, €@@@and after them I will go.' @@"As a thief is shamed when caught, €@@@so the house of Israel shall be shamed: €@@they, their kings, their princes, €@@@their priests, and their prophets, @@who say to a tree, `You are my father,' €@@@and to a stone, `You gave me birth.' €@@For they have turned their back to me, €@@@and not their face. €@@But in the time of their trouble they say, €@@@`Arise and save us!' @@But where are your gods €@@@that you made for yourself? €@@Let them arise, if they can save you, €@@@in your time of trouble; €@@for as many as your cities €@@@are your gods, O Judah. @@"Why do you complain against me? €@@@You have all rebelled against me, says the LORD. @@In vain have I smitten your children, €@@@they took no correction; €@@your own sword devoured your prophets €@@@like a ravening lion. @@And you, O generation, heed the word of the LORD. €@@Have I been a wilderness to Israel, €@@@or a land of thick darkness? €@@Why then do my people say, `We are free, €@@@we will come no more to thee'? @@Can a maiden forget her ornaments, €@@@or a bride her attire? €@@Yet my people have forgotten me €@@@days without number. @@"How well you direct your course €@@@to seek lovers! €@@So that even to wicked women €@@@you have taught your ways. @@Also on your skirts is found €@@@the lifeblood of guiltless poor; €@@you did not find them breaking in. €@@@Yet in spite of all these things @@you say, `I am innocent; €@@@surely his anger has turned from me.' €@@Behold, I will bring you to judgment €@@@for saying, `I have not sinned.' @@How lightly you gad about, €@@@changing your way! €@@You shall be put to shame by Egypt €@@@as you were put to shame by Assyria. @@From it too you will come away €@@@with your hands upon your head, €@@for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, €@@@and you will not prosper by them.  @"If a man divorces his wife €@@@and she goes from him €@@and becomes another man's wife, €@@@will he return to her? €@@Would not that land be greatly polluted? €@@You have played the harlot with many lovers; €@@@and would you return to me? says the LORD. @@Lift up your eyes to the bare heights, and see! €@@@Where have you not been lain with? €@@By the waysides you have sat awaiting lovers €@@@like an Arab in the wilderness. €@@You have polluted the land €@@@with your vile harlotry. @@Therefore the showers have been withheld, €@@@and the spring rain has not come; €@@yet you have a harlot's brow, €@@@you refuse to be ashamed. @@Have you not just now called to me, €@@@`My father, thou art the friend of my youth --@@will he be angry for ever, €@@@will he be indignant to the end?' €@@Behold, you have spoken, €@@@but you have done all the evil that you could." @The LORD said to me in the days of King Josi'ah: "Have you seen what €she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill €and under every green tree, and there played the harlot? And I thought, `After she has done all this she will return to me'; but €she did not return, and her false sister Judah saw it. She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I €had sent her away with a decree of divorce; yet her false sister Judah €did not fear, but she too went and played the harlot. Because harlotry was so light to her, she polluted the land, committing €adultery with stone and tree. Yet for all this her false sister Judah did not return to me with her €whole heart, but in pretense, says the LORD." @And the LORD said to me, "Faithless Israel has shown herself less €guilty than false Judah. Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, €@@`Return, faithless Israel, says the LORD. €@@I will not look on you in anger, €@@@for I am merciful, says the LORD; €@@I will not be angry for ever. @@Only acknowledge your guilt, €@@@that you rebelled against the LORD your God €@@and scattered your favors among strangers under every green tree, €@@@and that you have not obeyed my voice, says the LORD. @@Return, O faithless children, says the LORD; €@@@for I am your master; €@@I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, €@@@and I will bring you to Zion. @"`And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you €with knowledge and understanding. And when you have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, €says the LORD, they shall no more say, "The ark of the covenant of the €LORD." It shall not come to mind, or be remembered, or missed; it shall €not be made again. At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD, and all €nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, €and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart. In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and €together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I €gave your fathers for a heritage. @@"`I thought €@@@how I would set you among my sons, €@@and give you a pleasant land, €@@@a heritage most beauteous of all nations. €@@And I thought you would call me, My Father, €@@@and would not turn from following me. @@Surely, as a faithless wife leaves her husband, €@@@so have you been faithless to me, O house of Israel, says the €@@@@LORD.'" @@A voice on the bare heights is heard, €@@@the weeping and pleading of Israel's sons, €@@because they have perverted their way, €@@@they have forgotten the LORD their God. @@"Return, O faithless sons, €@@@I will heal your faithlessness." €@@"Behold, we come to thee; €@@@for thou art the LORD our God. @@Truly the hills are a delusion, €@@@the orgies on the mountains. €@@Truly in the LORD our God €@@@is the salvation of Israel. @"But from our youth the shameful thing has devoured all for which our €fathers labored, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their €daughters. Let us lie down in our shame, and let our dishonor cover us; for we €have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our €youth even to this day; and we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD €our God."  @"If you return, O Israel, says the LORD, €@@@to me you should return. €@@If you remove your abominations from my presence, €@@@and do not waver, @@and if you swear, `As the LORD lives,' €@@@in truth, in justice, and in uprightness, €@@then nations shall bless themselves in him, €@@@and in him shall they glory." @For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants €of Jerusalem: €@@"Break up your fallow ground, €@@@and sow not among thorns. @@Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, €@@@remove the foreskin of your hearts, €@@@O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; €@@lest my wrath go forth like fire, €@@@and burn with none to quench it, €@@@because of the evil of your doings." @Declare in Judah, and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say, €@@"Blow the trumpet through the land; €@@@cry aloud and say, €@@`Assemble, and let us go žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’¤•…@@@into the fortified cities!' @@Raise a standard toward Zion, €@@@flee for safety, stay not, €@@for I bring evil from the north, €@@@and great destruction. @@A lion has gone up from his thicket, €@@@a destroyer of nations has set out; €@@@he has gone forth from his place €@@to make your land a waste; €@@@your cities will be ruins €@@@without inhabitant. @@For this gird you with sackcloth, €@@@lament and wail; €@@for the fierce anger of the LORD €@@@has not turned back from us." @"In that day, says the LORD, courage shall fail both king and €princes; the priests shall be appalled and the prophets astounded." Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD, surely thou hast utterly deceived this €people and Jerusalem, saying, `It shall be well with you'; whereas the €sword has reached their very life." @At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, "A hot €wind from the bare heights in the desert toward the daughter of my €people, not to winnow or cleanse, a wind too full for this comes for me. Now it is I who speak in €judgment upon them." @@Behold, he comes up like clouds, €@@@his chariots like the whirlwind; €@@his horses are swifter than eagles --€@@@woe to us, for we are ruined! @@O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, €@@@that you may be saved. €@@How long shall your evil thoughts €@@@lodge within you? @@For a voice declares from Dan €@@@and proclaims evil from Mount E'phraim. @@Warn the nations that he is coming; €@@@announce to Jerusalem, €@@"Besiegers come from a distant land; €@@@they shout against the cities of Judah. @@Like keepers of a field are they against her round about, €@@@because she has rebelled against me, says the LORD. @@Your ways and your doings €@@@have brought this upon you. €@@This is your doom, and it is bitter; €@@@it has reached your very heart." @@My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! €@@@Oh, the walls of my heart! €@@My heart is beating wildly; €@@@I cannot keep silent; €@@for I hear the sound of the trumpet, €@@@the alarm of war. @@Disaster follows hard on disaster, €@@@the whole land is laid waste. €@@Suddenly my tents are destroyed, €@@@my curtains in a moment. @@How long must I see the standard, €@@@and hear the sound of the trumpet? @@"For my people are foolish, €@@@they know me not; €@@they are stupid children, €@@@they have no understanding. €@@They are skilled in doing evil, €@@@but how to do good they know not." @@I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void; €@@@and to the heavens, and they had no light. @@I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking, €@@@and all the hills moved to and fro. @@I looked, and lo, there was no man, €@@@and all the birds of the air had fled. @@I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert, €@@@and all its cities were laid in ruins €@@@before the LORD, before his fierce anger. @For thus says the LORD, "The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I €will not make a full end. @@For this the earth shall mourn, €@@@and the heavens above be black; €@@for I have spoken, I have purposed; €@@@I have not relented nor will I turn back." @@At the noise of horseman and archer €@@@every city takes to flight; €@@they enter thickets; they climb among rocks; €@@@all the cities are forsaken, €@@@and no man dwells in them. @@And you, O desolate one, €@@what do you mean that you dress in scarlet, €@@@that you deck yourself with ornaments of gold, €@@@that you enlarge your eyes with paint? €@@In vain you beautify yourself. €@@@Your lovers despise you; €@@@they seek your life. @@For I heard a cry as of a woman in travail, €@@@anguish as of one bringing forth her first child, €@@the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath, €@@@stretching out her hands, €@@"Woe is me! I am fainting before murderers."  @Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, €@@@look and take note! €@@Search her squares to see €@@@if you can find a man, €@@one who does justice €@@@and seeks truth; €@@that I may pardon her. @@Though they say, "As the LORD lives," €@@@yet they swear falsely. @@O LORD, do not thy eyes look for truth? €@@Thou hast smitten them, €@@@but they felt no anguish; €@@thou hast consumed them, €@@@but they refused to take correction. €@@They have made their faces harder than rock; €@@@they have refused to repent. @@Then I said, "These are only the poor, €@@@they have no sense; €@@for they do not know the way of the LORD, €@@@the law of their God. @@I will go to the great, €@@@and will speak to them; €@@for they know the way of the LORD, €@@@the law of their God." €@@But they all alike had broken the yoke, €@@@they had burst the bonds. @@Therefore a lion from the forest shall slay them, €@@@a wolf from the desert shall destroy them. €@@A leopard is watching against their cities, €@@@every one who goes out of them shall be torn in pieces; €@@because their transgressions are many, €@@@their apostasies are great. @@"How can I pardon you? €@@@Your children have forsaken me, €@@@and have sworn by those who are no gods. €@@When I fed them to the full, €@@@they committed adultery €@@@and trooped to the houses of harlots. @@They were well-fed lusty stallions, €@@@each neighing for his neighbor's wife. @@Shall I not punish them for these things? says the LORD; €@@@and shall I not avenge myself €@@@on a nation such as this? @@"Go up through her vine-rows and destroy, €@@@but make not a full end; €@@strip away her branches, €@@@for they are not the LORD's. @@For the house of Israel and the house of Judah €@@@have been utterly faithless to me, says the LORD. @@They have spoken falsely of the LORD, €@@@and have said, `He will do nothing; €@@no evil will come upon us, €@@@nor shall we see sword or famine. @@The prophets will become wind; €@@@the word is not in them. €@@Thus shall it be done to them!'" @@Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts: €@@"Because they have spoken this word, €@@behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire, €@@@and this people wood, and the fire shall devour them. @@Behold, I am bringing upon you €@@@a nation from afar, O house of Israel, says the LORD. €@@It is an enduring nation, €@@@it is an ancient nation, €@@a nation whose language you do not know, €@@@nor can you understand what they say. @@Their quiver is like an open tomb, €@@@they are all mighty men. @@They shall eat up your harvest and your food; €@@@they shall eat up your sons and your daughters; €@@they shall eat up your flocks and your herds; €@@@they shall eat up your vines and your fig trees; €@@your fortified cities in which you trust €@@@they shall destroy with the sword." @"But even in those days, says the LORD, I will not make a full end of €you. And when your people say, `Why has the LORD our God done all these €things to us?' you shall say to them, `As you have forsaken me and €served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve strangers in a €land that is not yours.'" @@Declare this in the house of Jacob, €@@@proclaim it in Judah: @@"Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, €@@@who have eyes, but see not, €@@@who have ears, but hear not. @@Do you not fear me? says the LORD; €@@@Do you not tremble before me? €@@I placed the sand as the bound for the sea, €@@@a perpetual barrier which it cannot pass; €@@though the waves toss, they cannot prevail, €@@@though they roar, they cannot pass over it. @@But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; €@@@they have turned aside and gone away. @@They do not say in their hearts, €@@@`Let us fear the LORD our God, €@@who gives the rain in its season, €@@@the autumn rain and the spring rain, €@@and keeps for us €@@@the weeks appointed for the harvest.' @@Your iniquities have turned these away, €@@@and your sins have kept good from you. @@For wicked men are found among my people; €@@@they lurk like fowlers lying in wait. €@@They set a trap; €@@@they catch men. @@Like a basket full of birds, €@@@their houses are full of treachery; €@@therefore they have become great and rich, @@@they have grown fat and sleek. €@@They know no bounds in deeds of wickedness; €@@@they judge not with justice €@@the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’„˜œ…@@@and they do not defend the rights of the needy. @@Shall I not punish them for these things? says the LORD, €@@@and shall I not avenge myself €@@@on a nation such as this?" @@An appalling and horrible thing €@@@has happened in the land: @@the prophets prophesy falsely, €@@@and the priests rule at their direction; €@@my people love to have it so, €@@@but what will you do when the end comes?  @Flee for safety, O people of Benjamin, €@@@from the midst of Jerusalem! €@@Blow the trumpet in Teko'a, €@@@and raise a signal on Beth-hacche'rem; €@@for evil looms out of the north, €@@@and great destruction. @@The comely and delicately bred I will destroy, €@@@the daughter of Zion. @@Shepherds with their flocks shall come against her; €@@@they shall pitch their tents around her, €@@@they shall pasture, each in his place. @@"Prepare war against her; €@@@up, and let us attack at noon!" €@@"Woe to us, for the day declines, €@@@for the shadows of evening lengthen!" @@"Up, and let us attack by night, €@@@and destroy her palaces!" @@For thus says the LORD of hosts: €@@"Hew down her trees; €@@@cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem. €@@This is the city which must be punished; €@@@there is nothing but oppression within her. @@As a well keeps its water fresh, €@@@so she keeps fresh her wickedness; €@@violence and destruction are heard within her; €@@@sickness and wounds are ever before me. @@Be warned, O Jerusalem, €@@@lest I be alienated from you; €@@lest I make you a desolation, €@@@an uninhabited land." @@Thus says the LORD of hosts: €@@"Glean thoroughly as a vine €@@@the remnant of Israel; €@@like a grape-gatherer pass your hand again €@@@over its branches." @@To whom shall I speak and give warning, €@@@that they may hear? €@@Behold, their ears are closed, €@@@they cannot listen; €@@behold, the word of the LORD is to them an object of scorn, €@@@they take no pleasure in it. @@Therefore I am full of the wrath of the LORD; €@@@I am weary of holding it in. €@@"Pour it out upon the children in the street, €@@@and upon the gatherings of young men, also; €@@both husband and wife shall be taken, €@@@the old folk and the very aged. @@Their houses shall be turned over to others, €@@@their fields and wives together; €@@for I will stretch out my hand €@@@against the inhabitants of the land," says the LORD. @@"For from the least to the greatest of them, €@@@every one is greedy for unjust gain; €@@and from prophet to priest, €@@@every one deals falsely. @@They have healed the wound of my people lightly, €@@@saying, `Peace, peace,' €@@@when there is no peace. @@Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? €@@@No, they were not at all ashamed; €@@@they did not know how to blush. €@@Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; €@@@at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown," says €@@@@the LORD. @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"Stand by the roads, and look, €@@@and ask for the ancient paths, €@@where the good way is; and walk in it, €@@@and find rest for your souls. €@@But they said, `We will not walk in it.' @@I set watchmen over you, saying, €@@@`Give heed to the sound of the trumpet!' €@@But they said, `We will not give heed.' @@Therefore hear, O nations, €@@@and know, O congregation, what will happen to them. @@Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing evil upon this people, €@@@the fruit of their devices, €@@because they have not given heed to my words; €@@@and as for my law, they have rejected it. @@To what purpose does frankincense come to me from Sheba, €@@@or sweet cane from a distant land? €@@Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, €@@@nor your sacrifices pleasing to me. @@Therefore thus says the LORD: €@@`Behold, I will lay before this people €@@@stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble; €@@fathers and sons together, €@@@neighbor and friend shall perish.'" @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"Behold, a people is coming from the north country, €@@@a great nation is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth. @@They lay hold on bow and spear, €@@@they are cruel and have no mercy, €@@@the sound of them is like the roaring sea; €@@they ride upon horses, €@@@set in array as a man for battle, €@@@against you, O daughter of Zion!" @@We have heard the report of it, €@@@our hands fall helpless; €@@anguish has taken hold of us, €@@@pain as of a woman in travail. @@Go not forth into the field, €@@@nor walk on the road; €@@for the enemy has a sword, €@@@terror is on every side. @@O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, €@@@and roll in ashes; €@@make mourning as for an only son, €@@@most bitter lamentation; €@@for suddenly the destroyer €@@@will come upon us. @@"I have made you an assayer and tester among my people, €@@@that you may know and assay their ways. @@They are all stubbornly rebellious, €@@@going about with slanders; €@@they are bronze and iron, €@@@all of them act corruptly. @@The bellows blow fiercely, €@@@the lead is consumed by the fire; €@@in vain the refining goes on, €@@@for the wicked are not removed. @@Refuse silver they are called, €@@@for the LORD has rejected them."  @The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, €and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all you men of Judah who enter €these gates to worship the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and €your doings, and I will let you dwell in this place. Do not trust in these deceptive words: `This is the temple of the LORD, €the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.' @"For if you truly amend your ways and your doings, if you truly €execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow, or shed €innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to €your own hurt, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old €to your fathers for ever. @"Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to €Ba'al, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my €name, and say, `We are delivered!' -- only to go on doing all these €abominations? Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in €your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, says the LORD. Go now to my place that was in Shiloh, where I made my name dwell at €first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. And now, because you have done all these things, says the LORD, and €when I spoke to you persistently you did not listen, and when I called €you, you did not answer, therefore I will do to the house which is called by my name, and in €which you trust, and to the place which I gave to you and to your €fathers, as I did to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight, as I cast out all your kinsmen, €all the offspring of E'phraim. @"As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up cry or prayer €for them, and do not intercede with me, for I do not hear you. Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the €streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead €dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink €offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger. Is it I whom they provoke? says the LORD. Is it not themselves, to €their own confusion? Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, my anger and my wrath will be €poured out on this place, upon man and beast, upon the trees of the €field and the fruit of the ground; it will burn and not be quenched." @Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Add your burnt €offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh. For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I did not €speak to your fathers or command them concerning burnt offerings and €sacrifices. But this command I gave them, `Obey my voice, and I will be your God, €and you shall be my people; and walk in all the way that I command you, €that it may be well with you.' žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’§˜˜But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own €counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward €and not forward. From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this €day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day €after day; yet they did not listen to me, or incline their ear, but stiffened €their neck. They did worse than their fathers. @"So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen €to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you. And you shall say to them, `This is the nation that did not obey the €voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has €perished; it is cut off from their lips. @@Cut off your hair and cast it away; €@@@raise a lamentation on the bare heights, €@@for the LORD has rejected and forsaken €@@@the generation of his wrath.' @"For the sons of Judah have done evil in my sight, says the LORD; €they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my €name, to defile it. And they have built the high place of Topheth, which is in the valley €of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the €fire; which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind. Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when it will no €more be called Topheth, or the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the €valley of Slaughter: for they will bury in Topheth, because there is no €room elsewhere. And the dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the €air, and for the beasts of the earth; and none will frighten them away. And I will make to cease from the cities of Judah and from the streets €of Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of €the bridegroom and the voice of the bride; for the land shall become a €waste.  @"At that time, says the LORD, the bones of the kings of Judah, the €bones of its princes, the bones of the priests, the bones of the €prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be €brought out of their tombs; and they shall be spread before the sun and the moon and all the host €of heaven, which they have loved and served, which they have gone €after, and which they have sought and worshiped; and they shall not be €gathered or buried; they shall be as dung on the surface of the ground. Death shall be preferred to life by all the remnant that remains of €this evil family in all the places where I have driven them, says the €LORD of hosts. @@"You shall say to them, Thus says the LORD: €@@When men fall, do they not rise again? €@@@If one turns away, does he not return? @@Why then has this people turned away €@@@in perpetual backsliding? €@@They hold fast to deceit, €@@@they refuse to return. @@I have given heed and listened, €@@@but they have not spoken aright; €@@no man repents of his wickedness, €@@@saying, `What have I done?' €@@Every one turns to his own course, €@@@like a horse plunging headlong into battle. @@Even the stork in the heavens €@@@knows her times; €@@and the turtledove, swallow, and crane €@@@keep the time of their coming; €@@but my people know not €@@@the ordinance of the LORD. @@"How can you say, `We are wise, €@@@and the law of the LORD is with us'? €@@But, behold, the false pen of the scribes €@@@has made it into a lie. @@The wise men shall be put to shame, €@@@they shall be dismayed and taken; €@@lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD, €@@@and what wisdom is in them? @@Therefore I will give their wives to others €@@@and their fields to conquerors, €@@because from the least to the greatest €@@@every one is greedy for unjust gain; €@@from prophet to priest €@@@every one deals falsely. @@They have healed the wound of my people lightly, €@@@saying, `Peace, peace,' €@@@when there is no peace. @@Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? €@@@No, they were not at all ashamed; €@@@they did not know how to blush. €@@Therefore they shall fall among the fallen; €@@@when I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the LORD. @@When I would gather them, says the LORD, €@@@there are no grapes on the vine, €@@@nor figs on the fig tree; €@@even the leaves are withered, €@@@and what I gave them has passed away from them." @@Why do we sit still? €@@Gather together, let us go into the fortified cities €@@@and perish there; €@@for the LORD our God has doomed us to perish, €@@@and has given us poisoned water to drink, €@@@because we have sinned against the LORD. @@We looked for peace, but no good came, €@@@for a time of healing, but behold, terror. @@"The snorting of their horses is heard from Dan; €@@@at the sound of the neighing of their stallions €@@@the whole land quakes. €@@They come and devour the land and all that fills it, €@@@the city and those who dwell in it. @@For behold, I am sending among you serpents, €@@@adders which cannot be charmed, €@@@and they shall bite you," says the LORD. @@My grief is beyond healing, €@@@my heart is sick within me. @@Hark, the cry of the daughter of my people €@@@from the length and breadth of the land: €@@"Is the LORD not in Zion? €@@@Is her King not in her?" €@@"Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, €@@@and with their foreign idols?" @@"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, €@@@and we are not saved." @@For the wound of the daughter of my people is my heart wounded, €@@@I mourn, and dismay has taken hold on me. @@Is there no balm in Gilead? €@@@Is there no physician there? €@@Why then has the health of the daughter of my people €@@@not been restored?  O that my head were waters, €@@@and my eyes a fountain of tears, €@@that I might weep day and night €@@@for the slain of the daughter of my people! @@O that I had in the desert €@@@a wayfarers' lodging place, €@@that I might leave my people €@@@and go away from them! €@@For they are all adulterers, €@@@a company of treacherous men. @@They bend their tongue like a bow; €@@@falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; €@@for they proceed from evil to evil, €@@@and they do not know me, says the LORD. @@Let every one beware of his neighbor, €@@@and put no trust in any brother; €@@for every brother is a supplanter, €@@@and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. @@Every one deceives his neighbor, €@@@and no one speaks the truth; €@@they have taught their tongue to speak lies; €@@@they commit iniquity and are too weary to repent. @@Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit, €@@@they refuse to know me, says the LORD. @@Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: €@@"Behold, I will refine them and test them, €@@@for what else can I do, because of my people? @@Their tongue is a deadly arrow; €@@@it speaks deceitfully; €@@with his mouth each speaks peaceably to his neighbor, €@@@but in his heart he plans an ambush for him. @@Shall I not punish them for these things? says the LORD; €@@@and shall I not avenge myself €@@@on a nation such as this? @@"Take up weeping and wailing for the mountains, €@@@and a lamentation for the pastures of the wilderness, €@@because they are laid waste so that no one passes through, €@@@and the lowing of cattle is not heard; €@@both the birds of the air and the beasts €@@@have fled and are gone. @@I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, €@@@a lair of jackals; €@@and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, €@@@without inhabitant." @Who is the man so wise that he can understand this? To whom has the €mouth of the LORD spoken, that he may declare it? Why is the land €ruined and laid waste like a wilderness, so that no one passes through? And the LORD says: "Because they have forsaken my law which I set €before them, and have not obeyed my voice, or walked in accord with it, but have stubbornly followed their own hearts and have gone after the €Ba'als, as their fathers taught them. Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I €will feed this people with wormwood, and give them poisonous water to €drink. I will scatter them among the nations whom neither they nor their žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’؉˜‚fathers have known; and I will send the sword after them, until I have €consumed them." @@Thus says the LORD of hosts: €@@"Consider, and call for the mourning women to come; €@@@send for the skilful women to come; @@let them make haste and raise a wailing over us, €@@@that our eyes may run down with tears, €@@@and our eyelids gush with water. @@For a sound of wailing is heard from Zion: €@@@`How we are ruined! €@@@We are utterly shamed, €@@because we have left the land, €@@@because they have cast down our dwellings.'" @@Hear, O women, the word of the LORD, €@@@and let your ear receive the word of his mouth; €@@teach to your daughters a lament, €@@@and each to her neighbor a dirge. @@For death has come up into our windows, €@@@it has entered our palaces, €@@cutting off the children from the streets €@@@and the young men from the squares. @@Speak, "Thus says the LORD: €@@`The dead bodies of men shall fall €@@@like dung upon the open field, €@@like sheaves after the reaper, €@@@and none shall gather them.'" @Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let €not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in €his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows €me, that I am the LORD who practice steadfast love, justice, and €righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, says the €LORD." @"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will punish all €those who are circumcised but yet uncircumcised --Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the €desert that cut the corners of their hair; for all these nations are €uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart."  @Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the LORD: €@@"Learn not the way of the nations, €@@@nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens €@@@because the nations are dismayed at them, @@for the customs of the peoples are false. €@@A tree from the forest is cut down, €@@@and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. @@Men deck it with silver and gold; €@@@they fasten it with hammer and nails €@@@so that it cannot move. @@Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, €@@@and they cannot speak; €@@they have to be carried, €@@@for they cannot walk. €@@Be not afraid of them, €@@@for they cannot do evil, €@@@neither is it in them to do good." @@There is none like thee, O LORD; €@@@thou art great, and thy name is great in might. @@Who would not fear thee, O King of the nations? €@@@For this is thy due; €@@for among all the wise ones of the nations €@@@and in all their kingdoms €@@@there is none like thee. @@They are both stupid and foolish; €@@@the instruction of idols is but wood! @@Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, €@@@and gold from Uphaz. €@@They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the €@@@@goldsmith; €@@@their clothing is violet and purple; €@@@they are all the work of skilled men. @@But the LORD is the true God; €@@@he is the living God and the everlasting King. €@@At his wrath the earth quakes, €@@@and the nations cannot endure his indignation. @Thus shall you say to them: "The gods who did not make the heavens €and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens." @@It is he who made the earth by his power, €@@@who established the world by his wisdom, €@@@and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. @@When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, €@@@and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. €@@He makes lightnings for the rain, €@@@and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses. @@Every man is stupid and without knowledge; €@@@every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols; €@@for his images are false, €@@@and there is no breath in them. @@They are worthless, a work of delusion; €@@@at the time of their punishment they shall perish. @@Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, €@@@for he is the one who formed all things, €@@and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; €@@@the LORD of hosts is his name. @@Gather up your bundle from the ground, €@@@O you who dwell under siege! @@For thus says the LORD: €@@"Behold, I am slinging out the inhabitants of the land €@@@at this time, €@@and I will bring distress on them, €@@@that they may feel it." @@Woe is me because of my hurt! €@@@My wound is grievous. €@@But I said, "Truly this is an affliction, €@@@and I must bear it." @@My tent is destroyed, €@@@and all my cords are broken; €@@my children have gone from me, €@@@and they are not; €@@there is no one to spread my tent again, €@@@and to set up my curtains. @@For the shepherds are stupid, €@@@and do not inquire of the LORD; €@@therefore they have not prospered, €@@@and all their flock is scattered. @@Hark, a rumor! Behold, it comes! --€@@@a great commotion out of the north country €@@to make the cities of Judah a desolation, €@@@a lair of jackals. @@I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, €@@@that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. @@Correct me, O LORD, but in just measure; €@@@not in thy anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. @@Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that know thee not, €@@@and upon the peoples that call not on thy name; €@@for they have devoured Jacob; €@@@they have devoured him and consumed him, €@@@and have laid waste his habitation.  @The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and the €inhabitants of Jerusalem. You shall say to them, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Cursed be €the man who does not heed the words of this covenant which I commanded your fathers when I brought them out of the land of €Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Listen to my voice, and do all €that I command you. So shall you be my people, and I will be your God, that I may perform the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them €a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day." Then I answered, €"So be it, LORD." @And the LORD said to me, "Proclaim all these words in the cities of €Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: Hear the words of this covenant €and do them. For I solemnly warned your fathers when I brought them up out of the €land of Egypt, warning them persistently, even to this day, saying, €Obey my voice. Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but every one walked in the €stubbornness of his evil heart. Therefore I brought upon them all the €words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not." @Again the LORD said to me, "There is revolt among the men of Judah €and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who €refused to hear my words; they have gone after other gods to serve €them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my €covenant which I made with their fathers. Therefore, thus says the LORD, Behold, I am bringing evil upon them €which they cannot escape; though they cry to me, I will not listen to €them. Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and €cry to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they cannot save them in €the time of their trouble. For your gods have become as many as your cities, O Judah; and as many €as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to shame, €altars to burn incense to Ba'al. @"Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on €their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of €their trouble. What right has my beloved in my house, when she has done vile deeds? €Can vows and sacrificial flesh avert your doom? Can you then exult? The LORD once called you, `A green olive tree, fair with goodly fruit'; €but with the roar of a great tempest he will set fire to it, and its €branches will be consumed. The LORD of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you, €because of the evil which the house of Israel and the house of Judah €have done, provoking me to anger by burning incense to Ba'al." @@The LORD made it known to me and I knew; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’؋˜’‚@@@then thou didst show me their evil deeds. @@But I was like a gentle lamb €@@@led to the slaughter. €@@I did not know it was against me €@@@they devised schemes, saying, €@@"Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, €@@@let us cut him off from the land of the living, €@@@that his name be remembered no more." @@But, O LORD of hosts, who judgest righteously, €@@@who triest the heart and the mind, €@@let me see thy vengeance upon them, €@@@for to thee have I committed my cause. @Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the men of An'athoth, who €seek your life, and say, "Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, or €you will die by our hand" --therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: "Behold, I will punish them; the €young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall €die by famine; and none of them shall be left. For I will bring evil upon the men of €An'athoth, the year of their punishment."  @Righteous art thou, O LORD, €@@@when I complain to thee; €@@@yet I would plead my case before thee. €@@Why does the way of the wicked prosper? €@@@Why do all who are treacherous thrive? @@Thou plantest them, and they take root; €@@@they grow and bring forth fruit; €@@thou art near in their mouth €@@@and far from their heart. @@But thou, O LORD, knowest me; €@@@thou seest me, and triest my mind toward thee. €@@Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, €@@@and set them apart for the day of slaughter. @@How long will the land mourn, €@@@and the grass of every field wither? €@@For the wickedness of those who dwell in it €@@@the beasts and the birds are swept away, €@@@because men said, "He will not see our latter end." @@"If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, €@@@how will you compete with horses? €@@And if in a safe land you fall down, €@@@how will you do in the jungle of the Jordan? @@For even your brothers and the house of your father, €@@@even they have dealt treacherously with you; €@@@they are in full cry after you; €@@believe them not, €@@@though they speak fair words to you." @@"I have forsaken my house, €@@@I have abandoned my heritage; €@@I have given the beloved of my soul €@@@into the hands of her enemies. @@My heritage has become to me €@@@like a lion in the forest, €@@she has lifted up her voice against me; €@@@therefore I hate her. @@Is my heritage to me like a speckled bird of prey? €@@@Are the birds of prey against her round about? €@@Go, assemble all the wild beasts; €@@@bring them to devour. @@Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, €@@@they have trampled down my portion, €@@they have made my pleasant portion €@@@a desolate wilderness. @@They have made it a desolation; €@@@desolate, it mourns to me. €@@The whole land is made desolate, €@@@but no man lays it to heart. @@Upon all the bare heights in the desert €@@@destroyers have come; €@@for the sword of the LORD devours €@@@from one end of the land to the other; €@@@no flesh has peace. @@They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns, €@@@they have tired themselves out but profit nothing. €@@They shall be ashamed of their harvests €@@@because of the fierce anger of the LORD." @Thus says the LORD concerning all my evil neighbors who touch the €heritage which I have given my people Israel to inherit: "Behold, I €will pluck them up from their land, and I will pluck up the house of €Judah from among them. And after I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them, €and I will bring them again each to his heritage and each to his land. And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my €people, to swear by my name, `As the LORD lives,' even as they taught €my people to swear by Ba'al, then they shall be built up in the midst €of my people. But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and €destroy it, says the LORD."  @Thus said the LORD to me, "Go and buy a linen waistcloth, and put it €on your loins, and do not dip it in water." So I bought a waistcloth according to the word of the LORD, and put it €on my loins. And the word of the LORD came to me a second time, "Take the waistcloth which you have bought, which is upon your loins, €and arise, go to the Euphra'tes, and hide it there in a cleft of the €rock." So I went, and hid it by the Euphra'tes, as the LORD commanded me. And after many days the LORD said to me, "Arise, go to the Euphra'tes, €and take from there the waistcloth which I commanded you to hide there." Then I went to the Euphra'tes, and dug, and I took the waistcloth from €the place where I had hidden it. And behold, the waistcloth was €spoiled; it was good for nothing. @Then the word of the LORD came to me: "Thus says the LORD: Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the €great pride of Jerusalem. This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow €their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and €worship them, shall be like this waistcloth, which is good for nothing. For as the waistcloth clings to the loins of a man, so I made the whole €house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says the €LORD, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a €glory, but they would not listen. @"You shall speak to them this word: `Thus says the LORD, the God of €Israel, "Every jar shall be filled with wine."' And they will say to €you, `Do we not indeed know that every jar will be filled with wine?' Then you shall say to them, `Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will fill €with drunkenness all the inhabitants of this land: the kings who sit on €David's throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of €Jerusalem. And I will dash them one against another, fathers and sons together, €says the LORD. I will not pity or spare or have compassion, that I €should not destroy them.'" @@Hear and give ear; be not proud, €@@@for the LORD has spoken. @@Give glory to the LORD your God €@@@before he brings darkness, €@@before your feet stumble €@@@on the twilight mountains, €@@and while you look for light €@@@he turns it into gloom €@@@and makes it deep darkness. @@But if you will not listen, €@@@my soul will weep in secret for your pride; €@@my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, €@@@because the LORD's flock has been taken captive. @@Say to the king and the queen mother: €@@@"Take a lowly seat, €@@for your beautiful crown €@@@has come down from your head." @@The cities of the Negeb are shut up, €@@@with none to open them; €@@all Judah is taken into exile, €@@@wholly taken into exile. @@"Lift up your eyes and see €@@@those who come from the north. €@@Where is the flock that was given you, €@@@your beautiful flock? @@What will you say when they set as head over you €@@@those whom you yourself have taught €@@@to be friends to you? €@@Will not pangs take hold of you, €@@@like those of a woman in travail? @@And if you say in your heart, €@@@`Why have these things come upon me?' €@@it is for the greatness of your iniquity €@@@that your skirts are lifted up, €@@@and you suffer violence. @@Can the Ethiopian change his skin €@@@or the leopard his spots? €@@Then also you can do good €@@@who are accustomed to do evil. @@I will scatter you like chaff €@@@driven by the wind from the desert. @@This is your lot, €@@@the portion I have measured out to you, says the LORD, €@@because you have forgotten me €@@@and trusted in lies. @@I myself will lift up your skirts over your face, €@@@and your shame will be seen. @@I have seen your abominations, €@@@your adulteries and neighings, your lewd harlotries, €@@@on the hills in the field. €@@Woe to you, O Jerusalem! €@@@How long will it be €@@@before you are made clean?"  @The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: @@"Judah mourns €@@@and her gates languish; €@@her people lament on the ground, €@@@and the cry of Jerusalem goes up. @@Her nobles send their servants for water; €@@@they come to the cisterns, €@@they find no water, €@@@they return with their vessels empty; €@@they are ashamed and confounded €@@@and cover their heads. @@Because of the ground which is dismayed, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’؎”‚@@@since there is no rain on the land, €@@the farmers are ashamed, €@@@they cover their heads. @@Even the hind in the field forsakes her newborn calf €@@@because there is no grass. @@The wild asses stand on the bare heights, €@@@they pant for air like jackals; €@@their eyes fail €@@@because there is no herbage. @@"Though our iniquities testify against us, €@@@act, O LORD, for thy name's sake; €@@for our backslidings are many, €@@@we have sinned against thee. @@O thou hope of Israel, €@@@its savior in time of trouble, €@@why shouldst thou be like a stranger in the land, €@@@like a wayfarer who turns aside to tarry for a night? @@Why shouldst thou be like a man confused, €@@@like a mighty man who cannot save? €@@Yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, €@@@and we are called by thy name; €@@@leave us not." @@Thus says the LORD concerning this people: €@@"They have loved to wander thus, €@@@they have not restrained their feet; €@@therefore the LORD does not accept them, €@@@now he will remember their iniquity €@@@and punish their sins." @The LORD said to me: "Do not pray for the welfare of this people. Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer €burnt offering and cereal offering, I will not accept them; but I will €consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence." @Then I said: "Ah, Lord GOD, behold, the prophets say to them, `You €shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you €assured peace in this place.'" And the LORD said to me: "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name; €I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are €prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit €of their own minds. Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in my €name although I did not send them, and who say, `Sword and famine shall €not come on this land': By sword and famine those prophets shall be €consumed. And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets €of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury €them -- them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will €pour out their wickedness upon them. @@"You shall say to them this word: €@@`Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, €@@@and let them not cease, €@@for the virgin daughter of my people is smitten with a great wound, €@@@with a very grievous blow. @@If I go out into the field, €@@@behold, those slain by the sword! €@@And if I enter the city, €@@@behold, the diseases of famine! €@@For both prophet and priest ply their trade through the land, €@@@and have no knowledge.'" @@Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? €@@@Does thy soul loathe Zion? €@@Why hast thou smitten us €@@@so that there is no healing for us? €@@We looked for peace, but no good came; €@@@for a time of healing, but behold, terror. @@We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, €@@@and the iniquity of our fathers, €@@@for we have sinned against thee. @@Do not spurn us, for thy name's sake; €@@@do not dishonor thy glorious throne; €@@@remember and do not break thy covenant with us. @@Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring €@@@@rain? €@@@Or can the heavens give showers? €@@Art thou not he, O LORD our God? €@@@We set our hope on thee, €@@@for thou doest all these things.  @Then the LORD said to me, "Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, €yet my heart would not turn toward this people. Send them out of my €sight, and let them go! And when they ask you, `Where shall we go?' you shall say to them, €`Thus says the LORD: €@@"Those who are for pestilence, to pestilence, €@@@and those who are for the sword, to the sword; €@@those who are for famine, to famine, €@@@and those who are for captivity, to captivity."' "I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, says the LORD: the €sword to slay, the dogs to tear, and the birds of the air and the €beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. And I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because €of what Manas'seh the son of Hezeki'ah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem. @@"Who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem, €@@@or who will bemoan you? €@@Who will turn aside €@@@to ask about your welfare? @@You have rejected me, says the LORD, €@@@you keep going backward; €@@so I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you; --€@@@I am weary of relenting. @@I have winnowed them with a winnowing fork €@@@in the gates of the land; €@@I have bereaved them, I have destroyed my people; €@@@they did not turn from their ways. @@I have made their widows more in number €@@@than the sand of the seas; €@@I have brought against the mothers of young men €@@@a destroyer at noonday; €@@I have made anguish and terror €@@@fall upon them suddenly. @@She who bore seven has languished; €@@@she has swooned away; €@@her sun went down while it was yet day; €@@@she has been shamed and disgraced. €@@And the rest of them I will give to the sword €@@@before their enemies, says the LORD." @Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and €contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet €all of them curse me. So let it be, O LORD, if I have not entreated thee for their good, if I €have not pleaded with thee on behalf of the enemy in the time of €trouble and in the time of distress! Can one break iron, iron from the north, and bronze? @"Your wealth and your treasures I will give as spoil, without price, €for all your sins, throughout all your territory. I will make you serve your enemies in a land which you do not know, for €in my anger a fire is kindled which shall burn for ever." @@O LORD, thou knowest; €@@@remember me and visit me, €@@@and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. €@@In thy forbearance take me not away; €@@@know that for thy sake I bear reproach. @@Thy words were found, and I ate them, €@@@and thy words became to me a joy €@@@and the delight of my heart; €@@for I am called by thy name, €@@@O LORD, God of hosts. @@I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, €@@@nor did I rejoice; €@@I sat alone, because thy hand was upon me, €@@@for thou hadst filled me with indignation. @@Why is my pain unceasing, €@@@my wound incurable, €@@@refusing to be healed? €@@Wilt thou be to me like a deceitful brook, €@@@like waters that fail? @@Therefore thus says the LORD: €@@"If you return, I will restore you, €@@@and you shall stand before me. €@@If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, €@@@you shall be as my mouth. €@@They shall turn to you, €@@@but you shall not turn to them. @@And I will make you to this people €@@@a fortified wall of bronze; €@@they will fight against you, €@@@but they shall not prevail over you, €@@for I am with you €@@@to save you and deliver you, says the LORD. @@I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, €@@@and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless."  @The word of the LORD came to me: "You shall not take a wife, nor shall you have sons or daughters in €this place. For thus says the LORD concerning the sons and daughters who are born €in this place, and concerning the mothers who bore them and the fathers €who begot them in this land: They shall die of deadly diseases. They shall not be lamented, nor €shall they be buried; they shall be as dung on the surface of the €ground. They shall perish by the sword and by famine, and their dead €bodies shall be food for the birds of the air and for the beasts of the €earth. @"For thus says the LORD: Do not enter the house of mourning, or go to €lament, or bemoan them; for I have taken away my peace from this €people, says the LORD, my steadfast love and mercy. Both great and small shall die in this land; they shall not be buried, €and no one shall lament for them or cut himself or make himself bald €for them. No one shall break bread for the mourner, to comfort him for the dead; €nor shall any one give him the cup of consolation to drink for his €father or his mother. You shall not go into the house of feasting to sit with them, to eat €and drink. For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will make žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’ؐ˜‰‚to cease from this place, before your eyes and in your days, the voice €of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the €voice of the bride. @"And when you tell this people all these words, and they say to you, €`Why has the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? What is €our iniquity? What is the sin that we have committed against the LORD €our God?' then you shall say to them: `Because your fathers have forsaken me, €says the LORD, and have gone after other gods and have served and €worshiped them, and have forsaken me and have not kept my law, and because you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, every €one of you follows his stubborn evil will, refusing to listen to me; therefore I will hurl you out of this land into a land which neither €you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods €day and night, for I will show you no favor.' @"Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when it shall €no longer be said, `As the LORD lives who brought up the people of €Israel out of the land of Egypt,' but `As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the €north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.' €For I will bring them back to their own land which I gave to their €fathers. @"Behold, I am sending for many fishers, says the LORD, and they shall €catch them; and afterwards I will send for many hunters, and they shall €hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of €the rocks. For my eyes are upon all their ways; they are not hid from me, nor is €their iniquity concealed from my eyes. And I will doubly recompense their iniquity and their sin, because they €have polluted my land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and €have filled my inheritance with their abominations." @@O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, €@@@my refuge in the day of trouble, €@@to thee shall the nations come €@@@from the ends of the earth and say: €@@"Our fathers have inherited nought but lies, €@@@worthless things in which there is no profit. @@Can man make for himself gods? €@@@Such are no gods!" @"Therefore, behold, I will make them know, this once I will make them €know my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the €LORD."  @"The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with a point of €diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns €of their altars, while their children remember their altars and their Ashe'rim, beside €every green tree, and on the high hills, on the mountains in the open country. Your wealth and all your €treasures I will give for spoil as the price of your sin throughout all €your territory. You shall loosen your hand from your heritage which I gave to you, and €I will make you serve your enemies in a land which you do not know, for €in my anger a fire is kindled which shall burn for ever." @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"Cursed is the man who trusts in man €@@@and makes flesh his arm, €@@@whose heart turns away from the LORD. @@He is like a shrub in the desert, €@@@and shall not see any good come. €@@He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, €@@@in an uninhabited salt land. @@"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, €@@@whose trust is the LORD. @@He is like a tree planted by water, €@@@that sends out its roots by the stream, €@@and does not fear when heat comes, €@@@for its leaves remain green, €@@and is not anxious in the year of drought, €@@@for it does not cease to bear fruit." @@The heart is deceitful above all things, €@@@and desperately corrupt; €@@@who can understand it? @@"I the LORD search the mind €@@@and try the heart, €@@to give to every man according to his ways, €@@@according to the fruit of his doings." @@Like the partridge that gathers a brood which she did not hatch, €@@@so is he who gets riches but not by right; €@@in the midst of his days they will leave him, €@@@and at his end he will be a fool. @@A glorious throne set on high from the beginning €@@@is the place of our sanctuary. @@O LORD, the hope of Israel, €@@@all who forsake thee shall be put to shame; €@@those who turn away from thee shall be written in the earth, €@@@for they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water. @@Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; €@@@save me, and I shall be saved; €@@@for thou art my praise. @@Behold, they say to me, €@@@"Where is the word of the LORD? €@@@Let it come!" @@I have not pressed thee to send evil, €@@@nor have I desired the day of disaster, €@@@thou knowest; €@@that which came out of my lips €@@@was before thy face. @@Be not a terror to me; €@@@thou art my refuge in the day of evil. @@Let those be put to shame who persecute me, €@@@but let me not be put to shame; €@@let them be dismayed, €@@@but let me not be dismayed; €@@bring upon them the day of evil; €@@@destroy them with double destruction! @Thus said the LORD to me: "Go and stand in the Benjamin Gate, by €which the kings of Judah enter and by which they go out, and in all the €gates of Jerusalem, and say: `Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, €and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates. Thus says the LORD: Take heed for the sake of your lives, and do not €bear a burden on the sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of €Jerusalem. And do not carry a burden out of your houses on the sabbath or do any €work, but keep the sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, €that they might not hear and receive instruction. @"`But if you listen to me, says the LORD, and bring in no burden by €the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but keep the sabbath day €holy and do no work on it, then there shall enter by the gates of this city kings who sit on the €throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their €princes, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this €city shall be inhabited for ever. And people shall come from the cities of Judah and the places round €about Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the Shephe'lah, from €the hill country, and from the Negeb, bringing burnt offerings and €sacrifices, cereal offerings and frankincense, and bringing thank €offerings to the house of the LORD. But if you do not listen to me, to keep the sabbath day holy, and not €to bear a burden and enter by the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath €day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the €palaces of Jerusalem and shall not be quenched.'"  @The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you €hear my words." So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his €wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, €and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter €to do. @Then the word of the LORD came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? says €the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my €hand, O house of Israel. If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will €pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its €evil, I will repent of the evil that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I €will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will €repent of the good which I had intended to do to it. Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of €Jerusalem: `Thus says the LORD, Behold, I am shaping evil against you €and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, €and amend your ways and your doings.' @"But they say, `That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and €will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.' @@"Therefore thus says the LORD: €@@Ask among the nations, €@@@who has heard the like of this? €@@The virgin Israel žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’ؒ˜…@@@has done a very horrible thing. @@Does the snow of Lebanon leave €@@@the crags of Si'rion? €@@Do the mountain waters run dry, €@@@the cold flowing streams? @@But my people have forgotten me, €@@@they burn incense to false gods; €@@they have stumbled in their ways, €@@@in the ancient roads, €@@and have gone into bypaths, €@@@not the highway, @@making their land a horror, €@@@a thing to be hissed at for ever. €@@Every one who passes by it is horrified €@@@and shakes his head. @@Like the east wind I will scatter them €@@@before the enemy. €@@I will show them my back, not my face, €@@@in the day of their calamity." @Then they said, "Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the €law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor €the word from the prophet. Come, let us smite him with the tongue, and €let us not heed any of his words." @@Give heed to me, O LORD, €@@@and hearken to my plea. @@Is evil a recompense for good? €@@@Yet they have dug a pit for my life. €@@Remember how I stood before thee €@@@to speak good for them, €@@@to turn away thy wrath from them. @@Therefore deliver up their children to famine; €@@@give them over to the power of the sword, €@@let their wives become childless and widowed. €@@@May their men meet death by pestilence, €@@@their youths be slain by the sword in battle. @@May a cry be heard from their houses, €@@@when thou bringest the marauder suddenly upon them! €@@For they have dug a pit to take me, €@@@and laid snares for my feet. @@Yet, thou, O LORD, knowest €@@@all their plotting to slay me. €@@Forgive not their iniquity, €@@@nor blot out their sin from thy sight. €@@Let them be overthrown before thee; €@@@deal with them in the time of thine anger.  @Thus said the LORD, "Go, buy a potter's earthen flask, and take some €of the elders of the people and some of the senior priests, and go out to the valley of the son of Hinnom at the entry of the €Potsherd Gate, and proclaim there the words that I tell you. You shall say, `Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah and €inhabitants of Jerusalem. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of €Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon this place that the ears €of every one who hears of it will tingle. Because the people have forsaken me, and have profaned this place by €burning incense in it to other gods whom neither they nor their fathers €nor the kings of Judah have known; and because they have filled this €place with the blood of innocents, and have built the high places of Ba'al to burn their sons in the fire €as burnt offerings to Ba'al, which I did not command or decree, nor did €it come into my mind; therefore, behold, days are coming, says the LORD, when this place €shall no more be called Topheth, or the valley of the son of Hinnom, €but the valley of Slaughter. And in this place I will make void the plans of Judah and Jerusalem, €and will cause their people to fall by the sword before their enemies, €and by the hand of those who seek their life. I will give their dead €bodies for food to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the earth. And I will make this city a horror, a thing to be hissed at; every one €who passes by it will be horrified and will hiss because of all its €disasters. And I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and their daughters, €and every one shall eat the flesh of his neighbor in the siege and in €the distress, with which their enemies and those who seek their life €afflict them.' @"Then you shall break the flask in the sight of the men who go with €you, and shall say to them, `Thus says the LORD of hosts: So will I break €this people and this city, as one breaks a potter's vessel, so that it €can never be mended. Men shall bury in Topheth because there will be no €place else to bury. Thus will I do to this place, says the LORD, and to its inhabitants, €making this city like Topheth. The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah -- all the €houses upon whose roofs incense has been burned to all the host of €heaven, and drink offerings have been poured out to other gods -- shall €be defiled like the place of Topheth.'" @Then Jeremiah came from Topheth, where the LORD had sent him to €prophesy, and he stood in the court of the LORD's house, and said to €all the people: "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing €upon this city and upon all its towns all the evil that I have €pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their neck, refusing €to hear my words."  @Now Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer, who was chief officer in €the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things. Then Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that €were in the upper Benjamin Gate of the house of the LORD. On the morrow, when Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, Jeremiah €said to him, "The LORD does not call your name Pashhur, but Terror on €every side. For thus says the LORD: Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself €and to all your friends. They shall fall by the sword of their enemies €while you look on. And I will give all Judah into the hand of the king €of Babylon; he shall carry them captive to Babylon, and shall slay them €with the sword. Moreover, I will give all the wealth of the city, all its gains, all €its prized belongings, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah into €the hand of their enemies, who shall plunder them, and seize them, and €carry them to Babylon. And you, Pashhur, and all who dwell in your house, shall go into €captivity; to Babylon you shall go; and there you shall die, and there €you shall be buried, you and all your friends, to whom you have €prophesied falsely." @@O LORD, thou hast deceived me, €@@@and I was deceived; €@@thou art stronger than I, €@@@and thou hast prevailed. €@@I have become a laughingstock all the day; €@@@every one mocks me. @@For whenever I speak, I cry out, €@@@I shout, "Violence and destruction!" €@@For the word of the LORD has become for me €@@@a reproach and derision all day long. @@If I say, "I will not mention him, €@@@or speak any more in his name," €@@there is in my heart as it were a burning fire €@@@shut up in my bones, €@@and I am weary with holding it in, €@@@and I cannot. @@For I hear many whispering. €@@@Terror is on every side! €@@"Denounce him! Let us denounce him!" €@@@say all my familiar friends, €@@@watching for my fall. €@@"Perhaps he will be deceived, €@@@then we can overcome him, €@@@and take our revenge on him." @@But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; €@@@therefore my persecutors will stumble, €@@@they will not overcome me. €@@They will be greatly shamed, €@@@for they will not succeed. €@@Their eternal dishonor €@@@will never be forgotten. @@O LORD of hosts, who triest the righteous, €@@@who seest the heart and the mind, €@@let me see thy vengeance upon them, €@@@for to thee have I committed my cause. @@Sing to the LORD; €@@@praise the LORD! €@@For he has delivered the life of the needy €@@@from the hand of evildoers. @@Cursed be the day €@@@on which I was born! €@@The day when my mother bore me, €@@@let it not be blessed! @@Cursed be the man €@@@who brought the news to my father, €@@"A son is born to you," €@@@making him very glad. @@Let that man be like the cities €@@@which the LORD overthrew without pity; €@@let him hear a cry in the morning €@@@and an alarm at noon, @@because he did not kill me in the womb; €@@@so my mother would have been my grave, €@@@and her womb for ever great. @@Why did I come forth from the womb €@@@to see toil and sorrow, €@@@and spend my days in shame?  @This is the word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when King €Zedeki'ah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchi'ah and Zephani'ah the €priest, the son of Ma-asei'ah, saying, "Inquire of the LORD for us, for Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon is €making war against us; perhaps the LORD will deal with us according to €all his wonderful deeds, and will make him withdraw from us." @Then Jeremiah said to them: "Thus you shall say to Zedeki'ah, `Thus says the LORD, the God of žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’ؕ”‚Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war which are in your €hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and €against the Chalde'ans who are besieging you outside the walls; and I €will bring them together into the midst of this city. I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, €in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath. And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast; they €shall die of a great pestilence. Afterward, says the LORD, I will give Zedeki'ah king of Judah, and his €servants, and the people in this city who survive the pestilence, €sword, and famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon and €into the hand of their enemies, into the hand of those who seek their €lives. He shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not €pity them, or spare them, or have compassion.' @"And to this people you shall say: `Thus says the LORD: Behold, I set €before you the way of life and the way of death. He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by €pestilence; but he who goes out and surrenders to the Chalde'ans who €are besieging you shall live and shall have his life as a prize of war. For I have set my face against this city for evil and not for good, €says the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, €and he shall burn it with fire.' @"And to the house of the king of Judah say, `Hear the word of the €LORD, O house of David! Thus says the LORD: €@@"`Execute justice in the morning, €@@@and deliver from the hand of the oppressor €@@@him who has been robbed, €@@lest my wrath go forth like fire, €@@@and burn with none to quench it, €@@@because of your evil doings.'" @@"Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, €@@@O rock of the plain, says the LORD; €@@you who say, `Who shall come down against us, €@@@or who shall enter our habitations?' @@I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, says the €@@@@LORD; €@@@I will kindle a fire in her forest, €@@@and it shall devour all that is round about her."  @Thus says the LORD: "Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and €speak there this word, and say, `Hear the word of the LORD, O King of Judah, who sit on the €throne of David, you, and your servants, and your people who enter €these gates. Thus says the LORD: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the €hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or €violence to the alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent €blood in this place. For if you will indeed obey this word, then there shall enter the gates €of this house kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots €and on horses, they, and their servants, and their people. But if you will not heed these words, I swear by myself, says the LORD, €that this house shall become a desolation. For thus says the LORD concerning the house of the king of Judah: €@@"`You are as Gilead to me, €@@@as the summit of Lebanon, €@@yet surely I will make you a desert, €@@@an uninhabited city. @@I will prepare destroyers against you, €@@@each with his weapons; €@@and they shall cut down your choicest cedars, €@@@and cast them into the fire. @"`And many nations will pass by this city, and every man will say to €his neighbor, "Why has the LORD dealt thus with this great city?" And they will answer, "Because they forsook the covenant of the LORD €their God, and worshiped other gods and served them."'" @@Weep not for him who is dead, €@@@nor bemoan him; €@@but weep bitterly for him who goes away, €@@@for he shall return no more €@@@to see his native land. @For thus says the LORD concerning Shallum the son of Josi'ah, king of €Judah, who reigned instead of Josi'ah his father, and who went away €from this place: "He shall return here no more, but in the place where they have carried him captive, there shall he €die, and he shall never see this land again." @@"Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, €@@@and his upper rooms by injustice; €@@who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing, €@@@and does not give him his wages; @@who says, `I will build myself a great house €@@@with spacious upper rooms,' €@@and cuts out windows for it, €@@@paneling it with cedar, €@@@and painting it with vermilion. @@Do you think you are a king €@@@because you compete in cedar? €@@Did not your father eat and drink €@@@and do justice and righteousness? €@@@Then it was well with him. @@He judged the cause of the poor and needy; €@@@then it was well. €@@Is not this to know me? €@@@says the LORD. @@But you have eyes and heart €@@@only for your dishonest gain, €@@for shedding innocent blood, €@@@and for practicing oppression and violence." @Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoi'akim the son of €Josi'ah, king of Judah: €@@"They shall not lament for him, saying, €@@@`Ah my brother!' or `Ah sister!' €@@They shall not lament for him, saying, €@@@`Ah lord!' or `Ah his majesty!' @@With the burial of an ass he shall be buried, €@@@dragged and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem." @@"Go up to Lebanon, and cry out, €@@@and lift up your voice in Bashan; €@@cry from Ab'arim, €@@@for all your lovers are destroyed. @@I spoke to you in your prosperity, €@@@but you said, `I will not listen.' €@@This has been your way from your youth, €@@@that you have not obeyed my voice. @@The wind shall shepherd all your shepherds, €@@@and your lovers shall go into captivity; €@@then you will be ashamed and confounded €@@@because of all your wickedness. @@O inhabitant of Lebanon, €@@@nested among the cedars, €@@how you will groan when pangs come upon you, €@@@pain as of a woman in travail!" @"As I live, says the LORD, though Coni'ah the son of Jehoi'akim, king €of Judah, were the signet ring on my right hand, yet I would tear you €off and give you into the hand of those who seek your life, into the hand €of those of whom you are afraid, even into the hand of Nebuchadrez'zar €king of Babylon and into the hand of the Chalde'ans. I will hurl you and the mother who bore you into another country, where €you were not born, and there you shall die. But to the land to which they will long to return, there they shall not €return." @@Is this man Coni'ah a despised, broken pot, €@@@a vessel no one cares for? €@@Why are he and his children hurled and cast €@@@into a land which they do not know? @@O land, land, land, €@@@hear the word of the LORD! @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"Write this man down as childless, €@@@a man who shall not succeed in his days; €@@for none of his offspring shall succeed €@@@in sitting on the throne of David, €@@@and ruling again in Judah."  @"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my €pasture!" says the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the €shepherds who care for my people: "You have scattered my flock, and €have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I €will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries €where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and €they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall €fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, says the €LORD. @"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for €David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, €and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And €this is the name by which he will be called: `The LORD is our €righteousness.' @"Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when men €shall no longer say, `As the LORD lives who brought up the people of €Israel out of the land of Egypt,' but `As the LORD lives who brought up and led the descendants of the €house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries €where he had driven them.' Then they shall dwell in their own land." @Concerning the prophets: žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’ؗ˜‰‚@@My heart is broken within me, €@@@all my bones shake; €@@I am like a drunken man, €@@@like a man overcome by wine, €@@because of the LORD €@@@and because of his holy words. @@For the land is full of adulterers; €@@@because of the curse the land mourns, €@@@and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. €@@Their course is evil, €@@@and their might is not right. @@"Both prophet and priest are ungodly; €@@@even in my house I have found their wickedness, says the LORD. @@Therefore their way shall be to them €@@@like slippery paths in the darkness, €@@@into which they shall be driven and fall; €@@for I will bring evil upon them €@@@in the year of their punishment, says the LORD. @@In the prophets of Sama'ria €@@@I saw an unsavory thing: €@@they prophesied by Ba'al €@@@and led my people Israel astray. @@But in the prophets of Jerusalem €@@@I have seen a horrible thing: €@@they commit adultery and walk in lies; €@@@they strengthen the hands of evildoers, €@@@so that no one turns from his wickedness; €@@all of them have become like Sodom to me, €@@@and its inhabitants like Gomor'rah." @@Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets: €@@"Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, €@@@and give them poisoned water to drink; €@@for from the prophets of Jerusalem €@@@ungodliness has gone forth into all the land." @Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the €prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes; they speak €visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, `It €shall be well with you'; and to every one who stubbornly follows his €own heart, they say, `No evil shall come upon you.'" @@For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD €@@@to perceive and to hear his word, €@@@or who has given heed to his word and listened? @@Behold, the storm of the LORD! €@@@Wrath has gone forth, €@@a whirling tempest; €@@@it will burst upon the head of the wicked. @@The anger of the LORD will not turn back €@@@until he has executed and accomplished €@@@the intents of his mind. €@@In the latter days you will understand it clearly. @@"I did not send the prophets, €@@@yet they ran; €@@I did not speak to them, €@@@yet they prophesied. @@But if they had stood in my council, €@@@then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, €@@and they would have turned them from their evil way, €@@@and from the evil of their doings. @"Am I a God at hand, says the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? says €the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the LORD. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, €saying, `I have dreamed, I have dreamed!' How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy €lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams which they €tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Ba'al? Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my €word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? €says the LORD. Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer which breaks €the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who steal €my words from one another. Behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who use their tongues €and say, `Says the LORD.' Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, says the LORD, €and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their €recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them; so they do not €profit this people at all, says the LORD. @"When one of this people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, `What €is the burden of the LORD?' you shall say to them, `You are the burden, €and I will cast you off, says the LORD.' And as for the prophet, priest, or one of the people who says, `The €burden of the LORD,' I will punish that man and his household. Thus shall you say, every one to his neighbor and every one to his €brother, `What has the LORD answered?' or `What has the LORD spoken?' But `the burden of the LORD' you shall mention no more, for the burden €is every man's own word, and you pervert the words of the living God, €the LORD of hosts, our God. Thus you shall say to the prophet, `What has the LORD answered you?' or €`What has the LORD spoken?' But if you say, `The burden of the LORD,' thus says the LORD, `Because €you have said these words, "The burden of the LORD," when I sent to €you, saying, "You shall not say, `The burden of the LORD,'" therefore, behold, I will surely lift you up and cast you away from my €presence, you and the city which I gave to you and your fathers. And I will bring upon you everlasting reproach and perpetual shame, €which shall not be forgotten.'"  @After Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon had taken into exile from €Jerusalem Jeconi'ah the son of Jehoi'akim, king of Judah, together with €the princes of Judah, the craftsmen, and the smiths, and had brought €them to Babylon, the LORD showed me this vision: Behold, two baskets of €figs placed before the temple of the LORD. One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, but the other €basket had very bad figs, so bad that they could not be eaten. And the LORD said to me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I said, "Figs, €the good figs very good, and the bad figs very bad, so bad that they €cannot be eaten." @Then the word of the LORD came to me: "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will €regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this €place to the land of the Chalde'ans. I will set my eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them back to €this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant €them, and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD; and they shall be €my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with €their whole heart. @"But thus says the LORD: Like the bad figs which are so bad they €cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedeki'ah the king of Judah, his €princes, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those €who dwell in the land of Egypt. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a €reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I €shall drive them. And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they €shall be utterly destroyed from the land which I gave to them and their €fathers."  @The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in €the fourth year of Jehoi'akim the son of Josi'ah, king of Judah (that €was the first year of Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon), which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and all the €inhabitants of Jerusalem: "For twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of Josi'ah the son of €Amon, king of Judah, to this day, the word of the LORD has come to me, €and I have spoken persistently to you, but you have not listened. You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the €LORD persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets, saying, `Turn now, every one of you, from his evil way and wrong €doings, and dwell upon the land which the LORD has given to you and €your fathers from of old and for ever; do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, or provoke me to €anger with the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.' Yet you have not listened to me, says the LORD, that you might provoke €me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm. @"Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Because you have not obeyed €my words, behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, says the LORD, and €for Nebuchadrez'zar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring €them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these €nations round about; I will utterly destroy them, and make them a €horror, a hissing, and an everlasting reproach. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’ؙ˜ŠMoreover, I will banish from them the voice of mirth and the voice of €gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the €grinding of the millstones and the light of the lamp. This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations €shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of €Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chalde'ans, for their €iniquity, says the LORD, making the land an everlasting waste. I will bring upon that land all the words which I have uttered against €it, everything written in this book, which Jeremiah prophesied against €all the nations. For many nations and great kings shall make slaves even of them; and I €will recompense them according to their deeds and the work of their €hands." @Thus the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: "Take from my hand this €cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you €drink it. They shall drink and stagger and be crazed because of the sword which I €am sending among them." @So I took the cup from the LORD's hand, and made all the nations to €whom the Lord sent me drink it: Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and princes, to make them €a desolation and a waste, a hissing and a curse, as at this day; Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his princes, all his people, and all the foreign folk among them; all the kings of the land of Uz €and all the kings of the land of the Philistines (Ash'kelon, Gaza, €Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod); Edom, Moab, and the sons of Ammon; all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the €coastland across the sea; Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who cut the corners of their hair; all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the mixed tribes that €dwell in the desert; all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of €Media; all the kings of the north, far and near, one after another, and all €the kingdoms of the world which are on the face of the earth. And after €them the king of Babylon shall drink. @"Then you shall say to them, `Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of €Israel: Drink, be drunk and vomit, fall and rise no more, because of €the sword which I am sending among you.' @"And if they refuse to accept the cup from your hand to drink, then €you shall say to them, `Thus says the LORD of hosts: You must drink! For behold, I begin to work evil at the city which is called by my €name, and shall you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, for I €am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth, says the €LORD of hosts.' @"You, therefore, shall prophesy against them all these words, and €say to them: €@@`The LORD will roar from on high, €@@@and from his holy habitation utter his voice; €@@he will roar mightily against his fold, €@@@and shout, like those who tread grapes, €@@@against all the inhabitants of the earth. @@The clamor will resound to the ends of the earth, €@@@for the LORD has an indictment against the nations; €@@he is entering into judgment with all flesh, €@@@and the wicked he will put to the sword, says the LORD.' @@"Thus says the LORD of hosts: €@@Behold, evil is going forth €@@@from nation to nation, €@@and a great tempest is stirring €@@@from the farthest parts of the earth! @"And those slain by the LORD on that day shall extend from one end of €the earth to the other. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or €buried; they shall be dung on the surface of the ground. @@"Wail, you shepherds, and cry, €@@@and roll in ashes, you lords of the flock, €@@for the days of your slaughter and dispersion have come, €@@@and you shall fall like choice rams. @@No refuge will remain for the shepherds, €@@@nor escape for the lords of the flock. @@Hark, the cry of the shepherds, €@@@and the wail of the lords of the flock! €@@For the LORD is despoiling their pasture, @@@and the peaceful folds are devastated, €@@@because of the fierce anger of the LORD. @@Like a lion he has left his covert, €@@@for their land has become a waste €@@because of the sword of the oppressor, €@@@and because of his fierce anger."  @In the beginning of the reign of Jehoi'akim the son of Josi'ah, king €of Judah, this word came from the LORD, "Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak €to all the cities of Judah which come to worship in the house of the €LORD all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold €back a word. It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that €I may repent of the evil which I intend to do to them because of their €evil doings. You shall say to them, `Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to €me, to walk in my law which I have set before you, and to heed the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you €urgently, though you have not heeded, then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a €curse for all the nations of the earth.'" @The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah €speaking these words in the house of the LORD. And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded €him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and €all the people laid hold of him, saying, "You shall die! Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, `This house €shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without €inhabitant'?" And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house €of the LORD. @When the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the €king's house to the house of the LORD and took their seat in the entry €of the New Gate of the house of the LORD. Then the priests and the prophets said to the princes and to all the €people, "This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has €prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears." @Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and all the people, saying, €"The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the €words you have heard. Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of €the LORD your God, and the LORD will repent of the evil which he has €pronounced against you. But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and €right to you. Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring €innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, €for in truth the LORD sent me to you to speak all these words in your €ears." @Then the princes and all the people said to the priests and the €prophets, "This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has €spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God." And certain of the elders of the land arose and spoke to all the €assembled people, saying, "Micah of Mo'resheth prophesied in the days of Hezeki'ah king of €Judah, and said to all the people of Judah: `Thus says the €LORD of hosts, €@@Zion shall be plowed as a field; €@@@Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, €@@@and the mountain of the house a wooded height.' Did Hezeki'ah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not €fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and did not the LORD €repent of the evil which he had pronounced against them? But we are €about to bring great evil upon ourselves." @There was another man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Uri'ah €the son of Shemai'ah from Kir'iath-je'arim. He prophesied against this €city and against this land in words like those of Jeremiah. And when King Jehoi'akim, with all his warriors and all the princes, €heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Uri'ah €heard of it, he was afraid and fled and escaped to Egypt. Then King Jehoi'akim sent to Egypt certain men, Elna'than the son of €Achbor and others with him, and they fetched Uri'ah from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoi'akim, €who slew him with the sword and cast his dead body into the burial €place of the common people. @But the hand of Ahi'kam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’ؚ˜˜‚he was not given over to the people to be put to death.  @In the beginning of the reign of Zedeki'ah the son of Josi'ah, king €of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD. Thus the LORD said to me: "Make yourself thongs and yoke-bars, and put €them on your neck. Send word to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the sons €of Ammon, the king of Tyre, and the king of Sidon by the hand of the €envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedeki'ah king of Judah. Give them this charge for their masters: `Thus says the LORD of hosts, €the God of Israel: This is what you shall say to your masters: "It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the €earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to €whomever it seems right to me. Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnez'zar, the €king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of €the field to serve him. All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson, until the €time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings shall €make him their slave. @"`"But if any nation or kingdom will not serve this Nebuchadnez'zar €king of Babylon, and put its neck under the yoke of the king of €Babylon, I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine, and €with pestilence, says the LORD, until I have consumed it by his hand. So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your €soothsayers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, `You shall not €serve the king of Babylon.' For it is a lie which they are prophesying to you, with the result that €you will be removed far from your land, and I will drive you out, and €you will perish. But any nation which will bring its neck under the yoke of the king of €Babylon and serve him, I will leave on its own land, to till it and €dwell there, says the LORD."'" @To Zedeki'ah king of Judah I spoke in like manner: "Bring your necks €under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, €and live. Why will you and your people die by the sword, by famine, and by €pestilence, as the LORD has spoken concerning any nation which will not €serve the king of Babylon? Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are saying to you, `You €shall not serve the king of Babylon,' for it is a lie which they are €prophesying to you. I have not sent them, says the LORD, but they are prophesying falsely €in my name, with the result that I will drive you out and you will €perish, you and the prophets who are prophesying to you." @Then I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, "Thus €says the LORD: Do not listen to the words of your prophets who are €prophesying to you, saying, `Behold, the vessels of the LORD's house €will now shortly be brought back from Babylon,' for it is a lie which €they are prophesying to you. Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon and live. Why should €this city become a desolation? If they are prophets, and if the word of the LORD is with them, then €let them intercede with the LORD of hosts, that the vessels which are €left in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah, and €in Jerusalem may not go to Babylon. For thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, the sea, the €stands, and the rest of the vessels which are left in this city, which Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon did not take away, when he took €into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon Jeconi'ah the son of Jehoi'akim, €king of Judah, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem --thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels €which are left in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of €Judah, and in Jerusalem: They shall be carried to Babylon and remain there until the day when I €give attention to them, says the LORD. Then I will bring them back and €restore them to this place."  @In that same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedeki'ah king of €Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, Hanani'ah the son of €Azzur, the prophet from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD, €in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke €of the king of Babylon. Within two years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the €LORD's house, which Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon took away from this €place and carried to Babylon. I will also bring back to this place Jeconi'ah the son of Jehoi'akim, €king of Judah, and all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon, says €the LORD, for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon." @Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Hanani'ah the prophet in the €presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the €house of the LORD; and the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD €make the words which you have prophesied come true, and bring back to €this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the LORD, and all €the exiles. Yet hear now this word which I speak in your hearing and in the hearing €of all the people. The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, €famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet €comes to pass, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the €prophet." @Then the prophet Hanani'ah took the yoke-bars from the neck of €Jeremiah the prophet, and broke them. And Hanani'ah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, "Thus €says the LORD: Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnez'zar king of €Babylon from the neck of all the nations within two years." But €Jeremiah the prophet went his way. @Sometime after the prophet Hanani'ah had broken the yoke-bars from €off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, the word of the LORD came to €Jeremiah: "Go, tell Hanani'ah, `Thus says the LORD: You have broken wooden bars, €but I will make in their place bars of iron. For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I have put upon the €neck of all these nations an iron yoke of servitude to Nebuchadnez'zar €king of Babylon, and they shall serve him, for I have given to him even €the beasts of the field.'" And Jeremiah the prophet said to the prophet Hanani'ah, "Listen, €Hanani'ah, the LORD has not sent you, and you have made this people €trust in a lie. Therefore thus says the LORD: `Behold, I will remove you from the face €of the earth. This very year you shall die, because you have uttered €rebellion against the LORD.'" @In that same year, in the seventh month, the prophet Hanani'ah died.  @These are the words of the letter which Jeremiah the prophet sent €from Jerusalem to the elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the €prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnez'zar had taken into exile €from Jerusalem to Babylon. This was after King Jeconi'ah, and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the €princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the smiths had €departed from Jerusalem. The letter was sent by the hand of Ela'sah the son of Shaphan and €Gemari'ah the son of Hilki'ah, whom Zedeki'ah king of Judah sent to €Babylon to Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon. It said: "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom €I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and €give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; €multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and €pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your €welfare. For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your €prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not €listen to the dreams which they dream, for it is a lie which they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not €send them, says the LORD. @"For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’؝˜Š‚Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfil to you my promise and €bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare €and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes €and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have €driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from €which I sent you into exile. @"Because you have said, `The LORD has raised up prophets for us in €Babylon,' --Thus says the LORD concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, €and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your kinsmen who €did not go out with you into exile: `Thus says the LORD of hosts, Behold, I am sending on them sword, €famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like vile figs which are €so bad they cannot be eaten. I will pursue them with sword, famine, and pestilence, and will make €them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, a €terror, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have €driven them, because they did not heed my words, says the LORD, which I persistently €sent to you by my servants the prophets, but you would not listen, says €the LORD.' --Hear the word of the LORD, all you exiles whom I sent away from €Jerusalem to Babylon: `Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the €son of Kola'iah and Zedeki'ah the son of Ma-asei'ah, who are €prophesying a lie to you in my name: Behold, I will deliver them into €the hand of Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon, and he shall slay them €before your eyes. Because of them this curse shall be used by all the exiles from Judah €in Babylon: "The LORD make you like Zedeki'ah and Ahab, whom the king €of Babylon roasted in the fire," because they have committed folly in Israel, they have committed €adultery with their neighbors' wives, and they have spoken in my name €lying words which I did not command them. I am the one who knows, and I €am witness, says the LORD.'" @To Shemai'ah of Nehel'am you shall say: "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: You have sent letters €in your name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, and to Zephani'ah €the son of Ma-asei'ah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, `The LORD has made you priest instead of Jehoi'ada the priest, to have €charge in the house of the LORD over every madman who prophesies, to €put him in the stocks and collar. Now why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of An'athoth who is prophesying €to you? For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, "Your exile will be long; €build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their €produce."'" @Zephani'ah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the €prophet. Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: "Send to all the exiles, saying, `Thus says the LORD concerning €Shemai'ah of Nehel'am: Because Shemai'ah has prophesied to you when I €did not send him, and has made you trust in a lie, therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I will punish Shemai'ah of €Nehel'am and his descendants; he shall not have any one living among €this people to see the good that I will do to my people, says the LORD, €for he has talked rebellion against the LORD.'"  @The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words €that I have spoken to you. For behold, days are coming, says the LORD, when I will restore the €fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the LORD, and I will €bring them back to the land which I gave to their fathers, and they €shall take possession of it." @These are the words which the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah: @@"Thus says the LORD: €@@We have heard a cry of panic, €@@@of terror, and no peace. @@Ask now, and see, €@@@can a man bear a child? €@@Why then do I see every man €@@@with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor? €@@@Why has every face turned pale? @@Alas! that day is so great €@@@there is none like it; €@@it is a time of distress for Jacob; €@@@yet he shall be saved out of it. @"And it shall come to pass in that day, says the LORD of hosts, that €I will break the yoke from off their neck, and I will burst their €bonds, and strangers shall no more make servants of them. But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I €will raise up for them. @@"Then fear not, O Jacob my servant, says the LORD, €@@@nor be dismayed, O Israel; €@@for lo, I will save you from afar, €@@@and your offspring from the land of their captivity. €@@Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, €@@@and none shall make him afraid. @@For I am with you to save you, says the LORD; €@@I will make a full end of all the nations €@@@among whom I scattered you, €@@@but of you I will not make a full end. €@@I will chasten you in just measure, €@@@and I will by no means leave you unpunished. @@"For thus says the LORD: €@@Your hurt is incurable, €@@@and your wound is grievous. @@There is none to uphold your cause, €@@@no medicine for your wound, €@@@no healing for you. @@All your lovers have forgotten you; €@@@they care nothing for you; €@@for I have dealt you the blow of an enemy, €@@@the punishment of a merciless foe, €@@because your guilt is great, €@@@because your sins are flagrant. @@Why do you cry out over your hurt? €@@@Your pain is incurable. €@@Because your guilt is great, €@@@because your sins are flagrant, €@@@I have done these things to you. @@Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured, €@@@and all your foes, every one of them, shall go into captivity; €@@those who despoil you shall become a spoil, €@@@and all who prey on you I will make a prey. @@For I will restore health to you, €@@@and your wounds I will heal, says the LORD, €@@because they have called you an outcast: €@@@`It is Zion, for whom no one cares!' @@"Thus says the LORD: €@@Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob, €@@@and have compassion on his dwellings; €@@the city shall be rebuilt upon its mound, €@@@and the palace shall stand where it used to be. @@Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, €@@@and the voices of those who make merry. €@@I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; €@@@I will make them honored, and they shall not be small. @@Their children shall be as they were of old, €@@@and their congregation shall be established before me; €@@@and I will punish all who oppress them. @@Their prince shall be one of themselves, €@@@their ruler shall come forth from their midst; €@@I will make him draw near, and he shall approach me, €@@@for who would dare of himself to approach me? says the LORD. @@And you shall be my people, €@@@and I will be your God." @@Behold the storm of the LORD! €@@@Wrath has gone forth, €@@a whirling tempest; €@@@it will burst upon the head of the wicked. @@The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back €@@@until he has executed and accomplished €@@@the intents of his mind. €@@In the latter days you will understand this.  @"At that time, says the LORD, I will be the God of all the families €of Israel, and they shall be my people." @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"The people who survived the sword €@@@found grace in the wilderness; €@@when Israel sought for rest, @@@the LORD appeared to him from afar. €@@I have loved you with an everlasting love; €@@@therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. @@Again I will build you, and you shall be built, €@@@O virgin Israel! €@@Again you shall adorn yourself with timbrels, €@@@and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. @@Again you shall plant vineyards €@@@upon the mountains of Sama'ria; €@@the planters shall plant, €@@@and shall enjoy the fruit. @@For there shall be a day when watchmen will call €@@@in the hill country of E'phraim: €@@`Arise, and let us go up to Zion, €@@@to the LORD our God.'" @@For thus says the LORD: €@@"Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’؟—ƒ@@@and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; €@@proclaim, give praise, and say, €@@@`The LORD has saved his people, €@@@the remnant of Israel.' @@Behold, I will bring them from the north country, €@@@and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, €@@among them the blind and the lame, €@@@the woman with child and her who is in travail, together; €@@@a great company, they shall return here. @@With weeping they shall come, €@@@and with consolations I will lead them back, €@@I will make them walk by brooks of water, €@@@in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; €@@for I am a father to Israel, €@@@and E'phraim is my first-born. @@"Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, €@@@and declare it in the coastlands afar off; €@@say, `He who scattered Israel will gather him, €@@@and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.' @@For the LORD has ransomed Jacob, €@@@and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. @@They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, €@@@and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD, €@@over the grain, the wine, and the oil, €@@@and over the young of the flock and the herd; €@@their life shall be like a watered garden, €@@@and they shall languish no more. @@Then shall the maidens rejoice in the dance, €@@@and the young men and the old shall be merry. €@@I will turn their mourning into joy, €@@@I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. @@I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, €@@@and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, says the LORD." @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"A voice is heard in Ramah, €@@@lamentation and bitter weeping. €@@Rachel is weeping for her children; €@@@she refuses to be comforted for her children, €@@@because they are not." @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"Keep your voice from weeping, €@@@and your eyes from tears; €@@for your work shall be rewarded, says the LORD, €@@@and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. @@There is hope for your future, says the LORD, €@@@and your children shall come back to their own country. @@I have heard E'phraim bemoaning, €@@`Thou hast chastened me, and I was chastened, €@@@like an untrained calf; €@@bring me back that I may be restored, €@@@for thou art the LORD my God. @@For after I had turned away I repented; €@@@and after I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh; €@@I was ashamed, and I was confounded, €@@@because I bore the disgrace of my youth.' @@Is E'phraim my dear son? €@@@Is he my darling child? €@@For as often as I speak against him, €@@@I do remember him still. €@@Therefore my heart yearns for him; €@@@I will surely have mercy on him, says the LORD. @@"Set up waymarks for yourself, €@@@make yourself guideposts; €@@consider well the highway, €@@@the road by which you went. €@@Return, O virgin Israel, €@@@return to these your cities. @@How long will you waver, €@@@O faithless daughter? €@@For the LORD has created a new thing on the earth: €@@@a woman protects a man." @Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Once more they €shall use these words in the land of Judah and in its €cities, when I restore their fortunes: €@@`The LORD bless you, O habitation of righteousness, €@@@O holy hill!' And Judah and all its cities shall dwell there together, and the €farmers and those who wander with their flocks. For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will €replenish." @Thereupon I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me. @"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will sow the €house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the €seed of beast. And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up €and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring evil, so I will watch €over them to build and to plant, says the LORD. In those days they shall no longer say: €@@`The fathers have eaten sour grapes, €@@@and the children's teeth are set on edge.' But every one shall die for his own sin; each man who eats sour grapes, €his teeth shall be set on edge. @"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new €covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them €by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which €they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel €after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I €will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they €shall be my people. And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor and each his brother, €saying, `Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of €them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, €and I will remember their sin no more." @@Thus says the LORD, €@@who gives the sun for light by day €@@@and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, €@@who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar --€@@@the LORD of hosts is his name: @@"If this fixed order departs €@@@from before me, says the LORD, €@@then shall the descendants of Israel cease €@@@from being a nation before me for ever." @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"If the heavens above can be measured, €@@@and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, €@@then I will cast off all the descendants of Israel €@@@for all that they have done, says the LORD." @"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when the city shall be €rebuilt for the LORD from the tower of Han'anel to the Corner Gate. And the measuring line shall go out farther, straight to the hill €Gareb, and shall then turn to Go'ah. The whole valley of the dead bodies and the ashes, and all the fields €as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the €east, shall be sacred to the LORD. It shall not be uprooted or €overthrown any more for ever."  @The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of €Zedeki'ah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of €Nebuchadrez'zar. At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, €and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard which €was in the palace of the king of Judah. For Zedeki'ah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying, "Why do you €prophesy and say, `Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city €into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it; Zedeki'ah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the €Chalde'ans, but shall surely be given into the hand of the king of €Babylon, and shall speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye; and he shall take Zedeki'ah to Babylon, and there he shall remain until €I visit him, says the LORD; though you fight against the Chalde'ans, €you shall not succeed'?" @Jeremiah said, "The word of the LORD came to me: Behold, Han'amel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you and €say, `Buy my field which is at An'athoth, for the right of redemption €by purchase is yours.' Then Han'amel my cousin came to me in the court of the guard, in €accordance with the word of the LORD, and said to me, `Buy my field €which is at An'athoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of €possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.' Then I knew €that this was the word of the LORD. @"And I bought the field at An'athoth from Han'amel my cousin, and €weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on €scales. Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and €conditions, and the open copy; and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neri'ah son of €Mahsei'ah, in the presence of Han'amel my cousin, in the presence of €the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of €all the Jews who were sitting in the court of the guard. I charged Baruch in their presence, saying, `Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both €this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’Ø ˜Žƒearthenware vessel, that they may last for a long time. For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields €and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.' @"After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neri'ah, €I prayed to the LORD, saying: `Ah Lord GOD! It is thou who hast made the heavens and the earth by thy €great power and by thy outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for thee, who showest steadfast love to thousands, but dost requite the guilt of €fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name €is the LORD of hosts, great in counsel and mighty in deed; whose eyes are open to all the €ways of men, rewarding every man according to his ways and according to €the fruit of his doings; who hast shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day €in Israel and among all mankind, and hast made thee a name, as at this €day. Thou didst bring thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs €and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great €terror; and thou gavest them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers €to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey; and they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey thy €voice or walk in thy law; they did nothing of all thou didst command €them to do. Therefore thou hast made all this evil come upon them. Behold, the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and €because of sword and famine and pestilence the city is given into the €hands of the Chalde'ans who are fighting against it. What thou didst €speak has come to pass, and behold, thou seest it. Yet thou, O Lord GOD, hast said to me, "Buy the field for money and get €witnesses" -- though the city is given into the hands of the Chalde'ans.'" @The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for €me? Therefore, thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the €hands of the Chalde'ans and into the hand of Nebuchadrez'zar king of €Babylon, and he shall take it. The Chalde'ans who are fighting against this city shall come and set €this city on fire, and burn it, with the houses on whose roofs incense €has been offered to Ba'al and drink offerings have been poured out to €other gods, to provoke me to anger. For the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah have done nothing but evil €in my sight from their youth; the sons of Israel have done nothing but €provoke me to anger by the work of their hands, says the LORD. This city has aroused my anger and wrath, from the day it was built to €this day, so that I will remove it from my sight because of all the evil of the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah €which they did to provoke me to anger -- their kings and their princes, €their priests and their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants €of Jerusalem. They have turned to me their back and not their face; and though I have €taught them persistently they have not listened to receive instruction. They set up their abominations in the house which is called by my name, €to defile it. They built the high places of Ba'al in the valley of the son of Hinnom, €to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not €command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this €abomination, to cause Judah to sin. @"Now therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this €city of which you say, `It is given into the hand of the king of €Babylon by sword, by famine, and by pestilence': Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them €in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation; I will bring them €back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me for ever, €for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn €away from doing good to them; and I will put the fear of me in their €hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land €in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul. @"For thus says the LORD: Just as I have brought all this great evil €upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise €them. Fields shall be bought in this land of which you are saying, It is a €desolation, without man or beast; it is given into the hands of the €Chalde'ans. Fields shall be bought for money, and deeds shall be signed and sealed €and witnessed, in the land of Benjamin, in the places about Jerusalem, €and in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the €cities of the Shephe'lah, and in the cities of the Negeb; for I will €restore their fortunes, says the LORD."  @The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was €still shut up in the court of the guard: "Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to €establish it -- the LORD is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden €things which you have not known. For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of €this city and the houses of the kings of Judah which were torn down to €make a defense against the siege mounds and before the sword: The Chalde'ans are coming in to fight and to fill them with the dead €bodies of men whom I shall smite in my anger and my wrath, for I have €hidden my face from this city because of all their wickedness. Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and €reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and €rebuild them as they were at first. I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I €will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before €all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do €for them; they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all €the prosperity I provide for it. @"Thus says the LORD: In this place of which you say, `It is a waste €without man or beast,' in the cities of Judah and the streets of €Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there €shall be heard again the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the €bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who €sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD: €@@`Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, €@@@for the LORD is good, €@@@for his steadfast love endures for ever!' €For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the €LORD. @"Thus says the LORD of hosts: In this place which is waste, without €man or beast, and in all of its cities, there shall again be €habitations of shepherds resting their flocks. In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the Shephe'lah, and €in the cities of the Negeb, in the land of Benjamin, the places about €Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, flocks shall again pass under €the hands of the one who counts them, says the LORD. @"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfil the €promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to €spring forth for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness €in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell securely. €And this is the name by which it will be called: `The LORD is our €righteousness.' @"For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the €throne of the house of Israel, and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to €offer burnt offerings, to burn cereal offerings, and to make sacrifices €for ever." @The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: "Thus says the LORD: If you can break my covenant with the day and my žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’Ø”˜”‚covenant with the night, so that day and night will not come at their €appointed time, then also my covenant with David my servant may be broken, so that he €shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and my covenant with the €Levitical priests my ministers. As the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sands of the sea €cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of David my €servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to me." @The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: "Have you not observed what these people are saying, `The LORD has €rejected the two families which he chose'? Thus they have despised my €people so that they are no longer a nation in their sight. Thus says the LORD: If I have not established my covenant with day and €night and the ordinances of heaven and earth, then I will reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant and €will not choose one of his descendants to rule over the seed of €Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes, and will €have mercy upon them."  @The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when Nebuchadrez'zar €king of Babylon and all his army and all the kingdoms of the earth €under his dominion and all the peoples were fighting against Jerusalem €and all of its cities: "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Go and speak to Zedeki'ah king €of Judah and say to him, `Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this €city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with €fire. You shall not escape from his hand, but shall surely be captured and €delivered into his hand; you shall see the king of Babylon eye to eye €and speak with him face to face; and you shall go to Babylon.' Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedeki'ah king of Judah! Thus says the €LORD concerning you: `You shall not die by the sword. You shall die in peace. And as spices were burned for your fathers, the €former kings who were before you, so men shall burn spices for you and €lament for you, saying, "Alas, lord!"' For I have spoken the word, says €the LORD." @Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedeki'ah king of €Judah, in Jerusalem, when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and €against all the cities of Judah that were left, Lachish and Aze'kah; €for these were the only fortified cities of Judah that remained. @The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after King Zedeki'ah €had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to make a €proclamation of liberty to them, that every one should set free his Hebrew slaves, male and female, so €that no one should enslave a Jew, his brother. And they obeyed, all the princes and all the people who had entered €into the covenant that every one would set free his slave, male or €female, so that they would not be enslaved again; they obeyed and set €them free. But afterward they turned around and took back the male and female €slaves they had set free, and brought them into subjection as slaves. The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I made a covenant with your €fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house €of bondage, saying, `At the end of six years each of you must set free the fellow Hebrew €who has been sold to you and has served you six years; you must set him €free from your service.' But your fathers did not listen to me or €incline their ears to me. You recently repented and did what was right in my eyes by proclaiming €liberty, each to his neighbor, and you made a covenant before me in the €house which is called by my name; but then you turned around and profaned my name when each of you took €back his male and female slaves, whom you had set free according to €their desire, and you brought them into subjection to be your slaves. Therefore, thus says the LORD: You have not obeyed me by proclaiming €liberty, every one to his brother and to his neighbor; behold, I €proclaim to you liberty to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine, €says the LORD. I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the €earth. And the men who transgressed my covenant and did not keep the terms of €the covenant which they made before me, I will make like the calf which €they cut in two and passed between its parts --the princes of Judah, the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, the €priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the parts of €the calf; and I will give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand €of those who seek their lives. Their dead bodies shall be food for the €birds of the air and the beasts of the earth. And Zedeki'ah king of Judah, and his princes I will give into the hand €of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their lives, into €the hand of the army of the king of Babylon which has withdrawn from €you. Behold, I will command, says the LORD, and will bring them back to this €city; and they will fight against it, and take it, and burn it with €fire. I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without inhabitant."  @The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of €Jehoi'akim the son of Josi'ah, king of Judah: "Go to the house of the Re'chabites, and speak with them, and bring €them to the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers; then offer €them wine to drink." So I took Ja-azani'ah the son of Jeremiah, son of Habazzini'ah, and his €brothers, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Re'chabites. I brought them to the house of the LORD into the chamber of the sons of €Hanan the son of Igdali'ah, the man of God, which was near the chamber €of the princes, above the chamber of Ma-asei'ah the son of Shallum, €keeper of the threshold. Then I set before the Re'chabites pitchers full of wine, and cups; and €I said to them, "Drink wine." But they answered, "We will drink no wine, for Jon'adab the son of €Rechab, our father, commanded us, `You shall not drink wine, neither €you nor your sons for ever; you shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not €plant or have a vineyard; but you shall live in tents all your days, €that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.' We have obeyed the voice of Jon'adab the son of Rechab, our father, in €all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, ourselves, our €wives, our sons, or our daughters, and not to build houses to dwell in. We have no vineyard or field or €seed; but we have lived in tents, and have obeyed and done all that Jon'adab €our father commanded us. But when Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon came up against the land, we €said, `Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the €Chalde'ans and the army of the Syrians.' So we are living in Jerusalem." @Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the men €of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive €instruction and listen to my words? says the LORD. The command which Jon'adab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink €no wine, has been kept; and they drink none to this day, for they have €obeyed their father's command. I have spoken to you persistently, but €you have not listened to me. I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them €persistently, saying, `Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and €amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and €then you shall dwell in the land which I gave to you and your fathers.' €But you did not incline your ear or listen to me. The sons of Jon'adab the son of Rechab have kept the command which €their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me. Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: €Behold, I am bringing on Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all €the evil that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken to €them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have €not answered." @But to the house of the Re'chabites Jeremiah said, "Thus says the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’Ø£˜’‚LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command €of Jon'adab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done all that €he commanded you, therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Jon'adab the €son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me."  @In the fourth year of Jehoi'akim the son of Josi'ah, king of Judah, €this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you €against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to €you, from the days of Josi'ah until today. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I intend €to do to them, so that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I €may forgive their iniquity and their sin." @Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neri'ah, and Baruch wrote upon €a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD which €he had spoken to him. And Jeremiah ordered Baruch, saying, "I am debarred from going to the €house of the LORD; so you are to go, and on a fast day in the hearing of all the people in €the LORD's house you shall read the words of the LORD from the scroll €which you have written at my dictation. You shall read them also in the €hearing of all the men of Judah who come out of their cities. It may be that their supplication will come before the LORD, and that €every one will turn from his evil way, for great is the anger and wrath €that the LORD has pronounced against this people." And Baruch the son of Neri'ah did all that Jeremiah the prophet ordered €him about reading from the scroll the words of the LORD in the LORD's €house. @In the fifth year of Jehoi'akim the son of Josi'ah, king of Judah, in €the ninth month, all the people in Jerusalem and all the people who €came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before the €LORD. Then, in the hearing of all the people, Baruch read the words of €Jeremiah from the scroll, in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of €Gemari'ah the son of Shaphan the secretary, which was in the upper €court, at the entry of the New Gate of the LORD's house. @When Micai'ah the son of Gemari'ah, son of Shaphan, heard all the €words of the LORD from the scroll, he went down to the king's house, into the secretary's chamber; and all €the princes were sitting there: Eli'shama the secretary, Delai'ah the €son of Shemai'ah, Elna'than the son of Achbor, Gemari'ah the son of €Shaphan, Zedeki'ah the son of Hanani'ah, and all the princes. And Micai'ah told them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch €read the scroll in the hearing of the people. Then all the princes sent Jehu'di the son of Nethani'ah, son of €Shelemi'ah, son of Cushi, to say to Baruch, "Take in your hand the €scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come." So Baruch €the son of Neri'ah took the scroll in his hand and came to them. And they said to him, "Sit down and read it." So Baruch read it to them. When they heard all the words, they turned one to another in fear; and €they said to Baruch, "We must report all these words to the king." Then they asked Baruch, "Tell us, how did you write all these words? €Was it at his dictation?" Baruch answered them, "He dictated all these words to me, while I wrote €them with ink on the scroll." Then the princes said to Baruch, "Go and hide, you and Jeremiah, and €let no one know where you are." @So they went into the court to the king, having put the scroll in the €chamber of Eli'shama the secretary; and they reported all the words to €the king. Then the king sent Jehu'di to get the scroll, and he took it from the €chamber of Eli'shama the secretary; and Jehu'di read it to the king and €all the princes who stood beside the king. It was the ninth month, and the king was sitting in the winter house €and there was a fire burning in the brazier before him. As Jehu'di read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with €a penknife and throw them into the fire in the brazier, until the €entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier. Yet neither the king, nor any of his servants who heard all these €words, was afraid, nor did they rend their garments. Even when Elna'than and Delai'ah and Gemari'ah urged the king not to €burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. And the king commanded Jerah'meel the king's son and Serai'ah the son €of Az'ri-el and Shelemi'ah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the €secretary and Jeremiah the prophet, but the LORD hid them. @Now, after the king had burned the scroll with the words which Baruch €wrote at Jeremiah's dictation, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: "Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were in €the first scroll, which Jehoi'akim the king of Judah has burned. And concerning Jehoi'akim king of Judah you shall say, `Thus says the €LORD, You have burned this scroll, saying, "Why have you written in it €that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and €will cut off from it man and beast?" Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoi'akim king of Judah, He €shall have none to sit upon the throne of David, and his dead body €shall be cast out to the heat by day and the frost by night. And I will punish him and his offspring and his servants for their €iniquity; I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of €Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have €pronounced against them, but they would not hear.'" @Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, €the son of Neri'ah, who wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all €the words of the scroll which Jehoi'akim king of Judah had burned in €the fire; and many similar words were added to them.  @Zedeki'ah the son of Josi'ah, whom Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon €made king in the land of Judah, reigned instead of Coni'ah the son of €Jehoi'akim. But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to €the words of the LORD which he spoke through Jeremiah the prophet. @King Zedeki'ah sent Jehu'cal the son of Shelemi'ah, and Zephani'ah €the priest, the son of Ma-asei'ah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, €"Pray for us to the LORD our God." Now Jeremiah was still going in and out among the people, for he had €not yet been put in prison. The army of Pharaoh had come out of Egypt; and when the Chalde'ans who €were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they withdrew from €Jerusalem. @Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet: "Thus says the LORD, God of Israel: Thus shall you say to the king of €Judah who sent you to me to inquire of me, `Behold, Pharaoh's army €which came to help you is about to return to Egypt, to its own land. And the Chalde'ans shall come back and fight against this city; they €shall take it and burn it with fire. Thus says the LORD, Do not deceive yourselves, saying, "The Chalde'ans €will surely stay away from us," for they will not stay away. For even if you should defeat the whole army of Chalde'ans who are €fighting against you, and there remained of them only wounded men, €every man in his tent, they would rise up and burn this city with €fire.'" @Now when the Chalde'an army had withdrawn from Jerusalem at the €approach of Pharaoh's army, Jeremiah set out from Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to €receive his portion there among the people. When he was at the Benjamin Gate, a sentry there named Iri'jah the son €of Shelemi'ah, son of Hanani'ah, seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, €"You are deserting to the Chalde'ans." And Jeremiah said, "It is false; I am not deserting to the Chalde'ans." €But Iri'jah would not listen to him, and seized Jeremiah and brought €him to the princes. And the princes were enraged at Jeremiah, and they beat him and €imprisoned him in the house of Jonathan the secretary, for it had been €made a prison. @When Jeremiah had come to the dungeon cells, and remained there many €days, King Zedeki'ah sent for him, and received him. The king questioned him €secretly in his house, and said, "Is there any word from the LORD?" žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’Ø„˜‘ƒJeremiah said, "There is." Then he said, "You shall be delivered into €the hand of the king of Babylon." Jeremiah also said to King Zedeki'ah, "What wrong have I done to you or €your servants or this people, that you have put me in prison? Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, `The king of €Babylon will not come against you and against this land'? Now hear, I pray you, O my lord the king: let my humble plea come €before you, and do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the €secretary, lest I die there." So King Zedeki'ah gave orders, and they committed Jeremiah to the court €of the guard; and a loaf of bread was given him daily from the bakers' €street, until all the bread of the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained €in the court of the guard.  @Now Shephati'ah the son of Mattan, Gedali'ah the son of Pashhur, €Jucal the son of Shelemi'ah, and Pashhur the son of Malchi'ah heard the €words that Jeremiah was saying to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, €by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes out to the Chalde'ans €shall live; he shall have his life as a prize of war, and live. Thus says the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of €the army of the king of Babylon and be taken." Then the princes said to the king, "Let this man be put to death, for €he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city, €and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For €this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm." King Zedeki'ah said, "Behold, he is in your hands; for the king can do €nothing against you." So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchi'ah, the €king's son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down €by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mire, and €Jeremiah sank in the mire. @When E'bed-mel'ech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king's €house, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern -- the king was €sitting in the Benjamin Gate --E'bed-mel'ech went from the king's house and said to the king, "My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to €Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern; and he will die €there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city." Then the king commanded E'bed-mel'ech, the Ethiopian, "Take three men €with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern €before he dies." So E'bed-mel'ech took the men with him and went to the house of the €king, to a wardrobe of the storehouse, and took from there old rags and €worn-out clothes, which he let down to Jeremiah in the cistern by ropes. Then E'bed-mel'ech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, "Put the rags and €clothes between your armpits and the ropes." Jeremiah did so. Then they drew Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the €cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard. @King Zedeki'ah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the €third entrance of the temple of the LORD. The king said to Jeremiah, "I €will ask you a question; hide nothing from me." Jeremiah said to Zedeki'ah, "If I tell you, will you not be sure to put €me to death? And if I give you counsel, you will not listen to me." Then King Zedeki'ah swore secretly to Jeremiah, "As the LORD lives, who €made our souls, I will not put you to death or deliver you into the €hand of these men who seek your life." @Then Jeremiah said to Zedeki'ah, "Thus says the LORD, the God of €hosts, the God of Israel, If you will surrender to the princes of the €king of Babylon, then your life shall be spared, and this city shall €not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live. But if you do not surrender to the princes of the king of Babylon, then €this city shall be given into the hand of the Chalde'ans, and they €shall burn it with fire, and you shall not escape from their hand." King Zedeki'ah said to Jeremiah, "I am afraid of the Jews who have €deserted to the Chalde'ans, lest I be handed over to them and they €abuse me." Jeremiah said, "You shall not be given to them. Obey now the voice of €the LORD in what I say to you, and it shall be well with you, and your €life shall be spared. But if you refuse to surrender, this is the vision which the LORD has €shown to me: Behold, all the women left in the house of the king of Judah were €being led out to the princes of the king of Babylon and €were saying, €@@`Your trusted friends have deceived you €@@@and prevailed against you; €@@now that your feet are sunk in the mire, €@@@they turn away from you.' All your wives and your sons shall be led out to the Chalde'ans, and €you yourself shall not escape from their hand, but shall be seized by €the king of Babylon; and this city shall be burned with fire." @Then Zedeki'ah said to Jeremiah, "Let no one know of these words and €you shall not die. If the princes hear that I have spoken with you and come to you and say €to you, `Tell us what you said to the king and what the king said to €you; hide nothing from us and we will not put you to death,' then you shall say to them, `I made a humble plea to the king that he €would not send me back to the house of Jonathan to die there.'" Then all the princes came to Jeremiah and asked him, and he answered €them as the king had instructed him. So they left off speaking with €him, for the conversation had not been overheard. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard until the day that €Jerusalem was taken.  @In the ninth year of Zedeki'ah king of Judah, in the tenth month, €Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem €and besieged it; in the eleventh year of Zedeki'ah, in the fourth month, on the ninth €day of the month, a breach was made in the city. When Jerusalem was taken, all the princes of the king of Babylon came €and sat in the middle gate: Ner'gal-share'zer, Sam'gar-ne'bo, €Sar'sechim the Rab'saris, Ner'gal-share'zer the Rabmag, with all the €rest of the officers of the king of Babylon. When Zedeki'ah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled, €going out of the city at night by way of the king's garden through the €gate between the two walls; and they went toward the Arabah. But the army of the Chalde'ans pursued them, and overtook Zedeki'ah in €the plains of Jericho; and when they had taken him, they brought him up €to Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon, at Riblah, in the land of Hamath; €and he passed sentence upon him. The king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedeki'ah at Riblah before his €eyes; and the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah. He put out the eyes of Zedeki'ah, and bound him in fetters to take him €to Babylon. The Chalde'ans burned the king's house and the house of the people, and €broke down the walls of Jerusalem. Then Nebu'zarad'an, the captain of the guard, carried into exile to €Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had €deserted to him, and the people who remained. Nebu'zarad'an, the captain of the guard, left in the land of Judah some €of the poor people who owned nothing, and gave them vineyards and €fields at the same time. @Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon gave command concerning Jeremiah €through Nebu'zarad'an, the captain of the guard, saying, "Take him, look after him well and do him no harm, but deal with him as €he tells you." So Nebu'zarad'an the captain of the guard, Nebushaz'ban the Rab'saris, €Ner'gal-share'zer the Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of €Babylon sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard. They entrusted him €to Gedali'ah the son of Ahi'kam, son of Shaphan, that he should take €him home. So he dwelt among the people. @The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the €court of the guard: "Go, and say to E'bed-mel'ech the Ethiopian, `Thus says the LORD of €hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfil my words against this €city for evil and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before €you on that day. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’ا˜‘But I will deliver you on that day, says the LORD, and you shall not be €given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but €you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your €trust in me, says the LORD.'"  @The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebu'zarad'an the €captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he took him bound €in chains along with all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were €being exiled to Babylon. The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, "The LORD your €God pronounced this evil against this place; the LORD has brought it about, and has done as he said. Because you €sinned against the LORD, and did not obey his voice, this thing has €come upon you. Now, behold, I release you today from the chains on your hands. If it €seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look €after you well; but if it seems wrong to you to come with me to €Babylon, do not come. See, the whole land is before you; go wherever €you think it good and right to go. If you remain, then return to Gedali'ah the son of Ahi'kam, son of €Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed governor of the cities of €Judah, and dwell with him among the people; or go wherever you think it €right to go." So the captain of the guard gave him an allowance of food €and a present, and let him go. Then Jeremiah went to Gedali'ah the son of Ahi'kam, at Mizpah, and €dwelt with him among the people who were left in the land. @When all the captains of the forces in the open country and their men €heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedali'ah the son of €Ahi'kam governor in the land, and had committed to him men, women, and €children, those of the poorest of the land who had not been taken into €exile to Babylon, they went to Gedali'ah at Mizpah -- Ish'mael the son of Nethani'ah, €Joha'nan the son of Kare'ah, Serai'ah the son of Tanhu'meth, the sons €of Ephai the Netoph'athite, Jezani'ah the son of the Ma-ac'athite, they €and their men. Gedali'ah the son of Ahi'kam, son of Shaphan, swore to them and their €men, saying, "Do not be afraid to serve the Chalde'ans. Dwell in the €land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. As for me, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand for you before the €Chalde'ans who will come to us; but as for you, gather wine and summer €fruits and oil, and store them in your vessels, and dwell in your €cities that you have taken." Likewise, when all the Jews who were in Moab and among the Ammonites €and in Edom and in other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left €a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedali'ah the son of Ahi'kam, son €of Shaphan, as governor over them, then all the Jews returned from all the places to which they had been €driven and came to the land of Judah, to Gedali'ah at Mizpah; and they €gathered wine and summer fruits in great abundance. @Now Joha'nan the son of Kare'ah and all the leaders of the forces in €the open country came to Gedali'ah at Mizpah and said to him, "Do you know that Ba'alis the king of the Ammonites €has sent Ish'mael the son of Nethani'ah to take your life?" But €Gedali'ah the son of Ahi'kam would not believe them. Then Joha'nan the son of Kare'ah spoke secretly to Gedali'ah at Mizpah, €"Let me go and slay Ish'mael the son of Nethani'ah, and no one will €know it. Why should he take your life, so that all the Jews who are €gathered about you would be scattered, and the remnant of Judah would €perish?" But Gedali'ah the son of Ahi'kam said to Joha'nan the son of Kare'ah, €"You shall not do this thing, for you are speaking falsely of Ish'mael."  @In the seventh month, Ish'mael the son of Nethani'ah, son of €Eli'shama, of the royal family, one of the chief officers of the king, €came with ten men to Gedali'ah the son of Ahi'kam, at Mizpah. As they €ate bread together there at Mizpah, Ish'mael the son of Nethani'ah and the ten men with him rose up and €struck down Gedali'ah the son of Ahi'kam, son of Shaphan, with the €sword, and killed him, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor €in the land. Ish'mael also slew all the Jews who were with Gedali'ah at Mizpah, and €the Chalde'an soldiers who happened to be there. @On the day after the murder of Gedali'ah, before any one knew of it, eighty men arrived from Shechem and Shiloh and Sama'ria, with their €beards shaved and their clothes torn, and their bodies gashed, bringing €cereal offerings and incense to present at the temple of the LORD. And Ish'mael the son of Nethani'ah came out from Mizpah to meet them, €weeping as he came. As he met them, he said to them, "Come in to €Gedali'ah the son of Ahi'kam." When they came into the city, Ish'mael the son of Nethani'ah and the €men with him slew them, and cast them into a cistern. But there were ten men among them who said to Ish'mael, "Do not kill €us, for we have stores of wheat, barley, oil, and honey hidden in the €fields." So he refrained and did not kill them with their companions. @Now the cistern into which Ish'mael cast all the bodies of the men €whom he had slain was the large cistern which King Asa had made for €defense against Ba'asha king of Israel; Ish'mael the son of Nethani'ah €filled it with the slain. Then Ish'mael took captive all the rest of the people who were in €Mizpah, the king's daughters and all the people who were left at €Mizpah, whom Nebu'zarad'an, the captain of the guard, had committed to €Gedali'ah the son of Ahi'kam. Ish'mael the son of Nethani'ah took them €captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites. @But when Joha'nan the son of Kare'ah and all the leaders of the €forces with him heard of all the evil which Ish'mael the son of €Nethani'ah had done, they took all their men and went to fight against Ish'mael the son of €Nethani'ah. They came upon him at the great pool which is in Gibeon. And when all the people who were with Ish'mael saw Joha'nan the son of €Kare'ah and all the leaders of the forces with him, they rejoiced. So all the people whom Ish'mael had carried away captive from Mizpah €turned about and came back, and went to Joha'nan the son of Kare'ah. But Ish'mael the son of Nethani'ah escaped from Joha'nan with eight €men, and went to the Ammonites. Then Joha'nan the son of Kare'ah and all the leaders of the forces with €him took all the rest of the people whom Ish'mael the son of Nethani'ah €had carried away captive from Mizpah after he had slain Gedali'ah the €son of Ahi'kam -- soldiers, women, children, and eunuchs, whom Joha'nan €brought back from Gibeon. And they went and stayed at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem, intending to €go to Egypt because of the Chalde'ans; for they were afraid of them, because €Ish'mael the son of Nethani'ah had slain Gedali'ah the son of Ahi'kam, €whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.  @Then all the commanders of the forces, and Joha'nan the son of €Kare'ah and Azari'ah the son of Hoshai'ah, and all the people from the €least to the greatest, came near and said to Jeremiah the prophet, "Let our supplication come before €you, and pray to the LORD your God for us, for all this remnant (for we €are left but a few of many, as your eyes see us), that the LORD your God may show us the way we should go, and the thing €that we should do." Jeremiah the prophet said to them, "I have heard you; behold, I will €pray to the LORD your God according to your request, and whatever the €LORD answers you I will tell you; I will keep nothing back from you." Then they said to Jeremiah, "May the LORD be a true and faithful €witness against us if we do not act according to all the word with €which the LORD your God sends you to us. Whether it is good or evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God €to whom we are sending you, that it may be well with us when we obey €the voice of the LORD our God." @At the end of ten days the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah. Then he summoned Joha'nan the son of Kare'ah and all the commanders of žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’ØŖ˜ˆ‚the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least to the €greatest, and said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you €sent me to present your supplication before him: If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull €you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I repent of the €evil which I did to you. Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid; do not fear €him, says the LORD, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you €from his hand. I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you €remain in your own land. But if you say, `We will not remain in this land,' disobeying the voice €of the LORD your God and saying, `No, we will go to the land of Egypt, where we shall not €see war, or hear the sound of the trumpet, or be hungry for bread, and €we will dwell there,' then hear the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah. Thus says the LORD €of hosts, the God of Israel: If you set your faces to enter Egypt and €go to live there, then the sword which you fear shall overtake you there in the land of €Egypt; and the famine of which you are afraid shall follow hard after €you to Egypt; and there you shall die. All the men who set their faces to go to Egypt to live there shall die €by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; they shall have no remnant €or survivor from the evil which I will bring upon them. @"For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: As my anger and €my wrath were poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so my wrath €will be poured out on you when you go to Egypt. You shall become an €execration, a horror, a curse, and a taunt. You shall see this place no €more. The LORD has said to you, O remnant of Judah, `Do not go to Egypt.' €Know for a certainty that I have warned you this day that you have gone astray at the cost of your lives. For you sent me to €the LORD your God, saying, `Pray for us to the LORD our God, and €whatever the LORD our God says declare to us and we will do it.' And I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed the €voice of the LORD your God in anything that he sent me to tell you. Now therefore know for a certainty that you shall die by the sword, by €famine, and by pestilence in the place where you desire to go to live."  @When Jeremiah finished speaking to all the people all these words of €the LORD their God, with which the LORD their God had sent him to them, Azari'ah the son of Hoshai'ah and Joha'nan the son of Kare'ah and all €the insolent men said to Jeremiah, "You are telling a lie. The LORD our €God did not send you to say, `Do not go to Egypt to live there'; but Baruch the son of Neri'ah has set you against us, to deliver us €into the hand of the Chalde'ans, that they may kill us or take us into €exile in Babylon." So Joha'nan the son of Kare'ah and all the commanders of the forces and €all the people did not obey the voice of the LORD, to remain in the €land of Judah. But Joha'nan the son of Kare'ah and all the commanders of the forces €took all the remnant of Judah who had returned to live in the land of €Judah from all the nations to which they had been driven --the men, the women, the children, the princesses, and every person whom €Nebu'zarad'an the captain of the guard had left with Gedali'ah the son €of Ahi'kam, son of Shaphan; also Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the €son of Neri'ah. And they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice €of the LORD. And they arrived at Tah'panhes. @Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in Tah'panhes: "Take in your hands large stones, and hide them in the mortar in the €pavement which is at the entrance to Pharaoh's palace in Tah'panhes, in €the sight of the men of Judah, and say to them, `Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: €Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrez'zar the king of Babylon, my €servant, and he will set his throne above these stones which I have €hid, and he will spread his royal canopy over them. He shall come and smite the land of Egypt, giving to the pestilence €those who are doomed to the pestilence, to captivity those who are €doomed to captivity, and to the sword those who are doomed to the sword. He shall kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt; and he €shall burn them and carry them away captive; and he shall clean the €land of Egypt, as a shepherd cleans his cloak of vermin; and he shall €go away from there in peace. He shall break the obelisks of Heliop'olis which is in the land of €Egypt; and the temples of the gods of Egypt he shall burn with fire.'"  @The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews that dwelt in €the land of Egypt, at Migdol, at Tah'panhes, at Memphis, and in the €land of Pathros, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: You have seen all the €evil that I brought upon Jerusalem and upon all the cities of Judah. €Behold, this day they are a desolation, and no one dwells in them, because of the wickedness which they committed, provoking me to anger, €in that they went to burn incense and serve other gods that they knew €not, neither they, nor you, nor your fathers. Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, €'Oh, do not do this abominable thing that I hate!' But they did not listen or incline their ear, to turn from their €wickedness and burn no incense to other gods. Therefore my wrath and my anger were poured forth and kindled in the €cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they became a €waste and a desolation, as at this day. And now thus says the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel: Why do you €commit this great evil against yourselves, to cut off from you man and €woman, infant and child, from the midst of Judah, leaving you no €remnant? Why do you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, burning €incense to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have come to live, €that you may be cut off and become a curse and a taunt among all the €nations of the earth? Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, the wickedness of €the kings of Judah, the wickedness of their wives, your own wickedness, €and the wickedness of your wives, which they committed in the land of €Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? They have not humbled themselves even to this day, nor have they €feared, nor walked in my law and my statutes which I set before you and €before your fathers. @"Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I €will set my face against you for evil, to cut off all Judah. I will take the remnant of Judah who have set their faces to come to €the land of Egypt to live, and they shall all be consumed; in the land €of Egypt they shall fall; by the sword and by famine they shall be €consumed; from the least to the greatest, they shall die by the sword €and by famine; and they shall become an execration, a horror, a curse, €and a taunt. I will punish those who dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished €Jerusalem, with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, so that none of the remnant of Judah who have come to live in the land €of Egypt shall escape or survive or return to the land of Judah, to €which they desire to return to dwell there; for they shall not return, €except some fugitives." @Then all the men who knew that their wives had offered incense to €other gods, and all the women who stood by, a great assembly, all the €people who dwelt in Pathros in the land of Egypt, answered Jeremiah: "As for the word which you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, €we will not listen to you. But we will do everything that we have vowed, burn incense to the queen €of heaven and pour out libations to her, as we did, both we and our €fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah and in the €streets of Jerusalem; for then we had plenty of food, and prospered, €and saw no evil. But since we left off burning incense to the queen of heaven and €pouring out libations to her, we have lacked everything and have been €consumed by the sword and by famine." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’ج˜“And the women said, "When we burned incense to the queen of heaven and €poured out libations to her, was it without our husbands' approval that €we made cakes for her bearing her image and poured out libations to €her?" @Then Jeremiah said to all the people, men and women, all the people €who had given him this answer: "As for the incense that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the €streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your €princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember it? Did €it not come into his mind? The LORD could no longer bear your evil doings and the abominations €which you committed; therefore your land has become a desolation and a €waste and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is this day. It is because you burned incense, and because you sinned against the €LORD and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in his law and in €his statutes and in his testimonies, that this evil has befallen you, €as at this day." @Jeremiah said to all the people and all the women, "Hear the word of €the LORD, all you of Judah who are in the land of Egypt, Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: You and your wives have €declared with your mouths, and have fulfilled it with your hands, €saying, `We will surely perform our vows that we have made, to burn €incense to the queen of heaven and to pour out libations to her.' Then €confirm your vows and perform your vows! Therefore hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who dwell in the €land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great name, says the LORD, €that my name shall no more be invoked by the mouth of any man of Judah €in all the land of Egypt, saying, `As the Lord GOD lives.' Behold, I am watching over them for evil and not for good; all the men €of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword €and by famine, until there is an end of them. And those who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt to €the land of Judah, few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, who €came to the land of Egypt to live, shall know whose word will stand, €mine or theirs. This shall be the sign to you, says the LORD, that I will punish you in €this place, in order that you may know that my words will surely stand €against you for evil: Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt €into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those who seek his €life, as I gave Zedeki'ah king of Judah into the hand of €Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon, who was his enemy and sought his life."  @The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of €Neri'ah, when he wrote these words in a book at the dictation of €Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoi'akim the son of Josi'ah, king of €Judah: "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: You said, `Woe is me! for the LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am €weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.' Thus shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD: Behold, what I have €built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking €up -- that is, the whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not; for, behold, €I am bringing evil upon all flesh, says the LORD; but I will give you €your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go."  @The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning €the nations. @About Egypt. Concerning the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, €which was by the river Euphra'tes at Car'chemish and which €Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of €Jehoi'akim the son of Josi'ah, king of Judah: @@"Prepare buckler and shield, €@@@and advance for battle! @@Harness the horses; €@@@mount, O horsemen! €@@Take your stations with your helmets, €@@@polish your spears, €@@@put on your coats of mail! @@Why have I seen it? €@@They are dismayed €@@@and have turned backward. €@@Their warriors are beaten down, €@@@and have fled in haste; €@@they look not back --€@@@terror on every side! says the LORD. @@The swift cannot flee away, €@@@nor the warrior escape; €@@in the north by the river Euphra'tes €@@@they have stumbled and fallen. @@"Who is this, rising like the Nile, €@@@like rivers whose waters surge? @@Egypt rises like the Nile, €@@@like rivers whose waters surge. €@@He said, I will rise, I will cover the earth, €@@@I will destroy cities and their inhabitants. @@Advance, O horses, €@@@and rage, O chariots! €@@Let the warriors go forth: €@@@men of Ethiopia and Put who handle the shield, €@@@men of Lud, skilled in handling the bow. @@That day is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, €@@@a day of vengeance, €@@@to avenge himself on his foes. €@@The sword shall devour and be sated, €@@@and drink its fill of their blood. €@@For the Lord GOD of hosts holds a sacrifice €@@@in the north country by the river Euphra'tes. @@Go up to Gilead, and take balm, €@@@O virgin daughter of Egypt! €@@In vain you have used many medicines; €@@@there is no healing for you. @@The nations have heard of your shame, €@@@and the earth is full of your cry; €@@for warrior has stumbled against warrior; €@@@they have both fallen together." @The word which the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the €coming of Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon to smite the land of Egypt: @@"Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol; €@@@proclaim in Memphis and Tah'panhes; €@@Say, `Stand ready and be prepared, €@@@for the sword shall devour round about you.' @@Why has Apis fled? €@@@Why did not your bull stand? €@@@Because the LORD thrust him down. @@Your multitude stumbled and fell, €@@@and they said one to another, €@@`Arise, and let us go back to our own people €@@@and to the land of our birth, €@@@because of the sword of the oppressor.' @@Call the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, €@@@`Noisy one who lets the hour go by.' @@"As I live, says the King, €@@@whose name is the LORD of hosts, €@@like Tabor among the mountains, €@@@and like Carmel by the sea, shall one come. @@Prepare yourselves baggage for exile, €@@@O inhabitants of Egypt! €@@For Memphis shall become a waste, €@@@a ruin, without inhabitant. @@"A beautiful heifer is Egypt, €@@@but a gadfly from the north has come upon her. @@Even her hired soldiers in her midst €@@@are like fatted calves; €@@yea, they have turned and fled together, €@@@they did not stand; €@@for the day of their calamity has come upon them, €@@@the time of their punishment. @@"She makes a sound like a serpent gliding away; €@@@for her enemies march in force, €@@and come against her with axes, €@@@like those who fell trees. @@They shall cut down her forest, says the LORD, €@@@though it is impenetrable, €@@because they are more numerous €@@@than locusts; €@@@they are without number. @@The daughter of Egypt shall be put to shame, €@@@she shall be delivered into the hand of a people from the north." @The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, said: "Behold, I am bringing €punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh, and Egypt and her gods and €her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him. I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into €the hand of Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon and his officers. Afterward €Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old, says the LORD. @@"But fear not, O Jacob my servant, €@@@nor be dismayed, O Israel; €@@for lo, I will save you from afar, €@@@and your offspring from the land of their captivity. €@@Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, €@@@and none shall make him afraid. @@Fear not, O Jacob my servant, says the LORD, €@@@for I am with you. €@@I will make a full end of all the nations €@@@to which I have driven you, €@@@but of you I will not make a full end. €@@I will chasten you in just measure, €@@@and I will by no means leave you unpunished."  @The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the €Philistines, before Pharaoh smote Gaza. @@"Thus says the LORD: €@@Behold, waters are rising out of the north, €@@@and shall become an overflowing torrent; €@@they shall overflow the land and all that fills it, €@@@the city and those who dwell in it. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’؃†@@Men shall cry out, €@@@and every inhabitant of the land shall wail. @@At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions, €@@@at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels, €@@the fathers look not back to their children, €@@@so feeble are their hands, @@because of the day that is coming to destroy €@@@all the Philistines, €@@to cut off from Tyre and Sidon €@@@every helper that remains. €@@For the LORD is destroying the Philistines, €@@@the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor. @@Baldness has come upon Gaza, €@@@Ash'kelon has perished. €@@O remnant of the Anakim, €@@@how long will you gash yourselves? @@Ah, sword of the LORD! €@@@How long till you are quiet? €@@Put yourself into your scabbard, €@@@rest and be still! @@How can it be quiet, €@@@when the LORD has given it a charge? €@@Against Ash'kelon and against the seashore €@@@he has appointed it."  @Concerning Moab. €Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: €@@"Woe to Nebo, for it is laid waste! €@@@Kiriatha'im is put to shame, it is taken; €@@the fortress is put to shame and broken down; @@@the renown of Moab is no more. €@@In Heshbon they planned evil against her: €@@@`Come, let us cut her off from being a nation!' €@@You also, O Madmen, shall be brought to silence; €@@@the sword shall pursue you. @@"Hark! a cry from Horona'im, €@@@`Desolation and great destruction!' @@Moab is destroyed; €@@@a cry is heard as far as Zo'ar. @@For at the ascent of Luhith €@@@they go up weeping; €@@for at the descent of Horona'im €@@@they have heard the cry of destruction. @@Flee! Save yourselves! €@@@Be like a wild ass in the desert! @@For, because you trusted in your strongholds and your treasures, €@@@you also shall be taken; €@@and Chemosh shall go forth into exile, €@@@with his priests and his princes. @@The destroyer shall come upon every city, €@@@and no city shall escape; €@@the valley shall perish, €@@@and the plain shall be destroyed, €@@@as the LORD has spoken. @@"Give wings to Moab, €@@@for she would fly away; €@@her cities shall become a desolation, €@@@with no inhabitant in them. @"Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness; and €cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed. @@"Moab has been at ease from his youth €@@@and has settled on his lees; €@@he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, €@@@nor has he gone into exile; €@@so his taste remains in him, €@@@and his scent is not changed. @"Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I shall €send to him tilters who will tilt him, and empty his vessels, and break €his jars in pieces. Then Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was €ashamed of Bethel, their confidence. @@"How do you say, `We are heroes €@@@and mighty men of war'? @@The destroyer of Moab and his cities has come up, €@@@and the choicest of his young men have gone down to slaughter, €@@@says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts. @@The calamity of Moab is near at hand €@@@and his affliction hastens apace. @@Bemoan him, all you who are round about him, €@@@and all who know his name; €@@say, `How the mighty scepter is broken, €@@@the glorious staff.' @@"Come down from your glory, €@@@and sit on the parched ground, €@@@O inhabitant of Dibon! €@@For the destroyer of Moab has come up against you; €@@@he has destroyed your strongholds. @@Stand by the way and watch, €@@@O inhabitant of Aro'er! €@@Ask him who flees and her who escapes; €@@@say, `What has happened?' @@Moab is put to shame, for it is broken; €@@@wail and cry! €@@Tell it by the Arnon, €@@@that Moab is laid waste. @"Judgment has come upon the tableland, upon Holon, and Jahzah, and €Meph'a-ath, and Dibon, and Nebo, and Beth-diblatha'im, and Kiriatha'im, and Beth-ga'mul, and Beth-me'on, and Ker'i-oth, and Bozrah, and all the cities of the land of Moab, far €and near. The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, says the LORD. @"Make him drunk, because he magnified himself against the LORD; so €that Moab shall wallow in his vomit, and he too shall be held in €derision. Was not Israel a derision to you? Was he found among thieves, that €whenever you spoke of him you wagged your head? @@"Leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, €@@@O inhabitants of Moab! €@@Be like the dove that nests €@@@in the sides of the mouth of a gorge. @@We have heard of the pride of Moab --€@@@he is very proud --€@@of his loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance, €@@@and the haughtiness of his heart. @@I know his insolence, says the LORD; €@@@his boasts are false, €@@@his deeds are false. @@Therefore I wail for Moab; €@@@I cry out for all Moab; €@@@for the men of Kir-he'res I mourn. @@More than for Jazer I weep for you, €@@@O vine of Sibmah! €@@Your branches passed over the sea, €@@@reached as far as Jazer; €@@upon your summer fruits and your vintage €@@@the destroyer has fallen. @@Gladness and joy have been taken away €@@@from the fruitful land of Moab; €@@I have made the wine cease from the wine presses; €@@@no one treads them with shouts of joy; €@@@the shouting is not the shout of joy. @"Heshbon and Ele-a'leh cry out; as far as Jahaz they utter their €voice, from Zo'ar to Horona'im and Eg'lath-shelish'iyah. For the waters €of Nimrim also have become desolate. And I will bring to an end in Moab, says the LORD, him who offers €sacrifice in the high place and burns incense to his god. Therefore my heart moans for Moab like a flute, and my heart moans like €a flute for the men of Kir-he'res; therefore the riches they gained €have perished. @"For every head is shaved and every beard cut off; upon all the hands €are gashes, and on the loins is sackcloth. On all the housetops of Moab and in the squares there is nothing but €lamentation; for I have broken Moab like a vessel for which no one €cares, says the LORD. How it is broken! How they wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! €So Moab has become a derision and a horror to all that are round about €him." @@For thus says the LORD: €@@"Behold, one shall fly swiftly like an eagle, €@@@and spread his wings against Moab; @@the cities shall be taken €@@@and the strongholds seized. €@@The heart of the warriors of Moab shall be in that day €@@@like the heart of a woman in her pangs; @@Moab shall be destroyed and be no longer a people, €@@@because he magnified himself against the LORD. @@Terror, pit, and snare €@@@are before you, O inhabitant of Moab! says the LORD. @@He who flees from the terror €@@@shall fall into the pit, €@@and he who climbs out of the pit €@@@shall be caught in the snare. €@@For I will bring these things upon Moab €@@@in the year of their punishment, says the LORD. @@"In the shadow of Heshbon €@@@fugitives stop without strength; €@@for a fire has gone forth from Heshbon, €@@@a flame from the house of Sihon; €@@it has destroyed the forehead of Moab, €@@@the crown of the sons of tumult. @@Woe to you, O Moab! €@@@The people of Chemosh is undone; €@@for your sons have been taken captive, €@@@and your daughters into captivity. @@Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab €@@@in the latter days, says the LORD." €@@Thus far is the judgment on Moab.  @Concerning the Ammonites. €@@@Thus says the LORD: €@@"Has Israel no sons? €@@@Has he no heir? €@@Why then has Milcom dispossessed Gad, €@@@and his people settled in its cities? @@Therefore, behold, the days are coming, €@@@says the LORD, €@@when I will cause the battle cry to be heard €@@@against Rabbah of the Ammonites; €@@it shall become a desolate mound, €@@@and its villages shall be burned with fire; €@@then Israel shall dispossess those who dispossessed him, €@@@says the LORD. @@"Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! €@@@Cry, O daughters of Rabbah! €@@Gird yourselves with sackcloth, €@@@lament, and run to and fro among the hedges! €@@For Milcom shall go into exile, €@@@with his priests and his princes. @@Why do you boast of your valleys, €@@@O faithless daughter, €@@who trusted in her treasures, saying, €@@@`Who will come against me?' @@Behold, I will bring terror upon you, €@@@says the Lord GOD of hosts, €@@@from all who are round about you, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’ر•„@@and you shall be driven out, every man straight before him, €@@@with none to gather the fugitives. @But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites, says the €LORD." @@Concerning Edom. €@@Thus says the LORD of hosts: €@@"Is wisdom no more in Teman? €@@@Has counsel perished from the prudent? €@@@Has their wisdom vanished? @@Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths, €@@@O inhabitants of Dedan! €@@For I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, €@@@the time when I punish him. @@If grape-gatherers came to you, €@@@would they not leave gleanings? €@@If thieves came by night, €@@@would they not destroy only enough for themselves? @@But I have stripped Esau bare, €@@@I have uncovered his hiding places, €@@@and he is not able to conceal himself. €@@His children are destroyed, and his brothers, €@@@and his neighbors; and he is no more. @@Leave your fatherless children, I will keep them alive; €@@@and let your widows trust in me." @For thus says the LORD: "If those who did not deserve to drink the €cup must drink it, will you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, €but you must drink. For I have sworn by myself, says the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a €horror, a taunt, a waste, and a curse; and all her cities shall be €perpetual wastes." @@I have heard tidings from the LORD, €@@@and a messenger has been sent among the nations: €@@"Gather yourselves together and come against her, €@@@and rise up for battle!" @@For behold, I will make you small among the nations, €@@@despised among men. @@The horror you inspire has deceived you, €@@@and the pride of your heart, €@@you who live in the clefts of the rock, €@@@who hold the height of the hill. €@@Though you make your nest as high as the eagle's, €@@@I will bring you down from there, says the LORD. @"Edom shall become a horror; every one who passes by it will be €horrified and will hiss because of all its disasters. As when Sodom and Gomor'rah and their neighbor cities were overthrown, €says the LORD, no man shall dwell there, no man shall sojourn in her. Behold, like a lion coming up from the jungle of the Jordan against a €strong sheepfold, I will suddenly make them run away from her; and I €will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will €summon me? What shepherd can stand before me? Therefore hear the plan which the LORD has made against Edom and the €purposes which he has formed against the inhabitants of Teman: Even the €little ones of the flock shall be dragged away; surely their fold shall €be appalled at their fate. At the sound of their fall the earth shall tremble; the sound of their €cry shall be heard at the Red Sea. Behold, one shall mount up and fly swiftly like an eagle, and spread €his wings against Bozrah, and the heart of the warriors of Edom shall €be in that day like the heart of a woman in her pangs." @@Concerning Damascus. €@@"Hamath and Arpad are confounded, €@@@for they have heard evil tidings; €@@they melt in fear, they are troubled like the sea €@@@which cannot be quiet. @@Damascus has become feeble, she turned to flee, €@@@and panic seized her; €@@anguish and sorrows have taken hold of her, €@@@as of a woman in travail. @@How the famous city is forsaken, €@@@the joyful city! @@Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, €@@@and all her soldiers shall be destroyed in that day, says the €@@@@LORD of hosts. @@And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, €@@@and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-ha'dad." Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor which Nebuchadrez'zar €king of Babylon smote. €@@Thus says the LORD: €@@"Rise up, advance against Kedar! €@@@Destroy the people of the east! @@Their tents and their flocks shall be taken, €@@@their curtains and all their goods; €@@their camels shall be borne away from them, €@@@and men shall cry to them: `Terror on every side!' @@Flee, wander far away, dwell in the depths, €@@@O inhabitants of Hazor! says the LORD. €@@For Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon €@@@has made a plan against you, €@@@and formed a purpose against you. @@"Rise up, advance against a nation at ease, €@@@that dwells securely, says the LORD, €@@that has no gates or bars, €@@@that dwells alone. @@Their camels shall become booty, €@@@their herds of cattle a spoil. €@@I will scatter to every wind €@@@those who cut the corners of their hair, €@@and I will bring their calamity €@@@from every side of them, says the LORD. @@Hazor shall become a haunt of jackals, €@@@an everlasting waste; €@@no man shall dwell there, €@@@no man shall sojourn in her." @The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning €Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedeki'ah king of Judah. @Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, €the mainstay of their might; and I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters of €heaven; and I will scatter them to all those winds, and there shall be €no nation to which those driven out of Elam shall not come. I will terrify Elam before their enemies, and before those who seek €their life; I will bring evil upon them, my fierce anger, says the €LORD. I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them; and I will set my throne in Elam, and destroy their king and princes, €says the LORD. @"But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, says the €LORD."  @The word which the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land €of the Chalde'ans, by Jeremiah the prophet: @@"Declare among the nations and proclaim, €@@@set up a banner and proclaim, €@@@conceal it not, and say: €@@`Babylon is taken, €@@@Bel is put to shame, €@@@Mer'odach is dismayed. €@@Her images are put to shame, €@@@her idols are dismayed.' @"For out of the north a nation has come up against her, which shall €make her land a desolation, and none shall dwell in it; both man and €beast shall flee away. @"In those days and in that time, says the LORD, the people of Israel €and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come; and €they shall seek the LORD their God. They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, €`Come, let us join ourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant €which will never be forgotten.' @"My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them €astray, turning them away on the mountains; from mountain to hill they €have gone, they have forgotten their fold. All who found them have devoured them, and their enemies have said, `We €are not guilty, for they have sinned against the LORD, their true €habitation, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.' @"Flee from the midst of Babylon, and go out of the land of the €Chalde'ans, and be as he-goats before the flock. For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon a company of €great nations, from the north country; and they shall array themselves €against her; from there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a €skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed. Chalde'a shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, says €the LORD. @@"Though you rejoice, though you exult, €@@@O plunderers of my heritage, €@@though you are wanton as a heifer at grass, €@@@and neigh like stallions, @@your mother shall be utterly shamed, €@@@and she who bore you shall be disgraced. €@@Lo, she shall be the last of the nations, €@@@a wilderness dry and desert. @@Because of the wrath of the LORD she shall not be inhabited, €@@@but shall be an utter desolation; €@@every one who passes by Babylon shall be appalled, €@@@and hiss because of all her wounds. @@Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, €@@@all you that bend the bow; €@@shoot at her, spare no arrows, €@@@for she has sinned against the LORD. @@Raise a shout against her round about, €@@@she has surrendered; €@@her bulwarks have fallen, €@@@her walls are thrown down. €@@For this is the vengeance of the LORD: €@@@take vengeance on her, €@@@do to her as she has done. @@Cut off from Babylon the sower, €@@@and the one who handles the sickle in time of harvest; €@@because of the sword of the oppressor, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’ز˜„@@@every one shall turn to his own people, €@@@and every one shall flee to his own land. @"Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of €Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon €has gnawed his bones. Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am €bringing punishment on the king of Babylon and his land, as I punished €the king of Assyria. I will restore Israel to his pasture, and he shall feed on Carmel and €in Bashan, and his desire shall be satisfied on the hills of E'phraim €and in Gilead. In those days and in that time, says the LORD, iniquity shall be sought €in Israel, and there shall be none; and sin in Judah, and none shall be €found; for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant. @@"Go up against the land of Meratha'im, €@@@and against the inhabitants of Pekod. €@@Slay, and utterly destroy after them, says the LORD, €@@@and do all that I have commanded you. @@The noise of battle is in the land, €@@@and great destruction! @@How the hammer of the whole earth €@@@is cut down and broken! €@@How Babylon has become €@@@a horror among the nations! @@I set a snare for you and you were taken, O Babylon, €@@@and you did not know it; €@@you were found and caught, €@@@because you strove against the LORD. @@The LORD has opened his armory, €@@@and brought out the weapons of his wrath, €@@for the Lord GOD of hosts has a work to do €@@@in the land of the Chalde'ans. @@Come against her from every quarter; €@@@open her granaries; €@@pile her up like heaps of grain, and destroy her utterly; €@@@let nothing be left of her. @@Slay all her bulls, €@@@let them go down to the slaughter. €@@Woe to them, for their day has come, €@@@the time of their punishment. @"Hark! they flee and escape from the land of Babylon, to declare in €Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, vengeance for his temple. @"Summon archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow. Encamp €round about her; let no one escape. Requite her according to her deeds, €do to her according to all that she has done; for she has proudly €defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers €shall be destroyed on that day, says the LORD. @@"Behold, I am against you, O proud one, €@@@says the Lord GOD of hosts; €@@for your day has come, €@@@the time when I will punish you. @@The proud one shall stumble and fall, €@@@with none to raise him up, €@@and I will kindle a fire in his cities, €@@@and it will devour all that is round about him. @"Thus says the LORD of hosts: The people of Israel are oppressed, and €the people of Judah with them; all who took them captive have held them €fast, they refuse to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. He will surely €plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to €the inhabitants of Babylon. @@"A sword upon the Chalde'ans, says the LORD, €@@@and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, €@@@and upon her princes and her wise men! @@A sword upon the diviners, €@@@that they may become fools! €@@A sword upon her warriors, €@@@that they may be destroyed! @@A sword upon her horses and upon her chariots, €@@@and upon all the foreign troops in her midst, €@@@that they may become women! €@@A sword upon all her treasures, €@@@that they may be plundered! @@A drought upon her waters, €@@@that they may be dried up! €@@For it is a land of images, €@@@and they are mad over idols. @"Therefore wild beasts shall dwell with hyenas in Babylon, and €ostriches shall dwell in her; she shall be peopled no more for ever, €nor inhabited for all generations. As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomor'rah and their neighbor cities, €says the LORD, so no man shall dwell there, and no son of man shall €sojourn in her. @@"Behold, a people comes from the north; €@@@a mighty nation and many kings €@@@are stirring from the farthest parts of the earth. @@They lay hold of bow and spear; €@@@they are cruel, and have no mercy. €@@The sound of them is like the roaring of the sea; €@@@they ride upon horses, €@@arrayed as a man for battle €@@@against you, O daughter of Babylon! @@"The king of Babylon heard the report of them, €@@@and his hands fell helpless; €@@anguish seized him, €@@@pain as of a woman in travail. @"Behold, like a lion coming up from the jungle of the Jordan against €a strong sheepfold, I will suddenly make them run away from her; and I €will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will €summon me? What shepherd can stand before me? Therefore hear the plan which the LORD has made against Babylon, and €the purposes which he has formed against the land of the Chalde'ans: €Surely the little ones of their flock shall be dragged away; surely €their fold shall be appalled at their fate. At the sound of the capture of Babylon the earth shall tremble, and her €cry shall be heard among the nations."  @Thus says the LORD: €@@@"Behold, I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer €@@@against Babylon, €@@@against the inhabitants of Chalde'a; @@and I will send to Babylon winnowers, €@@@and they shall winnow her, €@@and they shall empty her land, €@@@when they come against her from every side €@@@on the day of trouble. @@Let not the archer bend his bow, €@@@and let him not stand up in his coat of mail. €@@Spare not her young men; €@@@utterly destroy all her host. @@They shall fall down slain in the land of the Chalde'ans, €@@@and wounded in her streets. @@For Israel and Judah have not been forsaken €@@@by their God, the LORD of hosts; €@@but the land of the Chalde'ans is full of guilt €@@@against the Holy One of Israel. @@"Flee from the midst of Babylon, €@@@let every man save his life! €@@Be not cut off in her punishment, €@@@for this is the time of the LORD's vengeance, €@@@the requital he is rendering her. @@Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD's hand, €@@@making all the earth drunken; €@@the nations drank of her wine, €@@@therefore the nations went mad. @@Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken; €@@@wail for her! €@@Take balm for her pain; €@@@perhaps she may be healed. @@We would have healed Babylon, €@@@but she was not healed. €@@Forsake her, and let us go €@@@each to his own country; €@@for her judgment has reached up to heaven €@@@and has been lifted up even to the skies. @@The LORD has brought forth our vindication; €@@@come, let us declare in Zion €@@@the work of the LORD our God. @@"Sharpen the arrows! €@@@Take up the shields! €The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, €because his purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it, for €that is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance for his temple. @@Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon; €@@@make the watch strong; €@@set up watchmen; €@@@prepare the ambushes; €@@for the LORD has both planned and done €@@@what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon. @@O you who dwell by many waters, €@@@rich in treasures, €@@your end has come, €@@@the thread of your life is cut. @@The LORD of hosts has sworn by himself: €@@Surely I will fill you with men, as many as locusts, €@@@and they shall raise the shout of victory over you. @@"It is he who made the earth by his power, €@@@who established the world by his wisdom, €@@and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. @@When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, €@@@and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. €@@He makes lightnings for the rain, €@@@and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses. @@Every man is stupid and without knowledge; €@@@every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols; €@@for his images are false, €@@@and there is no breath in them. @@They are worthless, a work of delusion; €@@@at the time of their punishment they shall perish. @@Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, €@@@for he is the one who formed all things, €@@and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; €@@@the LORD of hosts is his name. @@"You are my hammer and weapon of war: €@@with you I break nations in pieces; €@@@with you I destroy kingdoms; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’س˜•@@with you I break in pieces the horse and his rider; €@@@with you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer; @@with you I break in pieces man and woman; €@@@with you I break in pieces the old man and the youth; €@@with you I break in pieces the young man and the maiden; @@@with you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; €@@with you I break in pieces the farmer and his team; €@@@with you I break in pieces governors and commanders. @"I will requite Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chalde'a before €your very eyes for all the evil that they have done in Zion, says the €LORD. @@"Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, says the LORD, €@@@which destroys the whole earth; €@@I will stretch out my hand against you, €@@@and roll you down from the crags, €@@@and make you a burnt mountain. @@No stone shall be taken from you for a corner €@@@and no stone for a foundation, €@@but you shall be a perpetual waste, €@@@says the LORD. @@"Set up a standard on the earth, €@@@blow the trumpet among the nations; €@@prepare the nations for war against her, €@@@summon against her the kingdoms, €@@@Ar'arat, Minni, and Ash'kenaz; €@@appoint a marshal against her, €@@@bring up horses like bristling locusts. @@Prepare the nations for war against her, €@@@the kings of the Medes, with their governors and deputies, €@@@and every land under their dominion. @@The land trembles and writhes in pain, €@@@for the LORD's purposes against Babylon stand, €@@to make the land of Babylon a desolation, €@@@without inhabitant. @@The warriors of Babylon have ceased fighting, €@@@they remain in their strongholds; €@@their strength has failed, €@@@they have become women; €@@her dwellings are on fire, €@@@her bars are broken. @@One runner runs to meet another, €@@@and one messenger to meet another, €@@to tell the king of Babylon €@@@that his city is taken on every side; @@the fords have been seized, €@@@the bulwarks are burned with fire, €@@@and the soldiers are in panic. @@For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: €@@The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor €@@@at the time when it is trodden; €@@yet a little while €@@@and the time of her harvest will come." @@"Nebuchadrez'zar the king of Babylon has devoured me, €@@@he has crushed me; €@@he has made me an empty vessel, €@@@he has swallowed me like a monster; €@@he has filled his belly with my delicacies, €@@@he has rinsed me out. @@The violence done to me and to my kinsmen be upon Babylon," €@@@let the inhabitant of Zion say. €@@"My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chalde'a," €@@@let Jerusalem say. @@Therefore thus says the LORD: €@@"Behold, I will plead your cause €@@@and take vengeance for you. €@@I will dry up her sea €@@@and make her fountain dry; @@and Babylon shall become a heap of ruins, €@@@the haunt of jackals, €@@a horror and a hissing, €@@@without inhabitant. @@"They shall roar together like lions; €@@@they shall growl like lions' whelps. @@While they are inflamed I will prepare them a feast €@@@and make them drunk, till they swoon away €@@and sleep a perpetual sleep €@@@and not wake, says the LORD. @@I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, €@@@like rams and he-goats. @@"How Babylon is taken, €@@@the praise of the whole earth seized! €@@How Babylon has become €@@@a horror among the nations! @@The sea has come up on Babylon; €@@@she is covered with its tumultuous waves. @@Her cities have become a horror, €@@@a land of drought and a desert, €@@a land in which no one dwells, €@@@and through which no son of man passes. @@And I will punish Bel in Babylon, €@@@and take out of his mouth what he has swallowed. €@@The nations shall no longer flow to him; €@@@the wall of Babylon has fallen. @@"Go out of the midst of her, my people! €@@@Let every man save his life €@@@from the fierce anger of the LORD! @@Let not your heart faint, and be not fearful €@@@at the report heard in the land, €@@when a report comes in one year €@@@and afterward a report in another year, €@@and violence is in the land, €@@@and ruler is against ruler. @@"Therefore, behold, the days are coming €@@@when I will punish the images of Babylon; €@@her whole land shall be put to shame, €@@@and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her. @@Then the heavens and the earth, €@@@and all that is in them, €@@shall sing for joy over Babylon; €@@@for the destroyers shall come against them out of the north, says €@@@@the LORD. @@Babylon must fall for the slain of Israel, €@@@as for Babylon have fallen the slain of all the earth. @@"You that have escaped from the sword, €@@@go, stand not still! €@@Remember the LORD from afar, €@@@and let Jerusalem come into your mind: @@`We are put to shame, for we have heard reproach; €@@@dishonor has covered our face, €@@for aliens have come €@@@into the holy places of the LORD's house.' @@"Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, €@@@when I will execute judgment upon her images, €@@and through all her land €@@@the wounded shall groan. @@Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, €@@@and though she should fortify her strong height, €@@yet destroyers would come from me upon her, €@@@says the LORD. @@"Hark! a cry from Babylon! €@@@The noise of great destruction from the land of the Chalde'ans! @@For the LORD is laying Babylon waste, €@@@and stilling her mighty voice. €@@Their waves roar like many waters, €@@@the noise of their voice is raised; @@for a destroyer has come upon her, €@@@upon Babylon; €@@her warriors are taken, €@@@their bows are broken in pieces; €@@for the LORD is a God of recompense, €@@@he will surely requite. @@I will make drunk her princes and her wise men, €@@@her governors, her commanders, and her warriors; €@@they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake, €@@@says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts. @@"Thus says the LORD of hosts: €@@The broad wall of Babylon €@@@shall be leveled to the ground €@@and her high gates €@@@shall be burned with fire. €@@The peoples labor for nought, €@@@and the nations weary themselves only for fire." @The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Serai'ah the son of €Neri'ah, son of Mahsei'ah, when he went with Zedeki'ah king of Judah to €Babylon, in the fourth year of his reign. Serai'ah was the €quartermaster. Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, €all these words that are written concerning Babylon. And Jeremiah said to Serai'ah: "When you come to Babylon, see that you €read all these words, and say, `O LORD, thou hast said concerning this place that thou wilt €cut it off, so that nothing shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, €and it shall be desolate for ever.' When you finish reading this book, bind a stone to it, and cast it into €the midst of the Euphra'tes, and say, `Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the evil €that I am bringing upon her.'" €@Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.  @Zedeki'ah was twenty-one years old when he became king; and he €reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamu'tal the €daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all €that Jehoi'akim had done. Surely because of the anger of the LORD things came to such a pass in €Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence. €@And Zedeki'ah rebelled against the king of Babylon. And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth €day of the month, Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon came with all his €army against Jerusalem, and they laid siege to it and built siegeworks €against it round about. So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedeki'ah. On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the €city, that there was no food for the people of the land. Then a breach was made in the city; and all the men of war fled and €went out from the city by night by the way of a gate between the two €walls, by the king's garden, while the Chalde'ans were round about the €city. And they went in the direction of the Arabah. But the army of the Chalde'ans pursued the king, and overtook Zedeki'ah žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²“’ļ‚Źåņ’Ø“˜ˆ‚in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him. Then they captured the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon €at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he passed sentence upon him. The king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedeki'ah before his eyes, and €also slew all the princes of Judah at Riblah. He put out the eyes of Zedeki'ah, and bound him in fetters, and the €king of Babylon took him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day €of his death. @In the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month -- which was the €nineteenth year of King Nebuchadrez'zar, king of Babylon -- Nebu'zarad'an €the captain of the bodyguard who served the king of Babylon, entered €Jerusalem. And he burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house and all the €houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. And all the army of the Chalde'ans, who were with the captain of the €guard, broke down all the walls round about Jerusalem. And Nebu'zarad'an the captain of the guard carried away captive some of €the poorest of the people and the rest of the people who were left in €the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, €together with the rest of the artisans. But Nebu'zarad'an the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of €the land to be vinedressers and plowmen. @And the pillars of bronze that were in the house of the LORD, and the €stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of the LORD, the €Chalde'ans broke in pieces, and carried all the bronze to Babylon. And they took away the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the €basins, and the dishes for incense, and all the vessels of bronze used €in the temple service; also the small bowls, and the firepans, and the basins, and the pots, €and the lampstands, and the dishes for incense, and the bowls for €libation. What was of gold the captain of the guard took away as gold, €and what was of silver, as silver. As for the two pillars, the one sea, the twelve bronze bulls which were €under the sea, and the stands, which Solomon the king had made for the €house of the LORD, the bronze of all these things was beyond weight. As for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, €its circumference was twelve cubits, and its thickness was four €fingers, and it was hollow. Upon it was a capital of bronze; the height of the one capital was five €cubits; a network and pomegranates, all of bronze, were upon the €capital round about. And the second pillar had the like, with €pomegranates. There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates €were a hundred upon the network round about. @And the captain of the guard took Serai'ah the chief priest, and €Zephani'ah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold; and from the city he took an officer who had been in command of the men €of war, and seven men of the king's council, who were found in the €city; and the secretary of the commander of the army who mustered the €people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were €found in the midst of the city. And Nebu'zarad'an the captain of the guard took them, and brought them €to the king of Babylon at Riblah. And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death at Riblah in €the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried captive out of its land. @This is the number of the people whom Nebuchadrez'zar carried away €captive: in the seventh year, three thousand and twenty-three Jews; in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrez'zar he carried away captive from €Jerusalem eight hundred and thirty-two persons; in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadrez'zar, Nebu'zarad'an the captain €of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred and €forty-five persons; all the persons were four thousand and six hundred. @And in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoi'achin king €of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, €E'vil-mer'odach king of Babylon, in the year that he became king, €lifted up the head of Jehoi'achin king of Judah and brought him out of €prison; and he spoke kindly to him, and gave him a seat above the seats of the €kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoi'achin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life €he dined regularly at the king's table; as for his allowance, a regualar allowance was given him by the €king according to his daily need, until the day of his death €as long as he lived. ąļ‚Ģįķ’”@@How lonely sits the city €@@@that was full of people! €@@How like a widow has she become, €@@@she that was great among the nations! €@@She that was a princess among the cities €@@@has become a vassal. @@She weeps bitterly in the night, €@@@tears on her cheeks; €@@among all her lovers €@@@she has none to comfort her; €@@all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, €@@@they have become her enemies. @@Judah has gone into exile because of affliction €@@@and hard servitude; €@@she dwells now among the nations, €@@@but finds no resting place; €@@her pursuers have all overtaken her €@@@in the midst of her distress. @@The roads to Zion mourn, €@@@for none come to the appointed feasts; €@@all her gates are desolate, €@@@her priests groan; €@@her maidens have been dragged away, €@@@and she herself suffers bitterly. @@Her foes have become the head, €@@@her enemies prosper, €@@because the LORD has made her suffer €@@@for the multitude of her transgressions; €@@her children have gone away, €@@@captives before the foe. @@From the daughter of Zion has departed €@@@all her majesty. €@@Her princes have become like harts €@@@that find no pasture; €@@they fled without strength €@@@before the pursuer. @@@Jerusalem remembers €@@@in the days of her affliction and bitterness €@@@all the precious things €@@@that were hers from days of old. €@@When her people fell into the hand of the foe, €@@@and there was none to help her, €@@the foe gloated over her, €@@@mocking at her downfall. @@Jerusalem sinned grievously, €@@@therefore she became filthy; €@@all who honored her despise her, €@@@for they have seen her nakedness; €@@yea, she herself groans, €@@@and turns her face away. @@Her uncleanness was in her skirts; €@@@she took no thought of her doom; €@@therefore her fall is terrible, €@@@she has no comforter. €@@"O LORD, behold my affliction, €@@@for the enemy has triumphed!" @@The enemy has stretched out his hands €@@@over all her precious things; €@@yea, she has seen the nations €@@@invade her sanctuary, €@@those whom thou didst forbid €@@@to enter thy congregation. @@All her people groan €@@@as they search for bread; €@@they trade their treasures for food €@@@to revive their strength. €@@"Look, O LORD, and behold, €@@@for I am despised." @@"Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? €@@@Look and see €@@if there is any sorrow like my sorrow €@@@which was brought upon me, €@@which the LORD inflicted €@@@on the day of his fierce anger. @@"From on high he sent fire; €@@@into my bones he made it descend; €@@he spread a net for my feet; €@@@he turned me back; €@@he has left me stunned, €@@@faint all the day long. @@"My transgressions were bound into a yoke; €@@@by his hand they were fastened together; €@@they were set upon my neck; €@@@he caused my strength to fail; €@@the Lord gave me into the hands €@@@of those whom I cannot withstand. @@"The LORD flouted all my mighty men €@@@in the midst of me; €@@he summoned an assembly against me €@@@to crush my young men; €@@the Lord has trodden as in a wine press €@@@the virgin daughter of Judah. @@"For these things I weep; €@@@my eyes flow with tears; €@@for a comforter is far from me, €@@@one to revive my courage; €@@my children are desolate, €@@@for the enemy has prevailed." @@Zion stretches out her hands, €@@@but there is none to comfort her; €@@the LORD has commanded against Jacob €@@@that his neighbors should be his foes; €@@Jerusalem has become €@@@a filthy thing among them. @@"The LORD is in the right, €@@@for I have rebelled against his word; €@@but hear, all you peoples, €@@@and behold my suffering; €@@my maidens and my young men žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²µ’ļ‚Ģįķ’”˜’†@@@have gone into captivity. @@"I called to my lovers €@@@but they deceived me; €@@my priests and elders €@@@perished in the city, €@@while they sought food €@@@to revive their strength. @@"Behold, O LORD, for I am in distress, €@@@my soul is in tumult, €@@my heart is wrung within me, €@@@because I have been very rebellious. €@@In the street the sword bereaves; €@@@in the house it is like death. @@"Hear how I groan; €@@@there is none to comfort me. €@@All my enemies have heard of my trouble; €@@@they are glad that thou hast done it. €@@Bring thou the day thou hast announced, €@@@and let them be as I am. @@"Let all their evil doing come before thee; €@@@and deal with them €@@as thou hast dealt with me €@@@because of all my transgressions; €@@for my groans are many €@@@and my heart is faint."  @@How the Lord in his anger €@@@has set the daughter of Zion under a cloud! €@@He has cast down from heaven to earth €@@@the splendor of Israel; €@@he has not remembered his footstool €@@@in the day of his anger. @@The Lord has destroyed without mercy €@@@all the habitations of Jacob; €@@in his wrath he has broken down €@@@the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; €@@he has brought down to the ground in dishonor €@@@the kingdom and its rulers. @@He has cut down in fierce anger €@@@all the might of Israel; €@@he has withdrawn from them his right hand €@@@in the face of the enemy; €@@he has burned like a flaming fire in Jacob, €@@@consuming all around. @@He has bent his bow like an enemy, €@@@with his right hand set like a foe; €@@and he has slain all the pride of our eyes €@@@in the tent of the daughter of Zion; €@@he has poured out his fury like fire. @@The Lord has become like an enemy, €@@@he has destroyed Israel; €@@he has destroyed all its palaces, €@@@laid in ruins its strongholds; €@@and he has multiplied in the daughter of Judah €@@@mourning and lamentation. @@He has broken down his booth like that of a garden, €@@@laid in ruins the place of his appointed feasts; €@@the LORD has brought to an end in Zion €@@@appointed feast and sabbath, €@@and in his fierce indignation has spurned €@@@king and priest. @@The Lord has scorned his altar, €@@@disowned his sanctuary; €@@he has delivered into the hand of the enemy €@@@the walls of her palaces; €@@a clamor was raised in the house of the LORD €@@@as on the day of an appointed feast. @@The LORD determined to lay in ruins €@@@the wall of the daughter of Zion; €@@he marked it off by the line; €@@@he restrained not his hand from destroying; €@@he caused rampart and wall to lament, €@@@they languish together. @@Her gates have sunk into the ground; €@@@he has ruined and broken her bars; €@@her king and princes are among the nations; €@@@the law is no more, €@@and her prophets obtain €@@@no vision from the LORD. @@The elders of the daughter of Zion €@@@sit on the ground in silence; €@@they have cast dust on their heads €@@@and put on sackcloth; €@@the maidens of Jerusalem €@@@have bowed their heads to the ground. @@My eyes are spent with weeping; €@@@my soul is in tumult; €@@my heart is poured out in grief €@@@because of the destruction of the daughter of my people, €@@because infants and babes faint €@@@in the streets of the city. @@They cry to their mothers, €@@@"Where is bread and wine?" €@@as they faint like wounded men €@@@in the streets of the city, €@@as their life is poured out €@@@on their mothers' bosom. @@What can I say for you, to what compare you, €@@@O daughter of Jerusalem? €@@What can I liken to you, that I may comfort you, €@@@O virgin daughter of Zion? €@@For vast as the sea is your ruin; €@@@who can restore you? @@Your prophets have seen for you €@@@false and deceptive visions; €@@they have not exposed your iniquity €@@@to restore your fortunes, €@@but have seen for you oracles €@@@false and misleading. @@All who pass along the way €@@@clap their hands at you; €@@they hiss and wag their heads €@@@at the daughter of Jerusalem; €@@"Is this the city which was called €@@@the perfection of beauty, €@@@the joy of all the earth?" @@All your enemies €@@@rail against you; €@@they hiss, they gnash their teeth, €@@@they cry: "We have destroyed her! €@@Ah, this is the day we longed for; €@@@now we have it; we see it!" @@The LORD has done what he purposed, €@@@has carried out his threat; €@@as he ordained long ago, €@@@he has demolished without pity; €@@he has made the enemy rejoice over you, €@@@and exalted the might of your foes. @@Cry aloud to the Lord! €@@@O daughter of Zion! €@@Let tears stream down like a torrent €@@@day and night! €@@Give yourself no rest, €@@@your eyes no respite! @@Arise, cry out in the night, €@@@at the beginning of the watches! €@@Pour out your heart like water €@@@before the presence of the Lord! €@@Lift your hands to him €@@@for the lives of your children, €@@who faint for hunger €@@@at the head of every street. @@Look, O LORD, and see! €@@@With whom hast thou dealt thus? €@@Should women eat their offspring, €@@@the children of their tender care? €@@Should priest and prophet be slain €@@@in the sanctuary of the Lord? @@In the dust of the streets €@@@lie the young and the old; €@@my maidens and my young men €@@@have fallen by the sword; €@@in the day of thy anger thou hast slain them, €@@@slaughtering without mercy. @@Thou didst invite as to the day of an appointed feast €@@@my terrors on every side; €@@and on the day of the anger of the LORD €@@@none escaped or survived; €@@those whom I dandled and reared €@@@my enemy destroyed.  @@I am the man who has seen affliction €@@@under the rod of his wrath; @@he has driven and brought me €@@@into darkness without any light; @@surely against me he turns his hand €@@@again and again the whole day long. @@He has made my flesh and my skin waste away, €@@@and broken my bones; @@he has besieged and enveloped me €@@@with bitterness and tribulation; @@he has made me dwell in darkness €@@@like the dead of long ago. @@He has walled me about so that I cannot escape; €@@@he has put heavy chains on me; @@though I call and cry for help, €@@@he shuts out my prayer; @@he has blocked my ways with hewn stones, €@@@he has made my paths crooked. @@He is to me like a bear lying in wait, €@@@like a lion in hiding; @@he led me off my way and tore me to pieces; €@@@he has made me desolate; @@he bent his bow and set me €@@@as a mark for his arrow. @@He drove into my heart €@@@the arrows of his quiver; @@I have become the laughingstock of all peoples, €@@@the burden of their songs all day long. @@He has filled me with bitterness, €@@@he has sated me with wormwood. @@He has made my teeth grind on gravel, €@@@and made me cower in ashes; @@my soul is bereft of peace, €@@@I have forgotten what happiness is; @@so I say, "Gone is my glory, €@@@and my expectation from the LORD." @@Remember my affliction and my bitterness, €@@@the wormwood and the gall! @@My soul continually thinks of it €@@@and is bowed down within me. @@But this I call to mind, €@@@and therefore I have hope: @@The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, €@@@his mercies never come to an end; @@they are new every morning; €@@@great is thy faithfulness. @@"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, €@@@"therefore I will hope in him." @@The LORD is good to those who wait for him, €@@@to the soul that seeks him. @@It is good that one should wait quietly €@@@for the salvation of the LORD. @@It is good for a man that he bear €@@@the yoke in his youth. @@Let him sit alone in silence €@@@when he has laid it on him; @@let him put his mouth in the dust --€@@@there may yet be hope; @@let him give his cheek to the smiter, €@@@and be filled with insults. @@For the Lord will not €@@@cast off for ever, @@but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion €@@@according to the abundance of his steadfast love; @@for he does not willingly afflict €@@@or grieve the sons of men. @@To crush under foot €@@@all the prisoners of the earth, @@to turn aside the right of a man €@@@in the presence of the Most High, @@to subvert a man in his cause, €@@@the Lord does not approve. @@Who has commanded and it came to pass, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²µ’ļ‚Ģįķ’£˜„‚@@@unless the Lord has ordained it? @@Is it not from the mouth of the Most High €@@@that good and evil come? @@Why should a living man complain, €@@@a man, about the punishment of his sins? @@Let us test and examine our ways, €@@@and return to the LORD! @@Let us lift up our hearts and hands €@@@to God in heaven: @@"We have transgressed and rebelled, €@@@and thou hast not forgiven. @@"Thou hast wrapped thyself with anger and pursued us, €@@@slaying without pity; @@thou hast wrapped thyself with a cloud €@@@so that no prayer can pass through. @@Thou hast made us offscouring and refuse €@@@among the peoples. @@"All our enemies €@@@rail against us; @@panic and pitfall have come upon us, €@@@devastation and destruction; @@my eyes flow with rivers of tears €@@@because of the destruction of the daughter of my people. @@"My eyes will flow without ceasing, €@@@without respite, @@until the LORD from heaven €@@@looks down and sees; @@my eyes cause me grief €@@@at the fate of all the maidens of my city. @@"I have been hunted like a bird €@@@by those who were my enemies without cause; @@they flung me alive into the pit €@@@and cast stones on me; @@water closed over my head; €@@@I said, `I am lost.' @@"I called on thy name, O LORD, €@@@from the depths of the pit; @@thou didst hear my plea, `Do not close €@@@thine ear to my cry for help!' @@@Thou didst come near when I called on thee; €@@@thou didst say, `Do not fear!' @@"Thou hast taken up my cause, O Lord, €@@@thou hast redeemed my life. @@Thou hast seen the wrong done to me, O LORD; €@@@judge thou my cause. @@Thou hast seen all their vengeance, all their devices against me. @@"Thou hast heard their taunts, O LORD, €@@@all their devices against me. @@The lips and thoughts of my assailants €@@@are against me all the day long. @@Behold their sitting and their rising; €@@@I am the burden of their songs. @@"Thou wilt requite them, O LORD, €@@@according to the work of their hands. @@Thou wilt give them dullness of heart; €@@@thy curse will be on them. @@Thou wilt pursue them in anger and destroy them €@@@from under thy heavens, O LORD."  @@How the gold has grown dim, €@@@how the pure gold is changed! €@@The holy stones lie scattered €@@@at the head of every street. @@The precious sons of Zion, €@@@worth their weight in fine gold, €@@how they are reckoned as earthen pots, €@@@the work of a potter's hands! @@Even the jackals give the breast €@@@and suckle their young, €@@but the daughter of my people has become cruel, €@@@like the ostriches in the wilderness. @@The tongue of the nursling cleaves €@@@to the roof of its mouth for thirst; €@@the children beg for food, €@@@but no one gives to them. @@Those who feasted on dainties €@@@perish in the streets; €@@those who were brought up in purple €@@@lie on ash heaps. @@For the chastisement of the daughter of my people has been greater €@@@than the punishment of Sodom, €@@which was overthrown in a moment, €@@@no hand being laid on it. @@Her princes were purer than snow, €@@@whiter than milk; €@@their bodies were more ruddy than coral, €@@@the beauty of their form was like sapphire. @@Now their visage is blacker than soot, €@@@they are not recognized in the streets; €@@their skin has shriveled upon their bones, €@@@it has become as dry as wood. @@Happier were the victims of the sword €@@@than the victims of hunger, €@@who pined away, stricken €@@@by want of the fruits of the field. @@The hands of compassionate women €@@@have boiled their own children; €@@they became their food €@@@in the destruction of the daughter of my people. @@The LORD gave full vent to his wrath, €@@@he poured out his hot anger; €@@and he kindled a fire in Zion, €@@@which consumed its foundations. @@The kings of the earth did not believe, €@@@or any of the inhabitants of the world, €@@that foe or enemy could enter €@@@the gates of Jerusalem. @@This was for the sins of her prophets €@@@and the iniquities of her priests, €@@who shed in the midst of her €@@@the blood of the righteous. @@They wandered, blind, through the streets, €@@@so defiled with blood €@@that none could touch €@@@their garments. @@"Away! Unclean!" men cried at them; €@@@"Away! Away! Touch not!" €@@So they became fugitives and wanderers; €@@@men said among the nations, €@@@"They shall stay with us no longer." @@The LORD himself has scattered them, €@@@he will regard them no more; €@@no honor was shown to the priests, €@@@no favor to the elders. @@Our eyes failed, ever watching €@@@vainly for help; €@@in our watching we watched €@@@for a nation which could not save. @@Men dogged our steps €@@@so that we could not walk in our streets; €@@our end drew near; our days were numbered; €@@@for our end had come. @@Our pursuers were swifter €@@@than the vultures in the heavens; €@@they chased us on the mountains, €@@@they lay in wait for us in the wilderness. @@The breath of our nostrils, the LORD's anointed, €@@@was taken in their pits, €@@he of whom we said, "Under his shadow €@@@we shall live among the nations." @@Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, €@@@dweller in the land of Uz; €@@but to you also the cup shall pass; €@@@you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare. @@The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter of Zion, is accomplished, €@@@he will keep you in exile no longer; €@@but your iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he will punish, €@@@he will uncover your sins.  @@Remember, O LORD, what has befallen us; €@@@behold, and see our disgrace! @@Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, €@@@our homes to aliens. @@We have become orphans, fatherless; €@@@our mothers are like widows. @@We must pay for the water we drink, €@@@the wood we get must be bought. @@With a yoke on our necks we are hard driven; €@@@we are weary, we are given no rest. @@We have given the hand to Egypt, €@@@and to Assyria, to get bread enough. @@Our fathers sinned, and are no more; €@@@and we bear their iniquities. @@Slaves rule over us; €@@@there is none to deliver us from their hand. @@We get our bread at the peril of our lives, €@@@because of the sword in the wilderness. @@Our skin is hot as an oven €@@@with the burning heat of famine. @@Women are ravished in Zion, €@@@virgins in the towns of Judah. @@Princes are hung up by their hands; €@@@no respect is shown to the elders. @@Young men are compelled to grind at the mill; €@@@and boys stagger under loads of wood. @@The old men have quit the city gate, €@@@the young men their music. @@The joy of our hearts has ceased; €@@@our dancing has been turned to mourning. @@The crown has fallen from our head; €@@@woe to us, for we have sinned! @@For this our heart has become sick, €@@@for these things our eyes have grown dim, @@for Mount Zion which lies desolate; €@@@jackals prowl over it. @@But thou, O LORD, dost reign for ever; €@@@thy throne endures to all generations. @@Why dost thou forget us for ever, €@@@why dost thou so long forsake us? @@Restore us to thyself, O LORD, that we may be restored! €@@@Renew our days as of old! @@Or hast thou utterly rejected us? €@@@Art thou exceedingly angry with us? ąļ‚Åśåė’”In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the €month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens were €opened, and I saw visions of God. On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of €King Jehoi'achin), the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in €the land of the Chalde'ans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the €LORD was upon him there. @As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great €cloud, with brightness round about it, and fire flashing forth €continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming bronze. And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. €And this was their appearance: they had the form of men, but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the €sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like burnished bronze. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’”˜ˆUnder their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the €four had their faces and their wings thus: their wings touched one another; they went every one straight forward, €without turning as they went. As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man in €front; the four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had €the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an €eagle at the back. Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above; each €creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, €while two covered their bodies. And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit would go, they €went, without turning as they went. In the midst of the living creatures there was something that looked €like burning coals of fire, like torches moving to and fro among the €living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went €forth lightning. And the living creatures darted to and fro, like a flash of lightning. @Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel upon the earth €beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them. As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their €appearance was like the gleaming of a chrysolite; and the four had the €same likeness, their construction being as it were a wheel within a €wheel. When they went, they went in any of their four directions without €turning as they went. The four wheels had rims and they had spokes; and their rims were full €of eyes round about. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and €when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, and the wheels rose along with €them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and €when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them; for €the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. @Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of a €firmament, shining like crystal, spread out above their heads. And under the firmament their wings were stretched out straight, one €toward another; and each creature had two wings covering its body. And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of €many waters, like the thunder of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like €the sound of a host; when they stood still, they let down their wings. And there came a voice from above the firmament over their heads; when €they stood still, they let down their wings. @And above the firmament over their heads there was the likeness of a €throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a €throne was a likeness as it were of a human form. And upward from what had the appearance of his loins I saw as it were €gleaming bronze, like the appearance of fire enclosed round about; and €downward from what had the appearance of his loins I saw as it were the €appearance of fire, and there was brightness round about him. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, €so was the appearance of the brightness round about. €@Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And €when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard the voice of one €speaking.  @And he said to me, "Son of man, stand upon your feet, and I will €speak with you." And when he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me upon my €feet; and I heard him speaking to me. And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to €a nation of rebels, who have rebelled against me; they and their €fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The people also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them; and you €shall say to them, `Thus says the Lord GOD.' And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious €house) they will know that there has been a prophet among them. And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their €words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit upon €scorpions; be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their €looks, for they are a rebellious house. And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to €hear; for they are a rebellious house. @"But you, son of man, hear what I say to you; be not rebellious like €that rebellious house; open your mouth, and eat what I give you." And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and, lo, a €written scroll was in it; and he spread it before me; and it had writing on the front and on the €back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning €and woe.  And he said to me, "Son of man, eat what is offered to you; eat this €scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. And he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll that I give you and €fill your stomach with it." Then I ate it; and it was in my mouth as €sweet as honey. @And he said to me, "Son of man, go, get you to the house of Israel, €and speak with my words to them. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, €but to the house of Israel --not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words €you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen €to you. But the house of Israel will not listen to you; for they are not €willing to listen to me; because all the house of Israel are of a hard €forehead and of a stubborn heart. Behold, I have made your face hard against their faces, and your €forehead hard against their foreheads. Like adamant harder than flint have I made your forehead; fear them €not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house." Moreover he said to me, "Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to €you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. And go, get you to the exiles, to your people, and say to them, `Thus €says the Lord GOD'; whether they hear or refuse to hear." @Then the Spirit lifted me up, and as the glory of the LORD arose from €its place, I heard behind me the sound of a great earthquake; it was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched €one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, that sounded like €a great earthquake. The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in €the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me; and I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who dwelt by the river Chebar. €And I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days. @And at the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; €whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning €from me. If I say to the wicked, `You shall surely die,' and you give him no €warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to €save his life, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood €I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, €or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you will have €saved your life. Again, if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits €iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because €you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous €deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will €require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man not to sin, and he does not €sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning; and you will have €saved your life." @And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said to me, €"Arise, go forth into the plain, and there I will speak with you." So I arose and went forth into the plain; and, lo, the glory of the €LORD stood there, like the glory which I had seen by the river Chebar; €and I fell on my face. But the Spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet; and he spoke žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’£˜˜‚with me and said to me, "Go, shut yourself within your house. And you, O son of man, behold, cords will be placed upon you, and you €shall be bound with them, so that you cannot go out among the people; and I will make your tongue cleave to the roof of your mouth, so that €you shall be dumb and unable to reprove them; for they are a rebellious €house. But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to €them, `Thus says the Lord GOD'; he that will hear, let him hear; and he €that will refuse to hear, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious €house.  @"And you, O son of man, take a brick and lay it before you, and €portray upon it a city, even Jerusalem; and put siegeworks against it, and build a siege wall against it, and €cast up a mound against it; set camps also against it, and plant €battering rams against it round about. And take an iron plate, and place it as an iron wall between you and €the city; and set your face toward it, and let it be in a state of €siege, and press the siege against it. This is a sign for the house of €Israel. @"Then lie upon your left side, and I will lay the punishment of the €house of Israel upon you; for the number of the days that you lie upon €it, you shall bear their punishment. For I assign to you a number of days, three hundred and ninety days, €equal to the number of the years of their punishment; so long shall you €bear the punishment of the house of Israel. And when you have completed these, you shall lie down a second time, €but on your right side, and bear the punishment of the house of Judah; €forty days I assign you, a day for each year. And you shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem, with your €arm bared; and you shall prophesy against the city. And, behold, I will put cords upon you, so that you cannot turn from €one side to the other, till you have completed the days of your siege. @"And you, take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt, €and put them into a single vessel, and make bread of them. During the €number of days that you lie upon your side, three hundred and ninety €days, you shall eat it. And the food which you eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day; €once a day you shall eat it. And water you shall drink by measure, the sixth part of a hin; once a €day you shall drink. And you shall eat it as a barley cake, baking it in their sight on €human dung." And the LORD said, "Thus shall the people of Israel eat their bread €unclean, among the nations whither I will drive them." Then I said, "Ah Lord GOD! behold, I have never defiled myself; from my €youth up till now I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by €beasts, nor has foul flesh come into my mouth." Then he said to me, "See, I will let you have cow's dung instead of €human dung, on which you may prepare your bread." Moreover he said to me, "Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of €bread in Jerusalem; they shall eat bread by weight and with €fearfulness; and they shall drink water by measure and in dismay. I will do this that they may lack bread and water, and look at one €another in dismay, and waste away under their punishment.  @"And you, O son of man, take a sharp sword; use it as a barber's €razor and pass it over your head and your beard; then take balances for €weighing, and divide the hair. A third part you shall burn in the fire in the midst of the city, when €the days of the siege are completed; and a third part you shall take €and strike with the sword round about the city; and a third part you €shall scatter to the wind, and I will unsheathe the sword after them. And you shall take from these a small number, and bind them in the €skirts of your robe. And of these again you shall take some, and cast them into the fire, €and burn them in the fire; from there a fire will come forth into all €the house of Israel. Thus says the Lord GOD: This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the center €of the nations, with countries round about her. And she has wickedly rebelled against my ordinances more than the €nations, and against my statutes more than the countries round about €her, by rejecting my ordinances and not walking in my statutes. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you are more turbulent than €the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my €statutes or kept my ordinances, but have acted according to the €ordinances of the nations that are round about you; therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, even I, am against you; €and I will execute judgments in the midst of you in the sight of the €nations. And because of all your abominations I will do with you what I have €never yet done, and the like of which I will never do again. Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in the midst of you, and sons €shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments on you, and any €of you who survive I will scatter to all the winds. Wherefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, surely, because you have €defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your €abominations, therefore I will cut you down; my eye will not spare, and €I will have no pity. A third part of you shall die of pestilence and be consumed with famine €in the midst of you; a third part shall fall by the sword round about €you; and a third part I will scatter to all the winds and will €unsheathe the sword after them. @"Thus shall my anger spend itself, and I will vent my fury upon them €and satisfy myself; and they shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken €in my jealousy, when I spend my fury upon them. Moreover I will make you a desolation and an object of reproach among €the nations round about you and in the sight of all that pass by. You shall be a reproach and a taunt, a warning and a horror, to the €nations round about you, when I execute judgments on you in anger and €fury, and with furious chastisements -- I, the LORD, have spoken --when I loose against you my deadly arrows of famine, arrows for €destruction, which I will loose to destroy you, and when I bring more €and more famine upon you, and break your staff of bread. I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will rob you €of your children; pestilence and blood shall pass through you; and I €will bring the sword upon you. I, the LORD, have spoken."  @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy €against them, and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus €says the Lord GOD to the mountains and the hills, to the ravines and €the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will €destroy your high places. Your altars shall become desolate, and your incense altars shall be €broken; and I will cast down your slain before your idols. And I will lay the dead bodies of the people of Israel before their €idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars. Wherever you dwell your cities shall be waste and your high places €ruined, so that your altars will be waste and ruined, your idols broken €and destroyed, your incense altars cut down, and your works wiped out. And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and you shall know that I €am the LORD. @"Yet I will leave some of you alive. When you have among the nations €some who escape the sword, and when you are scattered through the €countries, then those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where €they are carried captive, when I have broken their wanton heart which €has departed from me, and blinded their eyes which turn wantonly after €their idols; and they will be loathsome in their own sight for the €evils which they have committed, for all their abominations. And they shall know that I am the LORD; I have not said in vain that I €would do this evil to them." @Thus says the Lord GOD: "Clap your hands, and stamp your foot, and €say, Alas! because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel; €for they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. He that is far off shall die of pestilence; and he that is near shall žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’¦˜Œ‚fall by the sword; and he that is left and is preserved shall die of €famine. Thus I will spend my fury upon them. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when their slain lie among their €idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, on all the €mountain tops, under every green tree, and under every leafy oak, €wherever they offered pleasing odor to all their idols. And I will stretch out my hand against them, and make the land desolate €and waste, throughout all their habitations, from the wilderness to €Riblah. Then they will know that I am the LORD."  @The word of the LORD came to me: "And you, O son of man, thus says the Lord GOD to the land of Israel: €An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land. Now the end is upon you, and I will let loose my anger upon you, and €will judge you according to your ways; and I will punish you for all €your abominations. And my eye will not spare you, nor will I have pity; but I will punish €you for your ways, while your abominations are in your midst. Then you €will know that I am the LORD. @"Thus says the Lord GOD: Disaster after disaster! Behold, it comes. An end has come, the end has come; it has awakened against you. Behold, €it comes. Your doom has come to you, O inhabitant of the land; the time has come, €the day is near, a day of tumult, and not of joyful shouting upon the €mountains. Now I will soon pour out my wrath upon you, and spend my anger against €you, and judge you according to your ways; and I will punish you for €all your abominations. And my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will punish you €according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst. Then €you will know that I am the LORD, who smite. @"Behold, the day! Behold, it comes! Your doom has come, injustice has €blossomed, pride has budded. Violence has grown up into a rod of wickedness; none of them shall €remain, nor their abundance, nor their wealth; neither shall there be €preeminence among them. The time has come, the day draws near. Let not the buyer rejoice, nor €the seller mourn, for wrath is upon all their multitude. For the seller shall not return to what he has sold, while they live. €For wrath is upon all their multitude; it shall not turn back; and €because of his iniquity, none can maintain his life. @"They have blown the trumpet and made all ready; but none goes to €battle, for my wrath is upon all their multitude. The sword is without, pestilence and famine are within; he that is in €the field dies by the sword; and him that is in the city famine and €pestilence devour. And if any survivors escape, they will be on the mountains, like doves €of the valleys, all of them moaning, every one over his iniquity. All hands are feeble, and all knees weak as water. They gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror covers them; shame is €upon all faces, and baldness on all their heads. They cast their silver into the streets, and their gold is like an €unclean thing; their silver and gold are not able to deliver them in €the day of the wrath of the LORD; they cannot satisfy their hunger or €fill their stomachs with it. For it was the stumbling block of their €iniquity. Their beautiful ornament they used for vainglory, and they made their €abominable images and their detestable things of it; therefore I will €make it an unclean thing to them. And I will give it into the hands of foreigners for a prey, and to the €wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall profane it. I will turn my face from them, that they may profane my precious place; €robbers shall enter and profane it, and make a desolation. €@"Because the land is full of bloody crimes and the city is full of €violence, I will bring the worst of the nations to take possession of their €houses; I will put an end to their proud might, and their holy places €shall be profaned. When anguish comes, they will seek peace, but there shall be none. Disaster comes upon disaster, rumor follows rumor; they seek a vision €from the prophet, but the law perishes from the priest, and counsel €from the elders. The king mourns, the prince is wrapped in despair, and the hands of the €people of the land are palsied by terror. According to their way I will €do to them, and according to their own judgments I will judge them; and €they shall know that I am the LORD."  @In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, €as I sat in my house, with the elders of Judah sitting before me, the €hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me. Then I beheld, and, lo, a form that had the appearance of a man; below €what appeared to be his loins it was fire, and above his loins it was €like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming bronze. He put forth the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my head; and €the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in €visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the €inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of €jealousy, which provokes to jealousy. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision €that I saw in the plain. @Then he said to me, "Son of man, lift up your eyes now in the €direction of the north." So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and €behold, north of the altar gate, in the entrance, was this image of €jealousy. And he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the €great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to €drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater €abominations." @And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, €behold, there was a hole in the wall. Then said he to me, "Son of man, dig in the wall"; and when I dug in €the wall, lo, there was a door. And he said to me, "Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are €committing here." So I went in and saw; and there, portrayed upon the wall round about, €were all kinds of creeping things, and loathsome beasts, and all the €idols of the house of Israel. And before them stood seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, €with Ja-azani'ah the son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his €censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up. Then he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the €house of Israel are doing in the dark, every man in his room of €pictures? For they say, `The LORD does not see us, the LORD has €forsaken the land.'" He said also to me, "You will see still greater abominations which they €commit." @Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of €the LORD; and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. Then he said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? You will see €still greater abominations than these." @And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the LORD; and €behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and €the altar, were about twenty-five men, with their backs to the temple €of the LORD, and their faces toward the east, worshiping the sun toward €the east. Then he said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it too slight €a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they €commit here, that they should fill the land with violence, and provoke €me further to anger? Lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore I will deal in wrath; my eye will not spare, nor will I have €pity; and though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear €them."  @Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, "Draw near, you €executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand." And lo, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces €north, every man with his weapon for slaughter in his hand, and with €them was a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his side. And €they went in and stood beside the bronze altar. @Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherubim on €which it rested to the threshold of the house; and he called to the man €clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his side. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’؉”And the LORD said to him, "Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and €put a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all €the abominations that are committed in it." And to the others he said in my hearing, "Pass through the city after €him, and smite; your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity; slay old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and €women, but touch no one upon whom is the mark. And begin at my €sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the house. Then he said to them, "Defile the house, and fill the courts with the €slain. Go forth." So they went forth, and smote in the city. And while they were smiting, and I was left alone, I fell upon my face, €and cried, "Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all that remains of Israel €in the outpouring of thy wrath upon Jerusalem?" @Then he said to me, "The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is €exceedingly great; the land is full of blood, and the city full of €injustice; for they say, `The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD €does not see.' As for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity, but I will €requite their deeds upon their heads." @And lo, the man clothed in linen, with the writing case at his side, €brought back word, saying, "I have done as thou didst command me."  @Then I looked, and behold, on the firmament that was over the heads €of the cherubim there appeared above them something like a sapphire, in €form resembling a throne. And he said to the man clothed in linen, "Go in among the whirling €wheels underneath the cherubim; fill your hands with burning coals from €between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city." €@And he went in before my eyes. Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the house, when the €man went in; and a cloud filled the inner court. And the glory of the LORD went up from the cherubim to the threshold of €the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was €full of the brightness of the glory of the LORD. And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the €outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks. @And when he commanded the man clothed in linen, "Take fire from €between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim," he went in and €stood beside a wheel. And a cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim to the €fire that was between the cherubim, and took some of it, and put it €into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and went out. The cherubim appeared to have the form of a human hand under their €wings. @And I looked, and behold, there were four wheels beside the cherubim, €one beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like €sparkling chrysolite. And as for their appearance, the four had the same likeness, as if a €wheel were within a wheel. When they went, they went in any of their four directions without €turning as they went, but in whatever direction the front wheel faced €the others followed without turning as they went. And their rims, and their spokes, and the wheels were full of eyes €round about -- the wheels that the four of them had. As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing the whirling wheels. And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the €cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the €face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. @And the cherubim mounted up. These were the living creatures that I €saw by the river Chebar. And when the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the €cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the wheels €did not turn from beside them. When they stood still, these stood still, and when they mounted up, €these mounted up with them; for the spirit of the living creatures was €in them. @Then the glory of the LORD went forth from the threshold of the €house, and stood over the cherubim. And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth in €my sight as they went forth, with the wheels beside them; and they €stood at the door of the east gate of the house of the LORD; and the €glory of the God of Israel was over them. @These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of €Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim. Each had four faces, and each four wings, and underneath their wings €the semblance of human hands. And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the very faces whose €appearance I had seen by the river Chebar. They went every one straight €forward.  @The Spirit lifted me up, and brought me to the east gate of the house €of the LORD, which faces east. And behold, at the door of the gateway €there were twenty-five men; and I saw among them Ja-azani'ah the son of €Azzur, and Pelati'ah the son of Benai'ah, princes of the people. And he said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity €and who give wicked counsel in this city; who say, `The time is not near to build houses; this city is the €caldron, and we are the flesh.' Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man." @And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me, "Say, €Thus says the LORD: So you think, O house of Israel; for I know the €things that come into your mind. You have multiplied your slain in this city, and have filled its €streets with the slain. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Your slain whom you have laid in the €midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron; but you €shall be brought forth out of the midst of it. You have feared the sword; and I will bring the sword upon you, says €the Lord GOD. And I will bring you forth out of the midst of it, and give you into €the hands of foreigners, and execute judgments upon you. You shall fall by the sword; I will judge you at the border of Israel; €and you shall know that I am the LORD. This city shall not be your caldron, nor shall you be the flesh in the €midst of it; I will judge you at the border of Israel; and you shall know that I am the LORD; for you have not walked in my €statutes, nor executed my ordinances, but have acted according to the €ordinances of the nations that are round about you." @And it came to pass, while I was prophesying, that Pelati'ah the son €of Benai'ah died. Then I fell down upon my face, and cried with a loud €voice, and said, "Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant €of Israel?" @And the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, your brethren, even your brethren, your fellow exiles, the €whole house of Israel, all of them, are those of whom the inhabitants €of Jerusalem have said, `They have gone far from the LORD; to us this €land is given for a possession.' Therefore say, `Thus says the Lord GOD: Though I removed them far off €among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet €I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they €have gone.' Therefore say, `Thus says the Lord GOD: I will gather you from the €peoples, and assemble you out of the countries where you have been €scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.' And when they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable €things and all its abominations. And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I €will take the stony heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of €flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my ordinances and obey them; €and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and €their abominations, I will requite their deeds upon their own heads, €says the Lord GOD." @Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, with the wheels beside them; €and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood €upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city. And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in the vision by the Spirit €of God into Chalde'a, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen €went up from me. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’؋˜™And I told the exiles all the things that the LORD had showed me.  @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have €eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not; for they are a rebellious house. Therefore, son of man, prepare for €yourself an exile's baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight; €you shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their €sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for €exile; and you shall go forth yourself at evening in their sight, as €men do who must go into exile. Dig through the wall in their sight, and go out through it. In their sight you shall lift the baggage upon your shoulder, and carry €it out in the dark; you shall cover your face, that you may not see the €land; for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel." @And I did as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as €baggage for exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my €own hands; I went forth in the dark, carrying my outfit upon my €shoulder in their sight. @In the morning the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to €you, `What are you doing?' Say to them, `Thus says the Lord GOD: This oracle concerns the prince €in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it.' Say, `I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them; €they shall go into exile, into captivity.' And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his €shoulder in the dark, and shall go forth; he shall dig through the wall €and go out through it; he shall cover his face, that he may not see the €land with his eyes. And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare; €and I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Chalde'ans, yet he €shall not see it; and he shall die there. And I will scatter toward every wind all who are round about him, his €helpers and all his troops; and I will unsheathe the sword after them. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the €nations and scatter them through the countries. But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and €pestilence, that they may confess all their abominations among the €nations where they go, and may know that I am the LORD." @Moreover the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink water with €trembling and with fearfulness; and say of the people of the land, Thus says the Lord GOD concerning €the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They shall eat €their bread with fearfulness, and drink water in dismay, because their €land will be stripped of all it contains, on account of the violence of €all those who dwell in it. And the inhabited cities shall be laid waste, and the land shall become €a desolation; and you shall know that I am the LORD." @And the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of €Israel, saying, `The days grow long, and every vision comes to nought'? Tell them therefore, `Thus says the Lord GOD: I will put an end to this €proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.' But say €to them, The days are at hand, and the fulfilment of every vision. For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination €within the house of Israel. But I the LORD will speak the word which I will speak, and it will be €performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious €house, I will speak the word and perform it, says the Lord GOD." @Again the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, `The vision that €he sees is for many days hence, and he prophesies of times far off.' Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words will be €delayed any longer, but the word which I speak will be performed, says €the Lord GOD."  @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, prophesy and say €to those who prophesy out of their own minds: `Hear the word of the €LORD!' Thus says the Lord GOD, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their €own spirit, and have seen nothing! Your prophets have been like foxes among ruins, O Israel. You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the €house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the LORD. They have spoken falsehood and divined a lie; they say, `Says the €LORD,' when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they expect him to €fulfil their word. Have you not seen a delusive vision, and uttered a lying divination, €whenever you have said, `Says the LORD,' although I have not spoken?" @Therefore thus says the Lord God: "Because you have uttered delusions €and seen lies, therefore behold, I am against you, says the Lord GOD. My hand will be against the prophets who see delusive visions and who €give lying divinations; they shall not be in the council of my people, €nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they €enter the land of Israel; and you shall know that I am the Lord GOD. Because, yea, because they have misled my people, saying, `Peace,' when €there is no peace; and because, when the people build a wall, these €prophets daub it with whitewash; say to those who daub it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will €be a deluge of rain, great hailstones will fall, and a stormy wind €break out; and when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, `Where is the €daubing with which you daubed it?' Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I will make a stormy wind break out €in my wrath; and there shall be a deluge of rain in my anger, and great €hailstones in wrath to destroy it. And I will break down the wall that you have daubed with whitewash, and €bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be laid bare; €when it falls, you shall perish in the midst of it; and you shall know €that I am the LORD. Thus will I spend my wrath upon the wall, and upon those who have €daubed it with whitewash; and I will say to you, The wall is no more, €nor those who daubed it, the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw €visions of peace for her, when there was no peace, says the Lord GOD. @"And you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your €people, who prophesy out of their own minds; prophesy against them and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the women who sew magic bands €upon all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every €stature, in the hunt for souls! Will you hunt down souls belonging to €my people, and keep other souls alive for your profit? You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for €pieces of bread, putting to death persons who should not die and €keeping alive persons who should not live, by your lies to my people, €who listen to lies. @"Wherefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against your magic €bands with which you hunt the souls, and I will tear them from your €arms; and I will let the souls that you hunt go free like birds. Your veils also I will tear off, and deliver my people out of your €hand, and they shall be no more in your hand as prey; and you shall €know that I am the LORD. Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have €not disheartened him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he €should not turn from his wicked way to save his life; therefore you shall no more see delusive visions nor practice €divination; I will deliver my people out of your hand. Then you will €know that I am the LORD."  @Then came certain of the elders of Israel to me; and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and €set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces; should I €let myself be inquired of at all by them? Therefore speak to them, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Any žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’؎”‚man of the house of Israel who takes his idols into his heart and sets €the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to €the prophet, I the LORD will answer him myself because of the multitude €of his idols, that I may lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel, who are all €estranged from me through their idols. @"Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Repent €and turn away from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your €abominations. For any one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in €Israel, who separates himself from me, taking his idols into his heart €and putting the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and €yet comes to a prophet to inquire for himself of me, I the LORD will €answer him myself; and I will set my face against that man, I will make him a sign and a €byword and cut him off from the midst of my people; and you shall know €that I am the LORD. And if the prophet be deceived and speak a word, I, the LORD, have €deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him, and €will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. And they shall bear their punishment -- the punishment of the prophet and €the punishment of the inquirer shall be alike --that the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, nor defile €themselves any more with all their transgressions, but that they may be €my people and I may be their God, says the Lord GOD." @And the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I €stretch out my hand against it, and break its staff of bread and send €famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast, even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would €deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, says the Lord GOD. If I cause wild beasts to pass through the land, and they ravage it, €and it be made desolate, so that no man may pass through because of the €beasts; even if these three men were in it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, they €would deliver neither sons nor daughters; they alone would be €delivered, but the land would be desolate. Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Let a sword go through €the land; and I cut off from it man and beast; though these three men were in it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, they €would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they alone would be €delivered. Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my wrath upon it €with blood, to cut off from it man and beast; even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, €they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver but €their own lives by their righteousness. @"For thus says the Lord GOD: How much more when I send upon Jerusalem €my four sore acts of judgment, sword, famine, evil beasts, and €pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast! Yet, if there should be left in it any survivors to lead out sons and €daughters, when they come forth to you, and you see their ways and €their doings, you will be consoled for the evil that I have brought €upon Jerusalem, for all that I have brought upon it. They will console you, when you see their ways and their doings; and €you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done €in it, says the Lord GOD."  @And the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine €branch which is among the trees of the forest? Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do men take a peg from it to €hang any vessel on? Lo, it is given to the fire for fuel; when the fire has consumed both €ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything? Behold, when it was whole, it was used for nothing; how much less, when €the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it ever be used for €anything! Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Like the wood of the vine among the €trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I €give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will set my face against them; though they escape from the fire, €the fire shall yet consume them; and you will know that I am the LORD, €when I set my face against them. And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, €says the Lord GOD."  @Again the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: Your origin and your €birth are of the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite, €and your mother a Hittite. And as for your birth, on the day you were born your navel string was €not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with €salt, nor swathed with bands. No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion €for you; but you were cast out on the open field, for you were €abhorred, on the day that you were born. @"And when I passed by you, and saw you weltering in your blood, I €said to you in your blood, `Live, and grow up like a plant of the field.' And you grew up and became tall €and arrived at full maidenhood; your breasts were formed, and your hair €had grown; yet you were naked and bare. @"When I passed by you again and looked upon you, behold, you were at €the age for love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your €nakedness: yea, I plighted my troth to you and entered into a covenant €with you, says the Lord GOD, and you became mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you, and €anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with leather, I €swathed you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I decked you with ornaments, and put bracelets on your arms, and a €chain on your neck. And I put a ring on your nose, and earrings in your ears, and a €beautiful crown upon your head. Thus you were decked with gold and silver; and your raiment was of fine €linen, and silk, and embroidered cloth; you ate fine flour and honey €and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful, and came to regal estate. And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, €for it was perfect through the splendor which I had bestowed upon you, €says the Lord GOD. @"But you trusted in your beauty, and played the harlot because of €your renown, and lavished your harlotries on any passer-by. You took some of your garments, and made for yourself gaily decked €shrines, and on them played the harlot; the like has never been, nor €ever shall be. You also took your fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had €given you, and made for yourself images of men, and with them played €the harlot; and you took your embroidered garments to cover them, and set my oil €and my incense before them. Also my bread which I gave you -- I fed you with fine flour and oil and €honey -- you set before them for a pleasing odor, says the Lord GOD. And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, €and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your harlotries €so small a matter that you slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering €by fire to them? And in all your abominations and your harlotries you did not remember €the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, weltering in your €blood. @"And after all your wickedness (woe, woe to you! says the Lord GOD), you built yourself a vaulted chamber, and made yourself a lofty place €in every square; at the head of every street you built your lofty place and prostituted €your beauty, offering yourself to any passer-by, and multiplying your €harlotry. You also played the harlot with the Egyptians, your lustful neighbors, €multiplying your harlotry, to provoke me to anger. Behold, therefore, I stretched out my hand against you, and diminished €your allotted portion, and delivered you to the greed of your enemies, €the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd €behavior. You played the harlot also with the Assyrians, because you were žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’ؐ˜œ‚insatiable; yea, you played the harlot with them, and still you were €not satisfied. You multiplied your harlotry also with the trading land of Chalde'a; €and even with this you were not satisfied. @"How lovesick is your heart, says the Lord GOD, seeing you did all €these things, the deeds of a brazen harlot; building your vaulted chamber at the head of every street, and making €your lofty place in every square. Yet you were not like a harlot, €because you scorned hire. Adulterous wife, who receives strangers instead of her husband! Men give gifts to all harlots; but you gave your gifts to all your €lovers, bribing them to come to you from every side for your harlotries. So you were different from other women in your harlotries: none €solicited you to play the harlot; and you gave hire, while no hire was €given to you; therefore you were different. @"Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD: Thus says the Lord GOD, Because your shame was laid bare and your €nakedness uncovered in your harlotries with your lovers, and because of €all your idols, and because of the blood of your children that you gave €to them, therefore, behold, I will gather all your lovers, with whom you took €pleasure, all those you loved and all those you loathed; I will gather €them against you from every side, and will uncover your nakedness to €them, that they may see all your nakedness. And I will judge you as women who break wedlock and shed blood are €judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy. And I will give you into the hand of your lovers, and they shall throw €down your vaulted chamber and break down your lofty places; they shall €strip you of your clothes and take your fair jewels, and leave you €naked and bare. They shall bring up a host against you, and they shall stone you and €cut you to pieces with their swords. And they shall burn your houses and execute judgments upon you in the €sight of many women; I will make you stop playing the harlot, and you €shall also give hire no more. So will I satisfy my fury on you, and my jealousy shall depart from €you; I will be calm, and will no more be angry. Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have €enraged me with all these things; therefore, behold, I will requite €your deeds upon your head, says the Lord GOD. €@"Have you not committed lewdness in addition to all your abominations? Behold, every one who uses proverbs will use this proverb about you, €`Like mother, like daughter.' You are the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and her €children; and you are the sister of your sisters, who loathed their €husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father €an Amorite. And your elder sister is Sama'ria, who lived with her daughters to the €north of you; and your younger sister, who lived to the south of you, €is Sodom with her daughters. Yet you were not content to walk in their ways, or do according to €their abominations; within a very little time you were more corrupt €than they in all your ways. As I live, says the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters have €not done as you and your daughters have done. Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters €had pride, surfeit of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the €poor and needy. They were haughty, and did abominable things before me; therefore I €removed them, when I saw it. Sama'ria has not committed half your sins; you have committed more €abominations than they, and have made your sisters appear righteous by €all the abominations which you have committed. Bear your disgrace, you also, for you have made judgment favorable to €your sisters; because of your sins in which you acted more abominably €than they, they are more in the right than you. So be ashamed, you €also, and bear your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear €righteous. @"I will restore their fortunes, both the fortunes of Sodom and her €daughters, and the fortunes of Sama'ria and her daughters, and I will €restore your own fortunes in the midst of them, that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all that you have €done, becoming a consolation to them. As for your sisters, Sodom and her daughters shall return to their €former estate, and Sama'ria and her daughters shall return to their €former estate; and you and your daughters shall return to your former €estate. Was not your sister Sodom a byword in your mouth in the day of your €pride, before your wickedness was uncovered? Now you have become like her an €object of reproach for the daughters of Edom and all her neighbors, and €for the daughters of the Philistines, those round about who despise you. You bear the penalty of your lewdness and your abominations, says the €LORD. @"Yea, thus says the Lord GOD: I will deal with you as you have done, €who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant, yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and €I will establish with you an everlasting covenant. Then you will remember your ways, and be ashamed when I take your €sisters, both your elder and your younger, and give them to you as €daughters, but not on account of the covenant with you. I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the €LORD, that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth €again because of your shame, when I forgive you all that you have done, €says the Lord GOD."  @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, propound a riddle, and speak an allegory to the house of €Israel; say, Thus says the Lord GOD: A great eagle with great wings and long €pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the €top of the cedar; he broke off the topmost of its young twigs and carried it to a land of €trade, and set it in a city of merchants. Then he took of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil; he €placed it beside abundant waters. He set it like a willow twig, and it sprouted and became a low spreading vine, and its branches €turned toward him, and its roots remained where it stood. So it became €a vine, and brought forth branches and put forth foliage. @"But there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage; €and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him, and shot forth its €branches toward him that he might water it. From the bed where it was €planted he transplanted it to good soil by abundant waters, that it might bring €forth branches, and bear fruit, and become a noble vine. Say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its €roots and cut off its branches, so that all its fresh sprouting leaves €wither? It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it from €its roots. Behold, when it is transplanted, will it thrive? Will it not utterly €wither when the east wind strikes it -- wither away on the bed where it €grew?" @Then the word of the LORD came to me: "Say now to the rebellious house, Do you not know what these things €mean? Tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and €took her king and her princes and brought them to him to Babylon. And he took one of the seed royal and made a covenant with him, putting €him under oath. (The chief men of the land he had taken away, that the kingdom might be humble and not lift itself up, and that by €keeping his covenant it might stand.) But he rebelled against him by sending ambassadors to Egypt, that they €might give him horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Can a man €escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape? As I live, says the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwells €who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant with him €he broke, in Babylon he shall die. Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in €war, when mounds are cast up and siege walls built to cut off many €lives. Because he despised the oath and broke the covenant, because he gave €his hand and yet did all these things, he shall not escape. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’ؑ˜“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, surely my oath which he €despised, and my covenant which he broke, I will requite upon his head. I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I €will bring him to Babylon and enter into judgment with him there for €the treason he has committed against me. And all the pick of his troops shall fall by the sword, and the €survivors shall be scattered to every wind; and you shall know that I, €the LORD, have spoken." @Thus says the Lord GOD: "I myself will take a sprig from the lofty €top of the cedar, and will set it out; I will break off from the €topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it €upon a high and lofty mountain; on the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bring €forth boughs and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar; and under it €will dwell all kinds of beasts; in the shade of its branches birds of €every sort will nest. And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD bring low the €high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make €the dry tree flourish. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it."  @The word of the LORD came to me again: "What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of €Israel, `The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth €are set on edge'? As I live, says the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you €in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul €of the son is mine: the soul that sins shall die. @"If a man is righteous and does what is lawful and right --if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols €of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife or approach €a woman in her time of impurity, does not oppress any one, but restores to the debtor his pledge, €commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked €with a garment, does not lend at interest or take any increase, withholds his hand from €iniquity, executes true justice between man and man, walks in my statutes, and is careful to observe my ordinances -- he is €righteous, he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD. @"If he begets a son who is a robber, a shedder of blood, who does none of these duties, but eats upon the mountains, defiles his €neighbor's wife, oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the €pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination, lends at interest, and takes increase; shall he then live? He shall not €live. He has done all these abominable things; he shall surely die; his €blood shall be upon himself. @"But if this man begets a son who sees all the sins which his father €has done, and fears, and does not do likewise, who does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of €the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife, does not wrong any one, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives €his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no interest or increase, €observes my ordinances, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for €his father's iniquity; he shall surely live. As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, €and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his €iniquity. @"Yet you say, `Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the €father?' When the son has done what is lawful and right, and has been €careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. The soul that sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity €of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son; the €righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the €wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. @"But if a wicked man turns away from all his sins which he has €committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is lawful and right, €he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered €against him; for the righteousness which he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord GOD, and €not rather that he should turn from his way and live? But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits €iniquity and does the same abominable things that the wicked man does, €shall he live? None of the righteous deeds which he has done shall be €remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has €committed, he shall die. @"Yet you say, `The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of €Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits €iniquity, he shall die for it; for the iniquity which he has committed €he shall die. Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has €committed and does what is lawful and right, he shall save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions which €he had committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, `The way of the Lord is not just.' O €house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not €just? @"Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according €to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your €transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed €against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will €you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of any one, says the Lord GOD; so €turn, and live."  @And you, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, and say: €@@What a lioness was your mother €@@@among lions! €@@She couched in the midst of young lions, €@@@rearing her whelps. @@And she brought up one of her whelps; €@@@he became a young lion, €@@and he learned to catch prey; €@@@he devoured men. @@The nations sounded an alarm against him; €@@@he was taken in their pit; €@@and they brought him with hooks €@@@to the land of Egypt. @@When she saw that she was baffled, €@@@that her hope was lost, €@@she took another of her whelps €@@@and made him a young lion. @@He prowled among the lions; €@@@he became a young lion, €@@and he learned to catch prey; €@@@he devoured men. @@And he ravaged their strongholds, €@@@and laid waste their cities; €@@and the land was appalled and all who were in it €@@@at the sound of his roaring. @@Then the nations set against him €@@@snares on every side; €@@they spread their net over him; €@@@he was taken in their pit. @@With hooks they put him in a cage, €@@@and brought him to the king of Babylon; €@@@they brought him into custody, €@@that his voice should no more be heard €@@@upon the mountains of Israel. @@Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard €@@@transplanted by the water, €@@fruitful and full of branches €@@@by reason of abundant water. @@Its strongest stem became €@@@a ruler's scepter; €@@it towered aloft €@@@among the thick boughs; €@@it was seen in its height €@@@with the mass of its branches. @@But the vine was plucked up in fury, €@@@cast down to the ground; €@@the east wind dried it up; €@@@its fruit was stripped off, €@@its strong stem was withered; €@@@the fire consumed it. @@Now it is transplanted in the wilderness, €@@@in a dry and thirsty land. @@And fire has gone out from its stem, €@@@has consumed its branches and fruit, €@@so that there remains in it no strong stem, €@@@no scepter for a ruler. €@This is a lamentation, and has become a lamentation.  @In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the €month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and €sat before me. And the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says €the Lord GOD, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, says the €Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’ؔ”Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then let them €know the abominations of their fathers, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day when I chose €Israel, I swore to the seed of the house of Jacob, making myself known €to them in the land of Egypt, I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD €your God. On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of €Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with €milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands. And I said to them, Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, €every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; €I am the LORD your God. But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not €every man cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor €did they forsake the idols of Egypt. €@"Then I thought I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my €anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in €the sight of the nations among whom they dwelt, in whose sight I made €myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the €wilderness. I gave them my statutes and showed them my ordinances, by whose €observance man shall live. Moreover I gave them my sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that €they might know that I the LORD sanctify them. But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness; they did €not walk in my statutes but rejected my ordinances, by whose observance €man shall live; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned. €@"Then I thought I would pour out my wrath upon them in the €wilderness, to make a full end of them. But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in €the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them €into the land which I had given them, a land flowing with milk and €honey, the most glorious of all lands, because they rejected my ordinances and did not walk in my statutes, €and profaned my sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or make a €full end of them in the wilderness. @"And I said to their children in the wilderness, Do not walk in the €statutes of your fathers, nor observe their ordinances, nor defile €yourselves with their idols. I the LORD am your God; walk in my statutes, and be careful to observe €my ordinances, and hallow my sabbaths that they may be a sign between me and you, that €you may know that I the LORD am your God. But the children rebelled against me; they did not walk in my statutes, €and were not careful to observe my ordinances, by whose observance man €shall live; they profaned my sabbaths. €@"Then I thought I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my €anger against them in the wilderness. But I withheld my hand, and acted for the sake of my name, that it €should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I €had brought them out. Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them €among the nations and disperse them through the countries, because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my €statutes and profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes were set on their €fathers' idols. Moreover I gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by €which they could not have life; and I defiled them through their very gifts in making them offer by €fire all their first-born, that I might horrify them; I did it that €they might know that I am the LORD. @"Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, €Thus says the Lord GOD: In this again your fathers blasphemed me, by €dealing treacherously with me. For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give them, €then wherever they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they €offered their sacrifices and presented the provocation of their €offering; there they sent up their soothing odors, and there they €poured out their drink offerings. (I said to them, What is the high place to which you go? So its name is €called Bamah to this day.) Wherefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Will you €defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go astray after €their detestable things? When you offer your gifts and sacrifice your sons by fire, you defile €yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of €by you, O house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be €inquired of by you. @"What is in your mind shall never happen -- the thought, `Let us be €like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood €and stone.' @"As I live, says the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand and an €outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you. I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the €countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and an €outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out; and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I €will enter into judgment with you face to face. As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the €land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, says the Lord €GOD. I will make you pass under the rod, and I will let you go in by number. I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress €against me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but €they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am €the LORD. @"As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord GOD: Go serve €every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen €to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and €your idols. @"For on my holy mountain, the mountain height of Israel, says the €Lord GOD, there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in €the land; there I will accept them, and there I will require your €contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your sacred €offerings. As a pleasing odor I will accept you, when I bring you out from the €peoples, and gather you out of the countries where you have been €scattered; and I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of €the nations. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land €of Israel, the country which I swore to give to your fathers. And there you shall remember your ways and all the doings with which €you have polluted yourselves; and you shall loathe yourselves for all €the evils that you have committed. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my €name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your €corrupt doings, O house of Israel, says the Lord GOD." @And the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against the south, €and prophesy against the forest land in the Negeb; say to the forest of the Negeb, Hear the word of the LORD: Thus says €the Lord GOD, Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour €every green tree in you and every dry tree; the blazing flame shall not €be quenched, and all faces from south to north shall be scorched by it. All flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it; it shall not be €quenched." Then I said, "Ah Lord GOD! they are saying of me, `Is he not a maker of €allegories?'"  @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the €sanctuaries; prophesy against the land of Israel and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am against €you, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off €from you both righteous and wicked. Because I will cut off from you both righteous and wicked, therefore my €sword shall go out of its sheath against all flesh from south to north; and all flesh shall know that I the LORD have drawn my sword out of its žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’ؕ•‚sheath; it shall not be sheathed again. Sigh therefore, son of man; sigh with breaking heart and bitter grief €before their eyes. And when they say to you, `Why do you sigh?' you shall say, `Because of €the tidings. When it comes, every heart will melt and all hands will be €feeble, every spirit will faint and all knees will be weak as water. €Behold, it comes and it will be fulfilled,'" says the Lord GOD. @And the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, Say: €@@A sword, a sword is sharpened €@@@and also polished, @@sharpened for slaughter, €@@@polished to flash like lightning! €Or do we make mirth? You have despised the rod, my son, with €everything of wood. So the sword is given to be polished, that it may be handled; it is €sharpened and polished to be given into the hand of the slayer. Cry and wail, son of man, for it is against my people; it is against €all the princes of Israel; they are delivered over to the sword with my €people. Smite therefore upon your thigh. For it will not be a testing -- what could it do if you despise the rod?" €says the Lord GOD. @"Prophesy therefore, son of man; clap your hands and let the sword €come down twice, yea thrice, the sword for those to be slain; it is the €sword for the great slaughter, which encompasses them, that their hearts may melt, and many fall at all their gates. I have €given the glittering sword; ah! it is made like lightning, it is €polished for slaughter. Cut sharply to right and left where your edge is directed. I also will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury; I the LORD have €spoken." @The word of the LORD came to me again: "Son of man, mark two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to €come; both of them shall come forth from the same land. And make a €signpost, make it at the head of the way to a city; mark a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the Ammonites and to €Judah and to Jerusalem the fortified. For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head €of the two ways, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults €the teraphim, he looks at the liver. Into his right hand comes the lot for Jerusalem, to open the mouth with €a cry, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set battering rams €against the gates, to cast up mounds, to build siege towers. But to them it will seem like a false divination; they have sworn €solemn oaths; but he brings their guilt to remembrance, that they may €be captured. @"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have made your guilt €to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in €all your doings your sins appear -- because you have come to remembrance, €you shall be taken in them. And you, O unhallowed wicked one, prince of Israel, whose day has come, €the time of your final punishment, thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban, and take off the crown; €things shall not remain as they are; exalt that which is low, and abase €that which is high. A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it; there shall not be even a trace of €it until he comes whose right it is; and to him I will give it. @"And you, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD €concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; say, A sword, €a sword is drawn for the slaughter, it is polished to glitter and to €flash like lightning --while they see for you false visions, while they divine lies for €you -- to be laid on the necks of the unhallowed wicked, whose day has €come, the time of their final punishment. Return it to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the €land of your origin, I will judge you. And I will pour out my indignation upon you; I will blow upon you with €the fire of my wrath; and I will deliver you into the hands of brutal €men, skilful to destroy. You shall be fuel for the fire; your blood shall be in the midst of the €land; you shall be no more remembered; for I the LORD have spoken."  @Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "And you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? €Then declare to her all her abominable deeds. You shall say, Thus says the Lord GOD: A city that sheds blood in the €midst of her, that her time may come, and that makes idols to defile €herself! You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and defiled by €the idols which you have made; and you have brought your day near, the €appointed time of your years has come. Therefore I have made you a €reproach to the nations, and a mocking to all the countries. Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you, you €infamous one, full of tumult. @"Behold, the princes of Israel in you, every one according to his €power, have been bent on shedding blood. Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the sojourner €suffers extortion in your midst; the fatherless and the widow are €wronged in you. You have despised my holy things, and profaned my sabbaths. There are men in you who slander to shed blood, and men in you who eat €upon the mountains; men commit lewdness in your midst. In you men uncover their fathers' nakedness; in you they humble women €who are unclean in their impurity. One commits abomination with his neighbor's wife; another lewdly €defiles his daughter-in-law; another in you defiles his sister, his €father's daughter. In you men take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and increase €and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; and you have forgotten €me, says the Lord GOD. @"Behold, therefore, I strike my hands together at the dishonest gain €which you have made, and at the blood which has been in the midst of €you. Can your courage endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that €I shall deal with you? I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it. I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you through the €countries, and I will consume your filthiness out of you. And I shall be profaned through you in the sight of the nations; and €you shall know that I am the LORD." @And the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me; all of them, €silver and bronze and tin and iron and lead in the furnace, have become €dross. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have all become dross, €therefore, behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As men gather silver and bronze and iron and lead and tin into a €furnace, to blow the fire upon it in order to melt it; so I will gather €you in my anger and in my wrath, and I will put you in and melt you. I will gather you and blow upon you with the fire of my wrath, and you €shall be melted in the midst of it. As silver is melted in a furnace, so you shall be melted in the midst €of it; and you shall know that I the LORD have poured out my wrath upon €you." @And the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, say to her, You are a land that is not cleansed, or rained €upon in the day of indignation. Her princes in the midst of her are like a roaring lion tearing the €prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and €precious things; they have made many widows in the midst of her. Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy €things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the common, €neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the €clean, and they have disregarded my sabbaths, so that I am profaned €among them. Her princes in the midst of her are like wolves tearing the prey, €shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed for them with whitewash, seeing false €visions and divining lies for them, saying, `Thus says the Lord GOD,' €when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery; €they have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the €sojourner without redress. And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and €stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy €it; but I found none. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’ؖ˜ŸTherefore I have poured out my indignation upon them; I have consumed €them with the fire of my wrath; their way have I requited upon their €heads, says the Lord GOD."  @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother; they played the harlot in Egypt; they played the harlot in their youth; €there their breasts were pressed and their virgin bosoms handled. Oho'lah was the name of the elder and Ohol'ibah the name of her sister. €They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, €Oho'lah is Sama'ria, and Ohol'ibah is Jerusalem. @"Oho'lah played the harlot while she was mine; and she doted on her €lovers the Assyrians, warriors clothed in purple, governors and commanders, all of them €desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. She bestowed her harlotries upon them, the choicest men of Assyria all €of them; and she defiled herself with all the idols of every one on €whom she doted. She did not give up her harlotry which she had practiced since her days €in Egypt; for in her youth men had lain with her and handled her virgin €bosom and poured out their lust upon her. Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, into the hands €of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted. These uncovered her nakedness; they seized her sons and her daughters; €and her they slew with the sword; and she became a byword among women, €when judgment had been executed upon her. @"Her sister Ohol'ibah saw this, yet she was more corrupt than she in €her doting and in her harlotry, which was worse than that of her sister. She doted upon the Assyrians, governors and commanders, warriors €clothed in full armor, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable €young men. And I saw that she was defiled; they both took the same way. But she carried her harlotry further; she saw men portrayed upon the €wall, the images of the Chalde'ans portrayed in vermilion, girded with belts on their loins, with flowing turbans on their heads, €all of them looking like officers, a picture of Babylonians whose €native land was Chalde'a. When she saw them she doted upon them, and sent messengers to them in €Chalde'a. And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled €her with their lust; and after she was polluted by them, she turned €from them in disgust. When she carried on her harlotry so openly and flaunted her nakedness, €I turned in disgust from her, as I had turned from her sister. Yet she increased her harlotry, remembering the days of her youth, when €she played the harlot in the land of Egypt and doted upon her paramours there, whose members were like those of €asses, and whose issue was like that of horses. Thus you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when the Egyptians €handled your bosom and pressed your young breasts." @Therefore, O Ohol'ibah, thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I will rouse €against you your lovers from whom you turned in disgust, and I will €bring them against you from every side: the Babylonians and all the Chalde'ans, Pekod and Sho'a and Ko'a, and €all the Assyrians with them, desirable young men, governors and €commanders all of them, officers and warriors, all of them riding on €horses. And they shall come against you from the north with chariots and wagons €and a host of peoples; they shall set themselves against you on every €side with buckler, shield, and helmet, and I will commit the judgment €to them, and they shall judge you according to their judgments. And I will direct my indignation against you, that they may deal with €you in fury. They shall cut off your nose and your ears, and your €survivors shall fall by the sword. They shall seize your sons and your €daughters, and your survivors shall be devoured by fire. They shall also strip you of your clothes and take away your fine €jewels. Thus I will put an end to your lewdness and your harlotry brought from €the land of Egypt; so that you shall not lift up your eyes to the €Egyptians or remember them any more. For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will deliver you into the hands €of those whom you hate, into the hands of those from whom you turned in €disgust; and they shall deal with you in hatred, and take away all the fruit of €your labor, and leave you naked and bare, and the nakedness of your €harlotry shall be uncovered. Your lewdness and your harlotry have brought this upon you, because you played the harlot with the €nations, and polluted yourself with their idols. You have gone the way of your sister; therefore I will give her cup €into your hand. Thus says the Lord GOD: €@@"You shall drink your sister's cup €@@@which is deep and large; €@@you shall be laughed at and held in derision, €@@@for it contains much; @@you will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow. €@@A cup of horror and desolation, €@@@is the cup of your sister Sama'ria; @@you shall drink it and drain it out, €@@@and pluck out your hair, €@@@and tear your breasts; €for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have forgotten me and €cast me behind your back, therefore bear the consequences of your €lewdness and harlotry." @The LORD said to me: "Son of man, will you judge Oho'lah and €Ohol'ibah? Then declare to them their abominable deeds. For they have committed adultery, and blood is upon their hands; with €their idols they have committed adultery; and they have even offered up €to them for food the sons whom they had borne to me. Moreover this they have done to me: they have defiled my sanctuary on €the same day and profaned my sabbaths. For when they had slaughtered their children in sacrifice to their €idols, on the same day they came into my sanctuary to profane it. And €lo, this is what they did in my house. They even sent for men to come from far, to whom a messenger was sent, €and lo, they came. For them you bathed yourself, painted your eyes, and €decked yourself with ornaments; you sat upon a stately couch, with a table spread before it on which €you had placed my incense and my oil. The sound of a carefree multitude was with her; and with men of the €common sort drunkards were brought from the wilderness; and they put €bracelets upon the hands of the women, and beautiful crowns upon their €heads. @"Then I said, Do not men now commit adultery when they practice €harlotry with her? For they have gone in to her, as men go in to a harlot. Thus they went €in to Oho'lah and to Ohol'ibah to commit lewdness. But righteous men shall pass judgment on them with the sentence of €adulteresses, and with the sentence of women that shed blood; because €they are adulteresses, and blood is upon their hands." @For thus says the Lord GOD: "Bring up a host against them, and make €them an object of terror and a spoil. And the host shall stone them and dispatch them with their swords; they €shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses. Thus will I put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take €warning and not commit lewdness as you have done. And your lewdness shall be requited upon you, and you shall bear the €penalty for your sinful idolatry; and you shall know that I am the Lord €GOD."  @In the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, €the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, write down the name of this day, this very day. The king €of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. And utter an allegory to the rebellious house and say to them, Thus €says the Lord GOD: €@@Set on the pot, set it on, €@@@pour in water also; @@put in it the pieces of flesh, €@@@all the good pieces, the thigh and the shoulder; €@@@fill it with choice bones. @@Take the choicest one of the flock, €@@@pile the logs under it; €@@boil its pieces, €@@@seethe also its bones in it. @"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city, to the pot €whose rust is in it, and whose rust has not gone out of it! Take out of €it piece after piece, without making any choice. For the blood she has shed is still in the midst of her; she put it on žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’ؘ—‚the bare rock, she did not pour it upon the ground to cover it with €dust. To rouse my wrath, to take vengeance, I have set on the bare rock the €blood she has shed, that it may not be covered. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city! I also will €make the pile great. Heap on the logs, kindle the fire, boil well the flesh, and empty out €the broth, and let the bones be burned up. Then set it empty upon the coals, that it may become hot, and its €copper may burn, that its filthiness may be melted in it, its rust €consumed. In vain I have wearied myself; its thick rust does not go out of it by €fire. Its rust is your filthy lewdness. Because I would have cleansed you and €you were not cleansed from your filthiness, you shall not be cleansed €any more till I have satisfied my fury upon you. I the LORD have spoken; it shall come to pass, I will do it; I will not €go back, I will not spare, I will not repent; according to your ways €and your doings I will judge you, says the Lord GOD." @Also the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away €from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep nor shall your €tears run down. Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your €turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor €eat the bread of mourners." So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. €And on the next morning I did as I was commanded. @And the people said to me, "Will you not tell us what these things €mean for us, that you are acting thus?" Then I said to them, "The word of the LORD came to me: `Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will €profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your €eyes, and the desire of your soul; and your sons and your daughters €whom you left behind shall fall by the sword. And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips, nor eat €the bread of mourners. Your turbans shall be on your heads and your shoes on your feet; you €shall not mourn or weep, but you shall pine away in your iniquities and €groan to one another. Thus shall Ezekiel be to you a sign; according to all that he has done €you shall do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord €GOD.' @"And you, son of man, on the day when I take from them their €stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes and their €heart's desire, and also their sons and daughters, on that day a fugitive will come to you to report to you the news. On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you shall €speak and be no longer dumb. So you will be a sign to them; and they €will know that I am the LORD."  @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face toward the Ammonites, and prophesy against €them. Say to the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus says the Lord €GOD, Because you said, `Aha!' over my sanctuary when it was profaned, €and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the €house of Judah when it went into exile; therefore I am handing you over to the people of the East for a €possession, and they shall set their encampments among you and make €their dwellings in your midst; they shall eat your fruit, and they €shall drink your milk. I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and the cities of the Ammonites €a fold for flocks. Then you will know that I am the LORD. For thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have clapped your hands and €stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within you against €the land of Israel, therefore, behold, I have stretched out my hand against you, and will €hand you over as spoil to the nations; and I will cut you off from the €peoples and will make you perish out of the countries; I will destroy €you. Then you will know that I am the LORD. @"Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Moab said, Behold, the house of €Judah is like all the other nations, therefore I will lay open the flank of Moab from the cities on its €frontier, the glory of the country, Beth-jesh'imoth, Ba'al-me'on, and €Kiriatha'im. I will give it along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a €possession, that it may be remembered no more among the nations, and I will execute judgments upon Moab. Then they will know that I am €the LORD. @"Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Edom acted revengefully against the €house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance upon €them, therefore thus says the Lord GOD, I will stretch out my hand against €Edom, and cut off from it man and beast; and I will make it desolate; €from Teman even to Dedan they shall fall by the sword. And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel; €and they shall do in Edom according to my anger and according to my €wrath; and they shall know my vengeance, says the Lord GOD. @"Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines acted revengefully €and took vengeance with malice of heart to destroy in never-ending €enmity; therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I will stretch out my hand €against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cher'ethites, and €destroy the rest of the seacoast. I will execute great vengeance upon them with wrathful chastisements. €Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I lay my vengeance upon €them."  @In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the €LORD came to me: "Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, `Aha, the gate of €the peoples is broken, it has swung open to me; I shall be replenished, €now that she is laid waste,' therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and €will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. They shall destroy the walls of Tyre, and break down her towers; and I €will scrape her soil from her, and make her a bare rock. She shall be in the midst of the sea a place for the spreading of nets; €for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD; and she shall become a spoil to €the nations; and her daughters on the mainland shall be slain by the sword. Then €they will know that I am the LORD. @"For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will bring upon Tyre from the €north Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and €chariots, and with horsemen and a host of many soldiers. He will slay with the sword your daughters on the mainland; he will set €up a siege wall against you, and throw up a mound against you, and €raise a roof of shields against you. He will direct the shock of his battering rams against your walls, and €with his axes he will break down your towers. His horses will be so many that their dust will cover you; your walls €will shake at the noise of the horsemen and wagons and chariots, when €he enters your gates as one enters a city which has been breached. With the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets; he will €slay your people with the sword; and your mighty pillars will fall to €the ground. They will make a spoil of your riches and a prey of your merchandise; €they will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses; your €stones and timber and soil they will cast into the midst of the waters. And I will stop the music of your songs, and the sound of your lyres €shall be heard no more. I will make you a bare rock; you shall be a place for the spreading of €nets; you shall never be rebuilt; for I the LORD have spoken, says the €Lord GOD. @"Thus says the Lord GOD to Tyre: Will not the coastlands shake at the €sound of your fall, when the wounded groan, when slaughter is made in €the midst of you? Then all the princes of the sea will step down from their thrones, and €remove their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments; they will €clothe themselves with trembling; they will sit upon the ground and €tremble every moment, and be appalled at you. And they will raise a lamentation over you, and say to you, €@@`How you have vanished from the seas, €@@@O city renowned, €@@that was mighty on the sea, €@@@you and your inhabitants, €@@who imposed your terror žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’ؚ˜‘‡@@@on all the mainland! @@Now the isles tremble €@@@on the day of your fall; €@@yea, the isles that are in the sea €@@@are dismayed at your passing.' @"For thus says the Lord GOD: When I make you a city laid waste, like €the cities that are not inhabited, when I bring up the deep over you, €and the great waters cover you, then I will thrust you down with those who descend into the Pit, to the €people of old, and I will make you to dwell in the nether world, among €primeval ruins, with those who go down to the Pit, so that you will not €be inhabited or have a place in the land of the living. I will bring you to a dreadful end, and you shall be no more; though €you be sought for, you will never be found again, says the Lord GOD."  @The word of the LORD came to me: "Now you, son of man, raise a lamentation over Tyre, and say to Tyre, who dwells at the entrance to the sea, merchant of €the peoples on many coastlands, thus says the Lord GOD: €@@"O Tyre, you have said, €@@@`I am perfect in beauty.' @@Your borders are in the heart of the seas; €@@@your builders made perfect your beauty. @@They made all your planks €@@@of fir trees from Senir; €@@they took a cedar from Lebanon €@@@to make a mast for you. @@Of oaks of Bashan €@@@they made your oars; €@@they made your deck of pines €@@@from the coasts of Cyprus, €@@@inlaid with ivory. @@Of fine embroidered linen from Egypt €@@@was your sail, €@@@serving as your ensign; €@@blue and purple from the coasts of Eli'shah €@@@was your awning. @@The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad €@@@were your rowers; €@@skilled men of Zemer were in you, €@@@they were your pilots. @@The elders of Gebal and her skilled men were in you, €@@@caulking your seams; €@@all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you, €@@@to barter for your wares. @"Persia and Lud and Put were in your army as your men of war; they €hung the shield and helmet in you; they gave you splendor. The men of Arvad and Helech were upon your walls round about, and men €of Gamad were in your towers; they hung their shields upon your walls €round about; they made perfect your beauty. @"Tarshish trafficked with you because of your great wealth of every €kind; silver, iron, tin, and lead they exchanged for your wares. Javan, Tubal, and Meshech traded with you; they exchanged the persons €of men and vessels of bronze for your merchandise. Beth-togar'mah exchanged for your wares horses, war horses, and mules. The men of Rhodes traded with you; many coastlands were your own €special markets, they brought you in payment ivory tusks and ebony. Edom trafficked with you because of your abundant goods; they exchanged €for your wares emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, €and agate. Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged for your €merchandise wheat, olives and early figs, honey, oil, and balm. Damascus trafficked with you for your abundant goods, because of your €great wealth of every kind; wine of Helbon, and white wool, and wine from Uzal they exchanged for your wares; wrought iron, cassia, €and calamus were bartered for your merchandise. Dedan traded with you in saddlecloths for riding. Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your favored dealers in lambs, €rams, and goats; in these they trafficked with you. The traders of Sheba and Ra'amah traded with you; they exchanged for €your wares the best of all kinds of spices, and all precious stones, €and gold. Haran, Canneh, Eden, Asshur, and Chilmad traded with you. These traded with you in choice garments, in clothes of blue and €embroidered work, and in carpets of colored stuff, bound with cords and €made secure; in these they traded with you. The ships of Tarshish traveled for you with your merchandise. €@@"So you were filled and heavily laden €@@@in the heart of the seas. @@Your rowers have brought you out €@@@into the high seas. €@@The east wind has wrecked you €@@@in the heart of the seas. @@Your riches, your wares, your merchandise, €@@@your mariners and your pilots, €@@your caulkers, your dealers in merchandise, €@@@and all your men of war who are in you, €@@with all your company €@@@that is in your midst, €@@sink into the heart of the seas €@@@on the day of your ruin. @@At the sound of the cry of your pilots €@@@the countryside shakes, @@and down from their ships €@@@come all that handle the oar. €@@The mariners and all the pilots of the sea €@@@stand on the shore @@and wail aloud over you, €@@@and cry bitterly. €@@They cast dust on their heads €@@@and wallow in ashes; @@they make themselves bald for you, €@@@and gird themselves with sackcloth, €@@and they weep over you in bitterness of soul, €@@@with bitter mourning. @@In their wailing they raise a lamentation for you, €@@@and lament over you: €@@`Who was ever destroyed like Tyre €@@@in the midst of the sea? @@When your wares came from the seas, €@@@you satisfied many peoples; €@@with your abundant wealth and merchandise €@@@you enriched the kings of the earth. @@Now you are wrecked by the seas, €@@@in the depths of the waters; €@@your merchandise and all your crew €@@@have sunk with you. @@All the inhabitants of the coastlands €@@@are appalled at you; €@@and their kings are horribly afraid, €@@@their faces are convulsed. @@The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; €@@@you have come to a dreadful end €@@@and shall be no more for ever.'"  @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord GOD: €@@"Because your heart is proud, €@@@and you have said, `I am a god, €@@I sit in the seat of the gods, €@@@in the heart of the seas,' €@@yet you are but a man, and no god, €@@@though you consider yourself as wise as a god --@@you are indeed wiser than Daniel; €@@@no secret is hidden from you; @@by your wisdom and your understanding €@@@you have gotten wealth for yourself, €@@and have gathered gold and silver €@@@into your treasuries; @@by your great wisdom in trade €@@@you have increased your wealth, €@@@and your heart has become proud in your wealth --@@therefore thus says the Lord GOD: €@@"Because you consider yourself €@@@as wise as a god, @@therefore, behold, I will bring strangers upon you, €@@@the most terrible of the nations; €@@and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom €@@@and defile your splendor. @@They shall thrust you down into the Pit, €@@@and you shall die the death of the slain €@@@in the heart of the seas. @@Will you still say, `I am a god,' €@@@in the presence of those who slay you, €@@though you are but a man, and no god, €@@@in the hands of those who wound you? @@You shall die the death of the uncircumcised €@@@by the hand of foreigners; €@@@for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD." @Moreover the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to €him, Thus says the Lord GOD: €@@"You were the signet of perfection, €@@@full of wisdom €@@@and perfect in beauty. @@You were in Eden, the garden of God; €@@@every precious stone was your covering, €@@carnelian, topaz, and jasper, €@@@chrysolite, beryl, and onyx, €@@sapphire, carbuncle, and emerald; €@@@and wrought in gold were your settings €@@@and your engravings. €@@On the day that you were created €@@@they were prepared. @@With an anointed guardian cherub I placed you; €@@@you were on the holy mountain of God; €@@@in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. @@You were blameless in your ways €@@@from the day you were created, €@@@till iniquity was found in you. @@In the abundance of your trade €@@@you were filled with violence, and you sinned; €@@so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, €@@@and the guardian cherub drove you out €@@@from the midst of the stones of fire. @@Your heart was proud because of your beauty; €@@@you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. €@@I cast you to the ground; €@@@I exposed you before kings, €@@@to feast their eyes on you. @@By the multitude of your iniquities, €@@@in the unrighteousness of your trade €@@@you profaned your sanctuaries; €@@so I brought forth fire from the midst of you; €@@@it consumed you, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’؜˜’†@@and I turned you to ashes upon the earth €@@@in the sight of all who saw you. @@All who know you among the peoples €@@@are appalled at you; €@@you have come to a dreadful end €@@@and shall be no more for ever." @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face toward Sidon, and prophesy against her and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: €@@"Behold, I am against you, O Sidon, €@@@and I will manifest my glory in the midst of you. €@@And they shall know that I am the LORD €@@@when I execute judgments in her, €@@@and manifest my holiness in her; @@for I will send pestilence into her, €@@@and blood into her streets; €@@and the slain shall fall in the midst of her, €@@@by the sword that is against her on every side. €@@Then they will know that I am the LORD. @"And for the house of Israel there shall be no more a brier to prick €or a thorn to hurt them among all their neighbors who have treated them €with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD. @"Thus says the Lord GOD: When I gather the house of Israel from the €peoples among whom they are scattered, and manifest my holiness in them €in the sight of the nations, then they shall dwell in their own land €which I gave to my servant Jacob. And they shall dwell securely in it, and they shall build houses and €plant vineyards. They shall dwell securely, when I execute judgments €upon all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. Then they €will know that I am the LORD their God."  @In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the €month, the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy €against him and against all Egypt; speak, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: €@@"Behold, I am against you, €@@@Pharaoh king of Egypt, €@@the great dragon that lies €@@@in the midst of his streams, €@@that says, `My Nile is my own; €@@@I made it.' @@I will put hooks in your jaws, €@@@and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales; €@@and I will draw you up out of the midst of your streams, €@@@with all the fish of your streams €@@@which stick to your scales. @@And I will cast you forth into the wilderness, €@@@you and all the fish of your streams; €@@you shall fall upon the open field, €@@@and not be gathered and buried. €@@To the beasts of the earth and to the birds of the air €@@@I have given you as food. @"Then all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD. €Because you have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel; when they grasped you with the hand, you broke, and tore all their €shoulders; and when they leaned upon you, you broke, and made all their €loins to shake; therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will bring a sword upon €you, and will cut off from you man and beast; and the land of Egypt shall be a desolation and a waste. Then they will €know that I am the LORD. €@"Because you said, `The Nile is mine, and I made it,' therefore, behold, I am against you, and against your streams, and I €will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from Migdol €to Syene, as far as the border of Ethiopia. No foot of man shall pass through it, and no foot of beast shall pass €through it; it shall be uninhabited forty years. And I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of €desolated countries; and her cities shall be a desolation forty years €among cities that are laid waste. I will scatter the Egyptians among €the nations, and disperse them among the countries. @"For thus says the Lord GOD: At the end of forty years I will gather €the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered; and I will restore the fortunes of Egypt, and bring them back to the €land of Pathros, the land of their origin; and there they shall be a €lowly kingdom. It shall be the most lowly of the kingdoms, and never again exalt €itself above the nations; and I will make them so small that they will €never again rule over the nations. And it shall never again be the reliance of the house of Israel, €recalling their iniquity, when they turn to them for aid. Then they €will know that I am the Lord GOD." @In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of €the month, the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon made his army labor hard €against Tyre; every head was made bald and every shoulder was rubbed €bare; yet neither he nor his army got anything from Tyre to pay for the €labor that he had performed against it. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will give the land of Egypt €to Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off its wealth €and despoil it and plunder it; and it shall be the wages for his army. I have given him the land of Egypt as his recompense for which he €labored, because they worked for me, says the Lord GOD. @"On that day I will cause a horn to spring forth to the house of €Israel, and I will open your lips among them. Then they will know that €I am the LORD."  @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: €@@"Wail, `Alas for the day!' @@@For the day is near, €@@@the day of the LORD is near; €@@it will be a day of clouds, €@@@a time of doom for the nations. @@A sword shall come upon Egypt, €@@@and anguish shall be in Ethiopia, €@@when the slain fall in Egypt, €@@@and her wealth is carried away, €@@@and her foundations are torn down. Ethiopia, and Put, and Lud, and all Arabia, and Libya, and the people €of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword. @@"Thus says the LORD: €@@Those who support Egypt shall fall, €@@@and her proud might shall come down; €@@from Migdol to Syene €@@@they shall fall within her by the sword, €@@says the Lord GOD. @@And she shall be desolated in the midst of desolated countries €@@@and her cities shall be in the midst of cities that are laid waste. @@Then they will know that I am the LORD, €@@@when I have set fire to Egypt, €@@@and all her helpers are broken. @"On that day swift messengers shall go forth from me to terrify the €unsuspecting Ethiopians; and anguish shall come upon them on the day of €Egypt's doom; for, lo, it comes! @"Thus says the Lord GOD: €@@I will put an end to the wealth of Egypt, €@@@by the hand of Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon. @@He and his people with him, the most terrible of the nations, €@@@shall be brought in to destroy the land; €@@and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, €@@@and fill the land with the slain. @@And I will dry up the Nile, €@@@and will sell the land into the hand of evil men; €@@I will bring desolation upon the land and everything in it, €@@@by the hand of foreigners; €@@I, the LORD, have spoken. @"Thus says the Lord GOD: €@@I will destroy the idols, €@@@and put an end to the images, in Memphis; €@@there shall no longer be a prince in the land of Egypt; €@@@so I will put fear in the land of Egypt. @@I will make Pathros a desolation, €@@@and will set fire to Zo'an, €@@@and will execute acts of judgment upon Thebes. @@And I will pour my wrath upon Pelusium, €@@@the stronghold of Egypt, €@@@and cut off the multitude of Thebes. @@And I will set fire to Egypt; €@@@Pelusium shall be in great agony; €@@Thebes shall be breached, €@@@and its walls broken down. @@The young men of On and of Pibe'seth shall fall by the sword; €@@@and the women shall go into captivity. @@At Tehaph'nehes the day shall be dark, €@@@when I break there the dominion of Egypt, €@@and her proud might shall come to an end; €@@@she shall be covered by a cloud, €@@@and her daughters shall go into captivity. @@Thus I will execute acts of judgment upon Egypt. €@@@Then they will know that I am the LORD." @In the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the €month, the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and lo, it €has not been bound up, to heal it by binding it with a bandage, so that €it may become strong to wield the sword. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’؞˜–‚Egypt, and will break his arms, both the strong arm and the one that €was broken; and I will make the sword fall from his hand. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them €throughout the lands. And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword €in his hand; but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan €before him like a man mortally wounded. I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of €Pharaoh shall fall; and they shall know that I am the LORD. When I put €my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, he shall stretch it out €against the land of Egypt; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them €throughout the countries. Then they will know that I am the LORD."  @In the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the €month, the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: €@@"Whom are you like in your greatness? @@@Behold, I will liken you to a cedar in Lebanon, €@@with fair branches and forest shade, €@@@and of great height, €@@@its top among the clouds. @@The waters nourished it, €@@@the deep made it grow tall, €@@making its rivers flow €@@@round the place of its planting, €@@sending forth its streams €@@@to all the trees of the forest. @@So it towered high €@@@above all the trees of the forest; €@@its boughs grew large €@@@and its branches long, €@@@from abundant water in its shoots. @@All the birds of the air €@@@made their nests in its boughs; €@@under its branches all the beasts of the field €@@@brought forth their young; €@@and under its shadow €@@@dwelt all great nations. @@It was beautiful in its greatness, €@@@in the length of its branches; €@@for its roots went down €@@@to abundant waters. @@The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it, €@@@nor the fir trees equal its boughs; €@@the plane trees were as nothing €@@@compared with its branches; €@@no tree in the garden of God €@@@was like it in beauty. @@I made it beautiful €@@@in the mass of its branches, €@@and all the trees of Eden envied it, €@@@that were in the garden of God. @"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because it towered high and set €its top among the clouds, and its heart was proud of its height, I will give it into the hand of a mighty one of the nations; he shall €surely deal with it as its wickedness deserves. I have cast it out. Foreigners, the most terrible of the nations, will cut it down and €leave it. On the mountains and in all the valleys its branches will €fall, and its boughs will lie broken in all the watercourses of the €land; and all the peoples of the earth will go from its shadow and €leave it. Upon its ruin will dwell all the birds of the air, and upon its €branches will be all the beasts of the field. All this is in order that no trees by the waters may grow to lofty €height or set their tops among the clouds, and that no trees that drink €water may reach up to them in height; for they are all given over to €death, to the nether world among mortal men, with those who go down to €the Pit. @"Thus says the Lord GOD: When it goes down to Sheol I will make the €deep mourn for it, and restrain its rivers, and many waters shall be €stopped; I will clothe Lebanon in gloom for it, and all the trees of €the field shall faint because of it. I will make the nations quake at the sound of its fall, when I cast it €down to Sheol with those who go down to the Pit; and all the trees of €Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, will be €comforted in the nether world. They also shall go down to Sheol with it, to those who are slain by the €sword; yea, those who dwelt under its shadow among the nations shall €perish. Whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of €Eden? You shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the nether €world; you shall lie among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain €by the sword. €@"This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, says the Lord GOD."  @In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the €month, the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, raise a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say €to him: €@@"You consider yourself a lion among the nations, €@@@but you are like a dragon in the seas; €@@you burst forth in your rivers, €@@@trouble the waters with your feet, €@@@and foul their rivers. @@Thus says the Lord GOD: €@@@I will throw my net over you €@@@with a host of many peoples; €@@@and I will haul you up in my dragnet. @@And I will cast you on the ground, €@@@on the open field I will fling you, €@@and will cause all the birds of the air to settle on you, €@@@and I will gorge the beasts of the whole earth with you. @@I will strew your flesh upon the mountains, €@@@and fill the valleys with your carcass. @@I will drench the land even to the mountains €@@@with your flowing blood; €@@@and the watercourses will be full of you. @@When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens, €@@@and make their stars dark; €@@I will cover the sun with a cloud, €@@@and the moon shall not give its light. @@All the bright lights of heaven €@@@will I make dark over you, €@@@and put darkness upon your land, says the Lord GOD. @"I will trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I carry you captive €among the nations, into the countries which you have not known. I will make many peoples appalled at you, and their kings shall shudder €because of you, when I brandish my sword before them; they shall €tremble every moment, every one for his own life, on the day of your €downfall. For thus says the Lord GOD: The sword of the king of Babylon shall come €upon you. I will cause your multitude to fall by the swords of mighty ones, €all of them most terrible among the nations. €@@"They shall bring to nought the pride of Egypt, €@@@and all its multitude shall perish. @@I will destroy all its beasts €@@@from beside many waters; €@@and no foot of man shall trouble them any more, €@@@nor shall the hoofs of beasts trouble them. @@Then I will make their waters clear, €@@@and cause their rivers to run like oil, says the Lord GOD. @@When I make the land of Egypt desolate €@@@and when the land is stripped of all that fills it, €@@when I smite all who dwell in it, €@@@then they will know that I am the LORD. This is a lamentation which shall be chanted; the daughters of the €nations shall chant it; over Egypt, and over all her multitude, shall €they chant it, says the Lord GOD." @In the twelfth year, in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the €month, the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, wail over the multitude of Egypt, and send them down, her €and the daughters of majestic nations, to the nether world, to those €who have gone down to the Pit: @@`Whom do you surpass in beauty? €@@@Go down, and be laid with the uncircumcised.' They shall fall amid those who are slain by the sword, and with her €shall lie all her multitudes. The mighty chiefs shall speak of them, with their helpers, out of the €midst of Sheol: `They have come down, they lie still, the €uncircumcised, slain by the sword.' @"Assyria is there, and all her company, their graves round about her, €all of them slain, fallen by the sword; whose graves are set in the uttermost parts of the Pit, and her company €is round about her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who €spread terror in the land of the living. @"Elam is there, and all her multitude about her grave; all of them €slain, fallen by the sword, who went down uncircumcised into the nether €world, who spread terror in the land of the living, and they bear their €shame with those who go down to the Pit. They have made her a bed among the slain with all her multitude, their €graves round about her, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; €for terror of them was spread in the land of the living, and they bear €their shame with those who go down to the Pit; they are placed among €the slain. @"Meshech and Tubal are there, and all their multitude, their graves €round about them, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’Ø ˜šƒthey spread terror in the land of the living. And they do not lie with the fallen mighty men of old who went down to €Sheol with their weapons of war, whose swords were laid under their €heads, and whose shields are upon their bones; for the terror of the €mighty men was in the land of the living. So you shall be broken and lie among the uncircumcised, with those who €are slain by the sword. @"Edom is there, her kings and all her princes, who for all their €might are laid with those who are slain by the sword; they lie with the €uncircumcised, with those who go down to the Pit. @"The princes of the north are there, all of them, and all the €Sido'nians, who have gone down in shame with the slain, for all the €terror which they caused by their might; they lie uncircumcised with €those who are slain by the sword, and bear their shame with those who €go down to the Pit. @"When Pharaoh sees them, he will comfort himself for all his €multitude, Pharaoh and all his army, slain by the sword, says the Lord €GOD. For he spread terror in the land of the living; therefore he shall be €laid among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword, €Pharaoh and all his multitude, says the Lord GOD."  @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword €upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and €make him their watchman; and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and €warns the people; then if any one who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take €warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be €upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and did not take warning; his blood €shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved €his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the €trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes, and €takes any one of them; that man is taken away in his iniquity, but his €blood I will require at the watchman's hand. @"So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel; €whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning €from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked man, you shall surely die, and you do €not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked man €shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn €from his way; he shall die in his iniquity, but you will have saved €your life. @"And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: €`Our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we waste away because €of them; how then can we live?' Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the €death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; €turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house €of Israel? And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the €righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses; and as for the €wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from €his wickedness; and the righteous shall not be able to live by his €righteousness when he sins. Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he €trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous €deeds shall be remembered; but in the iniquity that he has committed he €shall die. Again, though I say to the wicked, `You shall surely die,' yet if he €turns from his sin and does what is lawful and right, if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by €robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, committing no iniquity; he €shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him; €he has done what is lawful and right, he shall surely live. @"Yet your people say, `The way of the Lord is not just'; when it is €their own way that is not just. When the righteous turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, €he shall die for it. And when the wicked turns from his wickedness, and does what is lawful €and right, he shall live by it. Yet you say, `The way of the Lord is not just.' O house of Israel, I €will judge each of you according to his ways." @In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth €day of the month, a man who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and €said, "The city has fallen." Now the hand of the LORD had been upon me the evening before the €fugitive came; and he had opened my mouth by the time the man came to €me in the morning; so my mouth was opened, and I was no longer dumb. @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of €Israel keep saying, `Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of €the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.' Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: You eat flesh with the €blood, and lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood; shall you €then possess the land? You resort to the sword, you commit abominations and each of you €defiles his neighbor's wife; shall you then possess the land? Say this to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, surely those who €are in the waste places shall fall by the sword; and him that is in the €open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured; and those who are €in strongholds and in caves shall die by pestilence. And I will make the land a desolation and a waste; and her proud might €shall come to an end; and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate €that none will pass through. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a €desolation and a waste because of all their abominations which they €have committed. @"As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by €the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to €his brother, `Come, and hear what the word is that comes forth from the €LORD.' And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my €people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with €their lips they show much love, but their heart is set on their gain. And, lo, you are to them like one who sings love songs with a beautiful €voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but €they will not do it. When this comes -- and come it will! -- then they will know that a prophet €has been among them."  @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and €say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ho, €shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not €shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the €fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the €crippled you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, €the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have €ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became €food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered, they wandered over all the mountains and on €every high hill; my sheep were scattered over all the face of the €earth, with none to search or seek for them. @"Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: As I live, says the Lord GOD, because my sheep have become a prey, and €my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no €shepherd; and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but €the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep; therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will €require my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the €sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my €sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’Ø¢˜‹@"For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my €sheep, and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when some of his sheep have been €scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will rescue them €from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and €thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the €countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed €them on the mountains of Israel, by the fountains, and in all the €inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and upon the mountain heights of €Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good €grazing land, and on fat pasture they shall feed on the mountains of €Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie €down, says the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will €bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and €the strong I will watch over; I will feed them in justice. @"As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I judge €between sheep and sheep, rams and he-goats. Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must €tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of €clear water, that you must foul the rest with your feet? And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink €what you have fouled with your feet? @"Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: Behold, I, I myself will €judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak €with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, I will save my flock, they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge €between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he €shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be €prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken. @"I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts €from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and €sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and €I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of €blessing. And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall €yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land; and they €shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and €deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of €the land devour them; they shall dwell securely, and none shall make €them afraid. And I will provide for them prosperous plantations so that they shall €no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the €reproach of the nations. And they shall know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and that €they, the house of Israel, are my people, says the Lord GOD. And you are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, says €the Lord GOD."  @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face against Mount Se'ir, and prophesy against it, and say to it, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, Mount €Se'ir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you €a desolation and a waste. I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation; and €you shall know that I am the LORD. Because you cherished perpetual enmity, and gave over the people of €Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the €time of their final punishment; therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will prepare you for blood, €and blood shall pursue you; because you are guilty of blood, therefore €blood shall pursue you. I will make Mount Se'ir a waste and a desolation; and I will cut off €from it all who come and go. And I will fill your mountains with the slain; on your hills and in €your valleys and in all your ravines those slain with the sword shall €fall. I will make you a perpetual desolation, and your cities shall not be €inhabited. Then you will know that I am the LORD. @"Because you said, `These two nations and these two countries shall €be mine, and we will take possession of them,' -- although the LORD was €there --therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will deal with you according €to the anger and envy which you showed because of your hatred against €them; and I will make myself known among you, when I judge you. And you shall know that I, the LORD, have heard all the revilings which €you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, `They are laid €desolate, they are given us to devour.' And you magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and multiplied €your words against me; I heard it. Thus says the Lord GOD: For the rejoicing of the whole earth I will €make you desolate. As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it €was desolate, so I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount €Se'ir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD.  @"And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, O €mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the enemy said of you, `Aha!' and, `The €ancient heights have become our possession,' therefore prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Because, yea, €because they made you desolate, and crushed you from all sides, so that €you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and you became €the talk and evil gossip of the people; therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus €says the Lord GOD to the mountains and the hills, the ravines and the €valleys, the desolate wastes and the deserted cities, which have become €a prey and derision to the rest of the nations round about; therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I speak in my hot jealousy against €the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, who gave my land to €themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and utter contempt, €that they might possess it and plunder it. Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the €mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, Thus says the Lord €GOD: Behold, I speak in my jealous wrath, because you have suffered the €reproach of the nations; therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I swear that the nations that are €round about you shall themselves suffer reproach. @"But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches, and €yield your fruit to my people Israel; for they will soon come home. For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be €tilled and sown; and I will multiply men upon you, the whole house of Israel, all of it; €the cities shall be inhabited and the waste places rebuilt; and I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and €be fruitful; and I will cause you to be inhabited as in your former €times, and will do more good to you than ever before. Then you will €know that I am the LORD. Yea, I will let men walk upon you, even my people Israel; and they €shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance, and you shall no €longer bereave them of children. Thus says the Lord GOD: Because men say to you, `You devour men, and €you bereave your nation of children,' therefore you shall no longer devour men and no longer bereave your €nation of children, says the Lord GOD; and I will not let you hear any more the reproach of the nations, and €you shall no longer bear the disgrace of the peoples and no longer €cause your nation to stumble, says the Lord GOD." @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they €defiled it by their ways and their doings; their conduct before me was €like the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity. So I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood which they had shed in žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’ؤ˜’‚the land, for the idols with which they had defiled it. I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the €countries; in accordance with their conduct and their deeds I judged €them. But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned my €holy name, in that men said of them, `These are the people of the LORD, €and yet they had to go out of his land.' But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel caused to €be profaned among the nations to which they came. @"Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is €not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for €the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to €which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been €profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them; and €the nations will know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when €through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. For I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the €countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all €your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; €and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a €heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my €statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. You shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers; and you shall €be my people, and I will be your God. And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses; and I will summon €the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you. I will make the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field €abundant, that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among €the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not €good; and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your €abominable deeds. It is not for your sake that I will act, says the Lord GOD; let that be €known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of €Israel. @"Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day that I cleanse you from all your €iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste €places shall be rebuilt. And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the €desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by. And they will say, `This land that was desolate has become like the €garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now €inhabited and fortified.' Then the nations that are left round about you shall know that I, the €LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places, and replanted that which was €desolate; I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it. @"Thus says the Lord GOD: This also I will let the house of Israel ask €me to do for them: to increase their men like a flock. Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her €appointed feasts, so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of €men. Then they will know that I am the LORD."  @The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit €of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; it was full of €bones. And he led me round among them; and behold, there were very many upon €the valley; and lo, they were very dry. And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, €"O Lord GOD, thou knowest." Again he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, O dry €bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to €enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, €and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and €you shall know that I am the LORD." @So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a €noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its €bone. And as I looked, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon €them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and €say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O €breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and €they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great host. @Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of €Israel. Behold, they say, `Our bones are dried up, and our hope is €lost; we are clean cut off.' Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I €will open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people; and €I will bring you home into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and €raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will €place you in your own land; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have €spoken, and I have done it, says the LORD." @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, take a stick and write on it, `For Judah, and the children €of Israel associated with him'; then take another stick and write upon €it, `For Joseph (the stick of E'phraim) and all the house of Israel €associated with him'; and join them together into one stick, that they may become one in your €hand. And when your people say to you, `Will you not show us what you mean by €these?' say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am about to take the €stick of Joseph (which is in the hand of E'phraim) and the tribes of €Israel associated with him; and I will join with it the stick of Judah, €and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand. When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes, then say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will take the €people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will €gather them from all sides, and bring them to their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, upon the mountains of €Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; and they shall be no €longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. They shall not defile themselves any more with their idols and their €detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will save €them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will €cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. @"My servant David shall be king over them; and they shall all have €one shepherd. They shall follow my ordinances and be careful to observe €my statutes. They shall dwell in the land where your fathers dwelt that I gave to my €servant Jacob; they and their children and their children's children €shall dwell there for ever; and David my servant shall be their prince €for ever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting €covenant with them; and I will bless them and multiply them, and will €set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My dwelling place shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they €shall be my people. Then the nations will know that I the LORD sanctify Israel, when my €sanctuary is in the midst of them for evermore."  @The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief €prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief €prince of Meshech and Tubal; and I will turn you about, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will €bring you forth, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them €clothed in full armor, a great company, all of them with buckler and €shield, wielding swords; Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togar'mah from the uttermost parts of žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’ئ–‚the north with all his hordes -- many peoples are with you. @"Be ready and keep ready, you and all the hosts that are assembled €about you, and be a guard for them. After many days you will be mustered; in the latter years you will go €against the land that is restored from war, the land where people were €gathered from many nations upon the mountains of Israel, which had been €a continual waste; its people were brought out from the nations and now €dwell securely, all of them. You will advance, coming on like a storm, you will be like a cloud €covering the land you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you. @"Thus says the Lord GOD: On that day thoughts will come into your €mind, and you will devise an evil scheme and say, `I will go up against the land of unwalled villages; I will €fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling €without walls, and having no bars or gates'; to seize spoil and carry off plunder; to assail the waste places which €are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, €who have gotten cattle and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its villages will €say to you, `Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your €hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away €cattle and goods, to seize great spoil?' @"Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say to Gog, Thus says the Lord €GOD: On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely, you will €bestir yourself and come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you €and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, €a mighty army; you will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the €land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the €nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness €before their eyes. @"Thus says the Lord GOD: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days by €my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for €years that I would bring you against them? But on that day, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, says €the Lord GOD, my wrath will be roused. For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there €shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air, and the beasts of the €field, and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the €men that are upon the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence, €and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and €every wall shall tumble to the ground. I will summon every kind of terror against Gog, says the Lord GOD; €every man's sword will be against his brother. With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him; and €I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples that are with €him, torrential rains and hailstones, fire and brimstone. So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in €the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.  @"And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus says the €Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and €Tubal; and I will turn you about and drive you forward, and bring you up from €the uttermost parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of €Israel; then I will strike your bow from your left hand, and will make your €arrows drop out of your right hand. You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your hordes €and the peoples that are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of €every sort and to the wild beasts to be devoured. You shall fall in the open field; for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD. I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the €coastlands; and they shall know that I am the LORD. @"And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel; €and I will not let my holy name be profaned any more; and the nations €shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. Behold, it is coming and it will be brought about, says the Lord GOD. €That is the day of which I have spoken. @"Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go forth and make €fires of the weapons and burn them, shields and bucklers, bows and €arrows, handpikes and spears, and they will make fires of them for €seven years; so that they will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down €any out of the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons; €they will despoil those who despoiled them, and plunder those who €plundered them, says the Lord GOD. @"On that day I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the €Valley of the Travelers east of the sea; it will block the travelers, €for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried; it will be called €the Valley of Hamon-gog. For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to €cleanse the land. All the people of the land will bury them; and it will redound to their €honor on the day that I show my glory, says the Lord GOD. They will set apart men to pass through the land continually and bury €those remaining upon the face of the land, so as to cleanse it; at the €end of seven months they will make their search. And when these pass through the land and any one sees a man's bone, €then he shall set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in €the Valley of Hamon-gog. (A city Hamo'nah is there also.) Thus shall they cleanse the land. @"As for you, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD: Speak to the birds €of every sort and to all beasts of the field, `Assemble and come, €gather from all sides to the sacrificial feast which I am preparing for €you, a great sacrificial feast upon the mountains of Israel, and you €shall eat flesh and drink blood. You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the €princes of the earth -- of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bulls, all of €them fatlings of Bashan. And you shall eat fat till you are filled, and drink blood till you are €drunk, at the sacrificial feast which I am preparing for you. And you shall be filled at my table with horses and riders, with mighty €men and all kinds of warriors,' says the Lord GOD. @"And I will set my glory among the nations; and all the nations shall €see my judgment which I have executed, and my hand which I have laid on €them. The house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God, from that €day forward. And the nations shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity €for their iniquity, because they dealt so treacherously with me that I €hid my face from them and gave them into the hand of their adversaries, €and they all fell by the sword. I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their €transgressions, and hid my face from them. @"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Now I will restore the fortunes of €Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel; and I will be €jealous for my holy name. They shall forget their shame, and all the treachery they have €practiced against me, when they dwell securely in their land with none €to make them afraid, when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from €their enemies' lands, and through them have vindicated my holiness in €the sight of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD their God because I sent them €into exile among the nations, and then gathered them into their own €land. I will leave none of them remaining among the nations any more; and I will not hide my face any more from them, when I pour out my €Spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord GOD."  @In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, €on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city €was conquered, on that very day, the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me in the visions of God into the land of Israel, and set €me down upon a very high mountain, on which was a structure like a city €opposite me. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’ØؓWhen he brought me there, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was €like bronze, with a line of flax and a measuring reed in his hand; and €he was standing in the gateway. And the man said to me, "Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with €your ears, and set your mind upon all that I shall show you, for you €were brought here in order that I might show it to you; declare all €that you see to the house of Israel." @And behold, there was a wall all around the outside of the temple €area, and the length of the measuring reed in the man's hand was six €long cubits, each being a cubit and a handbreadth in length; so he €measured the thickness of the wall, one reed; and the height, one reed. Then he went into the gateway facing east, going up its steps, and €measured the threshold of the gate, one reed deep; and the side rooms, one reed long, and one reed broad; and the space €between the side rooms, five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by €the vestibule of the gate at the inner end, one reed. Then he measured the vestibule of the gateway, eight cubits; and its jambs, two cubits; and the vestibule of the gate was at the €inner end. And there were three side rooms on either side of the east gate; the €three were of the same size; and the jambs on either side were of the €same size. Then he measured the breadth of the opening of the gateway, ten cubits; €and the breadth of the gateway, thirteen cubits. There was a barrier before the side rooms, one cubit on either side; €and the side rooms were six cubits on either side. Then he measured the gate from the back of the one side room to the €back of the other, a breadth of five and twenty cubits, from door to €door. He measured also the vestibule, twenty cubits; and round about the €vestibule of the gateway was the court. From the front of the gate at the entrance to the end of the inner €vestibule of the gate was fifty cubits. And the gateway had windows round about, narrowing inwards into their €jambs in the side rooms, and likewise the vestibule had windows round €about inside, and on the jambs were palm trees. @Then he brought me into the outer court; and behold, there were €chambers and a pavement, round about the court; thirty chambers fronted €on the pavement. And the pavement ran along the side of the gates, corresponding to the €length of the gates; this was the lower pavement. Then he measured the distance from the inner front of the lower gate to €the outer front of the inner court, a hundred cubits. €@Then he went before me to the north, and behold, there was a gate which faced toward the north, belonging to €the outer court. He measured its length and its breadth. Its side rooms, three on either side, and its jambs and its vestibule €were of the same size as those of the first gate; its length was fifty €cubits, and its breadth twenty-five cubits. And its windows, its vestibule, and its palm trees were of the same €size as those of the gate which faced toward the east; and seven steps €led up to it; and its vestibule was on the inside. And opposite the gate on the north, as on the east, was a gate to the €inner court; and he measured from gate to gate, a hundred cubits. @And he led me toward the south, and behold, there was a gate on the €south; and he measured its jambs and its vestibule; they had the same €size as the others. And there were windows round about in it and in its vestibule, like the €windows of the others; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth €twenty-five cubits. And there were seven steps leading up to it, and its vestibule was on €the inside; and it had palm trees on its jambs, one on either side. And there was a gate on the south of the inner court; and he measured €from gate to gate toward the south, a hundred cubits. @Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate, and he €measured the south gate; it was of the same size as the others; Its side rooms, its jambs, and its vestibule were of the same size as €the others; and there were windows round about in it and in its €vestibule; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth twenty-five €cubits. And there were vestibules round about, twenty-five cubits long and five €cubits broad. Its vestibule faced the outer court, and palm trees were on its jambs, €and its stairway had eight steps. @Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he €measured the gate; it was of the same size as the others. Its side rooms, its jambs, and its vestibule were of the same size as €the others; and there were windows round about in it and in its €vestibule; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth twenty-five €cubits. Its vestibule faced the outer court, and it had palm trees on its €jambs, one on either side; and its stairway had eight steps. @Then he brought me to the north gate, and he measured it; it had the €same size as the others. Its side rooms, its jambs, and its vestibule were of the same size as €the others; and it had windows round about; its length was fifty €cubits, and its breadth twenty-five cubits. Its vestibule faced the outer court, and it had palm trees on its €jambs, one on either side; and its stairway had eight steps. @There was a chamber with its door in the vestibule of the gate, where €the burnt offering was to be washed. And in the vestibule of the gate were two tables on either side, on €which the burnt offering and the sin offering and the guilt offering €were to be slaughtered. And on the outside of the vestibule at the entrance of the north gate €were two tables; and on the other side of the vestibule of the gate €were two tables. Four tables were on the inside, and four tables on the outside of the €side of the gate, eight tables, on which the sacrifices were to be €slaughtered. And there were also four tables of hewn stone for the burnt offering, a €cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit €high, on which the instruments were to be laid with which the burnt €offerings and the sacrifices were slaughtered. And hooks, a handbreadth long, were fastened round about within. And on €the tables the flesh of the offering was to be laid. @Then he brought me from without into the inner court, and behold, €there were two chambers in the inner court, one at the side of the €north gate facing south, the other at the side of the south gate facing €north. And he said to me, This chamber which faces south is for the priests €who have charge of the temple, and the chamber which faces north is for the priests who have charge of €the altar; these are the sons of Zadok, who alone among the sons of €Levi may come near to the LORD to minister to him. And he measured the court, a hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits €broad, foursquare; and the altar was in front of the temple. @Then he brought me to the vestibule of the temple and measured the €jambs of the vestibule, five cubits on either side; and the breadth of €the gate was fourteen cubits; and the sidewalls of the gate were three €cubits on either side. The length of the vestibule was twenty cubits, and the breadth twelve €cubits; and ten steps led up to it; and there were pillars beside the €jambs on either side.  @Then he brought me to the nave, and measured the jambs; on each side €six cubits was the breadth of the jambs. And the breadth of the entrance was ten cubits; and the sidewalls of €the entrance were five cubits on either side; and he measured the €length of the nave forty cubits, and its breadth, twenty cubits. Then he went into the inner room and measured the jambs of the €entrance, two cubits; and the breadth of the entrance, six cubits; and €the sidewalls of the entrance, seven cubits. And he measured the length of the room, twenty cubits, and its breadth, €twenty cubits, beyond the nave. And he said to me, This is the most €holy place. @Then he measured the wall of the temple, six cubits thick; and the €breadth of the side chambers, four cubits, round about the temple. And the side chambers were in three stories, one over another, thirty žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’Ø©–‚in each story. There were offsets all around the wall of the temple to €serve as supports for the side chambers, so that they should not be €supported by the wall of the temple. And the side chambers became broader as they rose from story to story, €corresponding to the enlargement of the offset from story to story €round about the temple; on the side of the temple a stairway led €upward, and thus one went up from the lowest story to the top story €through the middle story. I saw also that the temple had a raised platform round about; the €foundations of the side chambers measured a full reed of six long €cubits. The thickness of the outer wall of the side chambers was five cubits; €and the part of the platform which was left free was five cubits. €Between the platform of the temple and the chambers of the court was a breadth of twenty cubits round about the €temple on every side. And the doors of the side chambers opened on the part of the platform €that was left free, one door toward the north, and another door toward €the south; and the breadth of the part that was left free was five €cubits round about. @The building that was facing the temple yard on the west side was €seventy cubits broad; and the wall of the building was five cubits €thick round about, and its length ninety cubits. @Then he measured the temple, a hundred cubits long; and the yard and €the building with its walls, a hundred cubits long; also the breadth of the east front of the temple and the yard, a €hundred cubits. @Then he measured the length of the building facing the yard which was €at the west and its walls on either side, a hundred cubits. €@The nave of the temple and the inner room and the outer vestibule were paneled and round about all three had windows with recessed €frames. Over against the threshold the temple was paneled with wood €round about, from the floor up to the windows (now the windows were €covered), to the space above the door, even to the inner room, and on the €outside. And on all the walls round about in the inner room and the €nave were carved likenesses of cherubim and palm trees, a palm tree between cherub and cherub. €Every cherub had two faces: the face of a man toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of €a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved €on the whole temple round about; from the floor to above the door cherubim and palm trees were carved on €the wall. @The doorposts of the nave were squared; and in front of the holy €place was something resembling an altar of wood, three cubits high, two cubits long, and two cubits €broad; its corners, its base, and its walls were of wood. He said to €me, "This is the table which is before the LORD." The nave and the holy place had each a double door. The doors had two leaves apiece, two swinging leaves for each door. And on the doors of the nave were carved cherubim and palm trees, such €as were carved on the walls; and there was a canopy of wood in front of €the vestibule outside. And there were recessed windows and palm trees on either side, on the €sidewalls of the vestibule.  @Then he led me out into the inner court, toward the north, and he €brought me to the chambers which were opposite the temple yard and €opposite the building on the north. The length of the building which was on the north side was a hundred €cubits, and the breadth fifty cubits. Adjoining the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and €facing the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery €against gallery in three stories. And before the chambers was a passage inward, ten cubits wide and a €hundred cubits long, and their doors were on the north. Now the upper chambers were narrower, for the galleries took more away €from them than from the lower and middle chambers in the building. For they were in three stories, and they had no pillars like the €pillars of the outer court; hence the upper chambers were set back from €the ground more than the lower and the middle ones. And there was a wall outside parallel to the chambers, toward the outer €court, opposite the chambers, fifty cubits long. For the chambers on the outer court were fifty cubits long, while those €opposite the temple were a hundred cubits long. Below these chambers was an entrance on the east side, as one enters €them from the outer court, where the outside wall begins. €@On the south also, opposite the yard and opposite the building, there €were chambers with a passage in front of them; they were similar to the chambers on €the north, of the same length and breadth, with the same exits and €arrangements and doors. And below the south chambers was an entrance on the east side, where €one enters the passage, and opposite them was a dividing wall. @Then he said to me, "The north chambers and the south chambers €opposite the yard are the holy chambers, where the priests who approach €the LORD shall eat the most holy offerings; there they shall put the €most holy offerings -- the cereal offering, the sin offering, and the €guilt offering, for the place is holy. When the priests enter the holy place, they shall not go out of it into €the outer court without laying there the garments in which they €minister, for these are holy; they shall put on other garments before €they go near to that which is for the people." @Now when he had finished measuring the interior of the temple area, €he led me out by the gate which faced east, and measured the temple €area round about. He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred cubits €by the measuring reed. Then he turned and measured the north side, five hundred cubits by the €measuring reed. Then he turned and measured the south side, five hundred cubits by the €measuring reed. Then he turned to the west side and measured, five hundred cubits by €the measuring reed. He measured it on the four sides. It had a wall around it, five hundred €cubits long and five hundred cubits broad, to make a separation between €the holy and the common.  @Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate facing east. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the east; and the €sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters; and the earth €shone with his glory. And the vision I saw was like the vision which I had seen when he came €to destroy the city, and like the vision which I had seen by the river €Chebar; and I fell upon my face. As the glory of the LORD entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the inner court; and €behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple. @While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out €of the temple; and he said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the €place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the €people of Israel for ever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile €my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their harlotry, and by €the dead bodies of their kings, by setting their threshold by my threshold and their doorposts beside €my doorposts, with only a wall between me and them. They have defiled €my holy name by their abominations which they have committed, so I have €consumed them in my anger. Now let them put away their idolatry and the dead bodies of their kings €far from me, and I will dwell in their midst for ever. @"And you, son of man, describe to the house of Israel the temple and €its appearance and plan, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities. And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, portray the temple, €its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, and its whole form; and €make known to them all its ordinances and all its laws; and write it €down in their sight, so that they may observe and perform all its laws €and all its ordinances. This is the law of the temple: the whole territory round about upon the €top of the mountain shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the €temple. @"These are the dimensions of the altar by cubits (the cubit being a žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’Ø«˜‚cubit and a handbreadth): its base shall be one cubit high, and one €cubit broad, with a rim of one span around its edge. And this shall be €the height of the altar: from the base on the ground to the lower ledge, two cubits, with a €breadth of one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, €four cubits, with a breadth of one cubit; and the altar hearth, four cubits; and from the altar hearth projecting €upward, four horns, one cubit high. The altar hearth shall be square, twelve cubits long by twelve broad. The ledge also shall be square, fourteen cubits long by fourteen broad, €with a rim around it half a cubit broad, and its base one cubit round €about. The steps of the altar shall face east." @And he said to me, "Son of man, thus says the Lord GOD: These are the €ordinances for the altar: On the day when it is erected for offering €burnt offerings upon it and for throwing blood against it, you shall give to the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok, who €draw near to me to minister to me, says the Lord GOD, a bull for a sin €offering. And you shall take some of its blood, and put it on the four horns of €the altar, and on the four corners of the ledge, and upon the rim round €about; thus you shall cleanse the altar and make atonement for it. You shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and it shall be burnt €in the appointed place belonging to the temple, outside the sacred area. And on the second day you shall offer a he-goat without blemish for a €sin offering; and the altar shall be cleansed, as it was cleansed with €the bull. When you have finished cleansing it, you shall offer a bull without €blemish and a ram from the flock without blemish. You shall present them before the LORD, and the priests shall sprinkle €salt upon them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the LORD. For seven days you shall provide daily a goat for a sin offering; also €a bull and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be provided. Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and purify it, and €so consecrate it. And when they have completed these days, then from the eighth day €onward the priests shall offer upon the altar your burnt offerings and €your peace offerings; and I will accept you, says the Lord GOD."  @Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which €faces east; and it was shut. And he said to me, "This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be €opened, and no one shall enter by it; for the LORD, the God of Israel, €has entered by it; therefore it shall remain shut. Only the prince may sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall €enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same €way." @Then he brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the €temple; and I looked, and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the €temple of the LORD; and I fell upon my face. And the LORD said to me, "Son of man, mark well, see with your eyes, €and hear with your ears all that I shall tell you concerning all the €ordinances of the temple of the LORD and all its laws; and mark well €those who may be admitted to the temple and all those who are to be €excluded from the sanctuary. And say to the rebellious house, to the house of Israel, Thus says the €Lord GOD: O house of Israel, let there be an end to all your €abominations, in admitting foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, to be in my €sanctuary, profaning it, when you offer to me my food, the fat and the €blood. You have broken my covenant, in addition to all your €abominations. And you have not kept charge of my holy things; but you have set €foreigners to keep my charge in my sanctuary. @"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: No foreigner, uncircumcised in €heart and flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the people of €Israel, shall enter my sanctuary. But the Levites who went far from me, going astray from me after their €idols when Israel went astray, shall bear their punishment. They shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having oversight at the gates €of the temple, and serving in the temple; they shall slay the burnt €offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall attend on the €people, to serve them. Because they ministered to them before their idols and became a €stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel, therefore I have €sworn concerning them, says the Lord GOD, that they shall bear their €punishment. They shall not come near to me, to serve me as priest, nor come near €any of my sacred things and the things that are most sacred; but they €shall bear their shame, because of the abominations which they have €committed. Yet I will appoint them to keep charge of the temple, to do all its €service and all that is to be done in it. @"But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of €my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, shall come €near to me to minister to me; and they shall attend on me to offer me €the fat and the blood, says the Lord GOD; they shall enter my sanctuary, and they shall approach my table, to €minister to me, and they shall keep my charge. When they enter the gates of the inner court, they shall wear linen €garments; they shall have nothing of wool on them, while they minister €at the gates of the inner court, and within. They shall have linen turbans upon their heads, and linen breeches upon €their loins; they shall not gird themselves with anything that causes €sweat. And when they go out into the outer court to the people, they shall put €off the garments in which they have been ministering, and lay them in €the holy chambers; and they shall put on other garments, lest they €communicate holiness to the people with their garments. They shall not shave their heads or let their locks grow long; they €shall only trim the hair of their heads. No priest shall drink wine, when he enters the inner court. They shall not marry a widow, or a divorced woman, but only a virgin of €the stock of the house of Israel, or a widow who is the widow of a €priest. They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the €common, and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the €clean. In a controversy they shall act as judges, and they shall judge it €according to my judgments. They shall keep my laws and my statutes in €all my appointed feasts, and they shall keep my sabbaths holy. They shall not defile themselves by going near to a dead person; €however, for father or mother, for son or daughter, for brother or €unmarried sister they may defile themselves. After he is defiled, he shall count for himself seven days, and then he €shall be clean. And on the day that he goes into the holy place, into the inner court, €to minister in the holy place, he shall offer his sin offering, says €the Lord GOD. @"They shall have no inheritance; I am their inheritance: and you €shall give them no possession in Israel; I am their possession. They shall eat the cereal offering, the sin offering, and the guilt €offering; and every devoted thing in Israel shall be theirs. And the first of all the first fruits of all kinds, and every offering €of all kinds from all your offerings, shall belong to the priests; you €shall also give to the priests the first of your coarse meal, that a €blessing may rest on your house. The priests shall not eat of anything, whether bird or beast, that has €died of itself or is torn.  @"When you allot the land as a possession, you shall set apart for the €LORD a portion of the land as a holy district, twenty-five thousand €cubits long and twenty thousand cubits broad; it shall be holy €throughout its whole extent. Of this a square plot of five hundred by five hundred cubits shall be €for the sanctuary, with fifty cubits for an open space around it. And in the holy district you shall measure off a section twenty-five €thousand cubits long and ten thousand broad, in which shall be the €sanctuary, the most holy place. It shall be the holy portion of the land; it shall be for the priests, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’Ø­”‚who minister in the sanctuary and approach the LORD to minister to him; €and it shall be a place for their houses and a holy place for the €sanctuary. Another section, twenty-five thousand cubits long and ten thousand €cubits broad, shall be for the Levites who minister at the temple, as €their possession for cities to live in. @"Alongside the portion set apart as the holy district you shall €assign for the possession of the city an area five thousand cubits €broad, and twenty-five thousand cubits long; it shall belong to the €whole house of Israel. @"And to the prince shall belong the land on both sides of the holy €district and the property of the city, alongside the holy district and €the property of the city, on the west and on the east, corresponding in €length to one of the tribal portions, and extending from the western to €the eastern boundary of the land. It is to be his property in Israel. And my princes shall no more €oppress my people; but they shall let the house of Israel have the land €according to their tribes. @"Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away €violence and oppression, and execute justice and righteousness; cease €your evictions of my people, says the Lord GOD. @"You shall have just balances, a just ephah, and a just bath. The ephah and the bath shall be of the same measure, the bath €containing one tenth of a homer, and the ephah one tenth of a homer; €the homer shall be the standard measure. The shekel shall be twenty gerahs; five shekels shall be five shekels, €and ten shekels shall be ten shekels, and your mina shall be fifty €shekels. @"This is the offering which you shall make: one sixth of an ephah €from each homer of wheat, and one sixth of an ephah from each homer of €barley, and as the fixed portion of oil, one tenth of a bath from each cor (the €cor, like the homer, contains ten baths); and one sheep from every flock of two hundred, from the families of €Israel. This is the offering for cereal offerings, burnt offerings, and €peace offerings, to make atonement for them, says the Lord GOD. All the people of the land shall give this offering to the prince in €Israel. It shall be the prince's duty to furnish the burnt offerings, cereal €offerings, and drink offerings, at the feasts, the new moons, and the €sabbaths, all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel: he shall €provide the sin offerings, cereal offerings, burnt offerings, and peace €offerings, to make atonement for the house of Israel. @"Thus says the Lord GOD: In the first month, on the first day of the €month, you shall take a young bull without blemish, and cleanse the €sanctuary. The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering and put it €on the doorposts of the temple, the four corners of the ledge of the €altar, and the posts of the gate of the inner court. You shall do the same on the seventh day of the month for any one who €has sinned through error or ignorance; so you shall make atonement for €the temple. @"In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall €celebrate the feast of the passover, and for seven days unleavened €bread shall be eaten. On that day the prince shall provide for himself and all the people of €the land a young bull for a sin offering. And on the seven days of the festival he shall provide as a burnt €offering to the LORD seven young bulls and seven rams without blemish, €on each of the seven days; and a he-goat daily for a sin offering. And he shall provide as a cereal offering an ephah for each bull, an €ephah for each ram, and a hin of oil to each ephah. In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month and for the €seven days of the feast, he shall make the same provision for sin €offerings, burnt offerings, and cereal offerings, and for the oil.  @"Thus says the Lord GOD: The gate of the inner court that faces east €shall be shut on the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall €be opened and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened. The prince shall enter by the vestibule of the gate from without, and €shall take his stand by the post of the gate. The priests shall offer €his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the €threshold of the gate. Then he shall go out, but the gate shall not be €shut until evening. The people of the land shall worship at the entrance of that gate €before the LORD on the sabbaths and on the new moons. The burnt offering that the prince offers to the LORD on the sabbath €day shall be six lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish; and the cereal offering with the ram shall be an ephah, and the cereal €offering with the lambs shall be as much as he is able, together with a €hin of oil to each ephah. On the day of the new moon he shall offer a young bull without blemish, €and six lambs and a ram, which shall be without blemish; as a cereal offering he shall provide an ephah with the bull and an €ephah with the ram, and with the lambs as much as he is able, together €with a hin of oil to each ephah. When the prince enters, he shall go in by the vestibule of the gate, €and he shall go out by the same way. @"When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed €feasts, he who enters by the north gate to worship shall go out by the €south gate; and he who enters by the south gate shall go out by the €north gate: no one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered, €but each shall go out straight ahead. When they go in, the prince shall go in with them; and when they go €out, he shall go out. @"At the feasts and the appointed seasons the cereal offering with a €young bull shall be an ephah, and with a ram an ephah, and with the €lambs as much as one is able to give, together with a hin of oil to an €ephah. When the prince provides a freewill offering, either a burnt offering €or peace offerings as a freewill offering to the LORD, the gate facing €east shall be opened for him; and he shall offer his burnt offering or €his peace offerings as he does on the sabbath day. Then he shall go €out, and after he has gone out the gate shall be shut. @"He shall provide a lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt €offering to the LORD daily; morning by morning he shall provide it. And he shall provide a cereal offering with it morning by morning, one €sixth of an ephah, and one third of a hin of oil to moisten the flour, €as a cereal offering to the LORD; this is the ordinance for the €continual burnt offering. Thus the lamb and the meal offering and the oil shall be provided, €morning by morning, for a continual burnt offering. @"Thus says the Lord GOD: If the prince makes a gift to any of his €sons out of his inheritance, it shall belong to his sons, it is their €property by inheritance. But if he makes a gift out of his inheritance to one of his servants, €it shall be his to the year of liberty; then it shall revert to the €prince; only his sons may keep a gift from his inheritance. The prince shall not take any of the inheritance of the people, €thrusting them out of their property; he shall give his sons their €inheritance out of his own property, so that none of my people shall be €dispossessed of his property." @Then he brought me through the entrance, which was at the side of the €gate, to the north row of the holy chambers for the priests; and there €I saw a place at the extreme western end of them. And he said to me, "This is the place where the priests shall boil the €guilt offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the €cereal offering, in order not to bring them out into the outer court €and so communicate holiness to the people." @Then he brought me forth to the outer court, and led me to the four €corners of the court; and in each corner of the court there was a €court --in the four corners of the court were small courts, forty cubits long €and thirty broad; the four were of the same size. On the inside, around each of the four courts was a row of masonry, €with hearths made at the bottom of the rows round about. Then he said to me, "These are the kitchens where those who minister at žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’Ø®˜˜‚the temple shall boil the sacrifices of the people."  @Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and behold, water €was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for €the temple faced east); and the water was flowing down from below the €south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me round on €the outside to the outer gate, that faces toward the east; and the €water was coming out on the south side. @Going on eastward with a line in his hand, the man measured a €thousand cubits, and then led me through the water; and it was €ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water; and it was €knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water; €and it was up to the loins. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass €through, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a €river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" €@Then he led me back along the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw upon the bank of the river very many trees on the €one side and on the other. And he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes €down into the Arabah; and when it enters the stagnant waters of the €sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes every living creature which swarms will €live, and there will be very many fish; for this water goes there, that €the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where €the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside the sea; from En-ge'di to En-eg'laim it €will be a place for the spreading of nets; its fish will be of very €many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left €for salt. And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds €of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, €but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them €flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their €leaves for healing." @Thus says the Lord GOD: "These are the boundaries by which you shall €divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. €Joseph shall have two portions. And you shall divide it equally; I swore to give it to your fathers, €and this land shall fall to you as your inheritance. @"This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side, from the €Great Sea by way of Hethlon to the entrance of Hamath, and on to Zedad, Bero'thah, Sib'raim (which lies on the border between Damascus and €Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. So the boundary shall run from the sea to Hazar-e'non, which is on the €northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north. €This shall be the north side. @"On the east side, the boundary shall run from Hazar-e'non between €Hauran and Damascus; along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of €Israel; to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar. This shall be the east €side. @"On the south side, it shall run from Tamar as far as the waters of €Meribath-ka'desh, thence along the Brook of Egypt to the Great Sea. €This shall be the south side. @"On the west side, the Great Sea shall be the boundary to a point €opposite the entrance of Hamath. This shall be the west side. @"So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of €Israel. You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens €who reside among you and have begotten children among you. They shall €be to you as native-born sons of Israel; with you they shall be €allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. In whatever tribe the alien resides, there you shall assign him his €inheritance, says the Lord GOD.  @"These are the names of the tribes: Beginning at the northern border, €from the sea by way of Hethlon to the entrance of Hamath, as far as €Hazar-e'non (which is on the northern border of Damascus over against €Hamath), and extending from the east side to the west, Dan, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Dan, from the east side to the west, Asher, €one portion. Adjoining the territory of Asher, from the east side to the west, €Naph'tali, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Naph'tali, from the east side to the west, €Manas'seh, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Manas'seh, from the east side to the west, €E'phraim, one portion. Adjoining the territory of E'phraim, from the east side to the west, €Reuben, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Reuben, from the east side to the west, €Judah, one portion. @"Adjoining the territory of Judah, from the east side to the west, €shall be the portion which you shall set apart, twenty-five thousand €cubits in breadth, and in length equal to one of the tribal portions, €from the east side to the west, with the sanctuary in the midst of it. The portion which you shall set apart for the LORD shall be twenty-five €thousand cubits in length, and twenty thousand in breadth. These shall be the allotments of the holy portion: the priests shall €have an allotment measuring twenty-five thousand cubits on the northern €side, ten thousand cubits in breadth on the western side, ten thousand €in breadth on the eastern side, and twenty-five thousand in length on €the southern side, with the sanctuary of the LORD in the midst of it. This shall be for the consecrated priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept €my charge, who did not go astray when the people of Israel went astray, €as the Levites did. And it shall belong to them as a special portion from the holy portion €of the land, a most holy place, adjoining the territory of the Levites. And alongside the territory of the priests, the Levites shall have an €allotment twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in €breadth. The whole length shall be twenty-five thousand cubits and the €breadth twenty thousand. They shall not sell or exchange any of it; they shall not alienate this €choice portion of the land, for it is holy to the LORD. @"The remainder, five thousand cubits in breadth and twenty-five €thousand in length, shall be for ordinary use for the city, for €dwellings and for open country. In the midst of it shall be the city; and these shall be its dimensions: the north side four thousand five €hundred cubits, the south side four thousand five hundred, the east €side four thousand five hundred, and the west side four thousand and €five hundred. And the city shall have open land: on the north two hundred and fifty €cubits, on the south two hundred and fifty, on the east two hundred and €fifty, and on the west two hundred and fifty. The remainder of the length alongside the holy portion shall be ten €thousand cubits to the east, and ten thousand to the west, and it shall €be alongside the holy portion. Its produce shall be food for the €workers of the city. And the workers of the city, from all the tribes of Israel, shall till €it. The whole portion which you shall set apart shall be twenty-five €thousand cubits square, that is, the holy portion together with the €property of the city. @"What remains on both sides of the holy portion and of the property €of the city shall belong to the prince. Extending from the twenty-five €thousand cubits of the holy portion to the east border, and westward €from the twenty-five thousand cubits to the west border, parallel to €the tribal portions, it shall belong to the prince. The holy portion €with the sanctuary of the temple in its midst, and the property of the Levites and the property of the city, shall be €in the midst of that which belongs to the prince. The portion of the €prince shall lie between the territory of Judah and the territory of €Benjamin. @"As for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west, €Benjamin, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Benjamin, from the east side to the west, €Simeon, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Simeon, from the east side to the west, €Is'sachar, one portion. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¶’ļ‚Åśåė’Ø°˜šAdjoining the territory of Is'sachar, from the east side to the west, €Zeb'ulun, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Zeb'ulun, from the east side to the west, €Gad, one portion. And adjoining the territory of Gad to the south, the boundary shall run €from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-ka'desh, thence along the Brook of €Egypt to the Great Sea. This is the land which you shall allot as an inheritance among the €tribes of Israel, and these are their several portions, says the Lord €GOD. @"These shall be the exits of the city: On the north side, which is to €be four thousand five hundred cubits by measure, three gates, the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah, and the gate of €Levi, the gates of the city being named after the tribes of Israel. On the east side, which is to be four thousand five hundred cubits, €three gates, the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of €Dan. On the south side, which is to be four thousand five hundred cubits by €measure, three gates, the gate of Simeon, the gate of Is'sachar, and €the gate of Zeb'ulun. On the west side, which is to be four thousand five hundred cubits, €three gates, the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of €Naph'tali. The circumference of the city shall be eighteen thousand cubits. And €the name of the city henceforth shall be, The LORD is there." ąļ‚Äįī’”In the third year of the reign of Jehoi'akim king of Judah, €Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoi'akim king of Judah into his hand, with some of €the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of €Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury €of his god. Then the king commanded Ash'penaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of €the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, handsome and skilful in all wisdom, endowed €with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to serve in the €king's palace, and to teach them the letters and language of the €Chalde'ans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the rich food which the king €ate, and of the wine which he drank. They were to be educated for €three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the €king. Among these were Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah of the €tribe of Judah. And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called €Belteshaz'zar, Hanani'ah he called Shadrach, Mish'a-el he called €Meshach, and Azari'ah he called Abed'nego. @But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's €rich food, or with the wine which he drank; therefore he asked the €chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of €the eunuchs; and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear lest my lord the €king, who appointed your food and your drink, should see that you were €in poorer condition than the youths who are of your own age. So you €would endanger my head with the king." Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had €appointed over Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah; "Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and €water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the €king's rich food be observed by you, and according to what you see deal €with your servants." So he hearkened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance €and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's rich food. So the steward took away their rich food and the wine they were to €drink, and gave them vegetables. @As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all €letters and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and €dreams. At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be €brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before €Nebuchadnez'zar. And the king spoke with them, and among them all none was found like €Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah; therefore they stood before €the king. And in every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the €king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the €magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. And Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.  @In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnez'zar, Nebuchadnez'zar €had dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the €sorcerers, and the Chalde'ans be summoned, to tell the king his dreams. €So they came in and stood before the king. And the king said to them, "I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to €know the dream." Then the Chalde'ans said to the king, "O king, live for ever! Tell €your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation." The king answered the Chalde'ans, "The word from me is sure: if you do €not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be €torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive €from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream €and its interpretation." They answered a second time, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, €and we will show its interpretation." The king answered, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain €time, because you see that the word from me is sure that if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one €sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words €before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I €shall know that you can show me its interpretation." The Chalde'ans answered the king, "There is not a man on earth who can €meet the king's demand; for no great and powerful king has asked such a €thing of any magician or enchanter or Chalde'an. The thing that the king asks is difficult, and none can show it to the €king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh." @Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded €that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. So the decree went forth that the wise men were to be slain, and they €sought Daniel and his companions, to slay them. Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Ar'i-och, the €captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to slay the wise men of €Babylon; he said to Ar'i-och, the king's captain, "Why is the decree of the king €so severe?" Then Ar'i-och made the matter known to Daniel. And Daniel went in and besought the king to appoint him a time, that he €might show to the king the interpretation. @Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hanani'ah, €Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy of the God of heaven concerning this €mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the €rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then €Daniel blessed the God of heaven. @@Daniel said: €@@"Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever. €@@@to whom belong wisdom and might. @@He changes times and seasons; €@@@he removes kings and sets up kings; €@@he gives wisdom to the wise €@@@and knowledge to those who have understanding; @@he reveals deep and mysterious things; €@@@he knows what is in the darkness, €@@@and the light dwells with him. @@To thee, O God of my fathers, €@@@I give thanks and praise, €@@for thou hast given me wisdom and strength, €@@@and hast now made known to me what we asked of thee, €@@@for thou hast made known to us the king's matter." @Therefore Daniel went in to Ar'i-och, whom the king had appointed to €destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and said thus to him, "Do not €destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I €will show the king the interpretation." @Then Ar'i-och brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²·’ļ‚Äįī’¢˜™‚thus to him: "I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who can €make known to the king the interpretation." The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshaz'zar, "Are you able to €make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?" Daniel answered the king, "No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or €astrologers can show to the king the mystery which the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made €known to King Nebuchadnez'zar what will be in the latter days. Your €dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be €hereafter, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. But as for me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the €living has this mystery been revealed to me, but in order that the €interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the €thoughts of your mind. @"You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and €of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was €frightening. The head of this image was of fine gold, its breast and arms of silver, €its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it smote the €image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces; then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all €together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer €threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace €of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a €great mountain and filled the whole earth. @"This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation. You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the €kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the sons of men, €the beasts of the field, and the birds of the air, making you rule over €them all -- you are the head of gold. After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to you, and yet a third €kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron €breaks to pieces and shatters all things; and like iron which crushes, €it shall break and crush all these. And as you saw the feet and toes partly of potter's clay and partly of €iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but some of the firmness of iron €shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the €kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. As you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, so they will mix with one €another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does €not mix with clay. And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom €which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to €another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring €them to an end, and it shall stand for ever; just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, €and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, €and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be €hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure." @Then King Nebuchadnez'zar fell upon his face, and did homage to €Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. The king said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of €kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal €this mystery." Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made €him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief prefect over €all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel made request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, €and Abed'nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel €remained at the king's court.  @King Nebuchadnez'zar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty €cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, €in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnez'zar sent to assemble the satraps, the prefects, €and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the €magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the €dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnez'zar had set up. Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the €treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the €provinces, were assembled for the dedication of the image that King €Nebuchadnez'zar had set up; and they stood before the image that €Nebuchadnez'zar had set up. And the herald proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O peoples, €nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, €bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the €golden image that King Nebuchadnez'zar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast €into a burning fiery furnace." Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, €pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the €peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden €image which King Nebuchadnez'zar had set up. @Therefore at that time certain Chalde'ans came forward and €maliciously accused the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnez'zar, "O king, live for ever! You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of €the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, €shall fall down and worship the golden image; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning €fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the €province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego. These men, O €king, pay no heed to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the €golden image which you have set up." @Then Nebuchadnez'zar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, €Meshach, and Abed'nego be brought. Then they brought these men before €the king. Nebuchadnez'zar said to them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and €Abed'nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image €which I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, €trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and €worship the image which I have made, well and good; but if you do not €worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace; €and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?" @Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego answered the king, "O €Nebuchadnez'zar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the €burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your €gods or worship the golden image which you have set up." @Then Nebuchadnez'zar was full of fury, and the expression of his face €was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego. He ordered the €furnace heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he ordered certain mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, €Meshach, and Abed'nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their mantles, their tunics, their hats, €and their other garments, and they were cast into the burning fiery €furnace. Because the king's order was strict and the furnace very hot, the flame €of the fire slew those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego, fell bound into €the burning fiery furnace. @Then King Nebuchadnez'zar was astonished and rose up in haste. He €said to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the €fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²·’ļ‚Äįī’£˜™He answered, "But I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the €fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a €son of the gods." @Then Nebuchadnez'zar came near to the door of the burning fiery €furnace and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego, servants of the €Most High God, come forth, and come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and €Abed'nego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors €gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the €bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not singed, their €mantles were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnez'zar said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and €Abed'nego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who €trusted in him, and set at nought the king's command, and yielded up €their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks €anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego shall be €torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins; for there is no €other god who is able to deliver in this way." Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego in the province €of Babylon.  @King Nebuchadnez'zar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that €dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most €High God has wrought toward me. @@How great are his signs, €@@@how mighty his wonders! €@@His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, €@@@and his dominion is from generation to generation. @I, Nebuchadnez'zar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my €palace. I had a dream which made me afraid; as I lay in bed the fancies and the €visions of my head alarmed me. Therefore I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be €brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation €of the dream. Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chalde'ans, and the astrologers €came in; and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me €its interpretation. At last Daniel came in before me -- he who was named Belteshaz'zar after €the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods -- and I €told him the dream, saying, "O Belteshaz'zar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the €spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is difficult for €you, here is the dream which I saw; tell me its interpretation. The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, €a tree in the midst of the earth; and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it €was visible to the end of the whole earth. Its leaves were fair and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for €all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of €the air dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it. @"I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a €watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. He cried aloud and said thus, `Hew down the tree and cut off its €branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit; let the beasts €flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of €iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet €with the dew of heaven; let his lot be with the beasts in the grass of €the earth; let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given €to him; and let seven times pass over him. The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word €of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most €High rules the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom he will, and sets €over it the lowliest of men.' This dream I, King Nebuchadnez'zar, saw. And you, O Belteshaz'zar, €declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are €not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for €the spirit of the holy gods is in you." @Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshaz'zar, was dismayed for a moment, €and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, "Belteshaz'zar, let not €the dream or the interpretation alarm you." Belteshaz'zar answered, "My €lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation €for your enemies! The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached €to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth; whose leaves were fair and its fruit abundant, and in which was food €for all; under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose €branches the birds of the air dwelt --it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness €has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the €earth. And whereas the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven €and saying, `Hew down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of €its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the €tender grass of the field; and let him be wet with the dew of heaven; €and let his lot be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass €over him'; this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, €which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be €with the beasts of the field; you shall be made to eat grass like an €ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall €pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of €men, and gives it to whom he will. And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, €your kingdom shall be sure for you from the time that you know that €Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you; break off your €sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy €to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your €tranquillity." @All this came upon King Nebuchadnez'zar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal €palace of Babylon, and the king said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my €mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?" While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from €heaven, "O King Nebuchadnez'zar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has €departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with €the beasts of the field; and you shall be made to eat grass like an ox; €and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the €Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will." Immediately the word was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnez'zar. He was driven €from among men, and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the €dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his €nails were like birds' claws. @At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnez'zar, lifted my eyes to €heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most €High, and praised and honored him who lives for ever; €@@for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, €@@@and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; @@all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing; €@@@and he does according to his will in the host of heaven €@@@and among the inhabitants of the earth; €@@and none can stay his hand €@@@or say to him, "What doest thou?" At the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my €kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my €lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more €greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnez'zar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; €for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk €in pride he is able to abase.  @King Belshaz'zar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and €drank wine in front of the thousand. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²·’ļ‚Äįī’„’@Belshaz'zar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of €gold and of silver which Nebuchadnez'zar his father had taken out of €the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his €wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden and silver vessels which had been taken €out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem; and the king and his €lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, €wood, and stone. @Immediately the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote on the €plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand; and €the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs €gave way, and his knees knocked together. The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chalde'ans, and €the astrologers. The king said to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever €reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed €with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the €third ruler in the kingdom." Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the €writing or make known to the king the interpretation. Then King Belshaz'zar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed; and €his lords were perplexed. @The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into €the banqueting hall; and the queen said, "O king, live for ever! Let €not your thoughts alarm you or your color change. There is in your kingdom a man in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. €In the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the €wisdom of the gods, were found in him, and King Nebuchadnez'zar, your €father, made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chalde'ans, and €astrologers, because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret €dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, €whom the king named Belteshaz'zar. Now let Daniel be called, and he €will show the interpretation." @Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, €"You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my €father brought from Judah. I have heard of you that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and €that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to €read this writing and make known to me its interpretation; but they €could not show the interpretation of the matter. But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. €Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its €interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of €gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. @Then Daniel answered before the king, "Let your gifts be for €yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless I will read €the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnez'zar your father kingship and €greatness and glory and majesty; and because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, €and languages trembled and feared before him; whom he would he slew, €and whom he would he kept alive; whom he would he raised up, and whom €he would he put down. But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he €dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory was €taken from him; he was driven from among men, and his mind was made like that of a €beast, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; he was fed grass like €an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that €the Most High God rules the kingdom of men, and sets over it whom he €will. And you his son, Belshaz'zar, have not humbled your heart, though you €knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and the €vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your €lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them; and €you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, €and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand €is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. @"Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was €inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and €PARSIN. This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the €days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." @Then Belshaz'zar commanded, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a €chain of gold was put about his neck, and proclamation was made €concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. @That very night Belshaz'zar the Chalde'an king was slain. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years €old.  @It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty €satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these €satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents €and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king €planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground for €complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom; but they could €find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and €no error or fault was found in him. Then these men said, "We shall not find any ground for complaint €against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his €God." @Then these presidents and satraps came by agreement to the king and €said to him, "O King Darius, live for ever! All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the €counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish €an ordinance and enforce an interdict, that whoever makes petition to €any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast €into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the interdict and sign the document, so that it €cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, €which cannot be revoked." Therefore King Darius signed the document and interdict. @When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his €house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem; €and he got down upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave €thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and €supplication before his God. Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the interdict, €"O king! Did you not sign an interdict, that any man who makes €petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, €shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered, "The thing €stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which €cannot be revoked." Then they answered before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the €exiles from Judah, pays no heed to you, O king, or the interdict you €have signed, but makes his petition three times a day." @Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed, and €set his mind to deliver Daniel; and he labored till the sun went down €to rescue him. Then these men came by agreement to the king, and said to the king, €"Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no €interdict or ordinance which the king establishes can be changed." @Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den €of lions. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve €continually, deliver you!" And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²·’ļ‚Äįī’¦˜‘‚king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, €that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and spent the night fasting; no €diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. @Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of €lions. When he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone €of anguish and said to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, €has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from €the lions?" Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live for ever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not €hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, €O king, I have done no wrong." Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken €up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind €of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God. And the king commanded, and those men who had accused Daniel were €brought and cast into the den of lions -- they, their children, and their €wives; and before they reached the bottom of the den the lions €overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces. @Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages €that dwell in all the earth: "Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion men tremble and fear €before the God of Daniel, €@@for he is the living God, €@@@enduring for ever; €@@his kingdom shall never be destroyed, €@@@and his dominion shall be to the end. @@He delivers and rescues, €@@@he works signs and wonders €@@@in heaven and on earth, €@@he who has saved Daniel €@@@from the power of the lions." @So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of €Cyrus the Persian.  @In the first year of Belshaz'zar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream €and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the €dream, and told the sum of the matter. Daniel said, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds €of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one €another. The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its €wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made €to stand upon two feet like a man; and the mind of a man was given to €it. And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up €on one side; it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it €was told, `Arise, devour much flesh.' After this I looked, and lo, another, like a leopard, with four wings €of a bird on its back; and the beast had four heads; and dominion was €given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, €terrible and dreadful and exceedingly strong; and it had great iron €teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with €its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it; €and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another €horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked €up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a €man, and a mouth speaking great things. @@As I looked, €@@thrones were placed €@@@and one that was ancient of days took his seat; €@@his raiment was white as snow, €@@@and the hair of his head like pure wool; €@@his throne was fiery flames, €@@@its wheels were burning fire. @@A stream of fire issued €@@@and came forth from before him; €@@a thousand thousands served him, €@@@and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; €@@the court sat in judgment, €@@@and the books were opened. @I looked then because of the sound of the great words which the horn €was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was slain, and its body €destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their €lives were prolonged for a season and a time. I saw in the night visions, €@@and behold, with the clouds of heaven €@@@there came one like a son of man, €@@and he came to the Ancient of Days €@@@and was presented before him. @@And to him was given dominion €@@@and glory and kingdom, €@@that all peoples, nations, and languages €@@@should serve him; €@@his dominion is an everlasting dominion, €@@@which shall not pass away, €@@and his kingdom one €@@@that shall not be destroyed. @"As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious and the visions €of my head alarmed me. I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth €concerning all this. So he told me, and made known to me the €interpretation of the things. `These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the €earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess €the kingdom for ever, for ever and ever.' @"Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which €was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrible, with its teeth €of iron and claws of bronze; and which devoured and broke in pieces, €and stamped the residue with its feet; and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn €which came up and before which three of them fell, the horn which had €eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and which seemed greater than €its fellows. As I looked, this horn made war with the saints, and prevailed over €them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints €of the Most High, and the time came when the saints received the €kingdom. @"Thus he said: `As for the fourth beast, €@@there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, €@@@which shall be different from all the kingdoms, €@@and it shall devour the whole earth, €@@@and trample it down, and break it to pieces. @@As for the ten horns, €@@out of this kingdom €@@@ten kings shall arise, €@@@and another shall arise after them; €@@he shall be different from the former ones, €@@@and shall put down three kings. @@He shall speak words against the Most High, €@@@and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, €@@@and shall think to change the times and the law; €@@and they shall be given into his hand €@@@for a time, two times, and half a time. @@But the court shall sit in judgment, €@@@and his dominion shall be taken away, €@@@to be consumed and destroyed to the end. @@And the kingdom and the dominion €@@@and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven €@@@shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; €@@their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, €@@@and all dominions shall serve and obey them.' @"Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts €greatly alarmed me, and my color changed; but I kept the matter in my €mind."  @In the third year of the reign of King Belshaz'zar a vision appeared €to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. And I saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the capital, €which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision, and I was at €the river U'lai. I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram standing on the bank of the €river. It had two horns; and both horns were high, but one was higher €than the other, and the higher one came up last. I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward; no beast €could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his €power; he did as he pleased and magnified himself. @As I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west across the €face of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had €a conspicuous horn between his eyes. He came to the ram with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the €bank of the river, and he ran at him in his mighty wrath. I saw him come close to the ram, and he was enraged against him and €struck the ram and broke his two horns; and the ram had no power to €stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled upon €him; and there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²·’ļ‚Äįī’؈˜ˆThen the he-goat magnified himself exceedingly; but when he was strong, €the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four €conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven. @Out of one of them came forth a little horn, which grew exceedingly €great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. It grew great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host of the €stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled upon them. It magnified itself, even up to the Prince of the host; and the €continual burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his €sanctuary was overthrown. And the host was given over to it together with the continual burnt €offering through transgression; and truth was cast down to the ground, €and the horn acted and prospered. Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to the one €that spoke, "For how long is the vision concerning the continual burnt €offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of €the sanctuary and host to be trampled under foot?" And he said to him, "For two thousand and three hundred evenings and €mornings; then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state." @When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; and €behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the U'lai, and it €called, "Gabriel, make this man understand the vision." So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was frightened and €fell upon my face. But he said to me, "Understand, O son of man, that €the vision is for the time of the end." @As he was speaking to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to €the ground; but he touched me and set me on my feet. He said, "Behold, I will make known to you what shall be at the latter €end of the indignation; for it pertains to the appointed time of the €end. As for the ram which you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of €Media and Persia. And the he-goat is the king of Greece; and the great horn between his €eyes is the first king. As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, €four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power. And at the latter end of their rule, when the transgressors have €reached their full measure, a king of bold countenance, one who €understands riddles, shall arise. His power shall be great, and he shall cause fearful destruction, and €shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people of €the saints. By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his €own mind he shall magnify himself. Without warning he shall destroy €many; and he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes; but, by €no human hand, he shall be broken. The vision of the evenings and the mornings which has been told is €true; but seal up the vision, for it pertains to many days hence." @And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days; then I rose €and went about the king's business; but I was appalled by the vision €and did not understand it.  @In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasu-e'rus, by birth a Mede, €who became king over the realm of the Chalde'ans --in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the €number of years which, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah €the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, €namely, seventy years. @Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and €supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the €great and terrible God, who keepest covenant and steadfast love with €those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning €aside from thy commandments and ordinances; we have not listened to thy servants the prophets, who spoke in thy €name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people €of the land. To thee, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us confusion of face, as €at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and €to all Israel, those that are near and those that are far away, in all €the lands to which thou hast driven them, because of the treachery €which they have committed against thee. To us, O Lord, belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, €and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness; because we have €rebelled against him, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by following his €laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed thy law and turned aside, refusing to obey €thy voice. And the curse and oath which are written in the law of €Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have €sinned against him. He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our €rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity; for under €the whole heaven there has not been done the like of what has been done €against Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon €us, yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, turning €from our iniquities and giving heed to thy truth. Therefore the LORD has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon €us; for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works which he has €done, and we have not obeyed his voice. And now, O Lord our God, who didst bring thy people out of the land of €Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast made thee a name, as at this day, we €have sinned, we have done wickedly. O Lord, according to all thy righteous acts, let thy anger and thy €wrath turn away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy hill; because for our €sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people €have become a byword among all who are round about us. Now therefore, O our God, hearken to the prayer of thy servant and to €his supplications, and for thy own sake, O Lord, cause thy face to €shine upon thy sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline thy ear and hear; open thy eyes and behold our €desolations, and the city which is called by thy name; for we do not €present our supplications before thee on the ground of our €righteousness, but on the ground of thy great mercy. O LORD, hear; O LORD, forgive; O LORD, give heed and act; delay not, €for thy own sake, O my God, because thy city and thy people are called €by thy name." @While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my €people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God €for the holy hill of my God; while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the €vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the €evening sacrifice. He came and he said to me, "O Daniel, I have now come out to give you €wisdom and understanding. At the beginning of your supplications a word went forth, and I have €come to tell it to you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider €the word and understand the vision. @"Seventy weeks of years are decreed concerning your people and your €holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to €atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both €vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the word to €restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, €there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built €again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off, and €shall have nothing; and the people of the prince who is to come shall €destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, €and to the end there shall be war; desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week; and for žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²·’ļ‚Äįī’؉˜›‚half of the week he shall cause sacrifice and offering to cease; and €upon the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until €the decreed end is poured out on the desolator."  @In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to €Daniel, who was named Belteshaz'zar. And the word was true, and it was €a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of €the vision. @In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint €myself at all, for the full three weeks. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the €bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, €whose loins were girded with gold of Uphaz. His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his €eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of €burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the noise of a €multitude. And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did €not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled €to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left €in me; my radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no €strength. Then I heard the sound of his words; and when I heard the sound of his €words, I fell on my face in a deep sleep with my face to the ground. @And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and €knees. And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, give heed to the €words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent €to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you €set your mind to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your €words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but €Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, so I left him there €with the prince of the kingdom of Persia and came to make you understand what is to befall your people in the €latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come." @When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face €toward the ground and was dumb. And behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; €then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, €"O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I €retain no strength. How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For now no strength €remains in me, and no breath is left in me." @Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened €me. And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not, peace be with you; be €strong and of good courage." And when he spoke to me, I was €strengthened and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened €me." Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will €return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I am through €with him, lo, the prince of Greece will come. But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is €none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.  @And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to €confirm and strengthen him. @"And now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings shall €arise in Persia; and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them; and €when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all €against the kingdom of Greece. Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and €do according to his will. And when he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward €the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to €the dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up €and go to others besides these. @"Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes €shall be stronger than he and his dominion shall be a great dominion. After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the €king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make peace; €but she shall not retain the strength of her arm, and he and his €offspring shall not endure; but she shall be given up, and her €attendants, her child, and he who got possession of her. @"In those times a branch from her roots shall arise in his place; he €shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the €north, and he shall deal with them and shall prevail. He shall also carry off to Egypt their gods with their molten images €and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and for some €years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north. Then the latter shall come into the realm of the king of the south but €shall return into his own land. @"His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, €which shall come on and overflow and pass through, and again shall €carry the war as far as his fortress. Then the king of the south, moved with anger, shall come out and fight €with the king of the north; and he shall raise a great multitude, but €it shall be given into his hand. And when the multitude is taken, his heart shall be exalted, and he €shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. For the king of the north shall again raise a multitude, greater than €the former; and after some years he shall come on with a great army and €abundant supplies. @"In those times many shall rise against the king of the south; and €the men of violence among your own people shall lift themselves up in €order to fulfil the vision; but they shall fail. Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks, and take €a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, or €even his picked troops, for there shall be no strength to stand. But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and €none shall stand before him; and he shall stand in the glorious land, €and all of it shall be in his power. He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, €and he shall bring terms of peace and perform them. He shall give him €the daughter of women to destroy the kingdom; but it shall not stand or €be to his advantage. Afterward he shall turn his face to the coastlands, and shall take many €of them; but a commander shall put an end to his insolence; indeed he €shall turn his insolence back upon him. Then he shall turn his face back toward the fortresses of his own land; €but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found. @"Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of €tribute through the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he €shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle. In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty €has not been given; he shall come in without warning and obtain the €kingdom by flatteries. Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, and the €prince of the covenant also. And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act €deceitfully; and he shall become strong with a small people. Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province; €and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his fathers' fathers have €done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He shall devise €plans against strongholds, but only for a time. And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the €south with a great army; and the king of the south shall wage war with €an exceedingly great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for plots €shall be devised against him. Even those who eat his rich food shall be his undoing; his army shall €be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. And as for the two kings, their minds shall be bent on mischief; they €shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail; for the end is yet žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²·’ļ‚Äįī’؋˜›ƒto be at the time appointed. And he shall return to his land with great substance, but his heart €shall be set against the holy covenant. And he shall work his will, and €return to his own land. @"At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south; but €it shall not be this time as it was before. For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall be afraid and €withdraw, and shall turn back and be enraged and take action against €the holy covenant. He shall turn back and give heed to those who €forsake the holy covenant. Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and €shall take away the continual burnt offering. And they shall set up €the abomination that makes desolate. He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant; but the €people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And those among the people who are wise shall make many understand, €though they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder, €for some days. When they fall, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join €themselves to them with flattery; and some of those who are wise shall fall, to refine and to cleanse €them and to make them white, until the time of the end, for it is yet €for the time appointed. @"And the king shall do according to his will; he shall exalt himself €and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things €against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is €accomplished; for what is determined shall be done. He shall give no heed to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved €by women; he shall not give heed to any other god, for he shall magnify €himself above all. He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these; a god whom his €fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious €stones and costly gifts. He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign €god; those who acknowledge him he shall magnify with honor. He shall €make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price. @"At the time of the end the king of the south shall attack him; but €the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with €chariots and horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall come into €countries and shall overflow and pass through. He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall €fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and €the main part of the Ammonites. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of €Egypt shall not escape. He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all €the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall €follow in his train. But tidings from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall €go forth with great fury to exterminate and utterly destroy many. And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious €holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him.  @"At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of €your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has €been since there was a nation till that time; but at that time your €people shall be delivered, every one whose name shall be found written €in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some €to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the €firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for €ever and ever. But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, until the time €of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." @Then I Daniel looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank €of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. And I said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the €stream, "How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?" The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, €raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven; and I heard him €swear by him who lives for ever that it would be for a time, two times, €and half a time; and that when the shattering of the power of the holy €people comes to an end all these things would be accomplished. I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, "O my lord, what shall €be the issue of these things?" He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed €until the time of the end. Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be €refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall €understand; but those who are wise shall understand. And from the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away, and €the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be a €thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who waits and comes to the thousand three hundred and €thirty-five days. But go your way till the end; and you shall rest, and shall stand in €your allotted place at the end of the days." ąļ‚Čļó’”The word of the LORD that came to Hose'a the son of Be-e'ri, in the €days of Uzzi'ah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezeki'ah, kings of Judah, and in €the days of Jerobo'am the son of Jo'ash, king of Israel. @When the LORD first spoke through Hose'a, the LORD said to Hose'a, €"Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry, €for the land commits great harlotry by forsaking the LORD." So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Dibla'im, and she conceived €and bore him a son. @And the LORD said to him, "Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little €while, and I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, €and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. And on that day, I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of €Jezreel." @She conceived again and bore a daughter. And the LORD said to him, €"Call her name Not pitied, for I will no more have pity on the house of €Israel, to forgive them at all. But I will have pity on the house of Judah, and I will deliver them by €the LORD their God; I will not deliver them by bow, nor by sword, nor €by war, nor by horses, nor by horsemen." @When she had weaned Not pitied, she conceived and bore a son. And the LORD said, "Call his name Not my people, for you are not my €people and I am not your God." @Yet the number of the people of Israel shall be like the sand of the €sea, which can be neither measured nor numbered; and in the place where €it was said to them, "You are not my people," it shall be said to them, €"Sons of the living God." And the people of Judah and the people of Israel shall be gathered €together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head; and they €shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel.  @Say to your brother, "My people," and to your sister, "She has €obtained pity." @@"Plead with your mother, plead --€@@@for she is not my wife, €@@@and I am not her husband --€@@that she put away her harlotry from her face, €@@@and her adultery from between her breasts; @@lest I strip her naked €@@@and make her as in the day she was born, €@@and make her like a wilderness, €@@@and set her like a parched land, €@@@and slay her with thirst. @@Upon her children also I will have no pity, €@@@because they are children of harlotry. @@For their mother has played the harlot; €@@@she that conceived them has acted shamefully. €@@For she said, `I will go after my lovers, €@@@who give me my bread and my water, €@@@my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.' @@Therefore I will hedge up her way with thorns; €@@@and I will build a wall against her, €@@@so that she cannot find her paths. @@She shall pursue her lovers, €@@@but not overtake them; €@@and she shall seek them, €@@@but shall not find them. €@@Then she shall say, `I will go €@@@and return to my first husband, €@@@for it was better with me then than now.' @@And she did not know €@@@that it was I who gave her €@@@the grain, the wine, and the oil, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²ø’ļ‚Čļ󒢘ˆ„@@and who lavished upon her silver €@@@and gold which they used for Ba'al. @@Therefore I will take back €@@@my grain in its time, €@@@and my wine in its season; €@@and I will take away my wool and my flax, €@@@which were to cover her nakedness. @@Now I will uncover her lewdness €@@@in the sight of her lovers, €@@@and no one shall rescue her out of my hand. @@And I will put an end to all her mirth, €@@@her feasts, her new moons, her sabbaths, €@@@and all her appointed feasts. @@And I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees, €@@@of which she said, €@@`These are my hire, €@@@which my lovers have given me.' €@@I will make them a forest, €@@@and the beasts of the field shall devour them. @@And I will punish her for the feast days of the Ba'als €@@@when she burned incense to them €@@and decked herself with her ring and jewelry, €@@@and went after her lovers, €@@@and forgot me, says the LORD. @@"Therefore, behold, I will allure her, €@@@and bring her into the wilderness, €@@@and speak tenderly to her. @@And there I will give her her vineyards, €@@@and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. €@@And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, €@@@as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. "And in that day, says the LORD, you will call me, `My husband,' and no €longer will you call me, `My Ba'al.' For I will remove the names of the Ba'als from her mouth, and they €shall be mentioned by name no more. And I will make for you a covenant on that day with the beasts of the €field, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; and €I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land; and I will €make you lie down in safety. And I will betroth you to me for ever; I will betroth you to me in €righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness; and you shall know the LORD. @@"And in that day, says the LORD, €@@@I will answer the heavens €@@@and they shall answer the earth; @@and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, €@@@and they shall answer Jezreel; @@@and I will sow him for myself in the land. €@@And I will have pity on Not pitied, €@@@and I will say to Not my people, `You are my people'; €@@@and he shall say `Thou art my God.'"  @And the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is beloved of a €paramour and is an adulteress; even as the LORD loves the people of €Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins." So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech €of barley. And I said to her, "You must dwell as mine for many days; you shall not €play the harlot, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you." For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or €prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or teraphim. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their €God, and David their king; and they shall come in fear to the LORD and €to his goodness in the latter days.  @Hear the word of the LORD, O people of Israel; €@@@for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. €@@There is no faithfulness or kindness, €@@@and no knowledge of God in the land; @@there is swearing, lying, killing, stealing, and committing €@@@@adultery; €@@@they break all bounds and murder follows murder. @@Therefore the land mourns, €@@@and all who dwell in it languish, €@@and also the beasts of the field, €@@@and the birds of the air; €@@@and even the fish of the sea are taken away. @@Yet let no one contend, €@@@and let none accuse, €@@@for with you is my contention, O priest. @@You shall stumble by day, €@@@the prophet also shall stumble with you by night; €@@@and I will destroy your mother. @@My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; €@@@because you have rejected knowledge, €@@@I reject you from being a priest to me. €@@And since you have forgotten the law of your God, €@@@I also will forget your children. @@The more they increased, €@@@the more they sinned against me; €@@@I will change their glory into shame. @@They feed on the sin of my people; €@@@they are greedy for their iniquity. @@And it shall be like people, like priest; €@@@I will punish them for their ways, €@@@and requite them for their deeds. @@They shall eat, but not be satisfied; €@@@they shall play the harlot, but not multiply; €@@because they have forsaken the LORD €@@@to cherish harlotry. @@Wine and new wine €@@@take away the understanding. @@My people inquire of a thing of wood, €@@@and their staff gives them oracles. €@@For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray, €@@@and they have left their God to play the harlot. @@They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, €@@@and make offerings upon the hills, €@@under oak, poplar, and terebinth, €@@@because their shade is good. €@@Therefore your daughters play the harlot, €@@@and your brides commit adultery. @@I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, €@@@nor your brides when they commit adultery; €@@for the men themselves go aside with harlots, €@@@and sacrifice with cult prostitutes, €@@and a people without understanding shall come to ruin. @@Though you play the harlot, O Israel, €@@@let not Judah become guilty. €@@Enter not into Gilgal, €@@@nor go up to Beth-a'ven, €@@@and swear not, "As the LORD lives." @@Like a stubborn heifer, €@@@Israel is stubborn; €@@can the LORD now feed them €@@@like a lamb in a broad pasture? @@E'phraim is joined to idols, €@@@let him alone. @@A band of drunkards, they give themselves to harlotry; €@@@they love shame more than their glory. @@A wind has wrapped them in its wings, €@@@and they shall be ashamed because of their altars.  @Hear this, O priests! €@@@Give heed, O house of Israel! €@@Hearken, O house of the king! €@@@For the judgment pertains to you; €@@for you have been a snare at Mizpah, €@@@and a net spread upon Tabor. @@And they have made deep the pit of Shittim; €@@@but I will chastise all of them. @@I know E'phraim, €@@@and Israel is not hid from me; €@@for now, O E'phraim, you have played the harlot, €@@@Israel is defiled. @@Their deeds do not permit them €@@@to return to their God. €@@For the spirit of harlotry is within them, €@@@and they know not the LORD. @@The pride of Israel testifies to his face; €@@@E'phraim shall stumble in his guilt; €@@@Judah also shall stumble with them. @@With their flocks and herds they shall go €@@@to seek the LORD, €@@but they will not find him; €@@@he has withdrawn from them. @@They have dealt faithlessly with the LORD; €@@@for they have borne alien children. €@@@Now the new moon shall devour them with their fields. @@Blow the horn in Gib'e-ah, €@@@the trumpet in Ramah. €@@Sound the alarm at Beth-a'ven; €@@@tremble, O Benjamin! @@E'phraim shall become a desolation €@@@in the day of punishment; €@@among the tribes of Israel €@@@I declare what is sure. @@The princes of Judah have become €@@@like those who remove the landmark; €@@upon them I will pour out €@@@my wrath like water. @@E'phraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, €@@@because he was determined to go after vanity. @@Therefore I am like a moth to E'phraim, €@@@and like dry rot to the house of Judah. @@When E'phraim saw his sickness, €@@@and Judah his wound, €@@then E'phraim went to Assyria, €@@@and sent to the great king. €@@But he is not able to cure you €@@@or heal your wound. @@For I will be like a lion to E'phraim, €@@@and like a young lion to the house of Judah. €@@I, even I, will rend and go away, €@@@I will carry off, and none shall rescue. @@I will return again to my place, €@@@until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, €@@@and in their distress they seek me, saying,  "Come, let us return to the LORD; €@@@for he has torn, that he may heal us; €@@@he has stricken, and he will bind us up. @@After two days he will revive us; €@@@on the third day he will raise us up, €@@@that we may live before him. @@Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; €@@@his going forth is sure as the dawn; €@@he will come to us as the showers, €@@@as the spring rains that water the earth." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²ø’ļ‚Čļ󒦔@@What shall I do with you, O E'phraim? €@@@What shall I do with you, O Judah? €@@Your love is like a morning cloud, €@@@like the dew that goes early away. @@Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, €@@@I have slain them by the words of my mouth, €@@@and my judgment goes forth as the light. @@For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, €@@@the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings. @@But at Adam they transgressed the covenant; €@@@there they dealt faithlessly with me. @@Gilead is a city of evildoers, €@@@tracked with blood. @@As robbers lie in wait for a man, €@@@so the priests are banded together; €@@they murder on the way to Shechem, €@@@yea, they commit villainy. @@In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; €@@@E'phraim's harlotry is there, Israel is defiled. @@For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed. €@@When I would restore the fortunes of my people,  when I would heal Israel, €@@@the corruption of E'phraim is revealed, €@@@and the wicked deeds of Sama'ria; €@@for they deal falsely, €@@@the thief breaks in, €@@@and the bandits raid without. @@But they do not consider €@@@that I remember all their evil works. €@@Now their deeds encompass them, €@@@they are before my face. @@By their wickedness they make the king glad, €@@@and the princes by their treachery. @@They are all adulterers; €@@@they are like a heated oven, €@@whose baker ceases to stir the fire, €@@@from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened. @@On the day of our king the princes €@@@became sick with the heat of wine; €@@@he stretched out his hand with mockers. @@For like an oven their hearts burn with intrigue; €@@@all night their anger smolders; €@@@in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire. @@All of them are hot as an oven, €@@@and they devour their rulers. €@@All their kings have fallen; €@@@and none of them calls upon me. @@E'phraim mixes himself with the peoples; €@@@E'phraim is a cake not turned. @@Aliens devour his strength, €@@@and he knows it not; €@@gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, €@@@and he knows it not. @@The pride of Israel witnesses against him; €@@@yet they do not return to the LORD their God, €@@@nor seek him, for all this. @@E'phraim is like a dove, €@@@silly and without sense, €@@@calling to Egypt, going to Assyria. @@As they go, I will spread over them my net; €@@@I will bring them down like birds of the air; €@@@I will chastise them for their wicked deeds. @@Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! €@@@Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me! €@@I would redeem them, €@@@but they speak lies against me. @@They do not cry to me from the heart, €@@@but they wail upon their beds; €@@for grain and wine they gash themselves, €@@@they rebel against me. @@Although I trained and strengthened their arms, €@@@yet they devise evil against me. @@They turn to Ba'al; €@@@they are like a treacherous bow, €@@their princes shall fall by the sword €@@@because of the insolence of their tongue. €@@This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.  @Set the trumpet to your lips, €@@@for a vulture is over the house of the LORD, €@@because they have broken my covenant, €@@@and transgressed my law. @@To me they cry, €@@@My God, we Israel know thee. @@Israel has spurned the good; €@@@the enemy shall pursue him. @@They made kings, but not through me. €@@@They set up princes, but without my knowledge. €@@With their silver and gold they made idols €@@@for their own destruction. @@I have spurned your calf, O Sama'ria. €@@@My anger burns against them. €@@How long will it be €@@@till they are pure in Israel? €@@A workman made it; €@@@it is not God. €@@The calf of Sama'ria €@@@shall be broken to pieces. @@For they sow the wind, €@@@and they shall reap the whirlwind. €@@The standing grain has no heads, €@@@it shall yield no meal; €@@if it were to yield, €@@@aliens would devour it. @@Israel is swallowed up; €@@@already they are among the nations €@@@as a useless vessel. @@For they have gone up to Assyria, €@@@a wild ass wandering alone; €@@@E'phraim has hired lovers. @@Though they hire allies among the nations, €@@@I will soon gather them up. €@@And they shall cease for a little while €@@@from anointing king and princes. @@Because E'phraim has multiplied altars for sinning, €@@@they have become to him altars for sinning. @@Were I to write for him my laws by ten thousands, €@@@they would be regarded as a strange thing. @@They love sacrifice; €@@@they sacrifice flesh and eat it; €@@@but the LORD has no delight in them. €@@Now he will remember their iniquity, €@@@and punish their sins; €@@@they shall return to Egypt. @@For Israel has forgotten his Maker, €@@@and built palaces; €@@and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; €@@@but I will send a fire upon his cities, €@@@and it shall devour his strongholds.  @Rejoice not, O Israel! €@@@Exult not like the peoples; €@@for you have played the harlot, forsaking your God. €@@@You have loved a harlot's hire €@@@upon all threshing floors. @@Threshing floor and winevat shall not feed them, €@@@and the new wine shall fail them. @@They shall not remain in the land of the LORD; €@@@but E'phraim shall return to Egypt, €@@@and they shall eat unclean food in Assyria. @@They shall not pour libations of wine to the LORD; €@@@and they shall not please him with their sacrifices. €@@Their bread shall be like mourners' bread; €@@@all who eat of it shall be defiled; €@@for their bread shall be for their hunger only; €@@@it shall not come to the house of the LORD. @@What will you do on the day of appointed festival, €@@@and on the day of the feast of the LORD? @@For behold, they are going to Assyria; €@@@Egypt shall gather them, €@@@Memphis shall bury them. €@@Nettles shall possess their precious things of silver; €@@@thorns shall be in their tents. @@The days of punishment have come, €@@@the days of recompense have come; €@@@Israel shall know it. €@@The prophet is a fool, €@@@the man of the spirit is mad, €@@because of your great iniquity €@@@and great hatred. @@The prophet is the watchman of E'phraim, €@@@the people of my God, €@@yet a fowler's snare is on all his ways, €@@@and hatred in the house of his God. @@They have deeply corrupted themselves €@@@as in the days of Gib'e-ah: €@@he will remember their iniquity, €@@@he will punish their sins. @@Like grapes in the wilderness, €@@@I found Israel. €@@Like the first fruit on the fig tree, €@@@in its first season, €@@@I saw your fathers. €@@But they came to Ba'al-pe'or, €@@@and consecrated themselves to Ba'al, €@@@and became detestable like the thing they loved. @@E'phraim's glory shall fly away like a bird --€@@@no birth, no pregnancy, no conception! @@Even if they bring up children, €@@@I will bereave them till none is left. €@@Woe to them €@@@when I depart from them! @@E'phraim's sons, as I have seen, are destined for a prey; €@@@E'phraim must lead forth his sons to slaughter. @@Give them, O LORD --€@@@what wilt thou give? €@@Give them a miscarrying womb €@@@and dry breasts. @@Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal; €@@@there I began to hate them. €@@Because of the wickedness of their deeds €@@@I will drive them out of my house. €@@I will love them no more; €@@@all their princes are rebels. @@E'phraim is stricken, €@@@their root is dried up, €@@@they shall bear no fruit. €@@Even though they bring forth, €@@@I will slay their beloved children. @@My God will cast them off, €@@@because they have not hearkened to him; €@@@they shall be wanderers among the nations.  @Israel is a luxuriant vine €@@@that yields its fruit. €@@The more his fruit increased €@@@the more altars he built; €@@as his country improved €@@@he improved his pillars. @@Their heart is false; €@@@now they must bear their guilt. €@@The LORD will break down their altars, €@@@and destroy their pillars. @@For now they will say: €@@@"We have no king, €@@for we fear not the LORD, €@@@and a king, what could he do for us?" @@They utter mere words; €@@@with empty oaths they make covenants; €@@so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds €@@@in the furrows of the field. @@The inhabitants of Sama'ria tremble žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²ø’ļ‚Čļó’؊•‚@@@for the calf of Beth-a'ven. €@@Its people shall mourn for it, €@@@and its idolatrous priests shall wail over it, €@@@over its glory which has departed from it. @@Yea, the thing itself shall be carried to Assyria, €@@@as tribute to the great king. €@@E'phraim shall be put to shame, €@@@and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol. @@Sama'ria's king shall perish, €@@@like a chip on the face of the waters. @@The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, €@@@shall be destroyed. €@@Thorn and thistle shall grow up €@@@on their altars; €@@and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us, €@@@and to the hills, Fall upon us. @@From the days of Gib'e-ah, you have sinned, O Israel; €@@@there they have continued. €@@@Shall not war overtake them in Gib'e-ah? @@I will come against the wayward people to chastise them; €@@@and nations shall be gathered against them €@@@when they are chastised for their double iniquity. @@E'phraim was a trained heifer €@@@that loved to thresh, €@@@and I spared her fair neck; €@@but I will put E'phraim to the yoke, €@@@Judah must plow, €@@@Jacob must harrow for himself. @@Sow for yourselves righteousness, €@@@reap the fruit of steadfast love; €@@@break up your fallow ground, €@@for it is the time to seek the LORD, €@@@that he may come and rain salvation upon you. @@You have plowed iniquity, €@@@you have reaped injustice, €@@@you have eaten the fruit of lies. €@@Because you have trusted in your chariots €@@@and in the multitude of your warriors, @@therefore the tumult of war shall arise among your people, €@@@and all your fortresses shall be destroyed, €@@as Shalman destroyed Beth-ar'bel on the day of battle; €@@@mothers were dashed in pieces with their children. @@Thus it shall be done to you, O house of Israel, €@@@because of your great wickedness. €@@In the storm the king of Israel €@@@shall be utterly cut off.  @When Israel was a child, I loved him, €@@@and out of Egypt I called my son. @@The more I called them, €@@@the more they went from me; €@@they kept sacrificing to the Ba'als, €@@@and burning incense to idols. @@Yet it was I who taught E'phraim to walk, €@@@I took them up in my arms; €@@@but they did not know that I healed them. @@I led them with cords of compassion, €@@@with the bands of love, €@@and I became to them as one, €@@@who eases the yoke on their jaws, €@@@and I bent down to them and fed them. @@They shall return to the land of Egypt, €@@@and Assyria shall be their king, €@@@because they have refused to return to me. @@The sword shall rage against their cities, €@@@consume the bars of their gates, €@@@and devour them in their fortresses. @@My people are bent on turning away from me; €@@@so they are appointed to the yoke, €@@@and none shall remove it. @@How can I give you up, O E'phraim! €@@@How can I hand you over, O Israel! €@@How can I make you like Admah! €@@@How can I treat you like Zeboi'im! €@@My heart recoils within me, €@@@my compassion grows warm and tender. @@I will not execute my fierce anger, €@@@I will not again destroy E'phraim; €@@for I am God and not man, €@@@the Holy One in your midst, €@@@and I will not come to destroy. @@They shall go after the LORD, €@@@he will roar like a lion; €@@yea, he will roar, €@@@and his sons shall come trembling from the west; @@they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, €@@@and like doves from the land of Assyria; €@@@and I will return them to their homes, says the LORD. @@E'phraim has encompassed me with lies, €@@@and the house of Israel with deceit; €@@but Judah is still known by God, €@@@and is faithful to the Holy One.  @E'phraim herds the wind, €@@@and pursues the east wind all day long; €@@they multiply falsehood and violence; €@@@they make a bargain with Assyria, €@@@and oil is carried to Egypt. @@The LORD has an indictment against Judah, €@@@and will punish Jacob according to his ways, €@@@and requite him according to his deeds. @@In the womb he took his brother by the heel, €@@@and in his manhood he strove with God. @@He strove with the angel and prevailed, €@@@he wept and sought his favor. €@@He met God at Bethel, €@@@and there God spoke with him --@@the LORD the God of hosts, €@@@the LORD is his name: @@"So you, by the help of your God, return, €@@@hold fast to love and justice, €@@@and wait continually for your God." @@A trader, in whose hands are false balances, €@@@he loves to oppress. @@E'phraim has said, "Ah, but I am rich, €@@@I have gained wealth for myself": €@@but all his riches can never offset €@@@the guilt he has incurred. @@I am the LORD your God €@@@from the land of Egypt; €@@I will again make you dwell in tents, €@@@as in the days of the appointed feast. @@I spoke to the prophets; €@@@it was I who multiplied visions, €@@@and through the prophets gave parables. @@If there is iniquity in Gilead €@@@they shall surely come to nought; €@@if in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, €@@@their altars also shall be like stone heaps €@@@on the furrows of the field. @@(Jacob fled to the land of Aram, €@@@there Israel did service for a wife, €@@@and for a wife he herded sheep.) @@By a prophet the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt, €@@@and by a prophet he was preserved. @@E'phraim has given bitter provocation; €@@@so his LORD will leave his bloodguilt upon him, €@@@and will turn back upon him his reproaches.  @When E'phraim spoke, men trembled; €@@@he was exalted in Israel; €@@@but he incurred guilt through Ba'al and died. @@And now they sin more and more, €@@@and make for themselves molten images, €@@idols skilfully made of their silver, €@@@all of them the work of craftsmen. €@@Sacrifice to these, they say. €@@@Men kiss calves! @@Therefore they shall be like the morning mist €@@@or like the dew that goes early away, €@@like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor €@@@or like smoke from a window. @@I am the LORD your God €@@@from the land of Egypt; €@@you know no God but me, €@@@and besides me there is no savior. @@It was I who knew you in the wilderness, €@@@in the land of drought; @@but when they had fed to the full, €@@@they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; €@@@therefore they forgot me. @@So I will be to them like a lion, €@@@like a leopard I will lurk beside the way. @@I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs, €@@@I will tear open their breast, €@@and there I will devour them like a lion, €@@@as a wild beast would rend them. @@I will destroy you, O Israel; €@@@who can help you? @@Where now is your king, to save you; €@@@where are all your princes, to defend you --€@@those of whom you said, €@@@"Give me a king and princes"? @@I have given you kings in my anger, €@@@and I have taken them away in my wrath. @@The iniquity of E'phraim is bound up, €@@@his sin is kept in store. @@The pangs of childbirth come for him, €@@@but he is an unwise son; €@@for now he does not present himself €@@@at the mouth of the womb. @@Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? €@@@Shall I redeem them from Death? €@@O Death, where are your plagues? €@@@O Sheol, where is your destruction? €@@@Compassion is hid from my eyes. @@Though he may flourish as the reed plant, €@@@the east wind, the wind of the LORD, shall come, €@@@rising from the wilderness; €@@and his fountain shall dry up, €@@@his spring shall be parched; €@@it shall strip his treasury €@@@of every precious thing. @@Sama'ria shall bear her guilt, €@@@because she has rebelled against her God; €@@they shall fall by the sword, €@@@their little ones shall be dashed in pieces, €@@@and their pregnant women ripped open.  @Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, €@@@for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. @@Take with you words €@@@and return to the LORD; €@@say to him, €@@@"Take away all iniquity; €@@accept that which is good €@@@and we will render €@@@the fruit of our lips. @@Assyria shall not save us, €@@@we will not ride upon horses; €@@and we will say no more, `Our God,' €@@@to the work of our hands. €@@In thee the orphan finds mercy." @@I will heal their faithlessness; €@@@I will love them freely, €@@@for my anger has turned from them. @@I will be as the dew to Israel; €@@@he shall blossom as the lily, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²ø’ļ‚Čļó’؎•ƒ@@@he shall strike root as the poplar; @@his shoots shall spread out; €@@@his beauty shall be like the olive, €@@@and his fragrance like Lebanon. @@They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow, €@@@they shall flourish as a garden; €@@they shall blossom as the vine, €@@@their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon. @@O E'phraim, what have I to do with idols? €@@@It is I who answer and look after you. €@@I am like an evergreen cypress, €@@@from me comes your fruit. @@Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; €@@@whoever is discerning, let him know them; €@@for the ways of the LORD are right, €@@@and the upright walk in them, €@@@but transgressors stumble in them. ąļ‚Źļåģ’”The word of the LORD that came to Joel, the son of Pethu'el: @@Hear this, you aged men, €@@@give ear, all inhabitants of the land! €@@Has such a thing happened in your days, €@@@or in the days of your fathers? @@Tell your children of it, €@@@and let your children tell their children, €@@@and their children another generation. @@What the cutting locust left, €@@@the swarming locust has eaten. €@@What the swarming locust left, €@@@the hopping locust has eaten, €@@and what the hopping locust left, €@@@the destroying locust has eaten. @@Awake, you drunkards, and weep; €@@@and wail, all you drinkers of wine, €@@because of the sweet wine, €@@@for it is cut off from your mouth. @@For a nation has come up against my land, €@@@powerful and without number; €@@its teeth are lions' teeth, €@@@and it has the fangs of a lioness. @@It has laid waste my vines, €@@@and splintered my fig trees; €@@it has stripped off their bark and thrown it down; €@@@their branches are made white. @@Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth €@@@for the bridegroom of her youth. @@The cereal offering and the drink offering are cut off €@@@from the house of the LORD. €@@The priests mourn, €@@@the ministers of the LORD. @@The fields are laid waste, €@@@the ground mourns; €@@because the grain is destroyed, €@@@the wine fails, €@@@the oil languishes. @@Be confounded, O tillers of the soil, €@@@wail, O vinedressers, €@@for the wheat and the barley; €@@@because the harvest of the field has perished. @@The vine withers, €@@@the fig tree languishes. €@@Pomegranate, palm, and apple, €@@@all the trees of the field are withered; €@@and gladness fails €@@@from the sons of men. @@Gird on sackcloth and lament, O priests, €@@@wail, O ministers of the altar. €@@Go in, pass the night in sackcloth, €@@@O ministers of my God! €@@Because cereal offering and drink offering €@@@are withheld from the house of your God. @@Sanctify a fast, €@@@call a solemn assembly. €@@Gather the elders €@@@and all the inhabitants of the land €@@to the house of the LORD your God; €@@@and cry to the LORD. @@Alas for the day! €@@For the day of the LORD is near, €@@@and as destruction from the Almighty it comes. @@Is not the food cut off €@@@before our eyes, €@@joy and gladness €@@@from the house of our God? @@The seed shrivels under the clods, €@@@the storehouses are desolate; €@@the granaries are ruined €@@@because the grain has failed. @@How the beasts groan! €@@@The herds of cattle are perplexed €@@because there is no pasture for them; €@@@even the flocks of sheep are dismayed. @@Unto thee, O LORD, I cry. €@@For fire has devoured €@@@the pastures of the wilderness, €@@and flame has burned €@@@all the trees of the field. @@Even the wild beasts cry to thee €@@@because the water brooks are dried up, €@@and fire has devoured €@@@the pastures of the wilderness.  @Blow the trumpet in Zion; €@@@sound the alarm on my holy mountain! €@@Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, €@@@for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near, @@a day of darkness and gloom, €@@@a day of clouds and thick darkness! €@@Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains €@@@a great and powerful people; €@@their like has never been from of old, €@@@nor will be again after them €@@@through the years of all generations. @@Fire devours before them, €@@@and behind them a flame burns. €@@The land is like the garden of Eden before them, €@@@but after them a desolate wilderness, €@@@and nothing escapes them. @@Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, €@@@and like war horses they run. @@As with the rumbling of chariots, €@@@they leap on the tops of the mountains, €@@like the crackling of a flame of fire €@@@devouring the stubble, €@@like a powerful army €@@@drawn up for battle. @@Before them peoples are in anguish, €@@@all faces grow pale. @@Like warriors they charge, €@@@like soldiers they scale the wall. €@@They march each on his way, €@@@they do not swerve from their paths. @@They do not jostle one another, €@@@each marches in his path; €@@they burst through the weapons €@@@and are not halted. @@They leap upon the city, €@@@they run upon the walls; €@@they climb up into the houses, €@@@they enter through the windows like a thief. @@The earth quakes before them, €@@@the heavens tremble. €@@The sun and the moon are darkened, €@@@and the stars withdraw their shining. @@The LORD utters his voice €@@@before his army, €@@for his host is exceedingly great; €@@@he that executes his word is powerful. €@@For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; €@@@who can endure it? @@"Yet even now," says the LORD, €@@@"return to me with all your heart, €@@with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; @@@and rend your hearts and not your garments." €@@Return to the LORD, your God, €@@@for he is gracious and merciful, €@@slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, €@@@and repents of evil. @@Who knows whether he will not turn and repent, €@@@and leave a blessing behind him, €@@a cereal offering and a drink offering €@@@for the LORD, your God? @@Blow the trumpet in Zion; €@@@sanctify a fast; €@@call a solemn assembly; @@@gather the people. €@@Sanctify the congregation; €@@@assemble the elders; €@@gather the children, €@@@even nursing infants. €@@Let the bridegroom leave his room, €@@@and the bride her chamber. @@Between the vestibule and the altar €@@@let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep €@@and say, "Spare thy people, O LORD, €@@@and make not thy heritage a reproach, €@@@a byword among the nations. €@@Why should they say among the peoples, €@@@`Where is their God?'" @@Then the LORD became jealous for his land, €@@@and had pity on his people. @@The LORD answered and said to his people, €@@"Behold, I am sending to you €@@@grain, wine, and oil, €@@@and you will be satisfied; €@@and I will no more make you €@@@a reproach among the nations. @@"I will remove the northerner far from you, €@@@and drive him into a parched and desolate land, €@@his front into the eastern sea, €@@@and his rear into the western sea; €@@the stench and foul smell of him will rise, €@@@for he has done great things. @@"Fear not, O land; €@@@be glad and rejoice, €@@@for the LORD has done great things! @@Fear not, you beasts of the field, €@@@for the pastures of the wilderness are green; €@@the tree bears its fruit, €@@@the fig tree and vine give their full yield. @@"Be glad, O sons of Zion, €@@@and rejoice in the LORD, your God; €@@for he has given the early rain for your vindication, €@@@he has poured down for you abundant rain, €@@@the early and the latter rain, as before. @@"The threshing floors shall be full of grain, €@@@the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. @@I will restore to you the years €@@@which the swarming locust has eaten, €@@the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, €@@@my great army, which I sent among you. @@"You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, €@@@and praise the name of the LORD your God, €@@@who has dealt wondrously with you. €@@And my people shall never again be put to shame. @@You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, €@@@and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is none else. €@@And my people shall never again €@@@be put to shame. @@"And it shall come to pass afterward, €@@@that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; €@@your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, €@@@your old men shall dream dreams, €@@@and your young men shall see visions. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°²¹’ļ‚Źļåģ’¢˜@@Even upon the menservants and maidservants €@@@in those days, I will pour out my spirit. @"And I will give portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and €fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the €great and terrible day of the LORD comes. And it shall come to pass that all who call upon the name of the LORD €shall be delivered; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be €those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall €be those whom the LORD calls.  @"For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the €fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of €Jehosh'aphat, and I will enter into judgment with them there, on €account of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have €scattered them among the nations, and have divided up my land, and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a harlot, €and have sold a girl for wine, and have drunk it. @"What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of €Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me €back, I will requite your deed upon your own head swiftly and speedily. For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich €treasures into your temples. You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, removing €them far from their own border. But now I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, €and I will requite your deed upon your own head. I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the sons of €Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabe'ans, to a nation far off; €for the LORD has spoken." @@Proclaim this among the nations: €@@Prepare war, €@@@stir up the mighty men. €@@Let all the men of war draw near, €@@@let them come up. @@Beat your plowshares into swords, €@@@and your pruning hooks into spears; €@@@let the weak say, "I am a warrior." @@Hasten and come, €@@@all you nations round about, €@@@gather yourselves there. €@@Bring down thy warriors, O LORD. @@Let the nations bestir themselves, €@@@and come up to the valley of Jehosh'aphat; €@@for there I will sit to judge €@@@all the nations round about. @@Put in the sickle, €@@@for the harvest is ripe. €@@Go in, tread, €@@@for the wine press is full. €@@The vats overflow, €@@@for their wickedness is great. @@Multitudes, multitudes, €@@@in the valley of decision! €@@For the day of the LORD is near €@@@in the valley of decision. @@The sun and the moon are darkened, €@@@and the stars withdraw their shining. @@And the LORD roars from Zion, €@@@and utters his voice from Jerusalem, €@@@and the heavens and the earth shake. €@@But the LORD is a refuge to his people, €@@@a stronghold to the people of Israel. @@"So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, €@@@who dwell in Zion, my holy mountain. €@@And Jerusalem shall be holy €@@@and strangers shall never again pass through it. @@"And in that day €@@the mountains shall drip sweet wine, €@@@and the hills shall flow with milk, €@@and all the stream beds of Judah €@@@shall flow with water; €@@and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD €@@@and water the valley of Shittim. @@"Egypt shall become a desolation €@@@and Edom a desolate wilderness, €@@for the violence done to the people of Judah, €@@@because they have shed innocent blood in their land. @@But Judah shall be inhabited for ever, €@@@and Jerusalem to all generations. @@I will avenge their blood, and I will not clear the guilty, €@@@@for the LORD dwells in Zion." ļ°³°’ļ‚Įķļó’”The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Teko'a, which he saw €concerning Israel in the days of Uzzi'ah king of Judah and in the days €of Jerobo'am the son of Jo'ash, king of Israel, two years before the €earthquake. And he said: €@@"The LORD roars from Zion, €@@@and utters his voice from Jerusalem; €@@the pastures of the shepherds mourn, €@@@and the top of Carmel withers." @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"For three transgressions of Damascus, €@@@and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; €@@because they have threshed Gilead €@@@with threshing sledges of iron. @@So I will send a fire upon the house of Haz'ael, €@@@and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-ha'dad. @@I will break the bar of Damascus, €@@@and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of Aven, €@@and him that holds the scepter from Beth-eden; €@@@and the people of Syria shall go into exile to Kir," says the LORD. @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"For three transgressions of Gaza, €@@@and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; €@@because they carried into exile a whole people €@@@to deliver them up to Edom. @@So I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza, €@@@and it shall devour her strongholds. @@I will cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod, €@@@and him that holds the scepter from Ash'kelon; €@@I will turn my hand against Ekron; €@@@and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish," says the Lord €@@@@GOD. @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"For three transgressions of Tyre, €@@@and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; €@@because they delivered up a whole people to Edom, €@@@and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood. @@So I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, €@@@and it shall devour her strongholds." @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"For three transgressions of Edom, €@@@and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; €@@because he pursued his brother with the sword, €@@@and cast off all pity, €@@and his anger tore perpetually, €@@@and he kept his wrath for ever. @@So I will send a fire upon Teman, €@@@and it shall devour the strongholds of Bozrah." @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"For three transgressions of the Ammonites, €@@@and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; €@@because they have ripped up women with child in Gilead, €@@@that they might enlarge their border. @@So I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, €@@@and it shall devour her strongholds, €@@with shouting in the day of battle, €@@@with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind; @@and their king shall go into exile, €@@@he and his princes together," says the LORD.  Thus says the LORD: €@@"For three transgressions of Moab, €@@@and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; €@@because he burned to lime €@@@the bones of the king of Edom. @@So I will send a fire upon Moab, €@@@and it shall devour the strongholds of Ker'ioth, €@@and Moab shall die amid uproar, €@@@amid shouting and the sound of the trumpet; @@I will cut off the ruler from its midst, €@@@and will slay all its princes with him," says the LORD. @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"For three transgressions of Judah, €@@@and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; €@@because they have rejected the law of the LORD, €@@@and have not kept his statutes, €@@but their lies have led them astray, €@@@after which their fathers walked. @@So I will send a fire upon Judah, €@@@and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem." @@Thus says the LORD: €@@"For three transgressions of Israel, €@@@and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; €@@because they sell the righteous for silver, €@@@and the needy for a pair of shoes --@@they that trample the head of the poor into the dust of the €earth, €@@@and turn aside the way of the afflicted; €@@a man and his father go in to the same maiden, €@@@so that my holy name is profaned; @@they lay themselves down beside every altar €@@@upon garments taken in pledge; €@@and in the house of their God they drink €@@@the wine of those who have been fined. @@"Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, €@@@whose height was like the height of the cedars, €@@@and who was as strong as the oaks; €@@I destroyed his fruit above, €@@@and his roots beneath. @@Also I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, €@@@and led you forty years in the wilderness, €@@@to possess the land of the Amorite. @@And I raised up some of your sons for prophets, €@@@and some of your young men for Nazirites. €@@@Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?" says the LORD. @@"But you made the Nazirites drink wine, €@@@and commanded the prophets, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°³°’ļ‚Įķļ󒢘Œƒ@@@saying, `You shall not prophesy.' @@"Behold, I will press you down in your place, €@@@as a cart full of sheaves presses down. @@Flight shall perish from the swift, €@@@and the strong shall not retain his strength, €@@@nor shall the mighty save his life; @@he who handles the bow shall not stand, €@@@and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself, €@@@nor shall he who rides the horse save his life; @@and he who is stout of heart among the mighty €@@@shall flee away naked in that day," says the LORD.  @Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of €Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of €Egypt: @@"You only have I known €@@@of all the families of the earth; €@@therefore I will punish you €@@@for all your iniquities. @@"Do two walk together, €@@@unless they have made an appointment? @@Does a lion roar in the forest, €@@@when he has no prey? €@@Does a young lion cry out from his den, €@@@if he has taken nothing? @@Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth, €@@@when there is no trap for it? €@@Does a snare spring up from the ground, €@@@when it has taken nothing? @@Is a trumpet blown in a city, €@@@and the people are not afraid? €@@Does evil befall a city, €@@@unless the LORD has done it? @@Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, €@@@without revealing his secret €@@@to his servants the prophets. @@The lion has roared; €@@@who will not fear? €@@The Lord GOD has spoken; €@@@who can but prophesy?" @@Proclaim to the strongholds in Assyria, €@@@and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt, €@@and say, "Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Sama'ria, €@@@and see the great tumults within her, €@@@and the oppressions in her midst." @@"They do not know how to do right," says the LORD, €@@@"those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds." @@Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: €@@"An adversary shall surround the land, €@@@and bring down your defenses from you, €@@@and your strongholds shall be plundered." @Thus says the LORD: "As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the €lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who €dwell in Sama'ria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a €bed." @@"Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob," €@@@says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, @@"that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions, €@@@I will punish the altars of Bethel, €@@and the horns of the altar shall be cut off €@@@and fall to the ground. @@I will smite the winter house with the summer house; €@@@and the houses of ivory shall perish, €@@and the great houses shall come to an end," says the LORD.  "Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, €@@@who are in the mountain of Sama'ria, €@@who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, €@@@who say to their husbands, `Bring, that we may drink!' @@The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness €@@@that, behold, the days are coming upon you, €@@when they shall take you away with hooks, €@@@even the last of you with fishhooks. @@And you shall go out through the breaches, €@@@every one straight before her; €@@@and you shall be cast forth into Harmon," says the LORD. @@"Come to Bethel, and transgress; €@@@to Gilgal, and multiply transgression; €@@bring your sacrifices every morning, €@@@your tithes every three days; @@offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, €@@@and proclaim freewill offerings, publish them; €@@@for so you love to do, O people of Israel!" says the Lord GOD. @@"I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, €@@@and lack of bread in all your places, €@@yet you did not return to me," says the LORD. @@"And I also withheld the rain from you €@@@when there were yet three months to the harvest; €@@I would send rain upon one city, €@@@and send no rain upon another city; €@@one field would be rained upon, €@@@and the field on which it did not rain withered; @@so two or three cities wandered to one city €@@@to drink water, and were not satisfied; €@@yet you did not return to me," says the LORD. @@"I smote you with blight and mildew; €@@I laid waste your gardens and your vineyards; your fig €@@@trees and your olive trees the locust devoured; €@@@yet you did not return to me," says the LORD. @@"I sent among you a pestilence after the manner of Egypt; €@@@I slew your young men with the sword; €@@I carried away your horses; €@@@and I made the stench of your camp go up into your nostrils; €@@yet you did not return to me," says the LORD. @@"I overthrew some of you, €@@@as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomor'rah, €@@@and you were as a brand plucked out of the burning; €@@yet you did not return to me," says the LORD. @@"Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; €@@@because I will do this to you, €@@@prepare to meet your God, O Israel!" @@For lo, he who forms the mountains, and creates the wind, €@@@and declares to man what is his thought; €@@who makes the morning darkness, €@@@and treads on the heights of the earth --€@@the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name!  @Hear this word which I take up over you in lamentation, O house of €Israel: @@"Fallen, no more to rise, €@@@is the virgin Israel; €@@forsaken on her land, €@@@with none to raise her up." @@For thus says the Lord GOD: €@@"The city that went forth a thousand €@@@shall have a hundred left, €@@and that which went forth a hundred €@@@shall have ten left €@@@to the house of Israel." @@For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: €@@"Seek me and live; @@@but do not seek Bethel, €@@and do not enter into Gilgal €@@@or cross over to Beer-sheba; €@@for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, €@@@and Bethel shall come to nought." @@Seek the LORD and live, €@@@lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, €@@@and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel, @@O you who turn justice to wormwood, €@@@and cast down righteousness to the earth! @@He who made the Plei'ades and Orion, €@@@and turns deep darkness into the morning, €@@@and darkens the day into night, €@@who calls for the waters of the sea, €@@@and pours them out upon the surface of the earth, €@@the LORD is his name, @@who makes destruction flash forth against the strong, €@@@so that destruction comes upon the fortress. @@They hate him who reproves in the gate, €@@@and they abhor him who speaks the truth. @@Therefore because you trample upon the poor €@@@and take from him exactions of wheat, €@@you have built houses of hewn stone, €@@@but you shall not dwell in them; €@@you have planted pleasant vineyards, €@@@but you shall not drink their wine. @@For I know how many are your transgressions, €@@@and how great are your sins --€@@you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, €@@@and turn aside the needy in the gate. @@Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time; €@@@for it is an evil time. @@Seek good, and not evil, €@@@that you may live; €@@and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, €@@@as you have said. @@Hate evil, and love good, €@@@and establish justice in the gate; €@@it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, €@@@will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. @@Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord: €@@"In all the squares there shall be wailing; €@@@and in all the streets they shall say, 'Alas! alas!' €@@They shall call the farmers to mourning €@@@and to wailing those who are skilled in lamentation, @@and in all vineyards there shall be wailing, €@@@for I will pass through the midst of you," says the LORD. @@Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! €@@@Why would you have the day of the LORD? €@@It is darkness, and not light; @@@as if a man fled from a lion, €@@@and a bear met him; €@@@or went into the house €@@and leaned with his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him. @@Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light, €@@@and gloom with no brightness in it? @@"I hate, I despise your feasts, €@@@and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. @@Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and cereal €offerings, €@@@I will not accept them, €@@and the peace offerings of your fatted beasts €@@@I will not look upon. @@Take away from me the noise of your songs; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°³°’ļ‚Įķļ󒄘—‚@@@to the melody of your harps I will not listen. @@But let justice roll down like waters, €@@@and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. @"Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings the forty years in the €wilderness, O house of Israel? You shall take up Sakkuth your king, and Kaiwan your star-god, your €images, which you made for yourselves; therefore I will take you into exile beyond Damascus," says the LORD, €whose name is the God of hosts.  "Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, €@@@and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Sama'ria, €@@the notable men of the first of the nations, €@@@to whom the house of Israel come! @@Pass over to Calneh, and see; €@@@and thence go to Hamath the great; €@@@then go down to Gath of the Philistines. €@@Are they better than these kingdoms? €@@@Or is their territory greater than your territory, @@O you who put far away the evil day, €@@@and bring near the seat of violence? @@"Woe to those who lie upon beds of ivory, €@@@and stretch themselves upon their couches, €@@and eat lambs from the flock, €@@@and calves from the midst of the stall; @@who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, €@@@and like David invent for themselves instruments of music; @@who drink wine in bowls, €@@@and anoint themselves with the finest oils, €@@@but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! @@Therefore they shall now be the first of those to go into €exile, €@@@and the revelry of those who stretch themselves shall pass away." @@The Lord GOD has sworn by himself €@@(says the LORD, the God of hosts): €@@"I abhor the pride of Jacob, €@@@and hate his strongholds; €@@@and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it." @And if ten men remain in one house, they shall die. And when a man's kinsman, he who burns him, shall take him up to bring €the bones out of the house, and shall say to him who is in the €innermost parts of the house, "Is there still any one with you?" he €shall say, "No"; and he shall say, "Hush! We must not mention the name €of the LORD." @@For behold, the LORD commands, €@@@and the great house shall be smitten into fragments, €@@@and the little house into bits. @@Do horses run upon rocks? €@@@Does one plow the sea with oxen? €@@But you have turned justice into poison €@@@and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood --@@you who rejoice in Lo-debar, €@@@who say, "Have we not by our own strength €@@@taken Karnaim for ourselves?" @@"For behold, I will raise up against you a nation, €@@@O house of Israel," says the LORD, the God of hosts; €@@"and they shall oppress you from the entrance of Hamath €@@@to the Brook of the Arabah."  @Thus the Lord GOD showed me: behold, he was forming locusts in the €beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and lo, it was the €latter growth after the king's mowings. When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said, €@@"O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee! €@@@How can Jacob stand? €@@@He is so small!" @@The LORD repented concerning this; €@@@"It shall not be," said the LORD. @Thus the Lord GOD showed me: behold, the Lord GOD was calling for a €judgment by fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the €land. Then I said, €@@"O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee! €@@@How can Jacob stand? €@@@He is so small!" @@The LORD repented concerning this; €@@@"This also shall not be," said the Lord GOD. @He showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with €a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. And the LORD said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" And I €said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, €@@"Behold, I am setting a plumb line €@@@in the midst of my people Israel; €@@@I will never again pass by them; @@the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, €@@@and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, €@@@and I will rise against the house of Jerobo'am with the sword." @Then Amazi'ah the priest of Bethel sent to Jerobo'am king of Israel, €saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of €Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos has said, €@@`Jerobo'am shall die by the sword, €@@@and Israel must go into exile €@@@away from his land.'" And Amazi'ah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, €and eat bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and €it is a temple of the kingdom." @Then Amos answered Amazi'ah, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; €but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, €`Go, prophesy to my people Israel.' @@"Now therefore hear the word of the LORD. €@@You say, `Do not prophesy against Israel, €@@@and do not preach against the house of Isaac.' @@Therefore thus says the LORD: €@@`Your wife shall be a harlot in the city, €@@@and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, €@@@and your land shall be parceled out by line; €@@you yourself shall die in an unclean land, €@@@and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.'"  @Thus the Lord GOD showed me: behold, a basket of summer fruit. And he said, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A basket €of summer fruit." Then the LORD said to me, €@@"The end has come upon my people Israel; €@@@I will never again pass by them. @@The songs of the temple shall become wailings in €that day," says the Lord GOD; €@@"the dead bodies shall be many; €@@@in every place they shall be cast out in silence." @@Hear this, you who trample upon the needy, €@@@and bring the poor of the land to an end, @@saying, "When will the new moon be over, €@@@that we may sell grain? €@@And the sabbath, €@@@that we may offer wheat for sale, €@@that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great, €@@@and deal deceitfully with false balances, @@that we may buy the poor for silver €@@@and the needy for a pair of sandals, €@@@and sell the refuse of the wheat?" @@The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: €@@"Surely I will never forget any of their deeds. @@Shall not the land tremble on this account, €@@@and every one mourn who dwells in it, €@@and all of it rise like the Nile, €@@@and be tossed about and sink again, like the Nile of Egypt?" @@"And on that day," says the Lord GOD, €@@@"I will make the sun go down at noon, €@@@and darken the earth in broad daylight. @@I will turn your feasts into mourning, €@@@and all your songs into lamentation; €@@I will bring sackcloth upon all loins, €@@@and baldness on every head; €@@I will make it like the mourning for an only son, €@@@and the end of it like a bitter day. @@"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, €@@@"when I will send a famine on the land; €@@not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, €@@@but of hearing the words of the LORD. @@They shall wander from sea to sea, €@@@and from north to east; €@@they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the LORD, €@@@but they shall not find it. @@"In that day the fair virgins and the young men €@@@shall faint for thirst. @@Those who swear by Ash'imah of Sama'ria, €@@@and say, `As thy god lives, O Dan,' €@@and, `As the way of Beer-sheba lives,' €@@@they shall fall, and never rise again."  I saw the LORD standing beside the altar, and he €said: €@@"Smite the capitals until the thresholds shake, €@@@and shatter them on the heads of all the people; €@@and what are left of them I will slay with the sword; €@@@not one of them shall flee away, €@@@not one of them shall escape. @@"Though they dig into Sheol, €@@@from there shall my hand take them; €@@though they climb up to heaven, €@@@from there I will bring them down. @@Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, €@@@from there I will search out and take them; €@@and though they hide from my sight at the bottom of the sea, €@@@there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them. @@And though they go into captivity before their enemies, €@@@there I will command the sword, and it shall slay them; €@@and I will set my eyes upon them €@@@for evil and not for good." @@The Lord, GOD of hosts, €@@he who touches the earth and it melts, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°³°’ļ‚Įķļó’؉•ƒ@@@and all who dwell in it mourn, €@@and all of it rises like the Nile, €@@@and sinks again, like the Nile of Egypt; @@who builds his upper chambers in the heavens, €@@@and founds his vault upon the earth; €@@who calls for the waters of the sea, €@@@and pours them out upon the surface of the earth --€@@the LORD is his name. @@"Are you not like the Ethiopians to me, €@@@O people of Israel?" says the LORD. €@@"Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt, €@@@and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Syrians from Kir? @@Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, €@@@and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground; €@@@except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob," says €@@@@the LORD. @@"For lo, I will command, €@@@and shake the house of Israel among all the nations €@@as one shakes with a sieve, €@@@but no pebble shall fall upon the earth. @@All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, €@@@who say, `Evil shall not overtake or meet us.' @@"In that day I will raise up €@@@the booth of David that is fallen €@@and repair its breaches, €@@@and raise up its ruins, €@@@and rebuild it as in the days of old; @@that they may possess the remnant of Edom €@@@and all the nations who are called by my name," €@@@says the LORD who does this. @@"Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, €@@@"when the plowman shall overtake the reaper €@@@and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; €@@the mountains shall drip sweet wine, €@@@and all the hills shall flow with it. @@I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, €@@@and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; €@@they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, €@@@and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. @@I will plant them upon their land, €@@@and they shall never again be plucked up €@@@out of the land which I have given them," says the LORD your God. ąļ‚Ļāįä’‘The vision of Obadi'ah. €@@Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom: €@@We have heard tidings from the LORD, €@@@and a messenger has been sent among the nations: €@@"Rise up! let us rise against her for battle!" @@Behold, I will make you small among the nations, €@@@you shall be utterly despised. @@The pride of your heart has deceived you, €@@@you who live in the clefts of the rock, €@@@whose dwelling is high, €@@who say in your heart, €@@@"Who will bring me down to the ground?" @@Though you soar aloft like the eagle, €@@@though your nest is set among the stars, €@@@thence I will bring you down, says the LORD. @@If thieves came to you, €@@@if plunderers by night --€@@@how you have been destroyed! --€@@@would they not steal only enough for themselves? €@@If grape gatherers came to you, €@@@would they not leave gleanings? @@How Esau has been pillaged, €@@@his treasures sought out! @@All your allies have deceived you, €@@@they have driven you to the border; €@@your confederates have prevailed against you; €@@@your trusted friends have set a trap under you --€@@@there is no understanding of it. @@Will I not on that day, says the LORD, €@@@destroy the wise men out of Edom, €@@@and understanding out of Mount Esau? @@And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman, €@@@so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter. @@For the violence done to your brother Jacob, €@@@shame shall cover you, €@@@and you shall be cut off for ever. @@On the day that you stood aloof, €@@@on the day that strangers carried off his wealth, €@@and foreigners entered his gates €@@@and cast lots for Jerusalem, €@@@you were like one of them. @@But you should not have gloated over the day of your brother €@@@in the day of his misfortune; €@@you should not have rejoiced over the people of Judah €@@@in the day of their ruin; €@@you should not have boasted €@@@in the day of distress. @@You should not have entered the gate of my people €@@@in the day of his calamity; €@@you should not have gloated over his disaster €@@@in the day of his calamity; €@@you should not have looted his goods €@@@in the day of his calamity. @@You should not have stood at the parting of the ways €@@@to cut off his fugitives; €@@you should not have delivered up his survivors €@@@in the day of distress. @@For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. €@@As you have done, it shall be done to you, €@@@your deeds shall return on your own head. @@For as you have drunk upon my holy mountain, €@@@all the nations round about shall drink; €@@they shall drink, and stagger, €@@@and shall be as though they had not been. @@But in Mount Zion there shall be those that escape, €@@@and it shall be holy; €@@and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions. @@The house of Jacob shall be a fire, €@@@and the house of Joseph a flame, €@@@and the house of Esau stubble; €@@they shall burn them and consume them, €@@@and there shall be no survivor to the house of Esau; €for the LORD has spoken. @@Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau, €@@@and those of the Shephe'lah the land of the Philistines; €@@they shall possess the land of E'phraim and the land of Sama'ria €@@@and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. @@The exiles in Halah who are of the people of Israel €@@@shall possess Phoenicia as far as Zar'ephath; €@@and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sephar'ad €@@@shall possess the cities of the Negeb. @@Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion €@@@to rule Mount Esau; €@@@and the kingdom shall be the LORD's. ąļ‚Źļīįč’”Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amit'tai, saying, "Arise, go to Nin'eveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their €wickedness has come up before me." But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He €went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the €fare, and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the €presence of the LORD. @But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty €tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried to his god; and they €threw the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it for €them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had €lain down, and was fast asleep. So the captain came and said to him, "What do you mean, you sleeper? €Arise, call upon your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, €that we do not perish." @And they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may €know on whose account this evil has come upon us." So they cast lots, €and the lot fell upon Jonah. Then they said to him, "Tell us, on whose account this evil has come €upon us? What is your occupation? And whence do you come? What is your €country? And of what people are you?" And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of €heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, "What is this €that you have done!" For the men knew that he was fleeing from the €presence of the LORD, because he had told them. @Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you, that the sea may €quiet down for us?" For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. He said to them, "Take me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea €will quiet down for you; for I know it is because of me that this great €tempest has come upon you." Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring the ship back to land, but €they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. Therefore they cried to the LORD, "We beseech thee, O LORD, let us not €perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood; for thou, €O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee." So they took up Jonah and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased €from its raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice €to the LORD and made vows. @And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah €was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.  @Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying, €@@"I called to the LORD, out of my distress, €@@@and he answered me; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°³²’ļ‚Źļīįč’¢’„@@out of the belly of Sheol I cried, €@@@and thou didst hear my voice. @@For thou didst cast me into the deep, €@@@into the heart of the seas, €@@@and the flood was round about me; €@@all thy waves and thy billows €@@@passed over me. @@Then I said, `I am cast out €@@@from thy presence; €@@how shall I again look €@@@upon thy holy temple?' @@The waters closed in over me, €@@@the deep was round about me; €@@weeds were wrapped about my head @@@at the roots of the mountains. €@@I went down to the land €@@@whose bars closed upon me for ever; €@@yet thou didst bring up my life from the Pit, €@@@O LORD my God. @@When my soul fainted within me, €@@@I remembered the LORD; €@@and my prayer came to thee, €@@@into thy holy temple. @@Those who pay regard to vain idols €@@@forsake their true loyalty. @@But I with the voice of thanksgiving €@@@will sacrifice to thee; €@@what I have vowed I will pay. €@@@Deliverance belongs to the LORD!" And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry €land.  @Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, "Arise, go to Nin'eveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message €that I tell you." So Jonah arose and went to Nin'eveh, according to the word of the LORD. €Now Nin'eveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in €breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he cried, €"Yet forty days, and Nin'eveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nin'eveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and €put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. @Then tidings reached the king of Nin'eveh, and he arose from his €throne, removed his robe, and covered himself with sackcloth, and sat €in ashes. And he made proclamation and published through Nin'eveh, "By the decree €of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, €taste anything; let them not feed, or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them cry €mightily to God; yea, let every one turn from his evil way and from the €violence which is in his hands. Who knows, God may yet repent and turn from his fierce anger, so that €we perish not?" @When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God €repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did €not do it.  @But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the LORD and said, "I pray thee, LORD, is not this €what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to €flee to Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God and merciful, €slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repentest of evil. Therefore now, O LORD, take my life from me, I beseech thee, for it is €better for me to die than to live." And the LORD said, "Do you do well to be angry?" Then Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city, and €made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he €should see what would become of the city. @And the LORD God appointed a plant, and made it come up over Jonah, €that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his €discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm which attacked €the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a sultry east wind, and the sun beat €upon the head of Jonah so that he was faint; and he asked that he might €die, and said, "It is better for me to die than to live." But God said to Jonah, "Do you do well to be angry for the plant?" And €he said, "I do well to be angry, angry enough to die." And the LORD said, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, €nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night, and €perished in a night. And should not I pity Nin'eveh, that great city, in which there are €more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their €right hand from their left, and also much cattle?" ąļ‚Ķéć’”The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Mo'resheth in the days of €Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezeki'ah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning €Sama'ria and Jerusalem. @@Hear, you peoples, all of you; €@@@hearken, O earth, and all that is in it; €@@and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you, €@@@the Lord from his holy temple. @@For behold, the LORD is coming forth out of his place, €@@@and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth. @@And the mountains will melt under him €@@@and the valleys will be cleft, €@@like wax before the fire, €@@@like waters poured down a steep place. @@All this is for the transgression of Jacob €@@@and for the sins of the house of Israel. €@@What is the transgression of Jacob? €@@@Is it not Sama'ria? €@@And what is the sin of the house of Judah? €@@@Is it not Jerusalem? @@Therefore I will make Sama'ria a heap in the open country, €@@@a place for planting vineyards; €@@and I will pour down her stones into the valley, €@@@and uncover her foundations. @@All her images shall be beaten to pieces, €@@@all her hires shall be burned with fire, €@@@and all her idols I will lay waste; €@@for from the hire of a harlot she gathered them, €@@@and to the hire of a harlot they shall return. @@For this I will lament and wail; €@@@I will go stripped and naked; €@@I will make lamentation like the jackals, €@@@and mourning like the ostriches. @@For her wound is incurable; €@@@and it has come to Judah, €@@it has reached to the gate of my people, €@@@to Jerusalem. @@Tell it not in Gath, €@@@weep not at all; €@@in Beth-le-aph'rah €@@@roll yourselves in the dust. @@Pass on your way, €@@@inhabitants of Shaphir, €@@@in nakedness and shame; €@@the inhabitants of Za'anan €@@@do not come forth; €@@the wailing of Beth-e'zel €@@@shall take away from you its standing place. @@For the inhabitants of Maroth €@@@wait anxiously for good, €@@because evil has come down from the LORD €@@@to the gate of Jerusalem. @@Harness the steeds to the chariots, €@@@inhabitants of Lachish; €@@you were the beginning of sin €@@@to the daughter of Zion, €@@for in you were found €@@@the transgressions of Israel. @@Therefore you shall give parting gifts €@@@to Mo'resheth-gath; €@@the houses of Achzib shall be a deceitful thing €@@@to the kings of Israel. @@I will again bring a conqueror upon you, €@@@inhabitants of Mare'shah; €@@the glory of Israel €@@@shall come to Adullam. @@Make yourselves bald and cut off your hair, €@@@for the children of your delight; €@@make yourselves as bald as the eagle, €@@@for they shall go from you into exile.  @Woe to those who devise wickedness €@@@and work evil upon their beds! €@@When the morning dawns, they perform it, €@@@because it is in the power of their hand. @@They covet fields, and seize them; €@@@and houses, and take them away; €@@they oppress a man and his house, €@@@a man and his inheritance. @@Therefore thus says the LORD: €@@Behold, against this family I am devising evil, €@@@from which you cannot remove your necks; €@@and you shall not walk haughtily, €@@@for it will be an evil time. @@In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you, €@@@and wail with bitter lamentation, €@@and say, "We are utterly ruined; €@@@he changes the portion of my people; €@@how he removes it from me! €@@@Among our captors he divides our fields." @@Therefore you will have none to cast the line by lot €@@@in the assembly of the LORD. @@"Do not preach" -- thus they preach --€@@@"one should not preach of such things; €@@@disgrace will not overtake us." @@Should this be said, O house of Jacob? €@@@Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient? €@@@Are these his doings? €@@Do not my words do good €@@@to him who walks uprightly? @@But you rise against my people as an enemy; €@@@you strip the robe from the peaceful, €@@from those who pass by trustingly €@@@with no thought of war. @@The women of my people you drive out €@@@from their pleasant houses; €@@from their young children you take away €@@@my glory for ever. @@Arise and go, €@@@for this is no place to rest; €@@because of uncleanness that destroys €@@@with a grievous destruction. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°³³’ļ‚Ķéć’¢˜‹@@If a man should go about and utter wind and lies, €@@@saying, "I will preach to you of wine and strong drink," €@@@he would be the preacher for this people! @@I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob, €@@@I will gather the remnant of Israel; €@@I will set them together €@@@like sheep in a fold, €@@like a flock in its pasture, €@@@a noisy multitude of men. @@He who opens the breach will go up before them; €@@@they will break through and pass the gate, €@@@going out by it. €@@Their king will pass on before them, €@@@the LORD at their head.  @And I said: €@@Hear, you heads of Jacob €@@@and rulers of the house of Israel! €@@Is it not for you to know justice? --@@@you who hate the good and love the evil, €@@who tear the skin from off my people, €@@@and their flesh from off their bones; @@who eat the flesh of my people, €@@@and flay their skin from off them, €@@and break their bones in pieces, €@@@and chop them up like meat in a kettle, €@@@like flesh in a caldron. @@Then they will cry to the LORD, €@@@but he will not answer them; €@@he will hide his face from them at that time, €@@@because they have made their deeds evil. @@Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets €@@@who lead my people astray, €@@who cry "Peace" €@@@when they have something to eat, €@@but declare war against him €@@@who puts nothing into their mouths. @@Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, €@@@and darkness to you, without divination. €@@The sun shall go down upon the prophets, €@@@and the day shall be black over them; @@the seers shall be disgraced, €@@@and the diviners put to shame; €@@they shall all cover their lips, €@@@for there is no answer from God. @@But as for me, I am filled with power, €@@@with the Spirit of the LORD, €@@@and with justice and might, €@@to declare to Jacob his transgression €@@@and to Israel his sin. @@Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob €@@@and rulers of the house of Israel, €@@who abhor justice €@@@and pervert all equity, @@who build Zion with blood €@@@and Jerusalem with wrong. @@Its heads give judgment for a bribe, €@@@its priests teach for hire, €@@@its prophets divine for money; €@@yet they lean upon the LORD and say, €@@@"Is not the LORD in the midst of us? €@@@No evil shall come upon us." @@Therefore because of you €@@@Zion shall be plowed as a field; €@@Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, €@@@and the mountain of the house a wooded height.  @It shall come to pass in the latter days €@@@that the mountain of the house of the LORD €@@shall be established as the highest of the mountains, €@@@and shall be raised up above the hills; €@@and peoples shall flow to it, @@@and many nations shall come, and say: €@@"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, €@@@to the house of the God of Jacob; €@@that he may teach us his ways €@@@and we may walk in his paths." €@@For out of Zion shall go forth the law, €@@@and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. @@He shall judge between many peoples, €@@@and shall decide for strong nations afar off; €@@and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, €@@@and their spears into pruning hooks; €@@nation shall not lift up sword against nation, €@@@neither shall they learn war any more; @@but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, €@@@and none shall make them afraid; €@@@for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. @@For all the peoples walk €@@@each in the name of its god, €@@but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God €@@@for ever and ever. @@In that day, says the LORD, €@@@I will assemble the lame €@@and gather those who have been driven away, €@@@and those whom I have afflicted; @@and the lame I will make the remnant; €@@@and those who were cast off, a strong nation; €@@and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion €@@@from this time forth and for evermore. @@And you, O tower of the flock, €@@@hill of the daughter of Zion, €@@to you shall it come, €@@@the former dominion shall come, €@@@the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem. @@Now why do you cry aloud? €@@@Is there no king in you? €@@Has your counselor perished, €@@@that pangs have seized you like a woman in travail? @@Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, €@@@like a woman in travail; €@@for now you shall go forth from the city €@@@and dwell in the open country; €@@@you shall go to Babylon. €@@There you shall be rescued, €@@@there the LORD will redeem you €@@@from the hand of your enemies. @@Now many nations €@@@are assembled against you, €@@saying, "Let her be profaned, €@@@and let our eyes gaze upon Zion." @@But they do not know €@@@the thoughts of the LORD, €@@they do not understand his plan, €@@@that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor. @@Arise and thresh, €@@@O daughter of Zion, €@@for I will make your horn iron €@@@and your hoofs bronze; €@@you shall beat in pieces many peoples, €@@@and shall devote their gain to the LORD, €@@@their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.  @Now you are walled about with a wall; €@@@siege is laid against us; €@@with a rod they strike upon the cheek €@@@the ruler of Israel. @@But you, O Bethlehem Eph'rathah, €@@@who are little to be among the clans of Judah, €@@from you shall come forth for me €@@@one who is to be ruler in Israel, €@@whose origin is from of old, €@@@from ancient days. @@Therefore he shall give them up until the time €@@@when she who is in travail has brought forth; €@@then the rest of his brethren shall return €@@@to the people of Israel. @@And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, €@@@in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. €@@And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great €@@@to the ends of the earth. @@And this shall be peace, €@@@when the Assyrian comes into our land €@@@and treads upon our soil, €@@that we will raise against him seven shepherds €@@@and eight princes of men; @@they shall rule the land of Assyria with the sword, €@@@and the land of Nimrod with the drawn sword; €@@and they shall deliver us from the Assyrian €@@@when he comes into our land €@@@and treads within our border. @@Then the remnant of Jacob shall be €@@@in the midst of many peoples €@@like dew from the LORD, €@@@like showers upon the grass, €@@which tarry not for men €@@@nor wait for the sons of men. @@And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, €@@@in the midst of many peoples, €@@like a lion among the beasts of the forest, €@@@like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, €@@which, when it goes through, treads down €@@@and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver. @@Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries, €@@@and all your enemies shall be cut off. @@And in that day, says the LORD, €@@@I will cut off your horses from among you €@@@and will destroy your chariots; @@and I will cut off the cities of your land €@@@and throw down all your strongholds; @@and I will cut off sorceries from your hand, €@@@and you shall have no more soothsayers; @@and I will cut off your images €@@@and your pillars from among you, €@@and you shall bow down no more €@@@to the work of your hands; @@and I will root out your Ashe'rim from among you €@@@and destroy your cities. @@And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance €@@@upon the nations that did not obey.  @Hear what the LORD says: €@@@Arise, plead your case before the mountains, €@@@and let the hills hear your voice. @@Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD, €@@@and you enduring foundations of the earth; €@@for the LORD has a controversy with his people, €@@@and he will contend with Israel. @@"O my people, what have I done to you? €@@@In what have I wearied you? Answer me! @@For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, €@@@and redeemed you from the house of bondage; €@@and I sent before you Moses, €@@@Aaron, and Miriam. @@O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised, €@@@and what Balaam the son of Be'or answered him, €@@and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, €@@@that you may know the saving acts of the LORD." @@"With what shall I come before the LORD, €@@@and bow myself before God on high? €@@Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°³³’ļ‚Ķéć’¦–„@@@with calves a year old? @@Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, €@@@with ten thousands of rivers of oil? €@@Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, €@@@the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" @@He has showed you, O man, what is good; €@@@and what does the LORD require of you €@@but to do justice, and to love kindness, €@@@and to walk humbly with your God? @@The voice of the LORD cries to the city --€@@@and it is sound wisdom to fear thy name: €@@"Hear, O tribe and assembly of the city! @@@Can I forget the treasures of wickedness in the house of the €@@@@wicked, €@@@and the scant measure that is accursed? @@Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales €@@@and with a bag of deceitful weights? @@Your rich men are full of violence; €@@@your inhabitants speak lies, €@@@and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. @@Therefore I have begun to smite you, €@@@making you desolate because of your sins. @@You shall eat, but not be satisfied, €@@@and there shall be hunger in your inward parts; €@@you shall put away, but not save, €@@@and what you save I will give to the sword. @@You shall sow, but not reap; €@@@you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; €@@@you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine. @@For you have kept the statutes of Omri, €@@@and all the works of the house of Ahab; €@@@and you have walked in their counsels; €@@that I may make you a desolation, and your inhabitants a hissing; €@@@so you shall bear the scorn of the peoples."  @Woe is me! For I have become €@@@as when the summer fruit has been gathered, €@@@as when the vintage has been gleaned: €@@there is no cluster to eat, €@@@no first-ripe fig which my soul desires. @@The godly man has perished from the earth, €@@@and there is none upright among men; €@@they all lie in wait for blood, €@@@and each hunts his brother with a net. @@Their hands are upon what is evil, to do it diligently; €@@@the prince and the judge ask for a bribe, €@@and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul; €@@@thus they weave it together. @@The best of them is like a brier, €@@@the most upright of them a thorn hedge. €@@The day of their watchmen, of their punishment, has come; €@@@now their confusion is at hand. @@Put no trust in a neighbor, €@@@have no confidence in a friend; €@@guard the doors of your mouth €@@@from her who lies in your bosom; @@for the son treats the father with contempt, €@@@the daughter rises up against her mother, €@@the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; €@@@a man's enemies are the men of his own house. @@But as for me, I will look to the LORD, €@@@I will wait for the God of my salvation; €@@@my God will hear me. @@Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; €@@@when I fall, I shall rise; €@@when I sit in darkness, €@@@the LORD will be a light to me. @@I will bear the indignation of the LORD €@@@because I have sinned against him, €@@until he pleads my cause €@@@and executes judgment for me. €@@He will bring me forth to the light; €@@@I shall behold his deliverance. @@Then my enemy will see, €@@@and shame will cover her who said to me, €@@@"Where is the LORD your God?" €@@My eyes will gloat over her; €@@@now she will be trodden down €@@@like the mire of the streets. @@A day for the building of your walls! €@@@In that day the boundary shall be far extended. @@In that day they will come to you, €@@@from Assyria to Egypt, €@@and from Egypt to the River, €@@@from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain. @@But the earth will be desolate €@@@because of its inhabitants, €@@@for the fruit of their doings. @@Shepherd thy people with thy staff, €@@@the flock of thy inheritance, €@@who dwell alone in a forest €@@@in the midst of a garden land; €@@let them feed in Bashan and Gilead €@@@as in the days of old. @@As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt €@@@I will show them marvelous things. @@The nations shall see and be ashamed €@@@of all their might; €@@they shall lay their hands on their mouths; €@@@their ears shall be deaf; @@they shall lick the dust like a serpent, €@@@like the crawling things of the earth; €@@they shall come trembling out of their strongholds, €@@@they shall turn in dread to the LORD our God, €@@@and they shall fear because of thee. @@Who is a God like thee, pardoning iniquity €@@@and passing over transgression €@@@for the remnant of his inheritance? €@@He does not retain his anger for ever €@@@because he delights in steadfast love. @@He will again have compassion upon us, €@@@he will tread our iniquities under foot. €@@Thou wilt cast all our sins €@@@into the depths of the sea. @@Thou wilt show faithfulness to Jacob €@@@and steadfast love to Abraham, €@@as thou hast sworn to our fathers €@@@from the days of old. ąļ‚Īįč’”An oracle concerning Nin'eveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of €Elkosh. @@The LORD is a jealous God and avenging, €@@@the LORD is avenging and wrathful; €@@the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries €@@@and keeps wrath for his enemies. @@The LORD is slow to anger and of great might, €@@@and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. €@@His way is in whirlwind and storm, €@@@and the clouds are the dust of his feet. @@He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, €@@@he dries up all the rivers; €@@Bashan and Carmel wither, €@@@the bloom of Lebanon fades. @@The mountains quake before him, €@@@the hills melt; €@@the earth is laid waste before him, €@@@the world and all that dwell therein. @@Who can stand before his indignation? €@@@Who can endure the heat of his anger? €@@His wrath is poured out like fire, €@@@and the rocks are broken asunder by him. @@The LORD is good, €@@@a stronghold in the day of trouble; €@@@he knows those who take refuge in him. @@But with an overflowing flood €@@@he will make a full end of his adversaries, €@@@and will pursue his enemies into darkness. @@What do you plot against the LORD? €@@@He will make a full end; €@@@he will not take vengeance twice on his foes. @@Like entangled thorns they are consumed, €@@@like dry stubble. @@Did one not come out from you, €@@@who plotted evil against the LORD, €@@@and counseled villainy? @@Thus says the LORD, €@@"Though they be strong and many, €@@@they will be cut off and pass away. €@@Though I have afflicted you, €@@@I will afflict you no more. @@And now I will break his yoke from off you €@@@and will burst your bonds asunder." @@The LORD has given commandment about you: €@@@"No more shall your name be perpetuated; €@@from the house of your gods I will cut off €@@@the graven image and the molten image. €@@I will make your grave, for you are vile." @@Behold, on the mountains the feet of him €@@@who brings good tidings, €@@@who proclaims peace! €@@Keep your feasts, O Judah, €@@@fulfil your vows, €@@for never again shall the wicked come against you, €@@@he is utterly cut off.  @The shatterer has come up against you. €@@@Man the ramparts; €@@@watch the road; €@@gird your loins; €@@@collect all your strength. @@(For the LORD is restoring the majesty of Jacob €@@@as the majesty of Israel, €@@for plunderers have stripped them €@@@and ruined their branches.) @@The shield of his mighty men is red, €@@@his soldiers are clothed in scarlet. €@@The chariots flash like flame €@@@when mustered in array; €@@@the chargers prance. @@The chariots rage in the streets, €@@@they rush to and fro through the squares; €@@they gleam like torches, €@@@they dart like lightning. @@The officers are summoned, €@@@they stumble as they go, €@@they hasten to the wall, €@@@the mantelet is set up. @@The river gates are opened, €@@@the palace is in dismay; @@its mistress is stripped, she is carried off, €@@@her maidens lamenting, €@@moaning like doves, €@@@and beating their breasts. @@Nin'eveh is like a pool €@@@whose waters run away. €@@"Halt! Halt!" they cry; €@@@but none turns back. @@Plunder the silver, €@@@plunder the gold! €@@There is no end of treasure, €@@@or wealth of every precious thing. @@Desolate! Desolation and ruin! €@@@Hearts faint and knees tremble, €@@anguish is on all loins, €@@@all faces grow pale! @@Where is the lions' den, €@@@the cave of the young lions, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°³“’ļ‚Īįč’¢˜‹ƒ@@where the lion brought his prey, €@@@where his cubs were, with none to disturb? @@The lion tore enough for his whelps €@@@and strangled prey for his lionesses; €@@he filled his caves with prey €@@@and his dens with torn flesh. @Behold, I am against you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will burn €your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions; I €will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers €shall no more be heard.  @Woe to the bloody city, €@@@all full of lies and booty --€@@@no end to the plunder! @@The crack of whip, and rumble of wheel, €@@@galloping horse and bounding chariot! @@Horsemen charging, €@@@flashing sword and glittering spear, €@@hosts of slain, €@@@heaps of corpses, €@@dead bodies without end --€@@@they stumble over the bodies! @@And all for the countless harlotries of the harlot, €@@@graceful and of deadly charms, €@@who betrays nations with her harlotries, €@@@and peoples with her charms. @@Behold, I am against you, €@@@says the LORD of hosts, €@@@and will lift up your skirts over your face; €@@and I will let nations look on your nakedness €@@@and kingdoms on your shame. @@I will throw filth at you €@@@and treat you with contempt, €@@@and make you a gazingstock. @@And all who look on you will shrink from you and say, €@@Wasted is Nin'eveh; who will bemoan her? €@@@whence shall I seek comforters for her? @@Are you better than Thebes €@@@that sat by the Nile, €@@with water around her, €@@@her rampart a sea, €@@@and water her wall? @@Ethiopia was her strength, €@@@Egypt too, and that without limit; €@@@Put and the Libyans were her helpers. @@Yet she was carried away, €@@@she went into captivity; €@@her little ones were dashed in pieces €@@@at the head of every street; €@@for her honored men lots were cast, €@@@and all her great men were bound in chains. @@You also will be drunken, €@@@you will be dazed; €@@you will seek €@@@a refuge from the enemy. @@All your fortresses are like fig trees €@@@with first-ripe figs --€@@if shaken they fall €@@@into the mouth of the eater. @@Behold, your troops €@@@are women in your midst. €@@The gates of your land €@@@are wide open to your foes; €@@@fire has devoured your bars. @@Draw water for the siege, €@@@strengthen your forts; €@@go into the clay, €@@@tread the mortar, €@@@take hold of the brick mold! @@There will the fire devour you, €@@@the sword will cut you off. €@@@It will devour you like the locust. €@@Multiply yourselves like the locust, €@@@multiply like the grasshopper! @@You increased your merchants €@@@more than the stars of the heavens. €@@@The locust spreads its wings and flies away. @@Your princes are like grasshoppers, €@@@your scribes like clouds of locusts €@@settling on the fences €@@@in a day of cold --€@@when the sun rises, they fly away; €@@@no one knows where they are. @@Your shepherds are asleep, €@@@O king of Assyria; €@@@your nobles slumber. €@@Your people are scattered on the mountains €@@@with none to gather them. @@There is no assuaging your hurt, €@@@your wound is grievous. €@@All who hear the news of you €@@@clap their hands over you. €@@For upon whom has not come €@@@your unceasing evil? ąļ‚Čįā’”The oracle of God which Habak'kuk the prophet saw. @@O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, €@@@and thou wilt not hear? €@@Or cry to thee "Violence!" €@@@and thou wilt not save? @@Why dost thou make me see wrongs €@@@and look upon trouble? €@@Destruction and violence are before me; €@@@strife and contention arise. @@So the law is slacked €@@@and justice never goes forth. €@@For the wicked surround the righteous, €@@@so justice goes forth perverted. @@Look among the nations, and see; €@@@wonder and be astounded. €@@For I am doing a work in your days €@@@that you would not believe if told. @@For lo, I am rousing the Chalde'ans, €@@@that bitter and hasty nation, €@@who march through the breadth of the earth, €@@@to seize habitations not their own. @@Dread and terrible are they; €@@@their justice and dignity proceed from themselves. @@Their horses are swifter than leopards, €@@@more fierce than the evening wolves; €@@@their horsemen press proudly on. €@@Yea, their horsemen come from afar; €@@@they fly like an eagle swift to devour. @@They all come for violence; €@@@terror of them goes before them. €@@@They gather captives like sand. @@At kings they scoff, €@@@and of rulers they make sport. €@@They laugh at every fortress, €@@@for they heap up earth and take it. @@Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, €@@@guilty men, whose own might is their god! @@Art thou not from everlasting, €@@@O LORD my God, my Holy One? €@@@We shall not die. €@@O LORD, thou hast ordained them as a judgment; €@@@and thou, O Rock, hast established them for chastisement. @@Thou who art of purer eyes than to behold evil €@@@and canst not look on wrong, €@@why dost thou look on faithless men, €@@@and art silent when the wicked swallows up €@@@the man more righteous than he? @@For thou makest men like the fish of the sea, €@@@like crawling things that have no ruler. @@He brings all of them up with a hook, €@@@he drags them out with his net, €@@he gathers them in his seine; €@@@so he rejoices and exults. @@Therefore he sacrifices to his net €@@@and burns incense to his seine; €@@for by them he lives in luxury, €@@@and his food is rich. @@Is he then to keep on emptying his net, €@@@and mercilessly slaying nations for ever?  @I will take my stand to watch, €@@@and station myself on the tower, €@@and look forth to see what he will say to me, €@@@and what I will answer concerning my complaint. @@And the LORD answered me: €@@"Write the vision; €@@@make it plain upon tablets, €@@@so he may run who reads it. @@For still the vision awaits its time; €@@@it hastens to the end -- it will not lie. €@@If it seem slow, wait for it; €@@@it will surely come, it will not delay. @@Behold, he whose soul is not upright in him shall fail, €@@@but the righteous shall live by his faith. @@Moreover, wine is treacherous; €@@@the arrogant man shall not abide. €@@His greed is as wide as Sheol; €@@@like death he has never enough. €@@He gathers for himself all nations, €@@@and collects as his own all peoples." @Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, in scoffing €derision of him, and say, €@@"Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own --€@@@for how long? --€@@@and loads himself with pledges!" @@Will not your debtors suddenly arise, €@@@and those awake who will make you tremble? €@@@Then you will be booty for them. @@Because you have plundered many nations, €@@@all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, €@@for the blood of men and violence to the earth, €@@@to cities and all who dwell therein. @@Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, €@@@to set his nest on high, €@@@to be safe from the reach of harm! @@You have devised shame to your house €@@@by cutting off many peoples; €@@@you have forfeited your life. @@For the stone will cry out from the wall, €@@@and the beam from the woodwork respond. @@Woe to him who builds a town with blood, €@@@and founds a city on iniquity! @@Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts €@@@that peoples labor only for fire, €@@@and nations weary themselves for nought? @@For the earth will be filled €@@@with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, €@@@as the waters cover the sea. @@Woe to him who makes his neighbors drink €@@@of the cup of his wrath, and makes them drunk, €@@@to gaze on their shame! @@You will be sated with contempt instead of glory. €@@@Drink, yourself, and stagger! €@@The cup in the LORD's right hand €@@@will come around to you, €@@@and shame will come upon your glory! @@The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you; €@@@the destruction of the beasts will terrify you, €@@for the blood of men and violence to the earth, €@@@to cities and all who dwell therein. @@What profit is an idol €@@@when its maker has shaped it, €@@@a metal image, a teacher of lies? €@@For the workman trusts in his own creation €@@@when he makes dumb idols! @@Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; €@@@to a dumb stone, Arise! €@@@Can this give revelation? žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°³µ’ļ‚Čįā’¢˜“„@@Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, €@@@and there is no breath at all in it. @@But the LORD is in his holy temple; €@@@let all the earth keep silence before him.  @A prayer of Habak'kuk the prophet, according to Shigion'oth. @@O LORD, I have heard the report of thee, €@@@and thy work, O LORD, do I fear. €@@In the midst of the years renew it; €@@@in the midst of the years make it known; €@@@in wrath remember mercy. @@God came from Teman, €@@@and the Holy One from Mount Paran. €@@His glory covered the heavens, €@@@and the earth was full of his praise. €@@@@@Selah @@His brightness was like the light, €@@@rays flashed from his hand; €@@@and there he veiled his power. @@Before him went pestilence, €@@@and plague followed close behind. @@He stood and measured the earth; €@@@he looked and shook the nations; €@@then the eternal mountains were scattered, €@@@the everlasting hills sank low. €@@@His ways were as of old. @@I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; €@@@the curtains of the land of Mid'ian did tremble. @@Was thy wrath against the rivers, O LORD? €@@@Was thy anger against the rivers, €@@@or thy indignation against the sea, €@@when thou didst ride upon thy horses, €@@@upon thy chariot of victory? @@Thou didst strip the sheath from thy bow, €@@@and put the arrows to the string. €@@@@@Selah €@@@Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. @@The mountains saw thee, and writhed; €@@@the raging waters swept on; €@@the deep gave forth its voice, €@@@it lifted its hands on high. @@The sun and moon stood still in their habitation €@@@at the light of thine arrows as they sped, €@@@at the flash of thy glittering spear. @@Thou didst bestride the earth in fury, €@@@thou didst trample the nations in anger. @@Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, €@@@for the salvation of thy anointed. €@@Thou didst crush the head of the wicked, €@@@laying him bare from thigh to neck. €@@@@@Selah @@Thou didst pierce with thy shafts the head of his warriors, €@@@who came like a whirlwind to scatter me, €@@@rejoicing as if to devour the poor in secret. @@Thou didst trample the sea with thy horses, €@@@the surging of mighty waters. @@I hear, and my body trembles, €@@@my lips quiver at the sound; €@@rottenness enters into my bones, €@@@my steps totter beneath me. €@@I will quietly wait for the day of trouble €@@@to come upon people who invade us. @@Though the fig tree do not blossom, €@@@nor fruit be on the vines, €@@the produce of the olive fail €@@@and the fields yield no food, €@@the flock be cut off from the fold €@@@and there be no herd in the stalls, @@yet I will rejoice in the LORD, €@@@I will joy in the God of my salvation. @@GOD, the Lord, is my strength; €@@@he makes my feet like hinds' feet, €@@@he makes me tread upon my high places. €@@To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. ąļ‚Śåšč’”The word of the LORD which came to Zephani'ah the son of Cushi, son of €Gedali'ah, son of Amari'ah, son of Hezeki'ah, in the days of Josi'ah €the son of Amon, king of Judah. @@"I will utterly sweep away everything €@@@from the face of the earth," says the LORD. @@"I will sweep away man and beast; €@@@I will sweep away the birds of the air €@@@and the fish of the sea. €@@I will overthrow the wicked; €@@@I will cut off mankind €@@@from the face of the earth," says the LORD. @@"I will stretch out my hand against Judah, €@@@and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; €@@and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Ba'al €@@@and the name of the idolatrous priests; @@those who bow down on the roofs €@@@to the host of the heavens; €@@those who bow down and swear to the LORD €@@@and yet swear by Milcom; @@those who have turned back from following the LORD, €@@@who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him." @@Be silent before the Lord GOD! €@@@For the day of the LORD is at hand; €@@the LORD has prepared a sacrifice €@@@and consecrated his guests. @@And on the day of the LORD'S sacrifice --€@@"I will punish the officials and the king's sons €@@@and all who array themselves in foreign attire. @@On that day I will punish €@@@every one who leaps over the threshold, €@@and those who fill their master's house €@@@with violence and fraud." @@"On that day," says the LORD, €@@@"a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, €@@a wail from the Second Quarter, €@@@a loud crash from the hills. @@Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar! €@@@For all the traders are no more; €@@@all who weigh out silver are cut off. @@At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, €@@@and I will punish the men €@@who are thickening upon their lees, €@@@those who say in their hearts, €@@`The LORD will not do good, €@@@nor will he do ill.' @@Their goods shall be plundered, €@@@and their houses laid waste. €@@Though they build houses, €@@@they shall not inhabit them; €@@though they plant vineyards, €@@@they shall not drink wine from them." @@The great day of the LORD is near, €@@@near and hastening fast; €@@the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter, €@@@the mighty man cries aloud there. @@A day of wrath is that day, €@@@a day of distress and anguish, €@@a day of ruin and devastation, €@@@a day of darkness and gloom, €@@a day of clouds and thick darkness, @@@a day of trumpet blast and battle cry €@@against the fortified cities €@@@and against the lofty battlements. @@I will bring distress on men, €@@@so that they shall walk like the blind, €@@@because they have sinned against the LORD; €@@their blood shall be poured out like dust, €@@@and their flesh like dung. @@Neither their silver nor their gold €@@@shall be able to deliver them €@@@on the day of the wrath of the LORD. €@@In the fire of his jealous wrath, €@@@all the earth shall be consumed; €@@for a full, yea, sudden end €@@@he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.  @Come together and hold assembly, €@@@O shameless nation, @@before you are driven away €@@@like the drifting chaff, €@@before there comes upon you €@@@the fierce anger of the LORD, €@@before there comes upon you €@@@the day of the wrath of the LORD. @@Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, €@@@who do his commands; €@@seek righteousness, seek humility; €@@@perhaps you may be hidden €@@@on the day of the wrath of the LORD. @@For Gaza shall be deserted, €@@@and Ash'kelon shall become a desolation; €@@Ashdod's people shall be driven out at noon, €@@@and Ekron shall be uprooted. @@Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast, €@@@you nation of the Cher'ethites! €@@The word of the LORD is against you, €@@@O Canaan, land of the Philistines; €@@@and I will destroy you till no inhabitant is left. @@And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures, €@@@meadows for shepherds €@@@and folds for flocks. @@The seacoast shall become the possession €@@@of the remnant of the house of Judah, €@@@on which they shall pasture, €@@and in the houses of Ash'kelon €@@@they shall lie down at evening. €@@For the LORD their God will be mindful of them €@@@and restore their fortunes. @@"I have heard the taunts of Moab €@@@and the revilings of the Ammonites, €@@how they have taunted my people €@@@and made boasts against their territory. @@Therefore, as I live," says the LORD of hosts, €@@@the God of Israel, €@@"Moab shall become like Sodom, €@@@and the Ammonites like Gomor'rah, €@@a land possessed by nettles and salt pits, €@@@and a waste for ever. €@@The remnant of my people shall plunder them, €@@@and the survivors of my nation shall possess them." @@This shall be their lot in return for their pride, €@@@because they scoffed and boasted €@@@against the people of the LORD of hosts. @@The LORD will be terrible against them; €@@@yea, he will famish all the gods of the earth, €@@and to him shall bow down, €@@@each in its place, €@@@all the lands of the nations. @@You also, O Ethiopians, €@@@shall be slain by my sword. @@And he will stretch out his hand against the north, €@@@and destroy Assyria; €@@and he will make Nin'eveh a desolation, €@@@a dry waste like the desert. @@Herds shall lie down in the midst of her, €@@@all the beasts of the field; €@@the vulture and the hedgehog €@@@shall lodge in her capitals; €@@the owl shall hoot in the window, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°³¶’ļ‚Śåšč’¢˜Ž†@@@the raven croak on the threshold; €@@@for her cedar work will be laid bare. @@This is the exultant city €@@@that dwelt secure, €@@that said to herself, €@@@"I am and there is none else." €@@What a desolation she has become, €@@@a lair for wild beasts! €@@Every one who passes by her €@@@hisses and shakes his fist.  @Woe to her that is rebellious and defiled, €@@@the oppressing city! @@She listens to no voice, €@@@she accepts no correction. €@@She does not trust in the LORD, €@@@she does not draw near to her God. @@Her officials within her €@@@are roaring lions; €@@her judges are evening wolves €@@@that leave nothing till the morning. @@Her prophets are wanton, €@@@faithless men; €@@her priests profane what is sacred, €@@@they do violence to the law. @@The LORD within her is righteous, €@@@he does no wrong; €@@every morning he shows forth his justice, €@@@each dawn he does not fail; €@@@but the unjust knows no shame. @@"I have cut off nations; €@@@their battlements are in ruins; €@@I have laid waste their streets €@@@so that none walks in them; €@@their cities have been made desolate, €@@@without a man, without an inhabitant. @@I said, `Surely she will fear me, €@@@she will accept correction; €@@she will not lose sight €@@@of all that I have enjoined upon her.' €@@But all the more they were eager €@@@to make all their deeds corrupt." @@"Therefore wait for me," says the LORD, €@@@"for the day when I arise as a witness. €@@For my decision is to gather nations, €@@@to assemble kingdoms, €@@to pour out upon them my indignation, €@@@all the heat of my anger; €@@for in the fire of my jealous wrath €@@@all the earth shall be consumed. @@"Yea, at that time I will change the speech of the peoples €@@@to a pure speech, €@@that all of them may call on the name of the LORD €@@@and serve him with one accord. @@From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia €@@@my suppliants, the daughter of my dispersed ones, €@@@shall bring my offering. @@"On that day you shall not be put to shame €@@@because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; €@@for then I will remove from your midst €@@@your proudly exultant ones, €@@and you shall no longer be haughty €@@@in my holy mountain. @@For I will leave in the midst of you €@@@a people humble and lowly. €@@They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD, @@@those who are left in Israel; €@@they shall do no wrong €@@@and utter no lies, €@@nor shall there be found in their mouth €@@@a deceitful tongue. €@@For they shall pasture and lie down, €@@@and none shall make them afraid." @@Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; €@@@shout, O Israel! €@@Rejoice and exult with all your heart, €@@@O daughter of Jerusalem! @@The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, €@@@he has cast out your enemies. €@@The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; €@@@you shall fear evil no more. @@On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: €@@"Do not fear, O Zion; €@@@let not your hands grow weak. @@The LORD, your God, is in your midst, €@@@a warrior who gives victory; €@@he will rejoice over you with gladness, €@@@he will renew you in his love; €@@he will exult over you with loud singing @@@as on a day of festival. €@@"I will remove disaster from you, €@@@so that you will not bear reproach for it. @@Behold, at that time I will deal €@@@with all your oppressors. €@@And I will save the lame €@@@and gather the outcast, €@@and I will change their shame into praise €@@@and renown in all the earth. @@At that time I will bring you home, €@@@at the time when I gather you together; €@@yea, I will make you renowned and praised €@@@among all the peoples of the earth, €@@when I restore your fortunes €@@@before your eyes," says the LORD. ąļ‚Čįē’”In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first €day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to €Zerub'babel the son of She-al'ti-el, governor of Judah, and to Joshua €the son of Jehoz'adak, the high priest, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: This people say the time has not yet come €to rebuild the house of the LORD." Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, "Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while €this house lies in ruins? Now therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider how you have fared. You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have €enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, €but no one is warm; and he who earns wages earns wages to put them into €a bag with holes. @"Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider how you have fared. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take €pleasure in it and that I may appear in my glory, says the LORD. You have looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when you €brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the LORD of hosts. Because €of my house that lies in ruins, while you busy yourselves each with his €own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth €has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought upon the land and the hills, upon the €grain, the new wine, the oil, upon what the ground brings forth, upon €men and cattle, and upon all their labors." @Then Zerub'babel the son of She-al'ti-el, and Joshua the son of €Jehoz'adak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed €the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, €as the LORD their God had sent him; and the people feared before the €LORD. Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the €LORD's message, "I am with you, says the LORD." And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerub'babel the son of €She-al'ti-el, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of €Jehoz'adak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the €people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, €their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month. €@In the second year of Darius the king,  in the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of €the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, "Speak now to Zerub'babel the son of She-al'ti-el, governor of Judah, €and to Joshua the son of Jehoz'adak, the high priest, and to all the €remnant of the people, and say, `Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How do €you see it now? Is it not in your sight as nothing? Yet now take courage, O Zerub'babel, says the LORD; take courage, O €Joshua, son of Jehoz'adak, the high priest; take courage, all you €people of the land, says the LORD; work, for I am with you, says the €LORD of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My €Spirit abides among you; fear not. For thus says the LORD of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will €shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations €shall come in, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the LORD €of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts. The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, €says the LORD of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says €the LORD of hosts.'" @On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of €Darius, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Ask the priests to decide this question, `If one carries holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and touches €with his skirt bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any kind of food, €does it become holy?'" The priests answered, "No." Then said Haggai, "If one who is unclean by contact with a dead body €touches any of these, does it become unclean?" The priests answered, €"It does become unclean." Then Haggai said, "So is it with this people, and with this nation €before me, says the LORD; and so with every work of their hands; and €what they offer there is unclean. Pray now, consider what will come to pass from this day onward. Before €a stone was placed upon a stone in the temple of the LORD, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°³·’ļ‚Čįē’¢˜how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there €were but ten; when one came to the winevat to draw fifty measures, €there were but twenty. I smote you and all the products of your toil with blight and mildew €and hail; yet you did not return to me, says the LORD. Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth €month. Since the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, €consider: Is the seed yet in the barn? Do the vine, the fig tree, the €pomegranate, and the olive tree still yield nothing? From this day on I €will bless you." @The word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the €twenty-fourth day of the month, "Speak to Zerub'babel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake €the heavens and the earth, and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I am about to destroy the €strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and €their riders; and the horses and their riders shall go down, every one €by the sword of his fellow. On that day, says the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerub'babel €my servant, the son of She-al'ti-el, says the LORD, and make you like a €signet ring; for I have chosen you, says the LORD of hosts." ąļ‚Śåćč’”In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD €came to Zechari'ah the son of Berechi'ah, son of Iddo, the prophet, €saying, "The LORD was very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, Thus says the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says €the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. Be not like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, `Thus €says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil €deeds.' But they did not hear or heed me, says the LORD. Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live for ever? But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the €prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? So they repented and €said, As the LORD of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and €deeds, so has he dealt with us." @On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month which is the month of €Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to €Zechari'ah the son of Berechi'ah, son of Iddo, the prophet; and €Zechari'ah said, "I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding upon a red horse! He was €standing among the myrtle trees in the glen; and behind him were red, €sorrel, and white horses. Then I said, `What are these, my lord?' The angel who talked with me €said to me, `I will show you what they are.' So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, `These are €they whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.' And they answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the €myrtle trees, `We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth €remains at rest.' Then the angel of the LORD said, `O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou €have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which thou €hast had indignation these seventy years?' And the LORD answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who €talked with me. So the angel who talked with me said to me, `Cry out, Thus says the €LORD of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. And I am very angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was €angry but a little they furthered the disaster. Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with €compassion; my house shall be built in it, says the LORD of hosts, and €the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. Cry again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow €with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose €Jerusalem.'" @And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four horns! And I said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these?" And he €answered me, "These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, €and Jerusalem." Then the LORD showed me four smiths. And I said, "What are these coming to do?" He answered, "These are the €horns which scattered Judah, so that no man raised his head; and these €have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations who €lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it."  @And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line €in his hand! Then I said, "Where are you going?" And he said to me, "To measure €Jerusalem, to see what is its breadth and what is its length." And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another €angel came forward to meet him, and said to him, "Run, say to that young man, `Jerusalem shall be €inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of men €and cattle in it. For I will be to her a wall of fire round about, says the LORD, and I €will be the glory within her.'" @Ho! ho! Flee from the land of the north, says the LORD; for I have €spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, says the LORD. Ho! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations €who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: "Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder €for those who served them. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts €has sent me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for lo, I come and I will dwell €in the midst of you, says the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and €shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall €know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and €will again choose Jerusalem." @Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD; for he has roused himself from €his holy dwelling.  @Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of €the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who €has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the €fire?" Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, "Remove the €filthy garments from him." And to him he said, "Behold, I have taken €your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with rich apparel." And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a €clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments; and the angel €of the LORD was standing by. @And the angel of the LORD enjoined Joshua, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my €charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and €I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before €you, for they are men of good omen: behold, I will bring my servant the €Branch. For behold, upon the stone which I have set before Joshua, upon a €single stone with seven facets, I will engrave its inscription, says €the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the guilt of this land in a single €day. In that day, says the LORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his €neighbor under his vine and under his fig tree."  @And the angel who talked with me came again, and waked me, like a man €that is wakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, "What do you see?" I said, "I see, and behold, a €lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on €it, with seven lips on each of the lamps which are on the top of it. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and €the other on its left." And I said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?" Then the angel who talked with me answered me, "Do you not know what €these are?" I said, "No, my lord." Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerub'babel: Not €by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerub'babel you shall become a žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°³ø’ļ‚Śåćč’¤—‚plain; and he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of `Grace, €grace to it!'" Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "The hands of Zerub'babel have laid the foundation of this house; his €hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts €has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and €shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerub'babel. €@"These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole €earth." Then I said to him, "What are these two olive trees on the right and €the left of the lampstand?" And a second time I said to him, "What are these two branches of the €olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the oil €is poured out?" He said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." Then he said, "These are the two anointed who stand by the Lord of the €whole earth."  @Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll! And he said to me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a flying €scroll; its length is twenty cubits, and its breadth ten cubits." Then he said to me, "This is the curse that goes out over the face of €the whole land; for every one who steals shall be cut off henceforth €according to it, and every one who swears falsely shall be cut off €henceforth according to it. I will send it forth, says the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter the €house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name; €and it shall abide in his house and consume it, both timber and stones." @Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, "Lift €your eyes, and see what this is that goes forth." And I said, "What is it?" He said, "This is the ephah that goes forth." €And he said, "This is their iniquity in all the land." And behold, the leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting €in the ephah! And he said, "This is Wickedness." And he thrust her back into the €ephah, and thrust down the leaden weight upon its mouth. Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, two women coming forward! €The wind was in their wings; they had wings like the wings of a stork, €and they lifted up the ephah between earth and heaven. Then I said to the angel who talked with me, "Where are they taking the €ephah?" He said to me, "To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it; and €when this is prepared, they will set the ephah down there on its base."  @And again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came €out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of €bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled gray horses. Then I said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?" And the angel answered me, "These are going forth to the four winds of €heaven, after presenting themselves before the LORD of all the earth. The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the €white ones go toward the west country, and the dappled ones go toward €the south country." When the steeds came out, they were impatient to get off and patrol the €earth. And he said, "Go, patrol the earth." So they patrolled the earth. Then he cried to me, "Behold, those who go toward the north country €have set my Spirit at rest in the north country." @And the word of the LORD came to me: "Take from the exiles Heldai, Tobi'jah, and Jedai'ah, who have arrived €from Babylon; and go the same day to the house of Josi'ah, the son of €Zephani'ah. Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it upon the €head of Joshua, the son of Jehoz'adak, the high priest; and say to him, `Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, the man whose €name is the Branch: for he shall grow up in his place, and he shall €build the temple of the LORD. It is he who shall build the temple of the LORD, and shall bear royal €honor, and shall sit and rule upon his throne. And there shall be a €priest by his throne, and peaceful understanding shall be between them €both."' And the crown shall be in the temple of the LORD as a reminder to €Heldai, Tobi'jah, Jedai'ah, and Josi'ah the son of Zephani'ah. @"And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of €the LORD; and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. €And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of €the LORD your God."  @In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to €Zechari'ah in the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev. Now the people of Bethel had sent Share'zer and Reg'em-mel'ech and €their men, to entreat the favor of the LORD, and to ask the priests of the house of the LORD of hosts and the €prophets, "Should I mourn and fast in the fifth month, as I have done €for so many years?" Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me; "Say to all the people of the land and the priests, When you fasted and €mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, €was it for me that you fasted? And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and €drink for yourselves? When Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, with her cities round €about her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited, were not these €the words which the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets?" @And the word of the LORD came to Zechari'ah, saying, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and €mercy each to his brother, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor; €and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart." But they refused to hearken, and turned a stubborn shoulder, and €stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts like adamant lest they should hear the law and €the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the €former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. "As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not €hear," says the LORD of hosts, "and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they €had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one €went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate."  @And the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great €jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. Thus says the LORD: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst €of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the €mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain. Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in €the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in €its streets. Thus says the LORD of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the €remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvelous in my €sight, says the LORD of hosts? Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the €east country and from the west country; and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they €shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in €righteousness." @Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Let your hands be strong, you who in €these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the €prophets, since the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of €hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, €neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came €in; for I set every man against his fellow. But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the €former days, says the LORD of hosts. For there shall be a sowing of peace; the vine shall yield its fruit, €and the ground shall give its increase, and the heavens shall give €their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all €these things. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°³ø’ļ‚Śåćč’؈˜And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of €Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you and you shall be a €blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong." @For thus says the LORD of hosts: "As I purposed to do evil to you, €when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the €LORD of hosts, so again have I purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to €the house of Judah; fear not. These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, €render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace, do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no €false oath, for all these things I hate, says the LORD." @And the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and the €fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the €tenth, shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness, and €cheerful feasts; therefore love truth and peace. @"Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the €inhabitants of many cities; the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, `Let us go at €once to entreat the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I €am going.' Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in €Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of €every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, `Let us go €with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"  @An Oracle €@@The word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach €@@@and will rest upon Damascus. €@@For to the LORD belong the cities of Aram, €@@@even as all the tribes of Israel; @@Hamath also, which borders thereon, €@@@Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise. @@Tyre has built herself a rampart, €@@@and heaped up silver like dust, €@@@and gold like the dirt of the streets. @@But lo, the Lord will strip her of her possessions €@@@and hurl her wealth into the sea, €@@@and she shall be devoured by fire. @@Ash'kelon shall see it, and be afraid; €@@@Gaza too, and shall writhe in anguish; €@@@Ekron also, because its hopes are confounded. €@@The king shall perish from Gaza; €@@@Ash'kelon shall be uninhabited; @@a mongrel people shall dwell in Ashdod; €@@@and I will make an end of the pride of Philistia. @@I will take away its blood from its mouth, €@@@and its abominations from between its teeth; €@@it too shall be a remnant for our God; €@@@it shall be like a clan in Judah, €@@@and Ekron shall be like the Jeb'usites. @@Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, €@@@so that none shall march to and fro; €@@no oppressor shall again overrun them, €@@@for now I see with my own eyes. @@Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! €@@@Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! €@@Lo, your king comes to you; €@@@triumphant and victorious is he, €@@humble and riding on an ass, €@@@on a colt the foal of an ass. @@I will cut off the chariot from E'phraim €@@@and the war horse from Jerusalem; €@@and the battle bow shall be cut off, €@@@and he shall command peace to the nations; €@@his dominion shall be from sea to sea, €@@@and from the River to the ends of the earth. @@As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, €@@@I will set your captives free from the waterless pit. @@Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; €@@@today I declare that I will restore to you double. @@For I have bent Judah as my bow; €@@@I have made E'phraim its arrow. €@@I will brandish your sons, O Zion, €@@@over your sons, O Greece, €@@@and wield you like a warrior's sword. @@Then the LORD will appear over them, €@@@and his arrow go forth like lightning; €@@the Lord GOD will sound the trumpet, €@@@and march forth in the whirlwinds of the south. @@The LORD of hosts will protect them, €@@@and they shall devour and tread down the slingers; €@@and they shall drink their blood like wine, €@@@and be full like a bowl, €@@@drenched like the corners of the altar. @@On that day the LORD their God will save them €@@@for they are the flock of his people; €@@for like the jewels of a crown €@@@they shall shine on his land. @@Yea, how good and how fair it shall be! €@@@Grain shall make the young men flourish, €@@@and new wine the maidens.  @Ask rain from the LORD €@@@in the season of the spring rain, €@@from the LORD who makes the storm clouds, €@@@who gives men showers of rain, €@@@to every one the vegetation in the field. @@For the teraphim utter nonsense, €@@@and the diviners see lies; €@@the dreamers tell false dreams, €@@@and give empty consolation. €@@Therefore the people wander like sheep; €@@@they are afflicted for want of a shepherd. @@"My anger is hot against the shepherds, €@@@and I will punish the leaders; €@@for the LORD of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah, €@@@and will make them like his proud steed in battle. @@Out of them shall come the cornerstone, €@@@out of them the tent peg, €@@out of them the battle bow, €@@@out of them every ruler. @@Together they shall be like mighty men in battle, €@@@trampling the foe in the mud of the streets; €@@they shall fight because the LORD is with them, €@@@and they shall confound the riders on horses. @@"I will strengthen the house of Judah, €@@@and I will save the house of Joseph. €@@I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, €@@@and they shall be as though I had not rejected them; €@@@for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them. @@Then E'phraim shall become like a mighty warrior, €@@@and their hearts shall be glad as with wine. €@@Their children shall see it and rejoice, €@@@their hearts shall exult in the LORD. @@"I will signal for them and gather them in, €@@@for I have redeemed them, €@@@and they shall be as many as of old. @@Though I scattered them among the nations, €@@@yet in far countries they shall remember me, €@@@and with their children they shall live and return. @@I will bring them home from the land of Egypt, €@@@and gather them from Assyria; €@@and I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon, €@@@till there is no room for them. @@They shall pass through the sea of Egypt, €@@@and the waves of the sea shall be smitten, €@@@and all the depths of the Nile dried up. €@@The pride of Assyria shall be laid low, €@@@and the scepter of Egypt shall depart. @@I will make them strong in the LORD €@@@and they shall glory in his name," says the LORD.  @Open your doors, O Lebanon, €@@@that the fire may devour your cedars! @@Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, €@@@for the glorious trees are ruined! €@@Wail, oaks of Bashan, €@@@for the thick forest has been felled! @@Hark, the wail of the shepherds, €@@@for their glory is despoiled! €@@Hark, the roar of the lions, €@@@for the jungle of the Jordan is laid waste! @Thus said the LORD my God: "Become shepherd of the flock doomed to €slaughter. Those who buy them slay them and go unpunished; and those who sell them €say, `Blessed be the LORD, I have become rich'; and their own shepherds €have no pity on them. For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of this land, says €the LORD. Lo, I will cause men to fall each into the hand of his €shepherd, and each into the hand of his king; and they shall crush the €earth, and I will deliver none from their hand." @So I became the shepherd of the flock doomed to be slain for those €who trafficked in the sheep. And I took two staffs; one I named Grace, €the other I named Union. And I tended the sheep. In one month I destroyed the three shepherds. But I became impatient €with them, and they also detested me. So I said, "I will not be your shepherd. What is to die, let it die; €what is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed; and let those that are €left devour the flesh of one another." And I took my staff Grace, and I broke it, annulling the covenant which €I had made with all the peoples. So it was annulled on that day, and the traffickers in the sheep, who €were watching me, knew that it was the word of the LORD. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°³ø’ļ‚Śåćč’؋˜ŒThen I said to them, "If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but €if not, keep them." And they weighed out as my wages thirty shekels of €silver. Then the LORD said to me, "Cast it into the treasury" -- the lordly price €at which I was paid off by them. So I took the thirty shekels of silver €and cast them into the treasury in the house of the LORD. Then I broke my second staff Union, annulling the brotherhood between €Judah and Israel. @Then the LORD said to me, "Take once more the implements of a €worthless shepherd. For lo, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for €the perishing, or seek the wandering, or heal the maimed, or nourish €the sound, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even €their hoofs. @@Woe to my worthless shepherd, €@@@who deserts the flock! €@@May the sword smite his arm €@@@and his right eye! €@@Let his arm be wholly withered, €@@@his right eye utterly blinded!"  @An Oracle €@The word of the LORD concerning Israel: Thus says the LORD, who €stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit €of man within him: "Lo, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the peoples €round about; it will be against Judah also in the siege against €Jerusalem. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; €all who lift it shall grievously hurt themselves. And all the nations €of the earth will come together against it. On that day, says the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and €its rider with madness. But upon the house of Judah I will open my €eyes, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, `The inhabitants of €Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God.' @"On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot in the €midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they shall €devour to the right and to the left all the peoples round about, while €Jerusalem shall still be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem. @"And the LORD will give victory to the tents of Judah first, that the €glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of €Jerusalem may not be exalted over that of Judah. On that day the LORD will put a shield about the inhabitants of €Jerusalem so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like €David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the €LORD, at their head. And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come €against Jerusalem. @"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of €Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they €look on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one €mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over €a first-born. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning €for Hadadrim'mon in the plain of Megid'do. The land shall mourn, each family by itself; the family of the house of €David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house €of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by €themselves; the family of the Shim'e-ites by itself, and their wives by €themselves; and all the families that are left, each by itself, and their wives by €themselves.  @"On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David €and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and €uncleanness. @"And on that day, says the LORD of hosts, I will cut off the names of €the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more; and €also I will remove from the land the prophets and the unclean spirit. And if any one again appears as a prophet, his father and mother who €bore him will say to him, `You shall not live, for you speak lies in €the name of the LORD'; and his father and mother who bore him shall €pierce him through when he prophesies. On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he €prophesies; he will not put on a hairy mantle in order to deceive, but he will say, `I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the soil; for the €land has been my possession since my youth.' And if one asks him, `What are these wounds on your back?' he will say, €`The wounds I received in the house of my friends.'" @@"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, €@@@against the man who stands next to me," says the LORD of hosts. €@@"Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered; €@@@I will turn my hand against the little ones. @@In the whole land, says the LORD, €@@@two thirds shall be cut off and perish, €@@@and one third shall be left alive. @@And I will put this third into the fire, €@@@and refine them as one refines silver, €@@@and test them as gold is tested. €@@They will call on my name, €@@@and I will answer them. €@@I will say, `They are my people'; €@@@and they will say, `The LORD is my God.'"  @Behold, a day of the LORD is coming, when the spoil taken from you €will be divided in the midst of you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the €city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women ravished; €half of the city shall go into exile, but the rest of the people shall €not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations as when he €fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives which lies €before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be split in €two from east to west by a very wide valley; so that one half of the €Mount shall withdraw northward, and the other half southward. And the valley of my mountains shall be stopped up, for the valley of €the mountains shall touch the side of it; and you shall flee as you €fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzzi'ah king of Judah. Then the €LORD your God will come, and all the holy ones with him. @On that day there shall be neither cold nor frost. And there shall be continuous day (it is known to the LORD), not day €and not night, for at evening time there shall be light. @On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them €to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea; it shall €continue in summer as in winter. @And the LORD will become king over all the earth; on that day the €LORD will be one and his name one. @The whole land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south €of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem shall remain aloft upon its site from the €Gate of Benjamin to the place of the former gate, to the Corner Gate, €and from the Tower of Han'anel to the king's wine presses. And it shall be inhabited, for there shall be no more curse; Jerusalem €shall dwell in security. @And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will smite all the €peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh shall rot while €they are still on their feet, their eyes shall rot in their sockets, €and their tongues shall rot in their mouths. And on that day a great panic from the LORD shall fall on them, so that €each will lay hold on the hand of his fellow, and the hand of the one €will be raised against the hand of the other; even Judah will fight against Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the €nations round about shall be collected, gold, silver, and garments in €great abundance. And a plague like this plague shall fall on the horses, the mules, the €camels, the asses, and whatever beasts may be in those camps. @Then every one that survives of all the nations that have come €against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the €LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of booths. And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to €worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain upon them. And if the family of Egypt do not go up and present themselves, then €upon them shall come the plague with which the LORD afflicts the €nations that do not go up to keep the feast of booths. This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°³ø’ļ‚Śåćč’؎˜“‚nations that do not go up to keep the feast of booths. @And on that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses, €"Holy to the LORD." And the pots in the house of the LORD shall be as €the bowls before the altar; and every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be sacred to the LORD of €hosts, so that all who sacrifice may come and take of them and boil the €flesh of the sacrifice in them. And there shall no longer be a trader €in the house of the LORD of hosts on that day. ąļ‚Ķįģ’”The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Mal'achi. @"I have loved you," says the LORD. But you say, "How hast thou loved €us?" "Is not Esau Jacob's brother?" says the LORD. "Yet I have loved €Jacob but I have hated Esau; I have laid waste his hill country and left his €heritage to jackals of the desert." If Edom says, "We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins," the €LORD of hosts says, "They may build, but I will tear down, till they €are called the wicked country, the people with whom the LORD is angry €for ever." Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, "Great is the LORD, €beyond the border of Israel!" @"A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a €father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says €the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. You say, `How €have we despised thy name?' By offering polluted food upon my altar. And you say, `How have we €polluted it?' By thinking that the LORD's table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that no evil? And when €you offer those that are lame or sick, is that no evil? Present that to €your governor; will he be pleased with you or show you favor? says the €LORD of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With €such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the €LORD of hosts. Oh, that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you €might not kindle fire upon my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, €says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your €hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among €the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a €pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the LORD of €hosts. But you profane it when you say that the LORD's table is polluted, and €the food for it may be despised. `What a weariness this is,' you say, and you sniff at me, says the LORD €of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, €and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your €hand? says the LORD. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet €sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished; for I am a great King, says €the LORD of hosts, and my name is feared among the nations.  @"And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not lay it to heart to give glory €to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you €and I will curse your blessings; indeed I have already cursed them, €because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung upon your faces, €the dung of your offerings, and I will put you out of my presence. So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my €covenant with Levi may hold, says the LORD of hosts. My covenant with him was a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them €to him, that he might fear; and he feared me, he stood in awe of my €name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. €He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from €iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and men should seek €instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of €hosts. But you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble €by your instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the €LORD of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch €as you have not kept my ways but have shown partiality in your €instruction." @Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why then are €we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel €and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, €which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob, for the man who does €this, any to witness or answer, or to bring an offering to the LORD of €hosts! @And this again you do. You cover the LORD's altar with tears, with €weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or €accepts it with favor at your hand. You ask, "Why does he not?" Because the LORD was witness to the €covenant between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been €faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Has not the one God made and sustained for us the spirit of life? And €what does he desire? Godly offspring. So take heed to yourselves, and €let none be faithless to the wife of his youth. "For I hate divorce, says the LORD the God of Israel, and covering €one's garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So take heed to €yourselves and do not be faithless." @You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, "How have we €wearied him?" By saying, "Every one who does evil is good in the sight €of the LORD, and he delights in them." Or by asking, "Where is the God €of justice?"  @"Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the €Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of €the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD €of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he €appears? €@"For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the €sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present €right offerings to the LORD. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD €as in the days of old and as in former years. @"Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be a swift witness €against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear €falsely, against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow €and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do €not fear me, says the LORD of hosts. @"For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are €not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes €and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says €the LORD of hosts. But you say, `How shall we return?' Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, `How are we €robbing thee?' In your tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me; the whole nation €of you. Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my €house; and thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I €will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an €overflowing blessing. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the €fruits of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, €says the LORD of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of €delight, says the LORD of hosts. @"Your words have been stout against me, says the LORD. Yet you say, €`How have we spoken against thee?' You have said, `It is vain to serve God. What is the good of our €keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of €hosts? Henceforth we deem the arrogant blessed; evildoers not only prosper but €when they put God to the test they escape.'" @Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another; the LORD €heeded and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°³¹’ļ‚Ķįģ’£˜ƒof those who feared the LORD and thought on his name. "They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, my special possession on €the day when I act, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who €serves him. Then once more you shall distinguish between the righteous and the €wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.  @"For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven, when all the €arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall €burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them €neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with €healing in its wings. You shall go forth leaping like calves from the €stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the €soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts. @"Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances €that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. @"Behold, I will send you Eli'jah the prophet before the great and €terrible day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts €of children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a €curse." ļ°“°’ļ‚±Åóäņ’”Josiah kept the passover to his Lord in Jerusalem; he killed the €passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month, having placed the priests according to their divisions, arrayed in €their garments, in the temple of the Lord. And he told the Levites, the temple servants of Israel, that they €should sanctify themselves to the Lord and put the holy ark of the Lord €in the house which Solomon the king, the son of David, had built; and he said, "You need no longer carry it upon your shoulders. Now €worship the Lord your God and serve his people Israel; and prepare €yourselves by your families and kindred, in accordance with the directions of David king of Israel and the €magnificence of Solomon his son. Stand in order in the temple according €to the groupings of the fathers' houses of you Levites, who minister €before your brethren the people of Israel, and kill the passover lamb and prepare the sacrifices for your €brethren, and keep the passover according to the commandment of the €Lord which was given to Moses." @And Josiah gave to the people who were present thirty thousand lambs €and kids, and three thousand calves; these were given from the king's €possessions, as he promised, to the people and the priests and Levites. And Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the chief officers of the temple, €gave to the priests for the passover two thousand six hundred sheep and €three hundred calves. And Jeconiah and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brother, and Hashabiah and €Ochiel and Joram, captains over thousands, gave the Levites for the €passover five thousand sheep and seven hundred calves. @And this is what took place. The priests and the Levites, properly €arrayed and having the unleavened bread, stood according to kindred and the grouping of the fathers' houses, before the people, to make the €offering to the Lord as it is written in the book of Moses; this they €did in the morning. They roasted the passover lamb with fire, as required; and they boiled €the sacrifices in brass pots and caldrons, with a pleasing odor, and carried them to all the people. Afterward they prepared the €passover for themselves and for their brethren the priests, the sons of €Aaron, because the priests were offering the fat until night; so the Levites €prepared it for themselves and for their brethren the priests, the sons €of Aaron. And the temple singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their place €according to the arrangement made by David, and also Asaph, Zechariah, €and Eddinus, who represented the king. The gatekeepers were at each gate; no one needed to depart from his €duties, for their brethren the Levites prepared the passover for them. @So the things that had to do with the sacrifices to the Lord were €accomplished that day: the passover was kept and the sacrifices were offered on the altar of the Lord, according to €the command of King Josiah. And the people of Israel who were present at that time kept the €passover and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. No passover like it had been kept in Israel since the times of Samuel €the prophet; none of the kings of Israel had kept such a passover as was kept by €Josiah and the priests and Levites and the men of Judah and all of €Israel who were dwelling in Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this passover was kept. And the deeds of Josiah were upright in the sight of the Lord, for his €heart was full of godliness. The events of his reign have been recorded in the past, concerning €those who sinned and acted wickedly toward the Lord beyond any other €people or kingdom, and how they grieved the Lord deeply, so that the €words of the Lord rose up against Israel. @After all these acts of Josiah, it happened that Pharaoh, king of €Egypt, went to make war at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went €out against him. And the king of Egypt sent word to him saying, "What have we to do with €each other, king of Judea? I was not sent against you by the Lord God, for my war is at the €Euphrates. And now the Lord is with me! The Lord is with me, urging me €on! Stand aside, and do not oppose the Lord." @But Josiah did not turn back to his chariot, but tried to fight with €him, and did not heed the words of Jeremiah the prophet from the mouth €of the Lord. He joined battle with him in the plain of Megiddo, and the commanders €came down against King Josiah. And the king said to his servants, "Take me away from the battle, for I €am very weak." And immediately his servants took him out of the line of €battle. And he got into his second chariot; and after he was brought back to €Jerusalem he died, and was buried in the tomb of his fathers. And in all Judea they mourned for Josiah. Jeremiah the prophet lamented €for Josiah, and the principal men, with the women, have made €lamentation for him to this day; it was ordained that this should €always be done throughout the whole nation of Israel. These things are written in the book of the histories of the kings of €Judea; and every one of the acts of Josiah, and his splendor, and his €understanding of the law of the Lord, and the things that he had done €before and these that are now told, are recorded in the book of the €kings of Israel and Judah. @And the men of the nation took Jeconiah the son of Josiah, who was €twenty-three years old, and made him king in succession to Josiah his €father. And he reigned three months in Judah and Jerusalem. Then the king of €Egypt deposed him from reigning in Jerusalem, and fined the nation a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. And the king of Egypt made Jehoiakim his brother king of Judea and €Jerusalem. Jehoiakim put the nobles in prison, and seized his brother Zarius and €brought him up out of Egypt. @Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign in Judea €and Jerusalem, and he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him, and bound him €with a chain of brass and took him away to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also took some holy vessels of the Lord, and carried €them away, and stored them in his temple in Babylon. But the things that are reported about Jehoiakim and his uncleanness €and impiety are written in the chronicles of the kings. @Jehoiachin his son became king in his stead; when he was made king he €was eighteen years old, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was €evil in the sight of the Lord. So after a year Nebuchadnezzar sent and removed him to Babylon, with €the holy vessels of the Lord, and made Zedekiah king of Judea and Jerusalem. €@Zedekiah was twenty-one years old, and he reigned eleven years. He also did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not heed €the words that were spoken by Jeremiah the prophet from the mouth of €the Lord. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“°’ļ‚±Åóäņ’”˜°And though King Nebuchadnezzar had made him swear by the name of the €Lord, he broke his oath and rebelled; and he stiffened his neck and €hardened his heart and transgressed the laws of the Lord, the God of €Israel. Even the leaders of the people and of the priests committed many acts €of sacrilege and lawlessness beyond all the unclean deeds of all the €nations, and polluted the temple of the Lord which had been hallowed in €Jerusalem. So the God of their fathers sent by his messenger to call them back, €because he would have spared them and his dwelling place. But they mocked his messengers, and whenever the Lord spoke, they €scoffed at his prophets, until in his anger against his people because of their ungodly acts he €gave command to bring against them the kings of the Chaldeans. These slew their young men with the sword around their holy temple, and €did not spare young man or virgin, old man or child, for he gave them €all into their hands. And all the holy vessels of the Lord, great and small, and the treasure €chests of the Lord, and the royal stores, they took and carried away to €Babylon. And they burned the house of the Lord and broke down the walls of €Jerusalem and burned their towers with fire, and utterly destroyed all its glorious things. The survivors he led €away to Babylon with the sword, and they were servants to him and to his sons until the Persians began €to reign, in fulfilment of the word of the Lord by the mouth of €Jeremiah: "Until the land has enjoyed its sabbaths, it shall keep sabbath all the €time of its desolation until the completion of seventy years."  @In the first year of Cyrus as king of the Persians, that the word of €the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians, and he €made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in €writing: @"Thus says Cyrus king of the Persians: The Lord of Israel, the Lord €Most High, has made me king of the world, and he has commanded me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in €Judea. If any one of you, therefore, is of his people, may his Lord be with €him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judea, and build the €house of the Lord of Israel -- he is the Lord who dwells in Jerusalem, and let each man, wherever he may live, be helped by the men of his €place with gold and silver, with gifts and with horses and cattle, besides the other things added €as votive offerings for the temple of the Lord which is in Jerusalem." @Then arose the heads of families of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, €and the priests and the Levites, and all whose spirit the Lord had €stirred to go up to build the house in Jerusalem for the Lord; and their neighbors helped them with everything, with silver and gold, €with horses and cattle, and with a very great number of votive €offerings from many whose hearts were stirred. @Cyrus the king also brought out the holy vessels of the Lord which €Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and stored in his temple €of idols. When Cyrus king of the Perians brought these out, he gave them to €Mithridates his treasurer, and by him they were given to Sheshbazzar the governor of Judea. The number of these was: a thousand gold cups, a thousand silver cups, €twenty-nine silver censers, thirty gold bowls, two thousand four €hundred and ten silver bowls, and a thousand other vessels. All the vessels were handed over, gold and silver, five thousand four €hundred and sixty-nine, and they were carried back by Sheshbazzar with the returning exiles €from Babylon to Jerusalem. @But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, Bishlam, €Mithridates, Tabeel, Rehum, Beltethmus, Shimshai the scribe, and the €rest of their associates, living in Samaria and other places, wrote him €the following letter, against those who were living in Judea and €Jerusalem: @"To King Artaxerxes our lord, Your servants Rehum the recorder and €Shimshai the scribe and the other judges of their council in Coelesyria €and Phoenicia: Now be it known to our lord the king that the Jews who came up from you €to us have gone to Jerusalem and are building that rebellious and €wicked city, repairing its market places and walls and laying the €foundations for a temple. Now if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not only €refuse to pay tribute but will even resist kings. And since the building of the temple is now going on, we think it best €not to neglect such a matter, but to speak to our lord the king, in order that, if it seems good to €you, search may be made in the records of your fathers. You will find in the chronicles what has been written about them, and €will learn that this city was rebellious, troubling both kings and €other cities, and that the Jews were rebels and kept setting up blockades in it from €of old. That is why this city was laid waste. Therefore we now make known to you, O lord and king, that if this city €is built and its walls finished, you will no longer have access to €Coelesyria and Phoenicia." @Then the king, in reply to Rehum the recorder and Beltethmus and €Shimshai the scribe and the others associated with them and living in €Samaria and Syria and Phoenicia, wrote as follows: @"I have read the letter which you sent me. So I ordered search to be €made, and it has been found that this city from of old has fought €against kings, and that the men in it were given to rebellion and war, and that mighty €and cruel kings ruled in Jerusalem and exacted tribute from Coelesyria €and Phoenicia. Therefore I have now issued orders to prevent these men from building €the city and to take care that nothing more be done and that such wicked proceedings go no further to the annoyance of €kings." @Then, when the letter from King Artaxerxes was read, Rehum and €Shimshai the scribe and their associates went in haste to Jerusalem, €with horsemen and a multitude in battle array, and began to hinder the €builders. And the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the €second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.  @Now King Darius gave a great banquet for all that were under him and €all that were born in his house and all the nobles of Media and Persia and all the satraps and generals and governors that were under him in €the hundred and twenty-seven satrapies from India to Ethiopia. They ate and drank, and when they were satisfied they departed; and €Darius the king went to his bedroom, and went to sleep, and then awoke. @Then the three young men of the bodyguard, who kept guard over the €person of the king, said to one another, "Let each of us state what one thing is strongest; and to him whose €statement seems wisest, Darius the king will give rich gifts and great €honors of victory. He shall be clothed in purple, and drink from gold cups, and sleep on a €gold bed, and have a chariot with gold bridles, and a turban of fine €linen, and a necklace about his neck; and because of his wisdom he shall sit next to Darius and shall be €called kinsman of Darius." @Then each wrote his own statement, and they sealed them and put them €under the pillow of Darius the king, and said, "When the king wakes, they will give him the writing; and to €the one whose statement the king and the three nobles of Persia judge €to be wisest the victory shall be given according to what is written." The first wrote, "Wine is strongest." The second wrote, "The king is strongest." The third wrote, "Women are strongest, but truth is victor over all €things." @When the king awoke, they took the writing and gave it to him, and he €read it. Then he sent and summoned all the nobles of Persia and Media and the €satraps and generals and governors and prefects, and he took his seat in the council chamber, and the writing was read €in their presence. And he said, "Call the young men, and they shall explain their €statements." So they were summoned, and came in. And they said to them, "Explain to us what you have written." €@Then the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine, began and €said: žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“°’ļ‚±Åóäņ’£˜’"Gentlemen, how is wine the strongest? It leads astray the minds of all €who drink it. It makes equal the mind of the king and the orphan, of the slave and €the free, of the poor and the rich. It turns every thought to feasting and mirth, and forgets all sorrow €and debt. It makes all hearts feel rich, forgets kings and satraps, and makes €every one talk in millions. When men drink they forget to be friendly with friends and brothers, €and before long they draw their swords. And when they recover from the wine, they do not remember what they €have done. Gentlemen, is not wine the strongest, since it forces men to do these €things?" When he had said this, he stopped speaking.  @Then the second, who had spoken of the strength of the king, began to €speak: "Gentlemen, are not men strongest, who rule over land and sea and all €that is in them? But the king is stronger; he is their lord and master, and whatever he €says to them they obey. If he tells them to make war on one another, they do it; and if he €sends them out against the enemy, they go, and conquer mountains, €walls, and towers. They kill and are killed, and do not disobey the king's command; if €they win the victory, they bring everything to the king -- whatever spoil €they take and everything else. Likewise those who do not serve in the army or make war but till the €soil, whenever they sow, reap the harvest and bring some to the king; €and they compel one another to pay taxes to the king. And yet he is only one man! If he tells them to kill, they kill; if he €tells them to release, they release; if he tells them to attack, they attack; if he tells them to lay waste, €they lay waste; if he tells them to build, they build; if he tells them to cut down, they cut down; if he tells them to plant, €they plant. All his people and his armies obey him. Moreover, he reclines, he eats €and drinks and sleeps, but they keep watch around him and no one may go away to attend to his €own affairs, nor do they disobey him. Gentlemen, why is not the king the strongest, since he is to be obeyed €in this fashion?" And he stopped speaking. @Then the third, that is Zerubbabel, who had spoken of women and €truth, began to speak: Gentlemen, is not the king great, and are not men many, and is not wine €strong? Who then is their master, or who is their lord? Is it not women? Women gave birth to the king and to every people that rules over sea €and land. From women they came; and women brought up the very men who plant the €vineyards from which comes wine. Women make men's clothes; they bring men glory; men cannot exist €without women. If men gather gold and silver or any other beautiful thing, and then €see a woman lovely in appearance and beauty, they let all those things go, and gape at her, and with open mouths €stare at her, and all prefer her to gold or silver or any other €beautiful thing. A man leaves his own father, who brought him up, and his own country, €and cleaves to his wife. With his wife he ends his days, with no thought of his father or his €mother or his country. Hence you must realize that women rule over you! €@"Do you not labor and toil, and bring everything and give it to women? A man takes his sword, and goes out to travel and rob and steal and to €sail the sea and rivers; he faces lions, and he walks in darkness, and when he steals and robs €and plunders, he brings it back to the woman he loves. A man loves his wife more than his father or his mother. Many men have lost their minds because of women, and have become slaves €because of them. Many have perished, or stumbled, or sinned, because of women. And now do you not believe me? €@"Is not the king great in his power? Do not all lands fear to touch €him? Yet I have seen him with Apame, the king's concubine, the daughter of €the illustrious Bartacus; she would sit at the king's right hand and take the crown from the king's head and put it on her own, and slap €the king with her left hand. At this the king would gaze at her with mouth agape. If she smiles at €him, he laughs; if she loses her temper with him, he flatters her, that €she may be reconciled to him. Gentlemen, why are not women strong, since they do such things?" @Then the king and the nobles looked at one another; and he began to €speak about truth: "Gentlemen, are not women strong? The earth is vast, and heaven is €high, and the sun is swift in its course, for it makes the circuit of €the heavens and returns to its place in one day. Is he not great who does these things? But truth is great, and stronger €than all things. The whole earth calls upon truth, and heaven blesses her. All God's €works quake and tremble, and with him there is nothing unrighteous. Wine is unrighteous, the king is unrighteous, women are unrighteous, €all the sons of men are unrighteous, all their works are unrighteous, €and all such things. There is no truth in them and in their €unrighteousness they will perish. But truth endures and is strong for ever, and lives and prevails for €ever and ever. With her there is no partiality or preference, but she does what is €righteous instead of anything that is unrighteous or wicked. All men €approve her deeds, and there is nothing unrighteous in her judgment. To her belongs the €strength and the kingship and the power and the majesty of all the €ages. Blessed be the God of truth!" He ceased speaking; then all the people shouted, and said, "Great is €truth, and strongest of all!" @Then the king said to him, "Ask what you wish, even beyond what is €written, and we will give it to you, for you have been found to be the €wisest. And you shall sit next to me, and be called my kinsman." Then he said to the king, "Remember the vow which you made to build €Jerusalem, in the day when you became king, and to send back all the vessels that were taken from Jerusalem, which €Cyrus set apart when he began to destroy Babylon, and vowed to send €them back there. You also vowed to build the temple, which the Edomites burned when €Judea was laid waste by the Chaldeans. And now, O lord the king, this is what I ask and request of you, and €this befits your greatness. I pray therefore that you fulfil the vow €whose fulfilment you vowed to the King of heaven with your own lips." @Then Darius the king rose, and kissed him, and wrote letters for him €to all the treasurers and governors and generals and satraps, that they €should give escort to him and all who were going up with him to build €Jerusalem. And he wrote letters to all the governors in Coelesyria and Phoenicia €and to those in Lebanon, to bring cedar timber from Lebanon to €Jerusalem, and to help him build the city. And he wrote for all the Jews who were going up from his kingdom to €Judea, in the interest of their freedom, that no officer or satrap or €governor or treasurer should forcibly enter their doors; that all the country which they would occupy should be theirs without €tribute; that the Idumeans should give up the villages of the Jews €which they held; that twenty talents a year should be given for the building of the €temple until it was completed, and an additional ten talents a year for burnt offerings to be offered €on the altar every day, in accordance with the commandment to make €seventeen offerings; and that all who came from Babylonia to build the city should have €their freedom, they and their children and all the priests who came. He wrote also concerning their support and the priests' garments in €which they were to minister. He wrote that the support for the Levites should be provided until the €day when the temple should be finished and Jerusalem built. He wrote that land and wages should be provided for all who guarded the €city. And he sent back from Babylon all the vessels which Cyrus had set €apart; everything that Cyrus had ordered to be done, he also commanded €to be done and to be sent to Jerusalem. @When the young man went out, he lifted up his face to heaven toward €Jerusalem, and praised the King of heaven, saying, "From thee is the victory; from thee is wisdom, and thine is the glory. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“°’ļ‚±Åóäņ’¤˜»‚I am thy servant. Blessed art thou, who hast given me wisdom; I give thee thanks, O Lord €of our fathers." @So he took the letters, and went to Babylon and told this to all his €brethren. And they praised the God of their fathers, because he had given them €release and permission to go up and build Jerusalem and the temple which is called by his €name; and they feasted, with music and rejoicing, for seven days.  @After this the heads of fathers' houses were chosen to go up, €according to their tribes, with their wives and sons and daughters, and €their menservants and maidservants, and their cattle. And Darius sent with them a thousand horsemen to take them back to €Jerusalem in safety, with the music of drums and flutes; and all their brethren were making merry. And he made them go up with €them. @These are the names of the men who went up, according to their €fathers' houses in the tribes, over their groups: the priests, the sons of Phinehas, son of Aaron; Jeshua the son of €Jozadak, son of Seraiah, and Joakim the son of Zerubbabel, son of €Shealtiel, of the house of David, of the lineage of Phares, of the €tribe of Judah, who spoke wise words before Darius the king of the Persians, in the €second year of his reign, in the month of Nisan, the first month. @These are the men of Judea who came up out of their sojourn in €captivity, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away to €Babylon and who returned to Jerusalem and the rest of Judea, each to his own €town. They came with Zerubbabel and Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Resaiah, €Bigvai, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Reeliah, Rehum, and Baanah, their €leaders. @The number of the men of the nation and their leaders: the sons of €Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two. The sons of €Shephatiah, four hundred and seventy-two. The sons of Arah, seven hundred and fifty-six. The sons of Pahathmoab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand €eight hundred and twelve. The sons of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four. The sons of €Zattu, nine hundred and forty-five. The sons of Chorbe, seven hundred €and five. The sons of Bani, six hundred and forty-eight. The sons of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-three. The sons of Azgad, one €thousand three hundred and twenty-two. The sons of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-seven. The sons of Bigvai, €two thousand and sixty-six. The sons of Adin, four hundred and €fifty-four. The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, ninety-two. The sons of Kilan and €Azetas, sixty-seven. The sons of Azaru, four hundred and thirty-two. The sons of Annias, one hundred and one. The sons of Arom. The sons of €Bezai, three hundred and twenty-three. The sons of Jorah, one hundred €and twelve. The sons of Baiterus, three thousand and five. The sons of Bethlehem, €one hundred and twenty-three. The men of Netophah, fifty-five. The men of Anathoth, one hundred and €fifty-eight. The men of Bethasmoth, forty-two. The men of Kiriatharim, twenty-five. The men of Chephirah and Beeroth, €seven hundred and forty-three. The Chadiasans and Ammidians, four hundred and twenty-two. The men of €Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one. The men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two. The men of Bethel, €fifty-two. The sons of Magbish, one hundred and fifty-six. The sons of the other Elam and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-five. The €sons of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five. The sons of Senaah, three thousand three hundred and thirty. @The priests: the sons of Jedaiah the son of Jeshua, of the sons of €Anasib, nine hundred and seventy-two. The sons of Immer, one thousand €and fifty-two. The sons of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven. The sons €of Harim, one thousand and seventeen. @The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel and Bannas and Sudias, €seventy-four. The temple singers: the sons of Asaph, one hundred and twenty-eight. The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of €Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, in €all one hundred and thirty-nine. @The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons €of Tabbaoth, the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon, €the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Uthai, the sons of Ketab, the sons of €Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hana, the sons of Cathua, the €sons of Gahar, The sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of €Chezib, the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the €sons of Hasrah, the sons of Besai, the sons of Asnah, the sons of the €Meunites, the sons of Nephisim, the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of €Hakupha, the sons of Asur, the sons of Pharakim, the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Cutha, the sons of Charea, the sons of €Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, the sons of Neziah, the €sons of Hatipha. @The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of €Peruda, the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Lozon, the sons of Giddel, the €sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of €Sarothie, the sons of Masiah, the sons of Gas, the sons of Addus, the €sons of Subas, the sons of Apherra, the sons of Barodis, the sons of €Shaphat, the sons of Ami. @All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were three €hundred and seventy-two. @The following are those who came up from Telmelah and Telharsha, €under the leadership of Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove by their fathers' houses or lineage that €they belonged to Israel: the sons of Delaiah the son of Tobiah, the €sons of Nekoda, six hundred and fifty-two. @Of the priests the following had assumed the priesthood but were not €found registered: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of €Jaddus who had married Agia, one of the daughters of Barzillai, and was €called by his name. And when the genealogy of these men was sought in the register and was €not found, they were excluded from serving as priests. And Nehemiah and Attharias told them not to share in the holy things €until a high priest should appear wearing Urim and Thummim. @All those of Israel, twelve or more years of age, besides menservants €and maidservants, were forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty; their menservants and maidservants were seven thousand three hundred €and thirty-seven; there were two hundred and forty-five musicians and €singers. There were four hundred and thirty-five camels, and seven thousand and €thirty-six horses, two hundred and forty-five mules, and five thousand €five hundred and twenty-five asses. @Some of the heads of families, when they came to the temple of God €which is in Jerusalem, vowed that they would erect the house on its €site, to the best of their ability, and that they would give to the sacred treasury for the work a thousand €minas of gold, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priests' €garments. @The priests, the Levites, and some of the people settled in Jerusalem €and its vicinity; and the temple singers, the gatekeepers, and all €Israel in their towns. @When the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel were each in his €own home, they gathered as one man in the square before the first gate €toward the east. Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel €the son of Shealtiel, with his kinsmen, took their places and prepared €the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings upon it, in accordance with the directions in €the book of Moses the man of God. And some joined them from the other peoples of the land. And they €erected the altar in its place, for all the peoples of the land were €hostile to them and were stronger than they; and they offered €sacrifices at the proper times and burnt offerings to the Lord morning €and evening. They kept the feast of booths, as it is commanded in the law, and €offered the proper sacrifices every day, and thereafter the continual offerings and sacrifices on sabbaths and €at new moons and at all the consecrated feasts. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“°’ļ‚±Åóäņ’„˜µAnd all who had made any vow to God began to offer sacrifices to God, €from the new moon of the seventh month, though the temple of God was €not yet built. And they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food and drink and carts to the Sidonians and the Tyrians, to bring cedar logs from €Lebanon and convey them in rafts to the harbor of Joppa, according to €the decree which they had in writing from Cyrus king of the Persians. @In the second year after their coming to the temple of God in €Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and €Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with their €brethren and the Levitical priests and all who had come to Jerusalem €from the captivity; and they laid the foundation of the temple of God on the new moon of €the second month in the second year after they came to Judea and €Jerusalem. And they appointed the Levites who were twenty or more years of age to €have charge of the work of the Lord. And Jeshua arose, and his sons and €brethren and Kadmiel his brother and the sons of Jeshua Emadabun and €the sons of Joda son of Iliadun, with their sons and brethren, all the €Levites, as one man pressing forward the work on the house of God. €@So the builders built the temple of the Lord. And the priests stood arrayed in their garments, with musical €instruments and trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with €cymbals, praising the Lord and blessing him, according to the directions of €David king of Israel; and they sang hymns, giving thanks to the Lord, because his goodness €and his glory are for ever upon all Israel. And all the people sounded trumpets and shouted with a great shout, €praising the Lord for the erection of the house of the Lord. Some of the Levitical priests and heads of fathers' houses, old men who €had seen the former house, came to the building of this one with €outcries and loud weeping, while many came with trumpets and a joyful noise, so that the people could not hear the trumpets because of the weeping €of the people. €@For the multitude sounded the trumpets loudly, so that the sound was €heard afar; and when the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin heard it, they €came to find out what the sound of the trumpets meant. And they learned that those who had returned from captivity were €building the temple for the Lord God of Israel. So they approached Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the heads of the fathers' €houses and said to them, "We will build with you. For we obey your Lord just as you do and we have been sacrificing to €him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of the Assyrians, who €brought us here." But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the heads of the fathers' houses in €Israel said to them, "You have nothing to do with us in building the €house for the Lord our God, for we alone will build it for the Lord of Israel, as Cyrus the king of €the Persians has commanded us." But the peoples of the land pressed hard upon those in Judea, cut off €their supplies, and hindered their building; and by plots and demagoguery and uprisings they prevented the €completion of the building as long as King Cyrus lived. And they were €kept from building for two years, until the reign of Darius.  @Now in the second year of the reign of Darius, the prophets Haggai €and Zechariah the son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews who were in Judea €and Jerusalem, they prophesied to them in the name of the Lord God of €Israel. Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak €arose and began to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, €with the help of the prophets of the Lord who were with them. @At the same time Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia and €Sathrabuzanes and their associates came to them and said, "By whose order are you building this house and this roof and finishing €all the other things? And who are the builders that are finishing these €things?" Yet the elders of the Jews were dealt with kindly, for the providence €of the Lord was over the captives; and they were not prevented from building until word could be sent to €Darius concerning them and a report made. @A copy of the letter which Sisinnes the governor of Syria and €Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, and their associates the local rulers in €Syria and Phoenicia, wrote and sent to Darius: @"To King Darius, greeting. Let it be fully known to our lord the king €that, when we went to the country of Judea and entered the city of €Jerusalem, we found the elders of the Jews, who had been in captivity, building in the city of Jerusalem a great new house for the Lord, of €hewn stone, with costly timber laid in the walls. These operations are going on rapidly, and the work is prospering in €their hands and being completed with all splendor and care. Then we asked these elders, `At whose command are you building this €house and laying the foundations of this structure?' And in order that we might inform you in writing who the leaders are, €we questioned them and asked them for a list of the names of those who €are at their head. They answered us, `We are the servants of the Lord who created the €heaven and the earth. And the house was built many years ago by a king of Israel who was €great and strong, and it was finished. But when our fathers sinned against the Lord of Israel who is in €heaven, and provoked him, he gave them over into the hands of €Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of the Chaldeans; and they pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried the people €away captive to Babylon. But in the first year that Cyrus reigned over the country of Babylonia, €King Cyrus wrote that this house should be rebuilt. And the holy vessels of gold and of silver, which Nebuchadnezzar had €taken out of the house in Jerusalem and stored in his own temple, these €Cyrus the king took out again from the temple in Babylon, and they were €delivered to Zerubbabel and Sheshbazzar the governor with the command that he should take all these vessels back and put €them in the temple at Jerusalem, and that this temple of the Lord €should be rebuilt on its site. Then this Sheshbazzar, after coming here, laid the foundations of the €house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, and although it has been in €process of construction from that time until now, it has not yet €reached completion.' Now therefore, if it seems wise, O king, let search be made in the €royal archives of our lord the king that are in Babylon; and if it is found that the building of the house of the Lord in €Jerusalem was done with the consent of King Cyrus, and if it is €approved by our lord the king, let him send us directions concerning €these things." @Then Darius commanded that search be made in the royal archives that €were deposited in Babylon. And in Ecbatana, the fortress which is in €the country of Media, a scroll was found in which this was recorded: "In the first year of the reign of Cyrus, King Cyrus ordered the €building of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, where they sacrifice €with perpetual fire; its height to be sixty cubits and its breadth sixty cubits, with three €courses of hewn stone and one course of new native timber; the cost to €be paid from the treasury of Cyrus the king; and that the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both of gold and of €silver, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the house in Jerusalem and €carried away to Babylon, should be restored to the house in Jerusalem, €to be placed where they had been." @So Darius commanded Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and €Sathrabuzanes, and their associates, and those who were appointed as €local rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, to keep away from the place, and €to permit Zerubbabel, the servant of the Lord and governor of Judea, €and the elders of the Jews to build this house of the Lord on its site. "And I command that it be built completely, and that full effort be €made to help the men who have returned from the captivity of Judea, €until the house of the Lord is finished; and that out of the tribute of Coelesyria and Phoenicia a portion be žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“°’ļ‚±Åóäņ’¦˜‚scrupulously given to these men, that is, to Zerubbabel the governor, €for sacrifices to the Lord, for bulls and rams and lambs, and likewise wheat and salt and wine and oil, regularly every year, €without quibbling, for daily use as the priests in Jerusalem may €indicate, in order that libations may be made to the Most High God for the king €and his children, and prayers be offered for their life." @And he commanded that if any should transgress or nullify any of the €things herein written, a beam should be taken out of his house and he €should be hanged upon it, and his property should be forfeited to the €king. @"Therefore may the Lord, whose name is there called upon, destroy €every king and nation that shall stretch out their hands to hinder or €damage that house of the Lord in Jerusalem. @"I, King Darius, have decreed that it be done with all diligence as €here prescribed."  @Then Sisinnes the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, and €Sathrabuzanes, and their associates, following the orders of King €Darius, supervised the holy work with very great care, assisting the elders of €the Jews and the chief officers of the temple. And the holy work prospered, while the prophets Haggai and Zechariah €prophesied; and they completed it by the command of the Lord God of Israel. So with €the consent of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of the Persians, the holy house was finished by the twenty-third day of the month of €Adar, in the sixth year of King Darius. And the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of €those from the captivity who joined them, did according to what was €written in the book of Moses. They offered at the dedication of the temple of the Lord one hundred €bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve he-goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number €of the twelve leaders of the tribes of Israel; and the priests and the Levites stood arrayed in their garments, €according to kindred, for the services of the Lord God of Israel in €accordance with the book of Moses; and the gatekeepers were at each €gate. @The people of Israel who came from the captivity kept the passover on €the fourteenth day of the first month, after the priests and the €Levites were purified together. Not all of the returned captives were purified, but the Levites were €all purified together, and they sacrificed the passover lamb for all the returned captives and €for their brethren the priests and for themselves. And the people of Israel who came from the captivity ate it, all those €who had separated themselves from the abominations of the peoples of €the land and sought the Lord. And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days, rejoicing €before the Lord, Because he had changed the will of the king of the Assyrians concerning €them, to strengthen their hands for the service of the Lord God of €Israel.  @After these things, when Artaxerxes the king of the Persians was €reigning, Ezra came, the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of €Hilkiah, son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, son of Amariah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, €son of Abishua, son of Phineas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief €priest. This Ezra came up from Babylon as a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, €which was given by the God of Israel; and the king showed him honor, for he found favor before the king in €all his requests. There came up with him to Jerusalem some of the people of Israel and €some of the priests and Levites and temple singers and gatekeepers and €temple servants, in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, in the fifth month €(this was the king's seventh year); for they left Babylon on the new €moon of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the new moon of the €fifth month, by the prosperous journey which the Lord gave them. For Ezra possessed great knowledge, so that he omitted nothing from the €law of the Lord or the commandments, but taught all Israel all the €ordinances and judgments. @The following is a copy of the written commission from Artaxerxes the €king which was delivered to Ezra the priest and reader of the law of €the Lord: @"King Artaxerxes to Ezra the priest and reader of the law of the €Lord, greeting. In accordance with my gracious decision, I have given orders that those €of the Jewish nation and of the priests and Levites and others in our €realm, who freely choose to do so, may go with you to Jerusalem. Let as many as are so disposed, therefore, depart with you as I and the €seven friends who are my counselors have decided, in order to look into matters in Judea and Jerusalem, in accordance €with what is in the law of the Lord, and to carry to Jerusalem the gifts for the Lord of Israel which I and €my friends have vowed, and to collect for the Lord in Jerusalem all the €gold and silver that may be found in the country of Babylonia, together with what is given by the nation for the temple of their Lord €which is in Jerusalem, both gold and silver for bulls and rams and €lambs and what goes with them, so as to offer sacrifices upon the altar of their Lord which is in €Jerusalem. And whatever you and your brethren are minded to do with the gold and €silver, perform it in accordance with the will of your God; and deliver the holy vessels of the Lord which are given you for the €use of the temple of your God which is in Jerusalem. And whatever else occurs to you as necessary for the temple of your €God, you may provide out of the royal treasury. @"And I, Artaxerxes the king, have commanded the treasurers of Syria €and Phoenicia that whatever Ezra the priest and reader of the law of €the Most High God sends for, they shall take care to give him, up to a hundred talents of silver, and likewise up to a hundred cors of €wheat, a hundred baths of wine, and salt in abundance. Let all things prescribed in the law of God be scrupulously fulfilled €for the Most High God, so that wrath may not come upon the kingdom of €the king and his sons. You are also informed that no tribute or any other tax is to be laid on €any of the priests or Levites or temple singers or gatekeepers or €temple servants or persons employed in this temple, and that no one has €authority to impose any tax upon them. @"And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of God, appoint judges and €justices to judge all those who know the law of your God, throughout €all Syria and Phoenicia; and those who do not know it you shall teach. And all who transgress the law of your God or the law of the kingdom €shall be strictly punished, whether by death or some other punishment, €either fine or imprisonment." @Blessed be the Lord alone, who put this into the heart of the king, €to glorify his house which is in Jerusalem, and who honored me in the sight of the king and his counselors and all €his friends and nobles. I was encouraged by the help of the Lord my God, and I gathered men €from Israel to go up with me. @These are the principal men, according to their fathers' houses and €their groups, who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of €Artaxerxes the king: Of the sons of Phineas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Gamael. Of the €sons of David, Hattush the son of Shecaniah. Of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him a hundred and fifty men €enrolled. Of the sons of Pahathmoab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him €two hundred men. Of the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah the son of Jahaziel, and with him three €hundred men. Of the sons of Adin, Obed the son of Jonathan, and with €him two hundred and fifty men. Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Gotholiah, and with him €seventy men. Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zeraiah the son of Michael, and with him €seventy men, Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two €hundred and twelve men. Of the sons of Bani, Shelomith the son of Josiphiah, and with him a €hundred and sixty men. Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him €twenty-eight men. Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him a €hundred and ten men. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“°’ļ‚±Åóäņ’؈˜§Of the sons of Adonikam, the last ones, their names being Eliphelet, €Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them seventy men. Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai the son of Istalcurus, and with him €seventy men. @I assembled them at the river called Theras, and we encamped there €three days, and I inspected them. When I found there none of the sons of the priests or of the Levites, I sent word to Eliezar, Iduel, Maasmas, Elnathan, Shemaiah, Jarib, Nathan, Elnathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, €who were leaders and men of understanding; and I told them to go to Iddo, who was the leading man at the place of €the treasury, and ordered them to tell Iddo and his brethren and the treasurers at €that place to send us men to serve as priests in the house of our Lord. And by the mighty hand of our Lord they brought us competent men of the €sons of Mahli the son of Levi, son of Israel, namely Sherebiah with his €sons and kinsmen, eighteen; also Hashabiah and Annunus and Jeshaiah his brother, of the sons of €Hananiah, and their sons, twenty men; and of the temple servants, whom David and the leaders had given for €the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty temple servants; the €list of all their names was reported. @There I proclaimed a fast for the young men before our Lord, to seek €from him a prosperous journey for ourselves and for our children and €the cattle that were with us. For I was ashamed to ask the king for foot soldiers and horsemen and an €escort to keep us safe from our adversaries; for we had said to the king, "The power of our Lord will be with those €who seek him, and will support them in every way." And again we prayed to our Lord about these things, and we found him €very merciful. @Then I set apart twelve of the leaders of the priests, Sherebiah and €Hashabiah, and ten of their kinsmen with them; and I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the holy vessels €of the house of our Lord, which the king himself and his counselors and €the nobles and all Israel had given. I weighed and gave to them six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and €silver vessels worth a hundred talents, and a hundred talents of gold, and twenty golden bowls, and twelve bronze vessels of fine bronze that €glittered like gold. And I said to them, "You are holy to the Lord, and the vessels are €holy, and the silver and the gold are vowed to the Lord, the Lord of €our fathers. Be watchful and on guard until you deliver them to the leaders of the €priests and the Levites, and to the heads of the fathers' houses of €Israel, in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of our Lord." So the priests and the Levites who took the silver and the gold and the €vessels which had been in Jerusalem carried them to the temple of the €Lord. @We departed from the river Theras on the twelfth day of the first €month; and we arrived in Jerusalem by the mighty hand of our Lord which €was upon us; he delivered us from every enemy on the way, and so we €came to Jerusalem. When we had been there three days, the silver and the gold were weighed €and delivered in the house of our Lord to Meremoth the priest, son of €Uriah; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were €Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Moeth the son of Binnui, the Levites. The whole was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was €recorded at that very time. And those who had come back from captivity offered sacrifices to the €Lord, the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-two lambs, and as a thank offering twelve he-goats -- all as a €sacrifice to the Lord. And they delivered the king's orders to the royal stewards and to the €governors of Coelesyria and Phoenicia; and these officials honored the €people and the temple of the Lord. @After these things had been done, the principal men came to me and €said, "The people of Israel and the leaders and the priests and the Levites €have not put away from themselves the alien peoples of the land and €their pollutions, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the €Jebusites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Edomites. For they and their sons have married the daughters of these people, and €the holy race has been mixed with the alien peoples of the land; and €from the beginning of this matter the leaders and the nobles have been €sharing in this iniquity." @As soon as I heard these things I rent my garments and my holy €mantle, and pulled out hair from my head and beard, and sat down in €anxiety and grief. And all who were ever moved at the word of the Lord of Israel gathered €round me, as I mourned over this iniquity, and I sat grief-stricken €until the evening sacrifice. Then I rose from my fast, with my garments and my holy mantle rent, and €kneeling down and stretching forth my hands to the Lord I said, €@"O Lord, I am ashamed and confounded before thy face. For our sins have risen higher than our heads, and our mistakes have €mounted up to heaven from the times of our fathers, and we are in great sin to this day. And because of our sins and the sins of our fathers we with our €brethren and our kings and our priests were given over to the kings of €the earth, to the sword and captivity and plundering, in shame until €this day. And now in some measure mercy has come to us from thee, O Lord, to €leave to us a root and a name in thy holy place, and to uncover a light for us in the house of the Lord our God, and to €give us food in the time of our servitude. Even in our bondage we were not forsaken by our Lord, but he brought us €into favor with the kings of the Persians, so that they have given us €food and glorified the temple of our Lord, and raised Zion from desolation, €to give us a stronghold in Judea and Jerusalem. @"And now, O Lord, what shall we say, when we have these things? For €we have transgressed thy commandments, which thou didst give by thy €servants the prophets, saying, `The land which you are entering to take possession of it is a land €polluted with the pollution of the aliens of the land, and they have €filled it with their uncleanness. Therefore do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons, and do €not take their daughters for your sons; and do not seek ever to have peace with them, in order that you may be €strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it for an €inheritance to your children for ever.' And all that has happened to us has come about because of our evil €deeds and our great sins. For thou, O Lord, didst lift the burden of €our sins and give us such a root as this; but we turned back again to transgress €thy law by mixing with the uncleanness of the peoples of the land. Wast thou not angry enough with us to destroy us without leaving a root €or seed or name? O Lord of Israel, thou art true; for we are left as a root to this day. Behold, we are now before thee in our iniquities; for we can no longer €stand in thy presence because of these things." @While Ezra was praying and making his confession, weeping and lying €upon the ground before the temple, there gathered about him a very €great throng from Jerusalem, men and women and youths; for there was €great weeping among the multitude. Then Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the men of Israel, called out, €and said to Ezra, "We have sinned against the Lord, and have married €foreign women from the peoples of the land; but even now there is hope €for Israel. Let us take an oath to the Lord about this, that we will put away all €our foreign wives, with their children, as seems good to you and to all who obey the law of the Lord. Arise and take action, for it is your task, and we are with you to take €strong measures." Then Ezra arose and had the leaders of the priests and Levites of all €Israel take oath that they would do this. And they took the oath.  @Then Ezra rose and went from the court of the temple to the chamber €of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, and spent the night there; and he did not eat bread or drink water, for €he was mourning over the great iniquities of the multitude. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“°’ļ‚±Åóäņ’؉“And a proclamation was made throughout Judea and Jerusalem to all who €had returned from the captivity that they should assemble at Jerusalem, and that if any did not meet there within two or three days, in €accordance with the decision of the ruling elders, their cattle should €be seized for sacrifice and the men themselves expelled from the €multitude of those who had returned from the captivity. @Then the men of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin assembled at €Jerusalem within three days; this was the ninth month, on the twentieth €day of the month. And all the multitude sat in the open square before the temple, €shivering because of the bad weather that prevailed. Then Ezra rose and said to them, "You have broken the law and married €foreign women, and so have increased the sin of Israel. Now then make confession and give glory to the Lord the God of our €fathers, and do his will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and €from your foreign wives." Then all the multitude shouted and said with a loud voice, "We will do €as you have said. But the multitude is great and it is winter, and we are not able to €stand in the open air. This is not a work we can do in one day or two, €for we have sinned too much in these things. so let the leaders of the multitude stay, and let all those in our €settlements who have foreign wives come at the time appointed, with the elders and judges of each place, until we are freed from the €wrath of the Lord over this matter." Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah undertook the €matter on these terms, and Meshullam and Levi and Shabbethai served €with them as judges. And those who had returned from the captivity acted in accordance with €all this. @Ezra the priest chose for himself the leading men of their fathers' €houses, all of them by name; and on the new moon of the tenth month €they began their sessions to investigate the matter. And the cases of the men who had foreign wives were brought to an end €by the new moon of the first month. @Of the priests those who were brought in and found to have foreign €wives were: of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren, Maaseiah, €Eliezar, Jarib, and Jodan. They pledged themselves to put away their wives, and to give rams in €expiation of their error. Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah and Maaseiah and Shemaiah and €Jehiel and Azariah. Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, and Nathanael, and €Gedaliah, and Elasah. @And of the Levites: Jozabad and Shimei and Kelaiah, who was Kelita, €and Pethahiah and Judah and Jonah. Of the temple singers: Eliashib and Zaccur. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum and Telem. @Of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, €and Eleazar, and Asibias, and Benaiah. Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah and Zechariah, Jehiel and Abdi, and €Jeremoth and Elijah. Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Othoniah, Jeremoth, and Zabad €and Zerdaiah. Of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan and Hananiah and Zabbai and Emathis. Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal and €Jeremoth. Of the sons of Addi: Naathus and Moossias, Laccunus and Naidus, and €Bescaspasmys and Sesthel, and Belnuus and Manasseas. Of the sons of Annan, Elionas and Asaias and Melchias and Sabbaias and €Simon Chosamaeus. Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai and Mattattah and Zabad and Eliphelet €and Manasseh and Shimei. Of the sons of Bani: Jeremai, Maadai, Amram, Joel, Mamdai and Bedeiah €and Vaniah, Carabasion and Eliashib and Machnadebai, Eliasis, Binnui, €Elialis, Shimei, Shelemiah, Nethaniah. Of the sons of Ezora: Shashai, €Azarel, Azael, Shemaiah, Amariah, Joseph. Of the sons of Nebo: Mattithiah, Zabad, Iddo, Joel, Benaiah. All these had married foreign women, and they put them away with their €children. @The priests and the Levites and the men of Israel settled in €Jerusalem and in the country. On the new moon of the seventh month, €when the sons of Israel were in their settlements, the whole multitude gathered with one accord into the open square €before the east gate of the temple; and they told Ezra the chief priest and reader to bring the law of €Moses which had been given by the Lord God of Israel. So Ezra the chief priest brought the law, for all the multitude, men €and women, and all the priests to hear the law, on the new moon of the €seventh month. And he read aloud in the open square before the gate of the temple from €early morning until midday, in the presence of both men and women; and €all the multitude gave attention to the law. Ezra the priest and reader of the law stood on the wooden platform €which had been prepared; and beside him stood Mattathiah, Shema, Anaiah, Azariah, Uriah, €Hezekiah, and Baalsamus on his right hand, and on his left Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Lothasubus, Nabariah, and €Zechariah. Then Ezra took up the book of the law in the sight of the multitude, €for he had the place of honor in the presence of all. And when he opened the law, they all stood erect. And Ezra blessed the €Lord God Most High, the God of hosts, the Almighty; and all the multitude answered, "Amen." And they lifted up their hands, €and fell to the ground and worshiped the Lord. Jeshua and Anniuth and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, €Maaseiah and Kelita, Azariah and Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, €taught the law of the Lord, at the same time explaining what was read. @Then Attharates said to Ezra the chief priest and reader, and to the €Levites who were teaching the multitude, and to all, "This day is holy to the Lord" -- now they were all weeping as they heard €the law --"so go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet, and send portions to €those who have none; for the day is holy to the Lord; and do not be sorrowful, for the Lord €will exalt you." And the Levites commanded all the people, saying, "This day is holy; do €not be sorrowful." Then they all went their way, to eat and drink and enjoy themselves, €and to give portions to those who had none, and to make great rejoicing; because they were inspired by the words which they had been taught. And €they came together. ąļ‚“Åśņį’”The second book of the prophet Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, €son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, son of Ahijah, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, son of Amariah, son of €Azariah, son of Meraioth, son of Arna, son of Uzzi, son of Borith, son €of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi, who was a captive in the country of €the Medes in the reign of Artaxerxes, king of the Persians. @The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Go and declare to my people their evil deeds, and to their children €the iniquities which they have committed against me, so that they may €tell their children's children that the sins of their parents have increased in them, for they have €forgotten me and have offered sacrifices to strange gods. Was it not I who brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the €house of bondage? But they have angered me and despised my counsels. Pull out the hair of your head and hurl all evils upon them, for they €have not obeyed my law -- they are a rebellious people. How long shall I endure them, on whom I have bestowed such great €benefits? For their sake I have overthrown many kings: I struck down Pharaoh with €his servants, and all his army. I have destroyed all nations before them, and scattered in the east the €people of two provinces, Tyre and Sidon; I have slain all their enemies. @"But speak to them and say, Thus says the Lord: Surely it was I who brought you through the sea, and made safe highways €for you where there was no road; I gave you Moses as leader and Aaron €as priest; I provided light for you from a pillar of fire, and did great wonders €among you. Yet you have forgotten me, says the Lord. @"Thus says the Lord Almighty: The quails were a sign to you; I gave €you camps for your protection, and in them you complained. You have not exulted in my name at the destruction of your enemies, but žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“±’ļ‚“Åśņį’”˜‚to this day you still complain. Where are the benefits which I bestowed on you? When you were hungry €and thirsty in the wilderness, did you not cry out to me, saying, `Why hast thou led us into this wilderness to kill us? It would €have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in this €wilderness.' I pitied your groanings and gave you manna for food; you ate the bread €of angels. When you were thirsty, did I not cleave the rock so that waters flowed €in abundance? Because of the heat I covered you with the leaves of €trees. I divided fertile lands among you; I drove out the Canaanites, the €Perizzites, and the Philistines before you. What more can I do for you? €says the Lord. Thus says the Lord Almighty: When you were in the wilderness, at the €bitter stream, thirsty and blaspheming my name, I did not send fire upon you for your blasphemies, but threw a tree €into the water and made the stream sweet. @"What shall I do to you, O Jacob? You would not obey me, O Judah. I €will turn to other nations and will give them my name, that they may €keep my statutes. Because you have forsaken me, I also will forsake you. When you beg €mercy of me, I will show you no mercy. When you call upon me, I will not listen to you; for you have defiled €your hands with blood, and your feet are swift to commit murder. It is not as though you had forsaken me; you have forsaken yourselves, €says the Lord. @"Thus says the Lord Almighty: Have I not entreated you as a father €entreats his sons or a mother her daughters or a nurse her children, that you should be my people and I should be your God, and that you €should be my sons and I should be your father? I gathered you as a hen gathers her brood under her wings. But now, €what shall I do to you? I will cast you out from my presence. When you offer oblations to me, I will turn my face from you; for I €have rejected your feast days, and new moons, and circumcisions of the €flesh. I sent to you my servants the prophets, but you have taken and slain €them and torn their bodies in pieces; their blood I will require of €you, says the Lord. @"Thus says the Lord Almighty: Your house is desolate; I will drive €you out as the wind drives straw; and your sons will have no children, because with you they have €neglected my commandment and have done what is evil in my sight. I will give your houses to a people that will come, who without having €heard me will believe. Those to whom I have shown no signs will do what €I have commanded. They have seen no prophets, yet will recall their former state. I call to witness the gratitude of the people that is to come, whose €children rejoice with gladness; though they do not see me with bodily €eyes, yet with the spirit they will believe the things I have said. @"And now, father, look with pride and see the people coming from the €east; to them I will give as leaders Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and Hosea and €Amos and Micah and Joel and Obadiah and Jonah and Nahum and Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, who €is also called the messenger of the Lord.  @"Thus says the Lord: I brought this people out of bondage, and I gave €them commandments through my servants the prophets; but they would not €listen to them, and made my counsels void. The mother who bore them says to them, `Go, my children, because I am a €widow and forsaken. I brought you up with gladness; but with mourning and sorrow I have €lost you, because you have sinned before the Lord God and have done €what is evil in my sight. But now what can I do for you? For I am a widow and forsaken. Go, my €children, and ask for mercy from the Lord.' I call upon you, father, as a witness in addition to the mother of the €children, because they would not keep my covenant, that you may bring confusion upon them and bring their mother to ruin, €so that they may have no offspring. Let them be scattered among the nations, let their names be blotted out €from the earth, because they have despised my covenant. @"Woe to you, Assyria, who conceal the unrighteous in your midst! O €wicked nation, remember what I did to Sodom and Gomorrah, whose land lies in lumps of pitch and heaps of ashes. So will I do to €those who have not listened to me, says the Lord Almighty." @Thus says the Lord to Ezra: "Tell my people that I will give them the €kingdom of Jerusalem, which I was going to give to Israel. Moreover, I will take back to myself their glory, and will give to €these others the everlasting habitations, which I had prepared for €Israel. The tree of life shall give them fragrant perfume, and they shall €neither toil nor become weary. Ask and you will receive; pray that your days may be few, that they may €be shortened. The kingdom is already prepared for you; watch! Call, O call heaven and earth to witness, for I left out evil and €created good, because I live, says the Lord. @"Mother, embrace your sons; bring them up with gladness, as does the €dove; establish their feet, because I have chosen you, says the Lord. And I will raise up the dead from their places, and will bring them out €from their tombs, because I recognize my name in them. Do not fear, mother of sons, for I have chosen you, says the Lord. I will send you help, my servants Isaiah and Jeremiah. According to €their counsel I have consecrated and prepared for you twelve trees €loaded with various fruits, and the same number of springs flowing with milk and honey, and seven €mighty mountains on which roses and lilies grow; by these I will fill €your children with joy. Guard the rights of the widow, secure justice for the fatherless, give €to the needy, defend the orphan, clothe the naked, care for the injured and the weak, do not ridicule a lame man, protect €the maimed, and let the blind man have a vision of my splendor. Protect the old and the young within your walls; When you find any who are dead, commit them to the grave and mark it, €and I will give you the first place in my resurrection. Pause and be quiet, my people, because your rest will come. Good nurse, nourish your sons, and strengthen their feet. Not one of the servants whom I have given you will perish, for I will €require them from among your number. Do not be anxious, for when the day of tribulation and anguish comes, €others shall weep and be sorrowful, but you shall rejoice and have €abundance. The nations shall envy you but they shall not be able to do anything €against you, says the Lord. My hands will cover you, that your sons may not see Gehenna. Rejoice, O mother, with your sons, because I will deliver you, says the €Lord. Remember your sons that sleep, because I will bring them out of the €hiding places of the earth, and will show mercy to them; for I am €merciful, says the Lord Almighty. Embrace your children until I come, and proclaim mercy to them; because €my springs run over, and my grace will not fail." @I, Ezra, received a command from the Lord on Mount Horeb to go to €Israel. When I came to them they rejected me and refused the Lord's €commandment. Therefore I say to you, O nations that hear and understand, "Await your €shepherd; he will give you everlasting rest, because he who will come €at the end of the age is close at hand. Be ready for the rewards of the kingdom, because the eternal light will €shine upon you for evermore. Flee from the shadow of this age, receive the joy of your glory; I €publicly call on my Savior to witness. Receive what the Lord has entrusted to you and be joyful, giving thanks €to him who has called you to heavenly kingdoms. Rise and stand, and see at the feast of the Lord the number of those €who have been sealed. Those who have departed from the shadow of this age have received €glorious garments from the Lord. Take again your full number, O Zion, and conclude the list of your €people who are clothed in white, who have fulfilled the law of the Lord. The number of your children, whom you desired, is full; beseech the €Lord's power that your people, who have been called from the beginning, €may be made holy." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“±’ļ‚“Åśņį’¢˜Ŗ@I, Ezra, saw on Mount Zion a great multitude, which I could not €number, and they all were praising the Lord with songs. In their midst was a young man of great stature, taller than any of the €others, and on the head of each of them he placed a crown, but he was €more exalted than they. And I was held spellbound. Then I asked an angel, "Who are these, my lord?" He answered and said to me, "These are they who have put off mortal €clothing and have put on the immortal, and they have confessed the name €of God; now they are being crowned, and receive palms." Then I said to the angel, "Who is that young man who places crowns on €them and puts palms in their hands?" He answered and said to me, "He is the Son of God, whom they confessed €in the world." So I began to praise those who had stood valiantly for €the name of the Lord. Then the angel said to me, "Go, tell my people how great and many are €the wonders of the Lord God which you have seen."  @In the thirtieth year after the destruction of our city, I Salathiel, €who am also called Ezra, was in Babylon. I was troubled as I lay on my €bed, and my thoughts welled up in my heart, because I saw the desolation of Zion and the wealth of those who lived €in Babylon. My spirit was greatly agitated, and I began to speak anxious words to €the Most High, and said, "O sovereign Lord, didst thou not speak at the beginning when thou €didst form the earth -- and that without help -- and didst command the dust and it gave thee Adam, a lifeless body? Yet he was the workmanship of €thy hands, and thou didst breathe into him the breath of life, and he €was made alive in thy presence. And thou didst lead him into the garden which thy right hand had €planted before the earth appeared. And thou didst lay upon him one commandment of thine; but he €transgressed it, and immediately thou didst appoint death for him and €for his descendants. From him there sprang nations and tribes, peoples €and clans without number. And every nation walked after its own will and did ungodly things €before thee and scorned thee, and thou didst not hinder them. But again, in its time thou didst bring the flood upon the inhabitants €of the world and destroy them. And the same fate befell them: as death came upon Adam, so the flood €upon them. But thou didst leave one of them, Noah with his household, and all the €righteous who have descended from him. @"When those who dwelt on earth began to multiply, they produced €children and peoples and many nations, and again they began to be more €ungodly than were their ancestors. And when they were committing iniquity before thee, thou didst choose €for thyself one of them, whose name was Abraham; and thou didst love him, and to him only didst thou reveal the end of €the times, secretly by night. Thou didst make with him an everlasting covenant, and promise him that €thou wouldst never forsake his descendants; and thou gavest to him €Isaac, and to Isaac thou gavest Jacob and Esau. And thou didst set apart Jacob for thyself, but Esau thou didst reject; €and Jacob became a great multitude. And when thou didst lead his descendants out of Egypt, thou didst bring €them to Mount Sinai. Thou didst bend down the heavens and shake the earth, and move the €world, and make the depths to tremble, and trouble the times. And thy glory passed through the four gates of fire and earthquake and €wind and ice, to give the law to the descendants of Jacob, and thy €commandment to the posterity of Israel. @"Yet thou didst not take away from them their evil heart, so that thy €law might bring forth fruit in them. For the first Adam, burdened with an evil heart, transgressed and was €overcome, as were also all who were descended from him. Thus the disease became permanent; the law was in the people's heart €along with the evil root, but what was good departed, and the evil €remained. So the times passed and the years were completed, and thou didst raise €up for thyself a servant, named David. And thou didst command him to build a city for thy name, and in it to €offer thee oblations from what is thine. This was done for many years; but the inhabitants of the city €transgressed, in everything doing as Adam and all his descendants had done, for they €also had the evil heart. So thou didst deliver the city into the hands of thy enemies. @"Then I said in my heart, Are the deeds of those who inhabit Babylon €any better? Is that why she has gained dominion over Zion? For when I came here I saw ungodly deeds without number, and my soul €has seen many sinners during these thirty years. And my heart failed me, for I have seen how thou dost endure those who sin, and hast spared €those who act wickedly, and hast destroyed thy people, and hast €preserved thy enemies, and hast not shown to any one how thy way may be comprehended. Are the €deeds of Babylon better than those of Zion? Or has another nation known thee besides Israel? Or what tribes have so €believed thy covenants as these tribes of Jacob? Yet their reward has not appeared and their labor has borne no fruit. €For I have traveled widely among the nations and have seen that they €abound in wealth, though they are unmindful of thy commandments. Now therefore weigh in a balance our iniquities and those of the €inhabitants of the world; and so it will be found which way the turn of €the scale will incline. When have the inhabitants of the earth not sinned in thy sight? Or what €nation has kept thy commandments so well? Thou mayest indeed find individual men who have kept thy commandments, €but nations thou wilt not find."  @Then the angel that had been sent to me, whose name was Uriel, €answered and said to me, "Your understanding has utterly failed regarding this €world, and do you think you can comprehend the way of the Most High?" Then I said, "Yes, my lord." And he replied to me, "I have been sent to €show you three ways, and to put before you three problems. If you can solve one of them for me, I also will show you the way you €desire to see, and will teach you why the heart is evil." @I said, "Speak on, my lord." €@And he said to me, "Go, weigh for me the weight of fire, or measure €for me a measure of wind, or call back for me the day that is past." @I answered and said, "Who of those that have been born can do this, €that you ask me concerning these things?" @And he said to me, "If I had asked you, `How many dwellings are in €the heart of the sea, or how many streams are at the source of the €deep, or how many streams are above the firmament, or which are the €exits of hell, or which are the entrances of paradise?' Perhaps you would have said to me, `I never went down into the deep, €nor as yet into hell, neither did I ever ascend into heaven.' But now I have asked you only about fire and wind and the day, things €through which you have passed and without which you cannot exist, and €you have given me no answer about them!" And he said to me, "You cannot understand the things with which you €have grown up; how then can your mind comprehend the way of the Most High? And how can €one who is already worn out by the corrupt world understand €incorruption?" When I heard this, I fell on my face and said to him, "It would be better for us not to be here than to come €here and live in ungodliness, and to suffer and not understand why." @He answered me and said, "I went into a forest of trees of the plain, €and they made a plan and said, `Come, let us go and make war against the sea, that it may €recede before us, and that we may make for ourselves more forests.' And in like manner the waves of the sea also made a plan and said, €`Come, let us go up and subdue the forest of the plain so that there €also we may gain more territory for ourselves.' But the plan of the forest was in vain, for the fire came and consumed €it; likewise also the plan of the waves of the sea, for the sand stood firm €and stopped them. If now you were a judge between them, which would you undertake to €justify, and which to condemn?" @I answered and said, "Each has made a foolish plan, for the land is žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“±’ļ‚“Åśņį’¤˜“‚assigned to the forest, and to the sea is assigned a place to carry its €waves." @He answered me and said, "You have judged rightly, but why have you €not judged so in your own case? For as the land is assigned to the forest and the sea to its waves, so €also those who dwell upon earth can understand only what is on the €earth, and he who is above the heavens can understand what is above the €height of the heavens." @Then I answered and said, "I beseech you, my lord, why have I been €endowed with the power of understanding? For I did not wish to inquire about the ways above, but about those €things which we daily experience: why Israel has been given over to the €Gentiles as a reproach; why the people whom you loved has been given €over to godless tribes, and the law of our fathers has been made of no €effect and the written covenants no longer exist; and why we pass from the world like locusts, and our life is like a €mist, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy. But what will he do for his name, by which we are called? It is about €these things that I have asked." @He answered me and said, "If you are alive, you will see, and if you €live long, you will often marvel, because the age is hastening swiftly €to its end. For it will not be able to bring the things that have been promised to €the righteous in their appointed times, because this age is full of €sadness and infirmities. For the evil about which you ask me has been sown, but the harvest of €it has not yet come. If therefore that which has been sown is not reaped, and if the place €where the evil has been sown does not pass away, the field where the €good has been sown will not come. For a grain of evil seed was sown in Adam's heart from the beginning, €and how much ungodliness it has produced until now, and will produce €until the time of threshing comes! Consider now for yourself how much fruit of ungodliness a grain of evil €seed has produced. When heads of grain without number are sown, how great a threshing €floor they will fill!" @Then I answered and said, "How long and when will these things be? €Why are our years few and evil?" He answered me and said, "You do not hasten faster than the Most High, €for your haste is for yourself, but the Highest hastens on behalf of €many. Did not the souls of the righteous in their chambers ask about these €matters, saying, `How long are we to remain here? And when will come €the harvest of our reward? And Jeremiel the archangel answered them and said, `When the number of €those like yourselves is completed; for he has weighed the age in the €balance, and measured the times by measure, and numbered the times by number; €and he will not move or arouse them until that measure is fulfilled.'" @Then I answered and said, "O sovereign Lord, but all of us also are €full of ungodliness. And it is perhaps on account of us that the time of threshing is €delayed for the righteous -- on account of the sins of those who dwell on €earth." @He answered me and said, "Go and ask a woman who is with child if, €when her nine months have been completed, her womb can keep the child €within her any longer." @And I said, "No, lord, it cannot." €@And he said to me, "In Hades the chambers of the souls are like the €womb. For just as a woman who is in travail makes haste to escape the pangs €of birth, so also do these places hasten to give back those things that €were committed to them from the beginning. Then the things that you desire to see will be disclosed to you." @I answered and said, "If I have found favor in your sight, and if it €is possible, and if I am worthy, show me this also: whether more time is to come than has passed, or €whether for us the greater part has gone by. For I know what has gone by, but I do not know what is to come." @And he said to me, "Stand at my right side, and I will show you the €interpretation of a parable." @So I stood and looked, and behold, a flaming furnace passed by before €me, and when the flame had gone by I looked, and behold, the smoke €remained. And after this a cloud full of water passed before me and poured down a €heavy and violent rain, and when the rainstorm had passed, drops €remained in the cloud. @And he said to me, "Consider it for yourself; for as the rain is more €than the drops, and the fire is greater than the smoke, so the quantity €that passed was far greater; but drops and smoke remained." @Then I prayed and said, "Do you think that I shall live until those €days? Or who will be alive in those days?" @He answered me and said, "Concerning the signs about which you ask €me, I can tell you in part; but I was not sent to tell you concerning €your life, for I do not know.  @"Now concerning the signs: behold, the days are coming when those who €dwell on earth shall be seized with great terror, and the way of truth €shall be hidden, and the land shall be barren of faith. And unrighteousness shall be increased beyond what you yourself see, €and beyond what you heard of formerly. And the land which you now see ruling shall be waste and untrodden, and €men shall see it desolate. But if the Most High grants that you live, you shall see it thrown into €confusion after the third period; €@@and the sun shall suddenly shine forth at night, €@@@and the moon during the day. @@Blood shall drip from wood, €@@@and the stone shall utter its voice; €@@the peoples shall be troubled, €@@@and the stars shall fall. And one shall reign whom those who dwell on earth do not expect, and €the birds shall fly away together; and the sea of Sodom shall cast up fish; and one whom the many do not €know shall make his voice heard by night, and all shall hear his voice. There shall be chaos also in many places, and fire shall often break €out, and the wild beasts shall roam beyond their haunts, and menstruous €women shall bring forth monsters. And salt waters shall be found in the sweet, and all friends shall €conquer one another; then shall reason hide itself, and wisdom shall €withdraw into its chamber, and it shall be sought by many but shall not be found, and €unrighteousness and unrestraint shall increase on earth. And one country shall ask its neighbor, `Has righteousness, or any one €who does right, passed through you?' And it will answer, `No.' And at that time men shall hope but not obtain; they shall labor but €their ways shall not prosper. These are the signs which I am permitted to tell you, and if you pray €again, and weep as you do now, and fast for seven days, you shall hear €yet greater things than these." @Then I awoke, and my body shuddered violently, and my soul was so €troubled that it fainted. But the angel who had come and talked with me held me and strengthened €me and set me on my feet. @Now on the second night Phaltiel, a chief of the people, came to me €and said, "Where have you been? And why is your face sad? Or do you not know that Israel has been entrusted to you in the land of €their exile? Rise therefore and eat some bread, so that you may not forsake us, like €a shepherd who leaves his flock in the power of cruel wolves." @Then I said to him, "Depart from me and do not come near me for seven €days, and then you may come to me." €@He heard what I said and left me. So I fasted seven days, mourning and weeping, as Uriel the angel had €commanded me. @And after seven days the thoughts of my heart were very grievous to €me again. Then my soul recovered the spirit of understanding, and I began once €more to speak words in the presence of the Most High. And I said, "O sovereign Lord, from every forest of the earth and from €all its trees thou hast chosen one vine, and from all the lands of the world thou hast chosen for thyself one €region, and from all the flowers of the world thou hast chosen for €thyself one lily, and from all the depths of the sea thou hast filled for thyself one €river, and from all the cities that have been built thou hast €consecrated Zion for thyself, and from all the birds that have been created thou hast named for €thyself one dove, and from all the flocks that have been made thou hast žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“±’ļ‚“Åśņį’„˜šƒprovided for thyself one sheep, and from all the multitude of peoples thou hast gotten for thyself one €people; and to this people, whom thou hast loved, thou hast given the €law which is approved by all. And now, O Lord, why hast thou given over the one to the many, and €dishonored the one root beyond the others, and scattered thine only one €among the many? And those who opposed thy promises have trodden down those who believed €thy covenants. If thou dost really hate thy people, they should be punished at thy own €hands." @When I had spoken these words, the angel who had come to me on a €previous night was sent to me, and he said to me, "Listen to me, and I will instruct you; pay €attention to me, and I will tell you more." @And I said, "Speak, my lord." And he said to me, "Are you greatly €disturbed in mind over Israel? Or do you love him more than his Maker €does?" @And I said, "No, my lord, but because of my grief I have spoken; for €every hour I suffer agonies of heart, while I strive to understand the €way of the Most High and to search out part of his judgment." @And he said to me, "You cannot." And I said, "Why not, my lord? Why €then was I born? Or why did not my mother's womb become my grave, that €I might not see the travail of Jacob and the exhaustion of the people €of Israel?" @He said to me, "Count up for me those who have not yet come, and €gather for me the scattered raindrops, and make the withered flowers €bloom again for me; open for me the closed chambers, and bring forth for me the winds shut €up in them, or show me the picture of a voice; and then I will explain €to you the travail that you ask to understand." @And I said, "O sovereign Lord, who is able to know these things €except he whose dwelling is not with men? As for me, I am without wisdom, and how can I speak concerning the €things which thou hast asked me?" @He said to me, "Just as you cannot do one of the things that were €mentioned, so you cannot discover my judgment, or the goal of the love €that I have promised my people." @And I said, "Yet behold, O Lord, thou dost have charge of those who €are alive at the end, but what will those do who were before us, or we, €or those who come after us?" @He said to me, "I shall liken my judgment to a circle; just as for €those who are last there is no slowness, so for those who are first €there is no haste." @Then I answered and said, "Couldst thou not have created at one time €those who have been and those who are and those who will be, that thou €mightest show thy judgment the sooner?" @He replied to me and said, "The creation cannot make more haste than €the Creator, neither can the world hold at one time those who have been €created in it." @And I said, "How hast thou said to thy servant that thou wilt €certainly give life at one time to thy creation? If therefore all €creatures will live at one time and the creation will sustain them, it €might even now be able to support all of them present at one time." @He said to me, "Ask a woman's womb, and say to it, `If you bear ten €children, why one after another?' Request it therefore to produce ten €at one time." @I said, "Of course it cannot, but only each in its own time." @He said to me, "Even so have I given the womb of the earth to those €who from time to time are sown in it. For as an infant does not bring forth, and a woman who has become old €does not bring forth any longer, so have I organized the world which I €created." @Then I inquired and said, "Since thou hast now given me the €opportunity, let me speak before thee. Is our mother, of whom thou hast €told me, still young? Or is she now approaching old age?" @He replied to me, "Ask a woman who bears children, and she will tell €you. Say to her, "Why are those whom you have borne recently not like those €whom you bore before, but smaller in stature?' And she herself will answer you, `Those born in the strength of youth €are different from those born during the time of old age, when the womb €is failing.' Therefore you also should consider that you and your contemporaries are €smaller in stature than those who were before you, and those who come after you will be smaller than you, as born of a €creation which already is aging and passing the strength of youth." @And I said, "O Lord, I beseech thee, if I have found favor in thy €sight, show thy servant through whom thou dost visit thy creation."  @And he said to me, "At the beginning of the circle of the earth, €before the portals of the world were in place, and before the assembled €winds blew, and before the rumblings of thunder sounded, and before the flashes of €lightning shone, and before the foundations of paradise were laid, and before the beautiful flowers were seen, and before the powers of €movement were established, and before the innumerable hosts of angels €were gathered together, and before the heights of the air were lifted up, and before the €measures of the firmaments were named, and before the footstool of Zion €was established, and before the present years were reckoned; and before the imaginations €of those who now sin were estranged, and before those who stored up €treasures of faith were sealed --then I planned these things, and they were made through me and not €through another, just as the end shall come through me and not through €another." @And I answered and said, "What will be the dividing of the times? Or €when will be the end of the first age and the beginning of the age that €follows?" @He said to me, "From Abraham to Isaac, because from him were born €Jacob and Esau, for Jacob's hand held Esau's heel from the beginning. For Esau is the end of this age, and Jacob is the beginning of the age €that follows. For the beginning of a man is his hand, and the end of a man is his €heel; between the heel and the hand seek for nothing else, Ezra!" @I answered and said, "O sovereign Lord, if I have found favor in thy €sight, show thy servant the end of thy signs which thou didst show me in part €on a previous night." @He answered and said to me, "Rise to your feet and you will hear a €full, resounding voice. And if the place where you are standing is greatly shaken while the voice is speaking, do not be terrified; because the word €concerns the end, and the foundations of the earth will understand that the speech concerns them. They will tremble and be shaken, for €they know that their end must be changed." @When I heard this, I rose to my feet and listened, and behold, a €voice was speaking, and its sound was like the sound of many waters. And it said, "Behold, the days are coming, and it shall be that when I €draw near to visit the inhabitants of the earth, and when I require from the doers of iniquity the penalty of their €iniquity, and when the humiliation of Zion is complete, and when the seal is placed upon the age which is about to pass away, €then I will show these signs: the books shall be opened before the €firmament, and all shall see it together. Infants a year old shall speak with their voices, and women with child €shall give birth to premature children at three and four months, and €these shall live and dance. Sown places shall suddenly appear unsown, and full storehouses shall €suddenly be found to be empty; and the trumpet shall sound aloud, and when all hear it, they shall €suddenly be terrified. At that time friends shall make war on friends like enemies, and the €earth and those who inhabit it shall be terrified, and the springs of €the fountains shall stand still, so that for three hours they shall not €flow. @"And it shall be that whoever remains after all that I have foretold €to you shall himself be saved and shall see my salvation and the end of €my world. And they shall see the men who were taken up, who from their birth have €not tasted death; and the heart of the earth's inhabitants shall be €changed and converted to a different spirit. For evil shall be blotted out, and deceit shall be quenched; faithfulness shall flourish, and corruption shall be overcome, and the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“±’ļ‚“Åśņį’¦˜œ‚truth, which has been so long without fruit, shall be revealed." @While he spoke to me, behold, little by little the place where I was €standing began to rock to and fro. And he said to me, "I have come to show you these things this night. If therefore you will pray again and fast again for seven days, I will €again declare to you greater things than these, because your voice has surely been heard before the Most High; for the €Mighty One has seen your uprightness and has also observed the purity €which you have maintained from your youth. Therefore he sent me to show you all these things, and to say to you: €`Believe and do not be afraid! Do not be quick to think vain thoughts concerning the former times, €lest you be hasty concerning the last times.'" @Now after this I wept again and fasted seven days as before, in order €to complete the three weeks as I had been told. And on the eighth night my heart was troubled within me again, and I €began to speak in the presence of the Most High. For my spirit was greatly aroused, and my soul was in distress. @I said, "O Lord, thou didst speak at the beginning of creation, and €didst say on the first day, `Let heaven and earth be made,' and thy €word accomplished the work. And then the Spirit was hovering, and darkness and silence embraced €everything; the sound of man's voice was not yet there. Then thou didst command that a ray of light be brought forth from thy €treasuries, so that thy works might then appear. @"Again, on the second day, thou didst create the spirit of the €firmament, and didst command him to divide and separate the waters, €that one part might move upward and the other part remain beneath. @"On the third day thou didst command the waters to be gathered €together in the seventh part of the earth; six parts thou didst dry up €and keep so that some of them might be planted and cultivated and be of €service before thee. For thy word went forth, and at once the work was done. For immediately fruit came forth in endless abundance and of varied €appeal to the taste; and flowers of inimitable color; and odors of €inexpressible fragrance. These were made on the third day. @"On the fourth day thou didst command the brightness of the sun, the €light of the moon, and the arrangement of the stars to come into being; and thou didst command them to serve man, who was about to be formed. @"On the fifth day thou didst command the seventh part, where the €water had been gathered together, to bring forth living creatures, €birds, and fishes; and so it was done. The dumb and lifeless water produced living creatures, as it was €commanded, that therefore the nations might declare thy wondrous works. @"Then thou didst keep in existence two living creatures; the name of €one thou didst call Behemoth and the name of the other Leviathan. And thou didst separate one from the other, for the seventh part where €the water had been gathered together could not hold them both. And thou didst give Behemoth one of the parts which had been dried up €on the third day, to live in it, where there are a thousand mountains; but to Leviathan thou didst give the seventh part, the watery part; and €thou hast kept them to be eaten by whom thou wilt, and when thou wilt. @"On the sixth day thou didst command the earth to bring forth before €thee cattle, beasts, and creeping things; and over these thou didst place Adam, as ruler over all the works which €thou hadst made; and from him we have all come, the people whom thou €hast chosen. @"All this I have spoken before thee, O Lord, because thou hast said €that it was for us that thou didst create this world. As for the other nations which have descended from Adam, thou hast said €that they are nothing, and that they are like spittle, and thou hast €compared their abundance to a drop from a bucket. And now, O Lord, behold, these nations, which are reputed as nothing, €domineer over us and devour us. But we thy people, whom thou hast called thy first-born, only begotten, €zealous for thee, and most dear, have been given into their hands. If the world has indeed been created for us, why do we not possess our €world as an inheritance? How long will this be so?"  @When I had finished speaking these words, the angel who had been sent €to me on the former nights was sent to me again, and he said to me, "Rise, Ezra, and listen to the words that I have €come to speak to you." @I said, "Speak, my lord." And he said to me, "There is a sea set in a €wide expanse so that it is broad and vast, but it has an entrance set in a narrow place, so that it is like a €river. If any one, then, wishes to reach the sea, to look at it or to navigate €it, how can he come to the broad part unless he passes through the €narrow part? Another example: There is a city built and set on a plain, and it is €full of all good things; but the entrance to it is narrow and set in a precipitous place, so €that there is fire on the right hand and deep water on the left; and there is only one path lying between them, that is, between the €fire and the water, so that only one man can walk upon that path. If now that city is given to a man for an inheritance, how will the €heir receive his inheritance unless he passes through the danger set €before him?" @I said, "He cannot, lord." And he said to me, "So also is Israel's €portion. For I made the world for their sake, and when Adam transgressed my €statutes, what had been made was judged. And so the entrances of this world were made narrow and sorrowful and €toilsome; they are few and evil, full of dangers and involved in great €hardships. But the entrances of the greater world are broad and safe, and really €yield the fruit of immortality. Therefore unless the living pass through the difficult and vain €experiences, they can never receive those things that have been €reserved for them. But now why are you disturbed, seeing that you are to perish? And why €are you moved, seeing that you are mortal? And why have you not considered in your mind what is to come, rather €than what is now present?" @Then I answered and said, "O sovereign Lord, behold, thou hast €ordained in thy law that the righteous shall inherit these things, but €that the ungodly shall perish. The righteous therefore can endure difficult circumstances while hoping €for easier ones; but those who have done wickedly have suffered the €difficult circumstances and will not see the easier ones." @And he said to me, "You are not a better judge than God, or wiser €than the Most High! Let many perish who are now living, rather than that the law of God €which is set before them be disregarded! For God strictly commanded those who came into the world, when they €came, what they should do to live, and what they should observe to €avoid punishment. Nevertheless they were not obedient, and spoke against him; €@@they devised for themselves vain thoughts, @@@and proposed to themselves wicked frauds; €@@they even declared that the Most High does not exist, €@@@and they ignored his ways! @@They scorned his law, €@@@and denied his covenants; €@@they have been unfaithful to his statutes, €@@@and have not performed his works. @"Therefore, Ezra, empty things are for the empty, and full things are €for the full. For behold, the time will come, when the signs which I have foretold to €you will come to pass, that the city which now is not seen shall €appear, and the land which now is hidden shall be disclosed. And every one who has been delivered from the evils that I have €foretold shall see my wonders. For my son the Messiah shall be revealed with those who are with him, €and those who remain shall rejoice four hundred years. And after these years my son the Messiah shall die, and all who draw €human breath. And the world shall be turned back to primeval silence for seven days, €as it was at the first beginnings; so that no one shall be left. And after seven days the world, which is not yet awake, shall be €roused, and that which is corruptible shall perish. And the earth shall give up those who are asleep in it, and the dust žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“±’ļ‚“Åśņį’§˜ ‚those who dwell silently in it; and the chambers shall give up the €souls which have been committed to them. And the Most High shall be revealed upon the seat of judgment, and €compassion shall pass away, and patience shall be withdrawn; but only judgment shall remain, truth shall stand, and faithfulness €shall grow strong. And recompense shall follow, and the reward shall be manifested; €righteous deeds shall awake, and unrighteous deeds shall not sleep. ŸŪ³¶Ż’Then the pit of torment shall appear, and opposite it shall be the €place of rest; and the furnace of hell shall be disclosed, and opposite €it the paradise of delight. ŸŪ³·Ż’Then the Most High will say to the nations that have been raised from €the dead, `Look now, and understand whom you have denied, whom you have €not served, whose commandments you have despised! ŸŪ³øŻ’Look on this side and on that; here are delight and rest, and there are €fire and torments!' Thus he will speak to them on the day of judgment --ŸŪ³¹Ż’a day that has no sun or moon or stars, ŸŪ“°Ż’or cloud or thunder or lightning or wind or water or air, or darkness €or evening or morning, ŸŪ“±Ż’or summer or spring or heat or winter or frost or cold or hail or rain €or dew, ŸŪ“²Ż’or noon or night, or dawn or shining or brightness or light, but only €the splendor of the glory of the Most High, by which all shall see what €has been determined for them. ŸŪ“³Ż’For it will last for about a week of years. ŸŪ““Ż’This is my judgment and its prescribed order; and to you alone have I €shown these things." ŸŪ“µŻ’@I answered and said, "O sovereign Lord, I said then and I say now: €Blessed are those who are alive and keep thy commandments! ŸŪ“¶Ż’But what of those for whom I prayed? For who among the living is there €that has not sinned, or who among men that has not transgressed thy €covenant? ŸŪ“·Ż’And now I see that the world to come will bring delight to few, but €torments to many. ŸŪ“øŻ’For an evil heart has grown up in us, which has alienated us from God, €and has brought us into corruption and the ways of death, and has shown €us the paths of perdition and removed us far from life -- and that not €just a few of us but almost all who have been created!" ŸŪ“¹Ż’@He answered me and said, "Listen to me, Ezra, and I will instruct €you, and will admonish you yet again. ŸŪµ°Ż’For this reason the Most High has made not one world but two. ŸŪµ±Ż’For whereas you have said that the righteous are not many but few, €while the ungodly abound, hear the explanation for this. ŸŪµ²Ż’@"If you have just a few precious stones, will you add to them lead €and clay?" ŸŪµ³Ż’@I said, "Lord, how could that be?" ŸŪµ“Ż’@And he said to me, "Not only that, but ask the earth and she will €tell you; defer to her, and she will declare it to you. ŸŪµµŻ’Say to her, `You produce gold and silver and brass, and also iron and €lead and clay; ŸŪµ¶Ż’but silver is more abundant than gold, and brass than silver, and iron €than brass, and lead than iron, and clay than lead.' ŸŪµ·Ż’Judge therefore which things are precious and desirable, those that are €abundant or those that are rare?" ŸŪµøŻ’@I said, "O sovereign Lord, what is plentiful is of less worth, for €what is more rare is more precious." ŸŪµ¹Ż’@He answered me and said, "Weigh within yourself what you have €thought, for he who has what is hard to get rejoices more than he who €has what is plentiful. ŸŪ¶°Ż’So also will be the judgment which I have promised; for I will rejoice €over the few who shall be saved, because it is they who have made my €glory to prevail now, and through them my name has now been honored. ŸŪ¶±Ż’And I will not grieve over the multitude of those who perish; for it is €they who are now like a mist, and are similar to a flame and €smoke -- they are set on fire and burn hotly, and are extinguished." ŸŪ¶²Ż’@I replied and said, "O earth, what have you brought forth, if the €mind is made out of the dust like the other created things! ŸŪ¶³Ż’For it would have been better if the dust itself had not been born, so €that the mind might not have been made from it. ŸŪ¶“Ż’But now the mind grows with us, and therefore we are tormented, because €we perish and know it. ŸŪ¶µŻ’Let the human race lament, but let the beasts of the field be glad; let €all who have been born lament, but let the four-footed beasts and the €flocks rejoice! ŸŪ¶¶Ż’For it is much better with them than with us; for they do not look for €a judgment, nor do they know of any torment or salvation promised to €them after death. ŸŪ¶·Ż’For what does it profit us that we shall be preserved alive but cruelly €tormented? ŸŪ¶øŻ’For all who have been born are involved in iniquities, and are full of €sins and burdened with transgressions. ŸŪ¶¹Ż’And if we were not to come into judgment after death, perhaps it would €have been better for us." ŸŪ·°Ż’@He answered me and said, "When the Most High made the world and Adam €and all who have come from him, he first prepared the judgment and the €things that pertain to the judgment. ŸŪ·±Ż’And now understand from your own words, for you have said that the mind €grows with us. ŸŪ·²Ż’For this reason, therefore, those who dwell on earth shall be €tormented, because though they had understanding they committed €iniquity, and though they received the commandments they did not keep €them, and though they obtained the law they dealt unfaithfully with €what they received. ŸŪ·³Ż’What, then, will they have to say in the judgment, or how will they €answer in the last times? ŸŪ·“Ż’For how long the time is that the Most High has been patient with those €who inhabit the world, and not for their sake, but because of the times €which he has foreordained!" ŸŪ·µŻ’@I answered and said, "If I have found favor in thy sight, O Lord, €show this also to thy servant: whether after death, as soon as every €one of us yields up his soul, we shall be kept in rest until those €times come when thou wilt renew the creation, or whether we shall be €tormented at once?" ŸŪ·¶Ż’@He answered me and said, "I will show you that also, but do not be €associated with those who have shown scorn, nor number yourself among €those who are tormented. ŸŪ··Ż’For you have a treasure of works laid up with the Most High; but it €will not be shown to you until the last times. ŸŪ·øŻ’Now, concerning death, the teaching is: When the decisive decree has €gone forth from the Most High that a man shall die, as the spirit €leaves the body to return again to him who gave it, first of all it €adores the glory of the Most High. ŸŪ·¹Ż’And if it is one of those who have shown scorn and have not kept the €way of the Most High, and who have despised his law, and who have hated €those who fear God --ŸŪø°Ż’such spirits shall not enter into habitations, but shall immediately €wander about in torments, ever grieving and sad, in seven ways. ŸŪø±Ż’The first way, because they have scorned the law of the Most High. ŸŪø²Ż’The second way, because they cannot now make a good repentance that €they may live. ŸŪø³Ż’The third way, they shall see the reward laid up for those who have €trusted the covenants of the Most High. ŸŪø“Ż’The fourth way, they shall consider the torment laid up for themselves €in the last days. ŸŪøµŻ’The fifth way, they shall see how the habitations of the others are €guarded by angels in profound quiet. ŸŪø¶Ż’The sixth way, they shall see how some of them will pass over into €torments. ŸŪø·Ż’The seventh way, which is worse than all the ways that have been €mentioned, because they shall utterly waste away in confusion and be €consumed with shame, and shall wither with fear at seeing the glory of €the Most High before whom they sinned while they were alive, and before €whom they are to be judged in the last times. ŸŪøøŻ’@"Now this is the order of those who have kept the ways of the Most €High, when they shall be separated from their mortal body. ŸŪø¹Ż’During the time that they lived in it, they laboriously served the Most €High, and withstood danger every hour, that they might keep the law of €the Lawgiver perfectly. ŸŪ¹°Ż’Therefore this is the teaching concerning them: žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“±’ļ‚“Åśņį’§ŸŪ¹±Ż’First of all, they shall see with great joy the glory of him who €receives them, for they shall have rest in seven orders. ŸŪ¹²Ż’The first order, because they have striven with great effort to €overcome the evil thought which was formed with them, that it might not €lead them astray from life into death. ŸŪ¹³Ż’The second order, because they see the perplexity in which the souls of €the ungodly wander, and the punishment that awaits them. ŸŪ¹“Ż’The third order, they see the witness which he who formed them bears €concerning them, that while they were alive they kept the law which was €given them in trust. ŸŪ¹µŻ’The fourth order, they understand the rest which they now enjoy, being €gathered into their chambers and guarded by angels in profound quiet, €and the glory which awaits them in the last days. ŸŪ¹¶Ż’The fifth order, they rejoice that they have now escaped what is €corruptible, and shall inherit what is to come; and besides they see €the straits and toil from which they have been delivered, and the €spacious liberty which they are to receive and enjoy in immortality. ŸŪ¹·Ż’The sixth order, when it is shown to them how their face is to shine €like the sun, and how they are to be made like the light of the stars, €being incorruptible from then on. ŸŪ¹øŻ’The seventh order, which is greater than all that have been mentioned, €because they shall rejoice with boldness, and shall be confident €without confusion, and shall be glad without fear, for they hasten to €behold the face of him whom they served in life and from whom they are €to receive their reward when glorified. ŸŪ¹¹Ż’This is the order of the souls of the righteous, as henceforth is €announced; and the aforesaid are the ways of torment which those who €would not give heed shall suffer hereafter." ŸŪ±°°Ż’@I answered and said, "Will time therefore be given to the souls, €after they have been separated from the bodies, to see what you have €described to me?" ŸŪ±°±Ż’@He said to me, "They shall have freedom for seven days, so that €during these seven days they may see the things of which you have been €told, and afterwards they shall be gathered in their habitations." ŸŪ±°²Ż’@I answered and said, "If I have found favor in thy sight, show €further to me, thy servant, whether on the day of judgment the €righteous will be able to intercede for the ungodly or to entreat the €Most High for them, ŸŪ±°³Ż’fathers for sons or sons for parents, brothers for brothers, relatives €for their kinsmen, or friends for those who are most dear." ŸŪ±°“Ż’@He answered me and said, "Since you have found favor in my sight, I €will show you this also. The day of judgment is decisive and displays €to all the seal of truth. Just as now a father does not send his son, €or a son his father, or a master his servant, or a friend his dearest €friend, to be ill or sleep or eat or be healed in his stead, ŸŪ±°µŻ’so no one shall ever pray for another on that day, neither shall any €one lay a burden on another; for then every one shall bear his own €righteousness and unrighteousness." š¤Ū±°¶Ż’@I answered and said, "How then do we find that first Abraham prayed €for the people of Sodom, and Moses for our fathers who sinned in the €desert, š„Ū±°·Ż’and Joshua after him for Israel in the days of Achan, š¦Ū±°øŻ’and Samuel in the days of Saul, and David for the plague, and Solomon €for those in the sanctuary, š§Ū±°¹Ż’and Elijah for those who received the rain, and for the one who was €dead, that he might live, šØŪ±±°Ż’and Hezekiah for the people in the days of Sennacherib, and many others €prayed for many? š©Ū±±±Ż’If therefore the righteous have prayed for the ungodly now, when €corruption has increased and unrighteousness has multiplied, why will €it not be so then as well?" šŖŪ±±²Ż’@He answered me and said, "This present world is not the end; the full €glory does not abide in it; therefore those who were strong prayed for €the weak. š«Ū±±³Ż’But the day of judgment will be the end of this age and the beginning €of the immortal age to come, in which corruption has passed away, š¬Ū±±“Ż’sinful indulgence has come to an end, unbelief has been cut off, and €righteousness has increased and truth has appeared. š­Ū±±µŻ’Therefore no one will then be able to have mercy on him who has been €condemned in the judgment, or to harm him who is victorious." š®Ū±±¶Ż’@I answered and said, "This is my first and last word, that it would €have been better if the earth had not produced Adam, or else, when it €had produced him, had restrained him from sinning. šÆŪ±±·Ż’For what good is it to all that they live in sorrow now and expect €punishment after death? š°Ū±±øŻ’O Adam, what have you done? For though it was you who sinned, the fall €was not yours alone, but ours also who are your descendants. š±Ū±±¹Ż’For what good is it to us, if an eternal age has been promised to us, €but we have done deeds that bring death? š²Ū±²°Ż’And what good is it that an everlasting hope has been promised to us, €but we have miserably failed? š³Ū±²±Ż’Or that safe and healthful habitations have been reserved for us, but €we have lived wickedly? š“Ū±²²Ż’Or that the glory of the Most High will defend those who have led a €pure life, but we have walked in the most wicked ways? šµŪ±²³Ż’Or that a paradise shall be revealed, whose fruit remains unspoiled and €in which are abundance and healing, but we shall not enter it, š¶Ū±²“Ż’because we have lived in unseemly places? š·Ū±²µŻ’Or that the faces of those who practiced self-control shall shine more €than the stars, but our faces shall be blacker than darkness? šøŪ±²¶Ż’For while we lived and committed iniquity we did not consider what we €should suffer after death." š¹Ū±²·Ż’@He answered and said, "This is the meaning of the contest which every €man who is born on earth shall wage, šŗŪ±²øŻ’that if he is defeated he shall suffer what you have said, but if he is €victorious he shall receive what I have said. š»Ū±²¹Ż’For this is the way of which Moses, while he was alive, spoke to the €people, saying, `Choose for yourself life, that you may live!' š¼Ū±³°Ż’But they did not believe him, or the prophets after him, or even myself €who have spoken to them. š½Ū±³±Ż’Therefore there shall not be grief at their destruction, so much as joy €over those to whom salvation is assured." š¾Ū±³²Ż’@I answered and said, "I know, O Lord, that the Most High is now €called merciful, because he has mercy on those who have not yet come €into the world; šæŪ±³³Ż’and gracious, because he is gracious to those who turn in repentance to €his law; šĄŪ±³“Ż’and patient, because he shows patience toward those who have sinned, €since they are his own works; šĮŪ±³µŻ’and bountiful, because he would rather give than take away; šĀŪ±³¶Ż’and abundant in compassion, because he makes his compassions abound €more and more to those now living and to those who are gone and to €those yet to come, šĆŪ±³·Ż’for if he did not make them abound, the world with those who inhabit it €would not have life; šÄŪ±³øŻ’and he is called giver, because if he did not give out of his goodness €so that those who have committed iniquities might be relieved of them, €not one ten-thousandth of mankind could have life; šÅŪ±³¹Ż’and judge, because if he did not pardon those who were created by his €word and blot out the multitude of their sins, šĘŪ±“°Ż’there would probably be left only very few of the innumerable €multitude."  @He answered me and said, "The Most High made this world for the sake €of many, but the world to come for the sake of few. But I tell you a parable, Ezra. Just as, when you ask the earth, it €will tell you that it provides very much clay from which earthenware is €made, but only a little dust from which gold comes; so is the course of €the present world. Many have been created, but few shall be saved." @I answered and said, "Then drink your fill of understanding, O my €soul, and drink wisdom, O my heart! For not of your own will did you come into the world, and against your €will you depart, for you have been given only a short time to live. O Lord who are over us, grant to thy servant that we may pray before žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“±’ļ‚“Åśņį’؈–‚thee, and give us seed for our heart and cultivation of our €understanding so that fruit may be produced, by which every mortal who €bears the likeness of a human being may be able to live. For thou alone dost exist, and we are a work of thy hands, as thou hast €declared. And because thou dost give life to the body which is now fashioned in €the womb, and dost furnish it with members, what thou hast created is €preserved in fire and water, and for nine months the womb which thou €has formed endures thy creation which has been created in it. But that which keeps and that which is kept shall both be kept by thy €keeping. And when the womb gives up again what has been created in it, thou hast commanded that from the members themselves (that is, from the €breasts) milk should be supplied which is the fruit of the breasts, so that what has been fashioned may be nourished for a time; and €afterwards thou wilt guide him in thy mercy. Thou hast brought him up in thy righteousness, and instructed him in €thy law, and reproved him in thy wisdom. Thou wilt take away his life, for he is thy creation; and thou wilt €make him live, for he is thy work. If then thou wilt suddenly and quickly destroy him who with so great €labor was fashioned by thy command, to what purpose was he made? And now I will speak out: About all mankind thou knowest best; but I €will speak about thy people, for whom I am grieved, and about thy inheritance, for whom I lament, and about Israel, for €whom I am sad, and about the seed of Jacob, for whom I am troubled. Therefore I will pray before thee for myself and for them, for I see €the failings of us who dwell in the land, and I have heard of the swiftness of the judgment that is to come. Therefore hear my voice, and understand my words, and I will speak €before thee." €@The beginning of the words of Ezra's prayer, before he was taken up. €He said: "O Lord who inhabitest eternity, whose eyes are exalted and whose upper €chambers are in the air, whose throne is beyond measure and whose glory is beyond comprehension, €before whom the hosts of angels stand trembling and at whose command they are changed to wind and fire, whose word is €sure and whose utterances are certain, whose ordinance is strong and €whose command is terrible, whose look dries up the depths and whose indignation makes the €mountains melt away, and whose truth is established for ever --hear, O Lord, the prayer of thy servant, and give ear to the petition €of thy creature; attend to my words. For as long as I live I will speak, and as long as I have understanding €I will answer. O look not upon the sins of thy people, but at those who have served €thee in truth. Regard not the endeavors of those who act wickedly, but the endeavors €of those who have kept thy covenants amid afflictions. Think not on those who have lived wickedly in thy sight; but remember €those who have willingly acknowledged that thou art to be feared. Let it not be thy will to destroy those who have had the ways of €cattle; but regard those who have gloriously taught thy law. Be not angry with those who are deemed worse than beasts; but love €those who have always put their trust in thy glory. For we and our fathers have passed our lives in ways that bring death, €but thou, because of us sinners, are called merciful. For if thou hast desired to have pity on us, who have no works of €righteousness, then thou wilt be called merciful. For the righteous, who have many works laid up with thee, shall receive €their reward in consequence of their own deeds. But what is man, that thou art angry with him; or what is a corruptible €race, that thou art so bitter against it? For in truth there is no one among those who have been born who has not €acted wickedly, and among those who have existed there is no one who €has not transgressed. For in this, O Lord, thy righteousness and goodness will be declared, €when thou art merciful to those who have no store of good works." @He answered me and said, "Some things you have spoken rightly, and it €will come to pass according to your words. For indeed I will not concern myself about the fashioning of those who €have sinned, or about their death, their judgment, or their destruction; but I will rejoice over the creation of the righteous, over their €pilgrimage also, and their salvation, and their receiving their reward. As I have spoken, therefore, so it shall be. @"For just as the farmer sows many seeds upon the ground and plants a €multitude of seedlings, and yet not all that have been sown will come €up in due season, and not all that were planted will take root; so also €those who have been sown in the world will not all be saved." @I answered and said, "If I have found favor before thee, let me speak. For if the farmer's seed does not come up, because it has not received €thy rain in due season, or if it has been ruined by too much rain, it €perishes. But man, who has been formed by thy hands and is called thy own image €because he is made like thee, and for whose sake thou hast formed all €things -- hast thou also made him like the farmer's seed? No, O Lord who art over us! But spare thy people and have mercy on thy €inheritance, for thou hast mercy on thy own creation." @He answered me and said, "Things that are present are for those who €live now, and things that are future are for those who will live €hereafter. For you come far short of being able to love my creation more than I €love it. But you have often compared yourself to the unrighteous. Never €do so! But even in this respect you will be praiseworthy before the Most High, because you have humbled yourself, as is becoming for you, and have not €deemed yourself to be among the righteous in order to receive the €greatest glory. For many miseries will affect those who inhabit the world in the last €times, because they have walked in great pride. But think of your own case, and inquire concerning the glory of those €who are like yourself, because it is for you that paradise is opened, the tree of life is €planted, the age to come is prepared, plenty is provided, a city is €built, rest is appointed, goodness is established and wisdom perfected €beforehand. The root of evil is sealed up from you, illness is banished from you, €and death is hidden; hell has fled and corruption has been forgotten; sorrows have passed away, and in the end the treasure of immortality is €made manifest. Therefore do not ask any more questions about the multitude of those €who perish. For they also received freedom , but they despised the Most High, and €were contemptuous of his law, and forsook his ways. Moreover they have even trampled upon his righteous ones, and said in their hearts that there is not God -- though knowing full €well that they must die. For just as the things which I have predicted await you, so the thirst €and torment which are prepared await them. For the Most High did not €intend that men should be destroyed; but they themselves who were created have defiled the name of him who €made them, and have been ungrateful to him who prepared life for them. Therefore my judgment is now drawing near; I have not shown this to all men, but only to you and a few like you." €@Then I answered and said, "Behold, O Lord, thou hast now shown me a multitude of the signs which €thou wilt do in the last times, but thou hast not shown me when thou €wilt do them."  @He answered me and said, "Measure carefully in your mind, and when €you see that a certain part of the predicted signs are past, then you will know that it is the very time when the Most High is about €to visit the world which he has made. So when there shall appear in the world earthquakes, tumult of peoples, €intrigues of nations, wavering of leaders, confusion of princes, then you will know that it was of these that the Most High spoke from €the days that were of old, from the beginning. For just as with everything that has occurred in the world, the €beginning is evident, and the end manifest; so also are the times of the Most High: the beginnings are manifest in žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“±’ļ‚“Åśņį’؉–‚wonders and mighty works, and the end in requital and in signs. And it shall be that every one who will be saved and will be able to €escape on account of his works, or on account of the faith by which he €has believed, will survive the dangers that have been predicted, and will see my €salvation in my land and within my borders, which I have sanctified for €myself from the beginning. Then those who have now abused my ways shall be amazed, and those who €have rejected them with contempt shall dwell in torments. For as many as did not acknowledge me in their lifetime, although they €received my benefits, and as many as scorned my law while they still had freedom, and did not €understand but despised it while an opportunity of repentance was still €open to them, these must in torment acknowledge it after death. Therefore, do not continue to be curious as to how the ungodly will be €punished; but inquire how the righteous will be saved, those to whom €the age belongs and for whose sake the age was made." @I answered and said, "I said before, and I say now, and will say it again: there are more €who perish than those who will be saved, as a wave is greater than a drop of water." @He answered me and said, "As is the field, so is the seed; and as are €the flowers, so are the colors; and as is the work, so is the product; €and as is the farmer, so is the threshing floor. For there was a time in this age when I was preparing for those who now €exist, before the world was made for them to dwell in, and no one €opposed me then, for no one existed; but now those who have been created in this world which is supplied €both with an unfailing table and an inexhaustible pasture, have become €corrupt in their ways. So I considered my world, and behold, it was lost, and my earth, and €behold, it was in peril because of the devices of those who had come €into it. And I saw and spared some with great difficulty, and saved for myself €one grape out of a cluster, and one plant out of a great forest. So let the multitude perish which has been born in vain, but let my €grape and my plant be saved, because with much labor I have perfected €them. But if you will let seven days more pass -- do not fast during them, €however; but go into a field of flowers where no house has been built, and eat €only of the flowers of the field, and taste no meat and drink no wine, €but eat only flowers, and pray to the Most High continually -- then I will come and talk with €you." @So I went, as he directed me, into the field which is called Ardat; €and there I sat among the flowers and ate of the plants of the field, €and the nourishment they afforded satisfied me. And after seven days, as I lay on the grass, my heart was troubled €again as it was before. And my mouth was opened, and I began to speak before the Most High, and €said, "O Lord, thou didst show thyself among us, to our fathers in the €wilderness when they came out from Egypt and when they came into the €untrodden and unfruitful wilderness; and thou didst say, `Hear me, O Israel, and give heed to my words, O €descendants of Jacob. For behold, I sow my law in you, and it shall bring forth fruit in you €and you shall be glorified through it for ever.' But though our fathers received the law, they did not keep it, and did €not observe the statutes; yet the fruit of the law did not perish -- for €it could not, because it was thine. Yet those who received it perished, because they did not keep what had €been sown in them. And behold, it is the rule that, when the ground has received seed, or €the sea a ship, or any dish food or drink, and when it happens that €what was sown or what was launched or what was put in is destroyed, they are destroyed, but the things that held them remain; yet with us €it has not been so. For we who have received the law and sinned will perish, as well as our €heart which received it; the law, however, does not perish but remains in its glory." @When I said these things in my heart, I lifted up my eyes and saw a €woman on my right, and behold, she was mourning and weeping with a loud €voice, and was deeply grieved at heart, and her clothes were rent, and €there were ashes on her head. Then I dismissed the thoughts with which I had been engaged, and turned €to her and said to her, "Why are you weeping, and why are you grieved at €heart?" @And she said to me, "Let me alone, my lord, that I may weep for €myself and continue to mourn, for I am greatly embittered in spirit and €deeply afflicted." @And I said to her, "What has happened to you? Tell me." @And she said to me, "Your servant was barren and had no child, though €I lived with my husband thirty years. And every hour and every day during those thirty years I besought the €Most High, night and day. And after thirty years God heard your handmaid, and looked upon my low €estate, and considered my distress, and gave me a son. And I rejoiced €greatly over him, I and my husband and all my neighbors; and we gave €great glory to the Mighty One. And I brought him up with much care. So when he grew up and I came to take a wife for him, I set a day for €the marriage feast.  @"But it happened that when my son entered his wedding chamber, he €fell down and died. Then we all put out the lamps, and all my neighbors attempted to €console me; and I remained quiet until evening of the second day. But when they all had stopped consoling me, that I might be quiet, I €got up in the night and fled, and came to this field, as you see. And now I intend not to return to the city, but to stay here, and I €will neither eat nor drink, but without ceasing mourn and fast until I €die." @Then I broke off the reflections with which I was still engaged, and €answered her in anger and said, "You most foolish of women, do you not see our mourning, and what has €happened to us? For Zion, the mother of us all, is in deep grief and great affliction. It is most appropriate to mourn now, because we are all mourning, and €to be sorrowful, because we are all sorrowing; you are sorrowing for €one son, but we, the whole world, for our mother. Now ask the earth, and she will tell you that it is she who ought to €mourn over so many who have come into being upon her. And from the beginning all have been born of her, and others will come; €and behold, almost all go to perdition, and a multitude of them are €destined for destruction. Who then ought to mourn the more, she who lost so great a multitude, or €you who are grieving for one? But if you say to me, `My lamentation is not like the earth's, for I €have lost the fruit of my womb, which I brought forth in pain and bore €in sorrow; but it is with the earth according to the way of the earth -- the €multitude that is now in it goes as it came'; then I say to you, `As you brought forth in sorrow, so the earth also €has from the beginning given her fruit, that is, man, to him who made €her.' Now, therefore, keep your sorrow to yourself, and bear bravely the €troubles that have come upon you. For if you acknowledge the decree of God to be just, you will receive €your son back in due time, and will be praised among women. Therefore go into the city to your husband." @She said to me, "I will not do so; I will not go into the city, but I €will die here." @So I spoke again to her, and said, "Do not say that, but let yourself be persuaded because of the troubles €of Zion, and be consoled because of the sorrow of Jerusalem. For you see that our sanctuary has been laid waste, our altar thrown €down, our temple destroyed; our harp has been laid low, our song has been silenced, and our €rejoicing has been ended; the light of our lampstand has been put out, €the ark of our covenant has been plundered, our holy things have been €polluted, and the name by which we are called has been profaned; our €free men have suffered abuse, our priests have been burned to death, €our Levites have gone into captivity, our virgins have been defiled, €and our wives have been ravished; our righteous men have been carried žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“±’ļ‚“Åśņį’؊˜–ˆˆoff, our little ones have been cast out, our young men have been €enslaved and our strong men made powerless. And, what is more than all, the seal of Zion -- for she has now lost the €seal of her glory, and has been given over into the hands of those that €hate us. Therefore shake off your great sadness and lay aside your many sorrows, €so that the Mighty One may be merciful to you again, and the Most High €may give you rest, a relief from your troubles." @While I was talking to her, behold, her face suddenly shone €exceedingly, and her countenance flashed like lightning, so that I was €too frightened to approach her, and my heart was terrified. While I was €wondering what this meant, behold, she suddenly uttered a loud and fearful cry, so that the earth €shook at the sound. And I looked, and behold, the woman was no longer visible to me, but €there was an established city, and a place of huge foundations showed €itself. Then I was afraid, and cried with a loud voice and said, "Where is the angel Uriel, who came to me at first? For it was he who €brought me into this overpowering bewilderment; my end has become €corruption, and my prayer a reproach." @As I was speaking these words, behold, the angel who had come to me €at first came to me, and he looked upon me; and behold, I lay there like a corpse and I was deprived of my €understanding. Then he grasped my right hand and strengthened me and €set me on my feet, and said to me, "What is the matter with you? And why are you troubled? And why are €your understanding and the thoughts of your mind troubled?" @I said, "Because you have forsaken me! I did as you directed, and €went out into the field, and behold, I saw, and still see, what I am €unable to explain." @He said to me, "Stand up like a man, and I will instruct you." @I said, "Speak, my lord; only do not forsake me, lest I die before my €time. For I have seen what I did not know, and I have heard what I do not €understand. Or is my mind deceived, and my soul dreaming? Now therefore I entreat you to give your servant an explanation of this €bewildering vision." @He answered me and said, "Listen to me and I will inform you, and €tell you about the things which you fear, for the Most High has €revealed many secrets to you. For he has seen your righteous conduct, that you have sorrowed €continually for your people, and mourned greatly over Zion. This therefore is the meaning of the vision. The woman who appeared to you a little while ago, whom you saw mourning €and began to console --but you do not now see the form of a woman, but an established city has €appeared to you --and as for her telling you about the misfortune of her son, this is the €interpretation: This woman whom you saw, whom you now behold as an established city, is €Zion. And as for her telling you that she was barren for thirty years, it is €because there were three thousand years in the world before any €offering was offered in it. And after three thousand years Solomon built the city, and offered €offerings; then it was that the barren woman bore a son. And as for her telling you that she brought him up with much care, that €was the period of residence in Jerusalem. And as for her saying to you , `When my son entered his wedding chamber €he died,' and that misfortune had overtaken her, that was the €destruction which befell Jerusalem. And behold, you saw her likeness, how she mourned for her son, and you €began to console her for what had happened. For now the Most High, seeing that you are sincerely grieved and €profoundly distressed for her, has shown you the brilliance of her €glory, and the loveliness of her beauty. Therefore I told you to remain in the field where no house had been €built, for I knew that the Most High would reveal these things to you. Therefore I told you to go into the field where there was no foundation €of any building, for no work of man's building could endure in a place where the city of €the Most High was to be revealed. @"Therefore do not be afraid, and do not let your heart be terrified; €but go in and see the splendor and vastness of the building, as far as €it is possible for your eyes to see it, and afterward you will hear as much as your ears can hear. For you are more blessed than many, and you have been called before the €Most High, as but few have been. But tomorrow night you shall remain here, and the Most High will show you in those dream visions what the Most €High will do to those who dwell on earth in the last days." €@So I slept that night and the following one, as he had commanded me.  @On the second night I had a dream, and behold, there came up from the €sea an eagle that had twelve feathered wings and three heads. And I looked, and behold, he spread his wings over all the earth, and €all the winds of heaven blew upon him, and the clouds were gathered €about him. And I looked, and out of his wings there grew opposing wings; but they €became little, puny wings. But his heads were at rest; the middle head was larger than the other €heads, but it also was at rest with them. And I looked, and behold, the eagle flew with his wings, to reign over €the earth and over those who dwell in it. And I saw how all things under heaven were subjected to him, and no one €spoke against him, not even one creature that was on the earth. And I looked, and behold, the eagle rose upon his talons, and uttered a €cry to his wings, saying, "Do not all watch at the same time; let each sleep in his own place, €and watch in his turn; but let the heads be reserved for the last." @And I looked, and behold, the voice did not come from his heads, but €from the midst of his body. And I counted his opposing wings, and behold, there were eight of them. And I looked, and behold, on the right side one wing arose, and it €reigned over all the earth. And while it was reigning it came to its end and disappeared, so that €its place was not seen. Then the next wing arose and reigned, and it €continued to reign a long time. And while it was reigning its end came also, so that it disappeared €like the first. And behold, a voice sounded, saying to it. "Hear me, you who have ruled the earth all this time; I announce this €to you before you disappear. After you no one shall rule as long as you, or even half as long." @Then the third wing raised itself up, and held the rule like the €former ones, and it also disappeared. And so it went with all the wings; they wielded power one after another €and then were never seen again. And I looked, and behold, in due course the wings that followed also €rose up on the right side, in order to rule. There were some of them €that ruled, yet disappeared suddenly; and others of them rose up, but did not hold the rule. @And after this I looked, and behold, the twelve wings and the two €little wings disappeared; and nothing remained on the eagle's body except the three heads that €were at rest and six little wings. And I looked, and behold, two little wings separated from the six and €remained under the head that was on the right side; but four remained €in their place. And I looked, and behold, these little wings planned to set themselves €up and hold the rule. And I looked, and behold, one was set up, but suddenly disappeared; a second also, and this disappeared more quickly than the first. And I looked, and behold, the two that remained were planning between €themselves to reign together; and while they were planning, behold, one of the heads that were at €rest (the one which was in the middle) awoke; for it was greater than €the other two heads. And I saw how it allied the two heads with itself, and behold, the head turned with those that were with it, and it €devoured the two little wings which were planning to reign. Moreover this head gained control of the whole earth, and with much €oppression dominated its inhabitants; and it had greater power over the €world than all the wings that had gone before. @And after this I looked, and behold, the middle head also suddenly €disappeared, just as the wings had done. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“±’ļ‚“Åśņį’؋˜¢But the two heads remained, which also ruled over the earth and its €inhabitants. And I looked, and behold, the head on the right side devoured the one €on the left. @Then I heard a voice saying to me, "Look before you and consider what €you see." And I looked, and behold, a creature like a lion was aroused out of the €forest, roaring; and I heard how he uttered a man's voice to the eagle, €and spoke, saying, "Listen and I will speak to you. The Most High says to you, `Are you not the one that remains of the four beasts which I had made €to reign in my world, so that the end of my times might come through €them? You, the fourth that has come, have conquered all the beasts that have €gone before; and you have held sway over the world with much terror, €and over all the earth with grievous oppression; and for so long you €have dwelt on the earth with deceit. And you have judged the earth, but not with truth; for you have afflicted the meek and injured the peaceable; you have €hated those who tell the truth, and have loved liars; you have €destroyed the dwellings of those who brought forth fruit, and have laid €low the walls of those who did you no harm. And so your insolence has come up before the Most High, and your pride €to the Mighty One. And the Most High has looked upon his times, and behold, they are €ended, and his ages are completed! Therefore you will surely disappear, you eagle, and your terrifying €wings, and your most evil little wings, and your malicious heads, and €your most evil talons, and your whole worthless body, so that the whole earth, freed from your violence, may be refreshed and €relieved, and may hope for the judgment and mercy of him who made it.'"  @While the lion was saying these words to the eagle, I looked, and behold, the remaining head disappeared. And the two wings that had €gone over to it arose and set themselves up to reign, and their reign €was brief and full of tumult. And I looked, and behold, they also disappeared, and the whole body of €the eagle was burned, and the earth was exceedingly terrified. €@Then I awoke in great perplexity of mind and great fear, and I said €to my spirit, "Behold, you have brought this upon me, because you search out the ways €of the Most High. Behold, I am still weary in mind and very weak in my spirit, and not €even a little strength is left in me, because of the great fear with €which I have been terrified this night. Therefore I will now beseech the Most High that he may strengthen me to €the end." @And I said, "O sovereign Lord, if I have found favor in thy sight, €and if I have been accounted righteous before thee beyond many others, €and if my prayer has indeed come up before thy face, strengthen me and show me, thy servant, the interpretation and meaning €of this terrifying vision, that thou mayest fully comfort my soul. For thou hast judged me worthy to be shown the end of the times and the €last events of the times." @He said to me, "This is the interpretation of this vision which you €have seen: The eagle which you saw coming up from the sea is the fourth kingdom €which appeared in a vision to your brother Daniel. But it was not explained to him as I now explain or have explained it €to you. Behold, the days are coming when a kingdom shall arise on earth, and it €shall be more terrifying than all the kingdoms that have been before it. And twelve kings shall reign in it, one after another. But the second that is to reign shall hold sway for a longer time than €any other of the twelve. This is the interpretation of the twelve wings which you saw. As for your hearing a voice that spoke, coming not from the eagle's €heads but from the midst of his body, this is the interpretation: In the midst of the time of that kingdom great struggles shall arise, €and it shall be in danger of falling; nevertheless it shall not fall €then, but shall regain its former power. As for your seeing eight little wings clinging to his wings, this is €the interpretation: Eight kings shall arise in it, whose times shall be short and their €years swift; and two of them shall perish when the middle of its time draws near; €and four shall be kept for the time when its end approaches; but two €shall be kept until the end. As for your seeing three heads at rest, this is the interpretation: In its last days the Most High will raise up three kings, and they €shall renew many things in it, and shall rule the earth and its inhabitants more oppressively than all who were before them; €therefore they are called the heads of the eagle. For it is they who shall sum up his wickedness and perform his last €actions. As for your seeing that the large head disappeared, one of the kings €shall die in his bed, but in agonies. But as for the two who remained, the sword shall devour them. For the sword of one shall devour him who was with him; but he also €shall fall by the sword in the last days. As for your seeing two little wings passing over to the head which was €on the right side, this is the interpretation: It is these whom the Most High has kept for €the eagle's end; this was the reign which was brief and full of tumult, €as you have seen. @"And as for the lion whom you saw rousing up out of the forest and €roaring and speaking to the eagle and reproving him for his €unrighteousness, and as for all his words that you have heard, this is the Messiah whom the Most High has kept until the end of days, €who will arise from the posterity of David, and will come and speak to €them; he will denounce them for their ungodliness and for their €wickedness, and will cast up before them their contemptuous dealings. For first he will set them living before his judgment seat, and when he €has reproved them, then he will destroy them. But he will deliver in mercy the remnant of my people, those who have €been saved throughout my borders, and he will make them joyful until €the end comes, the day of judgment, of which I spoke to you at the €beginning. This is the dream that you saw, and this is its interpretation. And you alone were worthy to learn this secret of the Most High. Therefore write all these things that you have seen in a book, and put €it in a hidden place; and you shall teach them to the wise among your people, whose hearts €you know are able to comprehend and keep these secrets. But wait here seven days more, so that you may be shown whatever it €pleases the Most High to show you." Then he left me. @When all the people heard that the seven days were past and I had not €returned to the city, they all gathered together, from the least to the €greatest, and came to me and spoke to me, saying, "How have we offended you, and what harm have we done you, that you €have forsaken us and sit in this place? For of all the prophets you alone are left to us, like a cluster of €grapes from the vintage, and like a lamp in a dark place, and like a €haven for a ship saved from a storm. Are not the evils which have befallen us sufficient? Therefore if you forsake us, how much better it would have been for us €if we also had been consumed in the burning of Zion! For we are no better than those who died there." And they wept with a €loud voice. €@Then I answered them and said, "Take courage, O Israel; and do not be sorrowful, O house of Jacob; for the Most High has you in remembrance, and the Mighty One has not €forgotten you in your struggle. As for me, I have neither forsaken you nor withdrawn from you; but I €have come to this place to pray on account of the desolation of Zion, €and to seek mercy on account of the humiliation of our sanctuary. Now go, every one of you to his house, and after these days I will come €to you." So the people went into the city, as I told them to do. But I sat in the field seven days, as the angel had commanded me; and I €ate only of the flowers of the field, and my food was of plants during €those days.  @After seven days I dreamed a dream in the night; and behold, a wind arose from the sea and stirred up all its waves. And I looked, and behold, this wind made something like the figure of a žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“±’ļ‚“Åśņį’؍“‚man come up out of the heart of the sea. And I looked, and behold, that €man flew with the clouds of heaven; and wherever he turned his face to €look, everything under his gaze trembled, and whenever his voice issued from his mouth, all who heard his voice €melted as wax melts when it feels the fire. @After this I looked, and behold, an innumerable multitude of men were €gathered together from the four winds of heaven to make war against the €man who came up out of the sea. And I looked, and behold, he carved out for himself a great mountain, €and flew up upon it. And I tried to see the region or place from which the mountain was €carved, but I could not. @After this I looked, and behold, all who had gathered together €against him, to wage war with him, were much afraid, yet dared to fight. And behold, when he saw the onrush of the approaching multitude, he €neither lifted his hand nor held a spear or any weapon of war; but I saw only how he sent forth from his mouth as it were a stream of €fire, and from his lips a flaming breath, and from his tongue he shot €forth a storm of sparks. All these were mingled together, the stream of fire and the flaming €breath and the great storm, and fell on the onrushing multitude which €was prepared to fight, and burned them all up, so that suddenly nothing €was seen of the innumerable multitude but only the dust of ashes and €the smell of smoke. When I saw it, I was amazed. @After this I saw the same man come down from the mountain and call to €him another multitude which was peaceable. Then many people came to him, some of whom were joyful and some €sorrowful; some of them were bound, and some were bringing others as €offerings. €@Then in great fear I awoke; and I besought the Most High, and said, "From the beginning thou hast shown thy servant these wonders, and hast €deemed me worthy to have my prayer heard by thee; now show me also the interpretation of this dream. For as I consider it in my mind, alas for those who will be left in €those days! And still more, alas for those who are not left! For those who are not left will be sad, because they understand what is reserved for the last days, but cannot €attain it. But alas for those also who are left, and for that very reason! For €they shall see great dangers and much distress, as these dreams show. Yet it is better to come into these things, though incurring peril, €than to pass from the world like a cloud, and not to see what shall €happen in the last days." €@He answered me and said, "I will tell you the interpretation of the vision, and I will also €explain to you the things which you have mentioned. As for what you said about those who are left, this is the €interpretation: He who brings the peril at that time will himself protect those who €fall into peril, who have works and have faith in the Almighty. Understand therefore that those who are left are more blessed than €those who have died. This is the interpretation of the vision: As for your seeing a man come €up from the heart of the sea, this is he whom the Most High has been keeping for many ages, who will €himself deliver his creation; and he will direct those who are left. And as for your seeing wind and fire and a storm coming out of his €mouth, and as for his not holding a spear or weapon of war, yet destroying the €onrushing multitude which came to conquer him, this is the €interpretation: Behold, the days are coming when the Most High will deliver those who €are on the earth. And bewilderment of mind shall come over those who dwell on the earth. And they shall plan to make war against one another, city against city, €place against place, people against people, and kingdom against kingdom. And when these things come to pass and the signs occur which I showed €you before, then my Son will be revealed, whom you saw as a man coming €up from the sea. And when all the nations hear his voice, every man shall leave his own €land and the warfare that they have against one another; and an innumerable multitude shall be gathered together, as you saw, €desiring to come and conquer him. But he shall stand on the top of Mount Zion. And Zion will come and be made manifest to all people, prepared and €built, as you saw the mountain carved out without hands. And he, my Son, will reprove the assembled nations for their €ungodliness (this was symbolized by the storm), and will reproach them to their face with their evil thoughts and the €torments with which they are to be tortured (which were symbolized by €the flames), and will destroy them without effort by the law (which was €symbolized by the fire). And as for your seeing him gather to himself another multitude that was €peaceable, these are the ten tribes which were led away from their own land into €captivity in the days of King Hoshea, whom Shalmaneser the king of the €Assyrians led captive; he took them across the river, and they were €taken into another land. But they formed this plan for themselves, that they would leave the €multitude of the nations and go to a more distant region, where mankind €had never lived, that there at least they might keep their statutes which they had not €kept in their own land. And they went in by the narrow passages of the Euphrates river. For at that time the Most High performed signs for them, and stopped €the channels of the river until they had passed over. Through that region there was a long way to go, a journey of a year and €a half; and that country is called Arzareth. @"Then they dwelt there until the last times; and now, when they are €about to come again, the Most High will stop the channels of the river again, so that they €may be able to pass over. Therefore you saw the multitude gathered €together in peace. But those who are left of your people, who are found within my holy €borders, shall be saved. Therefore when he destroys the multitude of the nations that are €gathered together, he will defend the people who remain. And then he will show them very many wonders." @I said, "O sovereign Lord, explain this to me: Why did I see the man €coming up from the heart of the sea?" @He said to me, "Just as no one can explore or know what is in the €depths of the sea, so no one on earth can see my Son or those who are €with him, except in the time of his day. This is the interpretation of the dream which you saw. And you alone €have been enlightened about this, because you have forsaken your own ways and have applied yourself to €mine, and have searched out my law; for you have devoted your life to wisdom, and called understanding your €mother. Therefore I have shown you this, for there is a reward laid up with the €Most High. And after three more days I will tell you other things, and €explain weighty and wondrous matters to you." @Then I arose and walked in the field, giving great glory and praise €to the Most High because of his wonders, which he did from time to time, and because he governs the times and whatever things come to pass in €their seasons. And I stayed there three days.  @On the third day, while I was sitting under an oak, behold, a voice €came out of a bush opposite me and said, "Ezra, Ezra." And I said, "Here I am, Lord," and I rose to my feet. Then he said to me, "I revealed myself in a bush and spoke to Moses, €when my people were in bondage in Egypt; and I sent him and led my people out of Egypt; and I led him up on €Mount Sinai, where I kept him with me many days; and I told him many wondrous things, and showed him the secrets of the €times and declared to him the end of the times. Then I commanded him, €saying, `These words you shall publish openly, and these you shall keep secret.' And now I say to you; Lay up in your heart the signs that I have shown you, the dreams that €you have seen, and the interpretations that you have heard; for you shall be taken up from among men, and henceforth you shall live €with my Son and with those who are like you, until the times are ended. For the age has lost its youth, and the times begin to grow old. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“±’ļ‚“Åśņį’؎˜‹For the age is divided into twelve parts, and nine of its parts have €already passed, as well as half of the tenth part; so two of its parts remain, besides €half of the tenth part. Now therefore, set your house in order, and reprove your people; €comfort the lowly among them, and instruct those that are wise. And now €renounce the life that is corruptible, and put away from you mortal thoughts; cast away from you the burdens €of man, and divest yourself now of your weak nature, and lay to one side the thoughts that are most grievous to you, and €hasten to escape from these times. For evils worse than those which you have now seen happen shall be done €hereafter. For the weaker the world becomes through old age, the more shall evils €be multiplied among its inhabitants. For truth shall go farther away, and falsehood shall come near. For the €eagle which you saw in the vision is already hastening to come." @Then I answered and said, "Let me speak in thy presence, Lord. For behold, I will go, as thou hast commanded me, and I will reprove €the people who are now living; but who will warn those who will be born €hereafter? For the world lies in darkness, and its inhabitants are €without light. For thy law has been burned, and so no one knows the things which have €been done or will be done by thee. If then I have found favor before thee, send the Holy Spirit into me, €and I will write everything that has happened in the world from the €beginning, the things which were written in thy law, that men may be €able to find the path, and that those who wish to live in the last days €may live." @He answered me and said, "Go and gather the people, and tell them not €to seek you for forty days. But prepare for yourself many writing tablets, and take with you Sarea, €Dabria, Selemia, Ethanus, and Asiel -- these five, because they are €trained to write rapidly; and you shall come here, and I will light in your heart the lamp of €understanding, which shall not be put out until what you are about to €write is finished. And when you have finished, some things you shall make public, and some €you shall deliver in secret to the wise; tomorrow at this hour you €shall begin to write." @Then I went as he commanded me, and I gathered all the people €together, and said, "Hear these words, O Israel At first our fathers dwelt as aliens in Egypt, and they were delivered €from there, and received the law of life, which they did not keep, which you also €have transgressed after them. Then land was given to you for a possession in the land of Zion; but €you and your fathers committed iniquity and did not keep the ways which €the Most High commanded you. And because he is a righteous judge, in due time he took from you what €he had given. And now you are here, and your brethren are farther in the interior. If you, then, will rule over your minds and discipline your hearts, you €shall be kept alive, and after death you shall obtain mercy. For after death the judgment will come, when we shall live again; and €then the names of the righteous will become manifest, and the deeds of €the ungodly will be disclosed. But let no one come to me now, and let no one seek me for forty days." @So I took the five men, as he commanded me, and we proceeded to the €field, and remained there. And on the next day, behold, a voice called me, saying, "Ezra, open €your mouth and drink what I give you to drink." Then I opened my mouth, and behold, a full cup was offered to me; it €was full of something like water, but its color was like fire. And I took it and drank; and when I had drunk it, my heart poured forth €understanding, and wisdom increased in my breast, for my spirit €retained its memory; and my mouth was opened, and was no longer closed. And the Most High gave understanding to the five men, and by turns they €wrote what was dictated, in characters which they did not know. They €sat forty days, and wrote during the daytime, and ate their bread at €night. As for me, I spoke in the daytime and was not silent at night. So during the forty days ninety-four books were written. And when the forty days were ended, the Most High spoke to me, saying, €"Make public the twenty-four books that you wrote first and let the €worthy and the unworthy read them; but keep the seventy that were written last, in order to give them to €the wise among your people. For in them is the spring of understanding, the fountain of wisdom, and €the river of knowledge." And I did so.  @The Lord says, "Behold, speak in the ears of my people the words of €the prophecy which I will put in your mouth, and cause them to be written on paper; for they are trustworthy and €true. Do not fear the plots against you, and do not be troubled by the €unbelief of those who oppose you. For every unbeliever shall die in his unbelief." @"Behold," says the Lord, "I bring evils upon the world, the sword and €famine and death and destruction. For iniquity has spread throughout every land, and their harmful deeds €have reached their limit. Therefore," says the Lord, "I will be silent no longer concerning their ungodly deeds which they €impiously commit, neither will I tolerate their wicked practices. €Behold, innocent and righteous blood cries out to me, and the souls of €the righteous cry out continually. I will surely avenge them," says the Lord, "and will receive to myself €all the innocent blood from among them. Behold, my people is led like a flock to the slaughter; I will not €allow them to live any longer in the land of Egypt, but I will bring them out with a mighty hand and with an uplifted arm, €and will smite Egypt with plagues, as before, and will destroy all its €land." @Let Egypt mourn, and its foundations, for the plague of chastisement €and punishment that the Lord will bring upon it. Let the farmers that till the ground mourn, because their seed shall €fail and their trees shall be ruined by blight and hail and by a €terrible tempest. Alas for the world and for those who live in it! For the sword and misery draw near them, and nation shall rise up to €fight against nation, with swords in their hands. For there shall be unrest among men; growing strong against one €another, they shall in their might have no respect for their king or €the chief of their leaders. For a man will desire to go into a city, and shall not be able. For because of their pride the cities shall be in confusion, the houses €shall be destroyed, and people shall be afraid. A man shall have no pity upon his neighbors, but shall make an assault €upon their houses with the sword, and plunder their goods, because of €hunger for bread and because of great tribulation. @"Behold," says God, "I call together all the kings of the earth to €fear me, from the rising sun and from the south, from the east and from €Lebanon; to turn and repay what they have given them. Just as they have done to my elect until this day, so I will do, and €will repay into their bosom." Thus says the Lord God: "My right hand will not spare the sinners, and my sword will not cease €from those who shed innocent blood on earth." And a fire will go forth from his wrath, and will consume the €foundations of the earth, and the sinners, like straw that is kindled. "Woe to those who sin and do not observe my commandments," says the €Lord; "I will not spare them. Depart, you faithless children! Do not pollute €my sanctuary." For the Lord knows all who transgress against him; therefore he will €hand them over to death and slaughter. For now calamities have come upon the whole earth, and you shall remain €in them; for God will not deliver you, because you have sinned against €him. @Behold, a terrifying sight, appearing from the east! The nations of the dragons of Arabia shall come out with many chariots, €and from the day that they set out, their hissing shall spread over the €earth, so that all who hear them fear and tremble. Also the Carmonians, raging in wrath, shall go forth like wild boars of €the forest, and with great power they shall come, and engage them in žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“±’ļ‚“Åśņį’؏˜žƒbattle, and shall devastate a portion of the land of the Assyrians with €their teeth. And then the dragons, remembering their origin, shall become still €stronger; and if they combine in great power and turn to pursue them, then these shall be disorganized and silenced by their power, and shall €turn and flee. And from the land of the Assyrians an enemy in ambush shall beset them €and destroy one of them, and fear and trembling shall come upon their €army, and indecision upon their kings. @Behold, clouds from the east, and from the north to the south; and €their appearance is very threatening, full of wrath and storm. They shall dash against one another and shall pour out a heavy tempest €upon the earth, and their own tempest; and there shall be blood from €the sword as high as a horse's belly and a man's thigh and a camel's hock. And there shall be fear and great trembling upon the earth; and those €who see that wrath shall be horror-stricken, and they shall be seized €with trembling. And, after that, heavy storm clouds shall be stirred up from the south, €and from the north, and another part from the west. And the winds from the east shall prevail over the cloud that was €raised in wrath, and shall dispel it; and the tempest that was to cause €destruction by the east wind shall be driven violently toward the south €and west. And great and mighty clouds, full of wrath and tempest, shall rise, to €destroy all the earth and its inhabitants, and shall pour out upon €every high and lofty place a terrible tempest, fire and hail and flying swords and floods of water, that all the €fields and all the streams may be filled with the abundance of those €waters. And they shall destroy cities and walls, mountains and hills, trees of €the forests, and grass of the meadows, and their grain. And they shall go on steadily to Babylon, and shall destroy her. They shall come to her and surround her; they shall pour out the €tempest and all its wrath upon her; then the dust and smoke shall go up €to heaven, and all who are about her shall wail over her. And those who survive shall serve those who have destroyed her. @And you, Asia, who share in the glamour of Babylon and the glory of €her person --woe to you, miserable wretch! For you have made yourself like her; you €have decked out your daughters in harlotry to please and glory in your €lovers, who have always lusted after you. You have imitated that hateful harlot in all her deeds and devices; €therefore God says, "I will send evils upon you, widowhood, poverty, famine, sword, and €pestilence, to lay waste your houses and bring you to destruction and €death. And the glory of your power shall wither like a flower, when the heat €rises that is sent upon you. You shall be weakened like a wretched woman who is beaten and wounded, €so that you cannot receive your mighty lovers. Would I have dealt with you so violently," says the Lord, "If you had not always killed my chosen people, exulting and clapping €your hands and talking about their death when you were drunk? Trick out the beauty of your face! The reward of a harlot is in your bosom, therefore you shall receive €your recompense. As you will do to my chosen people," says the Lord, "so God will do to €you, and will hand you over to adversities. Your children shall die of hunger, and you shall fall by the sword, and €your cities shall be wiped out, and all your people who are in the open €country shall fall by the sword. And those who are in the mountains and highlands shall perish of €hunger, and they shall eat their own flesh in hunger for bread and €drink their own blood in thirst for water. Unhappy above all others, you shall come and suffer fresh afflictions. And as they pass they shall wreck the hateful city, and shall destroy a €part of your land and abolish a portion of your glory, as they return €from devastated Babylon. And you shall be broken down by them like stubble, and they shall be €like fire to you. And they shall devour you and your cities, your land and your €mountains; they shall burn with fire all your forests and your fruitful €trees. They shall carry your children away captive, and shall plunder your €wealth, and abolish the glory of your countenance."  @Woe to you, Babylon and Asia! Woe to you, Egypt and Syria! Gird yourselves with sackcloth and haircloth, and wail for your €children, and lament for them; for your destruction is at hand. The sword has been sent upon you, and who is there to turn it back? A fire has been sent upon you, and who is there to quench it? Calamities have been sent upon you, and who is there to drive them away? Can one drive off a hungry lion in the forest, or quench a fire in the €stubble, when once it has begun to burn? Can one turn back an arrow shot by a strong archer? The Lord God sends calamities, and who will drive them away? Fire will go forth from his wrath, and who is there to quench it? He will flash lightning, and who will not be afraid? He will thunder, €and who will not be terrified? The Lord will threaten, and who will not be utterly shattered at his €presence? The earth and its foundations quake, the sea is churned up from the €depths, and its waves and the fish also shall be troubled at the €presence of the Lord and before the glory of his power. For his right hand that bends the bow is strong, and his arrows that he €shoots are sharp and will not miss when they begin to be shot to the €ends of the world. Behold, calamities are sent forth and shall not return until they come €over the earth. The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out until it consumes the €foundations of the earth. Just as an arrow shot by a mighty archer does not return, so the €calamities that are sent upon the earth shall not return. Alas for me! Alas for me! Who will deliver me in those days? @The beginning of sorrows, when there shall be much lamentation; the €beginning of famine, when many shall perish; the beginning of wars, €when the powers shall be terrified; the beginning of calamities, when €all shall tremble. What shall they do in these circumstances, when the €calamities come? Behold, famine and plague, tribulation and anguish are sent as scourges €for the correction of men. Yet for all this they will not turn from their iniquities, nor be €always mindful of the scourges. Behold, provision will be so cheap upon earth that men will imagine €that peace is assured for them, and then the calamities shall spring up €on the earth -- the sword, famine, and great confusion. For many of those who live on the earth shall perish by famine; and €those who survive the famine shall die by the sword. And the dead shall be cast out like dung, and there shall be no one to €console them; for the earth shall be left desolate, and its cities €shall be demolished. No one shall be left to cultivate the earth or to sow it. The trees shall bear fruit, and who will gather it? The grapes shall ripen, and who will tread them? For in all places €there shall be great solitude; one man will long to see another, or even to hear his voice. For out of a city, ten shall be left; and out of the field, two who €have hidden themselves in thick groves and clefts in the rocks. As in an olive orchard three or four olives may be left on every tree, or as when a vineyard is gathered some clusters may be left by those €who search carefully through the vineyard, so in those days three or four shall be left by those who search their €houses with the sword. And the earth shall be left desolate, and its fields shall be for €briers, and its roads and all its paths shall bring forth thorns, €because no sheep will go along them. Virgins shall mourn because they have no bridegrooms; women shall mourn €because they have no husbands; their daughters shall mourn, because €they have no helpers. Their bridegrooms shall be killed in war, and their husbands shall €perish of famine. @Listen now to these things, and understand them, O servants of the €Lord. Behold the word of the Lord, receive it; do not disbelieve what the €Lord says. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“±’ļ‚“Åśņį’ؐ˜„Behold, the calamities draw near, and are not delayed. Just as a woman with child, in the ninth month, when the time of her €delivery draws near, has great pains about her womb for two or three €hours beforehand, and when the child comes forth from the womb, there €will not be a moment's delay, so the calamities will not delay in coming forth upon the earth, and €the world will groan, and pains will seize it on every side. @"Hear my words, O my people; prepare for battle, and in the midst of €the calamities be like strangers on the earth. Let him that sells be like one who will flee; let him that buys be like €one who will lose; let him that does business be like one who will not make a profit; and €let him that builds a house be like one who will not live in it; let him that sows be like one who will not reap; so also him that €prunes the vines, like one who will not gather the grapes; them that marry, like those who will have no children; and them that do €not marry, like those who are widowed. Because those who labor, labor in vain; for strangers shall gather their fruits, and plunder their goods, and €overthrow their houses, and take their children captive; for in €captivity and famine they will beget their children. Those who conduct business, do it only to be plundered; the more they €adorn their cities, their houses and possessions, and their persons, the more angry I will be with them for their sins," says the Lord. Just as a respectable and virtuous woman abhors a harlot, so righteousness shall abhor iniquity, when she decks herself out, and €shall accuse her to her face, when he comes who will defend him who €searches out every sin on earth. @Therefore do not be like her or her works. For behold, just a little while, and iniquity will be removed from the €earth, and righteousness will reign over us. Let no sinner say that he has not sinned; for God will burn coals of €fire on the head of him who says, "I have not sinned before God and his €glory." Behold, the Lord knows all the works of men, their imaginations and €their thoughts and their hearts. He said, "Let the earth be made," and it was made; "Let the heaven be €made," and it was made. At his word the stars were fixed, and he knows the number of the stars. It is he who searches the deep and its treasures, who has measured the €sea and its contents; who has enclosed the sea in the midst of the waters, and by his word €has suspended the earth over the water; who has spread out the heaven like an arch, and founded it upon the €waters; who has put springs of water in the desert, and pools on the tops of €the mountains, to send rivers from the heights to water the earth; who formed man, and put a heart in the midst of his body, and gave him €breath and life and understanding and the spirit of Almighty God; who made all things and searches out €hidden things in hidden places. Surely he knows your imaginations and what you think in your hearts! €Woe to those who sin and want to hide their sins! Because the Lord will strictly examine all their works, and will make a €public spectacle of all of you. And when your sins come out before men, you shall be put to shame; and €your own iniquities shall stand as your accusers in that day. What will you do? Or how will you hide your sins before God and his €angels? Behold, God is the judge, fear him! Cease from your sins, and forget €your iniquities, never to commit them again; so God will lead you forth €and deliver you from all tribulation. @For behold, the burning wrath of a great multitude is kindled over €you, and they shall carry off some of you and shall feed you what was €sacrificed to idols. And those who consent to eat shall be held in derision and contempt, €and be trodden under foot. For in many places and in neighboring cities there shall be a great €insurrection against those who fear the Lord. They shall be like mad men, sparing no one, but plundering and €destroying those who continue to fear the Lord. For they shall destroy and plunder their goods, and drive them out of €their houses. Then the tested quality of my elect shall be manifest, as gold that is €tested by fire. @"Hear, my elect," says the Lord. "Behold, the days of tribulation are €at hand, and I will deliver you from them. Do not fear or doubt, for God is your guide. You who keep my commandments and precepts," says the Lord God, "do not €let your sins pull you down, or your iniquities prevail over you." Woe to those who are choked by their sins and overwhelmed by their €iniquities, as a field is choked with underbrush and its path €overwhelmed with thorns, so that no one can pass through! It is shut off and given up to be consumed by fire. ąļ‚Ōļā’”The book of the acts of Tobit the son of Tobiel, son of Ananiel, son of €Aduel, son of Gabael, of the descendants of Asiel and the tribe of €Naphtali, who in the days of Shalmaneser, king of the Assyrians, was taken into €captivity from Thisbe, which is to the south of Kedesh Naphtali in €Galilee above Asher. @I, Tobit, walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days €of my life, and I performed many acts of charity to my brethren and €countrymen who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nineveh. Now when I was in my own country, in the land of Israel, while I was €still a young man, the whole tribe of Naphtali my forefather deserted €the house of Jerusalem. This was the place which had been chosen from €among all the tribes of Israel, where all the tribes should sacrifice €and where the temple of the dwelling of the Most High was consecrated €and established for all generations for ever. @All the tribes that joined in apostasy used to sacrifice to the calf €Baal, and so did the house of Naphtali my forefather. But I alone went often to Jerusalem for the feasts, as it is ordained €for all Israel by an everlasting decree. Taking the first fruits and €the tithes of my produce and the first shearings, I would give these to €the priests, the sons of Aaron, at the altar. Of all my produce I would give a tenth to the sons of Levi who €ministered at Jerusalem; a second tenth I would sell, and I would go €and spend the proceeds each year at Jerusalem; the third tenth I would give to those to whom it was my duty, as €Deborah my father's mother had commanded me, for I was left an orphan €by my father. When I became a man I married Anna, a member of our family, and by her €I became the father of Tobias. @Now when I was carried away captive to Nineveh, all my brethren and €my relatives ate the food of the Gentiles; but I kept myself from eating it, because I remembered God with all my heart. Then the Most High gave me favor and good appearance in the sight of €Shalmaneser, and I was his buyer of provisions. So I used to go into Media, and once at Rages in Media I left ten €talents of silver in trust with Gabael, the brother of Gabrias. But when Shalmaneser died, Sennacherib his son reigned in his place; €and under him the highways were unsafe, so that I could no longer go €into Media. @In the days of Shalmaneser I performed many acts of charity to my €brethren. I would give my bread to the hungry and my clothing to the naked; and €if I saw any one of my people dead and thrown out behind the wall of €Nineveh, I would bury him. And if Sennacherib the king put to death any who came fleeing from €Judea, I buried them secretly. For in his anger he put many to death. €When the bodies were sought by the king, they were not found. Then one of the men of Nineveh went and informed the king about me, €that I was burying them; so I hid myself. When I learned that I was €being searched for, to be put to death, I left home in fear. Then all my property was confiscated and nothing was left to me except €my wife Anna and my son Tobias. @But not fifty days passed before two of Sennacherib's sons killed €him, and they fled to the mountains of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon, his €son, reigned in his place; and he appointed Ahikar, the son of my €brother Anael, over all the accounts of his kingdom and over the entire €administration. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“²’ļ‚Ōļā’”˜–Ahikar interceded for me, and I returned to Nineveh. Now Ahikar was €cupbearer, keeper of the signet, and in charge of administration of the €accounts, for Esarhaddon had appointed him second to himself. He was my €nephew.  @When I arrived home and my wife Anna and my son Tobias were restored €to me, at the feast of Pentecost, which is the sacred festival of the €seven weeks, a good dinner was prepared for me and I sat down to eat. Upon seeing the abundance of food I said to my son, "Go and bring €whatever poor man of our brethren you may find who is mindful of the €Lord, and I will wait for you." But he came back and said, "Father, one of our people has been €strangled and thrown into the market place." So before I tasted anything I sprang up and removed the body to a place €of shelter until sunset. And when I returned I washed myself and ate my food in sorrow. Then I remembered the prophecy of Amos, how he said, "Your feasts shall €be turned into mourning, and all your festivities into lamentation." €And I wept. @When the sun had set I went and dug a grave and buried the body. And my neighbors laughed at me and said, "He is no longer afraid that €he will be put to death for doing this; he once ran away, and here he €is burying the dead again!" On the same night I returned from burying him, and because I was €defiled I slept by the wall of the courtyard, and my face was uncovered. I did not know that there were sparrows on the wall and their fresh €droppings fell into my open eyes and white films formed on my eyes. I €went to physicians, but they did not help me. Ahikar, however, took €care of me until he went to Elymais. @Then my wife Anna earned money at women's work. She used to send the product to the owners. Once when they paid her €wages, they also gave her a kid; and when she returned to me it began to bleat. So I said to her, "Where €did you get the kid? It is not stolen, is it? Return it to the owners; €for it is not right to eat what is stolen." And she said, "It was given to me as a gift in addition to my wages." €But I did not believe her, and told her to return it to the owners; and €I blushed for her. Then she replied to me, "Where are your charities €and your righteous deeds? You seem to know everything!"  @Then in my grief I wept, and I prayed in anguish, saying, "Righteous art thou, O Lord; all thy deeds and all they ways are mercy €and truth, and thou dost render true and righteous judgment for ever. Remember me and look favorably upon me; do not punish me for my sins €and for my unwitting offences and those which my fathers committed €before thee. For they disobeyed thy commandments, and thou gavest us over to €plunder, captivity, and death; thou madest us a byword of reproach in €all the nations among which we have been dispersed. And now thy many judgments are true in exacting penalty from me for my €sins and those of my fathers, because we did not keep thy commandments. €For we did not walk in truth before thee. And now deal with me according to thy pleasure; command my spirit to be €taken up, that I may depart and become dust. For it is better for me to €die than to live, because I have heard false reproaches, and great is €the sorrow within me. Command that I now be released from my distress €to go to the eternal abode; do not turn thy face away from me." @On the same day, at Ecbatana in Media, it also happened that Sarah, €the daughter of Raguel, was reproached by her father's maids, because she had been given to seven husbands, and the evil demon €Asmodeus had slain each of them before he had been with her as his €wife. So the maids said to her, "Do you not know that you strangle your €husbands? You already have had seven and have had no benefit from any €of them. Why do you beat us? If they are dead, go with them! May we never see a €son or daughter of yours!" @When she heard these things she was deeply grieved, even to the €thought of hanging herself. But she said, "I am the only child of my €father; if I do this, it will be a disgrace to him, and I shall bring €his old age down in sorrow to the grave. So she prayed by her window and said, "Blessed art thou, O Lord my God, €and blessed is thy holy and honored name for ever. May all thy works €praise thee for ever. And now, O Lord, I have turned my eyes and my face toward thee. Command that I be released from the earth and that I hear reproach no €more. Thou knowest, O Lord, that I am innocent of any sin with man, and that I did not stain my name or the name of my father in the land €of my captivity. I am my father's only child, and he has no child to be €his heir, no near kinsman or kinsman's son for whom I should keep €myself as wife. Already seven husbands of mine are dead. Why should I €live? But if it be not pleasing to thee to take my life, command that €respect be shown to me and pity be taken upon me, and that I hear €reproach no more." @The prayer of both was heard in the presence of the glory of the €great God. And Raphael was sent to heal the two of them: to scale away the white €films of Tobit's eyes; to give Sarah the daughter of Raguel in marriage €to Tobias the son of Tobit, and to bind Asmodeus the evil demon, €because Tobias was entitled to possess her. At that very moment Tobit €returned and entered his house and Sarah the daughter of Raguel came €down from her upper room.  @On that day Tobit remembered the money which he had left in trust €with Gabael at Rages in Media, and he said to himself; "I have asked for death. Why do I not call my son Tobias so that I may €explain to him about the money before I die?" So he called him and said, "My son, when I die, bury me, and do not €neglect your mother. Honor her all the days of your life; do what is €pleasing to her, and do not grieve her. Remember, my son, that she faced many dangers for you while you were €yet unborn. When she dies bury her beside me in the same grave. @"Remember the Lord our God all your days, my son, and refuse to sin €or to transgress his commandments. Live uprightly all the days of your €life, and do not walk in the ways of wrongdoing. For if you do what is true, your ways will prosper through your deeds. Give alms from your possessions to all who live uprightly, and do not €let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face €away from any poor man, and the face of God will not be turned away €from you. If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; €if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day €of necessity. For charity delivers from death and keeps you from entering the €darkness; and for all who practice it charity is an excellent offering in the €presence of the Most High. @"Beware, my son, of all immorality. First of all take a wife from €among the descendants of your fathers and do not marry a foreign woman, €who is not of your father's tribe; for we are the sons of the prophets. €Remember, my son, that Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our fathers of €old, all took wives from among their brethren. They were blessed in €their children, and their posterity will inherit the land. So now, my son, love your brethren, and in your heart do not disdain €your brethren and the sons and daughters of your people by refusing to €take a wife for yourself from among them. For in pride there is ruin €and great confusion; and in shiftlessness there is loss and great want, €because shiftlessness is the mother of famine. Do not hold over till the next day the wages of any man who works for €you, but pay him at once; and if you serve God you will receive payment. €@"Watch yourself, my son, in everything you do, and be disciplined in €all your conduct. And what you hate, do not do to any one. Do not drink wine to excess or €let drunkenness go with you on your way. Give of your bread to the hungry, and of your clothing to the naked. €Give all your surplus to charity, and do not let your eye begrudge the €gift when you made it. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“²’ļ‚Ōļā’¤˜‘Place your bread on the grave of the righteous, but give none to €sinners. Seek advice from every wise man, and do not despise any useful counsel. Bless the Lord God on every occasion; ask him that your ways may be €made straight and that all your paths and plans may prosper. For none €of the nations has understanding; but the Lord himself gives all good €things, and according to his will he humbles whomever he wishes. €@"So, my son, remember my commands, and do not let them be blotted out €of your mind. And now let me explain to you about the ten talents of silver which I €left in trust with Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages in Media. Do not be afraid, my son, because we have become poor. You have great €wealth if you fear God and refrain from every sin and do what is €pleasing in his sight."  @Then Tobias answered him, "Father, I will do everything that you have €commanded me; but how can I obtain the money when I do not know the man?" Then Tobit gave him the receipt, and said to him, "Find a man to go €with you and I will pay him wages as long as I live; and go and get the €money." So he went to look for a man; and he found Raphael, who was an angel, but Tobias did not know it. Tobias said to him, "Can you go with me to €Rages in Media? Are you acquainted with that region?" The angel replied, "I will go with you; I am familiar with the way, and €I have stayed with our brother Gabael." Then Tobias said to him, "Wait for me, and I shall tell my father." And he said to him, "Go, and do not delay." So he went in and said to €his father, "I have found some one to go with me." He said, "Call him €to me, so that I may learn to what tribe he belongs, and whether he is €a reliable man to go with you." @So Tobias invited him in; he entered and they greeted each other. Then Tobit said to him, "My brother, to what tribe and family do you €belong? Tell me. " But he answered, "Are you looking for a tribe and a family or for a man €whom you will pay to go with your son?" And Tobit said to him, "I €should like to know, my brother, your people and your name." He replied, "I am Azarias the son of the great Ananias, one of your €relatives." Then Tobit said to him, "You are welcome, my brother. Do not be angry €with me because I tried to learn your tribe and family. You are a €relative of mine, of a good and noble lineage. For I used to know €Ananias and Jathan, the sons of the great Shemaiah, when we went €together to Jerusalem to worship and offered the first-born of our €flocks and the tithes of our produce. They did not go astray in the €error of our brethren. My brother, you come of good stock. But tell me, what wages am I to pay you -- a drachma a day, and expenses €for yourself as for my son? And besides, I will add to your wages if you both return safe and €sound." So they agreed to these terms. @Then he said to Tobias, "Get ready for the journey, and good success €to you both." So his son made the preparations for the journey. And his €father said to him, "Go with this man; God who dwells in heaven will €prosper your way, and may his angel attend you." So they both went out €and departed, and the young man's dog was with them. @But Anna, his mother, began to weep, and said to Tobit, "Why have you €sent our child away? Is he not the staff of our hands as he goes in and €out before us? Do not add money to money, but consider it as rubbish as compared to €our child. For the life that is given to us by the Lord is enough for us." And Tobit said to her, "Do not worry, my sister; he will return safe €and sound, and your eyes will see him. For a good angel will go with him; his journey will be successful, and €he will come back safe and sound." ŸŪ²²Ż’So she stopped weeping.  @Now as they proceeded on their way they came at evening to the Tigris €river and camped there. Then the young man went down to wash himself. A fish leaped up from the €river and would have swallowed the young man; and the angel said to him, "Catch the fish." So the young man seized €the fish and threw it up on the land. Then the angel said to him, "Cut open the fish and take the heart and €liver and gall and put them away safely." So the young man did as the angel told him; and they roasted and ate €the fish. €@And they both continued on their way until they came near to Ecbatana. Then the young man said to the angel, "Brother Azarias, of what use is €the liver and heart and gall of the fish?" He replied, "As for the heart and liver, if a demon or evil spirit €gives trouble to any one, you make a smoke from these before the man or €woman, and that person will never be troubled again. And as for the gall, anoint with it a man who has white films in his €eyes, and he will be cured." @When they approached Ecbatana, the angel said to the young man, "Brother, today we shall stay with €Raguel. He is your relative, and he has an only daughter named Sarah. I €will suggest that she be given to you in marriage, because you are entitled to her and to her inheritance, for you are her €only eligible kinsman. The girl is also beautiful and sensible. Now listen to my plan. I will €speak to her father, and as soon as we return from Rages we will €celebrate the marriage. For I know that Raguel, according to the law of €Moses, cannot give her to another man without incurring the penalty of €death, because you rather than any other man are entitled to the €inheritance." @Then the young man said to the angel, "Brother Azarias, I have heard €that the girl has been given to seven husbands and that each died in €the bridal chamber. Now I am the only son my father has, and I am afraid that if I go in I €will die as those before me did, for a demon is in love with her, and €he harms no one except those who approach her. So now I fear that I may €die and bring the lives of my father and mother to the grave in sorrow €on my account. And they have no other son to bury them." @But the angel said to him, "Do you not remember the words with which €your father commanded you to take a wife from among your own people? €Now listen to me, brother, for she will become your wife; and do not €worry about the demon, for this very night she will be given to you in €marriage. When you enter the bridal chamber, you shall take live ashes of incense €and lay upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish so as to make €a smoke. Then the demon will smell it and flee away, and will never again €return. And when you approach her, rise up, both of you, and cry out to €the merciful God, and he will save you and have mercy on you. Do not be €afraid, for she was destined for you from eternity. You will save her, €and she will go with you, and I suppose that you will have children by €her." When Tobias heard these things, he fell in love with her and €yearned deeply for her.  @When they reached Ecbatana and arrived at the house of Raguel, Sarah €met them and greeted them. They returned her greeting, and she brought €them into the house. Then Raguel said to his wife Edna, "How much the young man resembles my €cousin Tobit!" And Raguel asked them, "Where are you from, brethren?" They answered €him, "We belong to the sons of Naphtali, who are captives in Nineveh." So he said to them, "Do you know our brother Tobit?" And they said, €"Yes, we do." And he asked them, "Is he in good health?" They replied, "He is alive and in good health." And Tobias said, "He is €my father." Then Raguel sprang up and kissed him and wept. And he blessed him and exclaimed, "Son of that good and noble man!" €When he heard that Tobit had lost his sight, he was stricken with grief €and wept. And his wife Edna and his daughter Sarah wept. They received them very €warmly; and they killed a ram from the flock and set large servings of €food before them. €@Then Tobias said to Raphael, "Brother Azarias, speak of those things €which you talked about on the journey, and let the matter be settled." So he communicated the proposal to Raguel. And Raguel said to Tobias, €"Eat, drink, and be merry; for it is your right to take my child. But let me explain the true €situation to you. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“²’ļ‚Ōļā’§˜‹I have given my daughter to seven husbands, and when each came to her €he died in the night. But for the present be merry." And Tobias said, €"I will eat nothing here until you make a binding agreement with me." So Raguel said, "Take her right now, in accordance with the law. You €are her relative, and she is yours. The merciful God will guide you €both for the best." Then he called his daughter Sarah, and taking her by the hand he gave €her to Tobias to be his wife, saying, "Here she is; take her according €to the law of Moses, and take her with you to your father." And he €blessed them. Next he called his wife Edna, and took a scroll and wrote out the €contract; and they set their seals to it. Then they began to eat. @And Raguel called his wife Edna and said to her, "Sister, make up the €other room, and take her into it." so she did as he said, and took her there; and the girl began to weep. €But the mother comforted her daughter in her tears, and said to her, "Be brave, my child; the Lord of heaven and earth grant you joy in €place of this sorrow of yours. Be brave, my daughter."  @When they had finished eating, they escorted Tobias in to her. As he went he remembered the words of Raphael, and he took the live €ashes of incense and put the heart and liver of the fish upon them and €made a smoke. And when the demon smelled the odor he fled to the remotest parts of €Egypt, and the angel bound him. When the door was shut and the two were alone, Tobias got up from the €bed and said, "Sister, get up, and let us pray that the Lord may have €mercy upon us." And Tobias began to pray, €@@"Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers, €@@@and blessed be thy holy and glorious name for ever. €@@@Let the heavens and all thy creatures bless thee. @@Thou madest Adam and gavest him Eve his wife €@@@as a helper and support. €@@@From them the race of mankind has sprung. €@@Thou didst say, `It is not good that the man should be alone; €@@@let us make a helper for him like himself.' And now, O Lord, I am not taking this sister of mine because of lust, €but with sincerity. Grant that I may find mercy and may grow old €together with her." And she said with him, "Amen." Then they both went to sleep for the night. €@But Raguel arose and went and dug a grave, with the thought, "Perhaps he too will die." Then Raguel went into his house and said to his wife Edna, "Send one of the maids to see whether he is €alive; and if he is not, let us bury him without any one knowing about €it." So the maid opened the door and went in, and found them both asleep. And she came out and told them that he was alive. Then Raguel blessed God and said, €@@"Blessed art thou, O God, with every pure and holy blessing. €@@@Let thy saints and all thy creatures bless thee; €@@@let all thy angels and thy chosen people bless thee for ever. @@Blessed art thou, because thou hast made me glad. €@@@It has not happened to me as I expected; €@@@but thou hast treated us according to thy great mercy. @@Blessed art thou, because thou hast had compassion €@@@@on two only children. €@@@Show them mercy, O Lord; €@@@and bring their lives to fulfilment in health and €@@@@happiness and mercy." Then he ordered his servants to fill in the grave. @After this he gave a wedding feast for them which lasted fourteen €days. And before the days of the feast were over, Raguel declared by oath to €Tobias that he should not leave until the fourteen days of the wedding €feast were ended, that then he should take half of Raguel's property and return in safety €to his father, and that the rest would be his "when my wife and I die."  @Then Tobias called Raphael and said to him, "Brother Azarias, take a servant and two camels with you and go to €Gabael at Rages in Media and get the money for me; and bring him to the €wedding feast. For Raguel has sworn that I should not leave; but my father is counting the days, and if I delay long he will be €greatly distressed." So Raphael made the journey and stayed over night with Gabael. He gave €him the receipt, and Gabael brought out the money bags with their seals €intact and gave them to him. In the morning they both got up early and came to the wedding feast. €And Gabael blessed Tobias and his wife.  @Now his father Tobit was counting each day, and when the days for the €journey had expired and they did not arrive, he said, "Is it possible that he has been detained? Or is it possible €that Gabael has died and there is no one to give him the money?" And he was greatly distressed. And his wife said to him, "The lad has perished; his long delay proves €it." Then she began to mourn for him, and said, "Am I not distressed, my child, that I let you go, you who are the €light of my eyes?" But Tobit said to her, "Be still and stop worrying; he is well." And she answered him, "Be still and stop deceiving me; my child has €perished." And she went out every day to the road by which they had €left; she ate nothing in the daytime, and throughout the nights she €never stopped mourning for her son Tobias, until the fourteen days of €the wedding feast had expired which Raguel had sworn that he should €spend there. €@At that time Tobias said to Raguel, "Send me back, for my father and €mother have given up hope of ever seeing me again." But his father-in-law said to him, "Stay with me, and I will send €messengers to your father, and they will inform him how things are with €you." Tobias replied, "No, send me back to my father." So Raguel arose and gave him his wife Sarah and half of his property in €slaves, cattle, and money. And when he had blessed them he sent them away, saying, "The God of €heaven will prosper you, my children, before I die." He said also to his daughter, "Honor your father-in-law and your €mother-in-law; they are now your parents. Let me hear a good report of €you. " And he kissed her. And Edna said to Tobias, "The Lord of heaven €bring you back safely, dear brother, and grant me to see your children €by my daughter Sarah, that I may rejoice before the Lord. See, I am €entrusting my daughter to you; do nothing to grieve her."  @After this Tobias went on his way, praising God because he had made €his journey a success. And he blessed Raguel and his wife Edna. €@So he continued on his way until they came near to Nineveh. Then Raphael said to Tobias, "Are you not aware, brother, of how you €left your father? Let us run ahead of your wife and prepare the house. And take the gall of the fish with you." So they went their way, and €the dog went along behind them. @Now Anna sat looking intently down the road for her son. And she caught sight of him coming, and said to his father, "Behold, €your son is coming, and so is the man who went with him!" @Raphael said, "I know, Tobias, that your father will open his eyes. You therefore must anoint his eyes with the gall; and when they smart €he will rub them, and will cause the white films to fall away, and he €will see you." @Then Anna ran to meet them, and embraced her son, and said to him, "I €have seen you, my child; now I am ready to die." And they both wept. Tobit started toward the door, and stumbled. But his son ran to him and took hold of his father, and he sprinkled the gall upon his €father's eyes, saying, "Be of good cheer, father." And when his eyes began to smart he rubbed them, and the white films scaled off from the corners of his eyes. Then he saw his son and embraced him, and he wept and said, "Blessed €art thou, O God, and blessed is thy name for ever, and blessed are all €thy holy angels. For thou hast afflicted me, but thou hast had mercy upon me; here I see €my son Tobias!" And his son went in rejoicing, and he reported to his €father the great things that had happened to him in Media. @Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter-in-law at the gate of €Nineveh, rejoicing and praising God. Those who saw him as he went were €amazed because he could see. And Tobit gave thanks before them that God had been merciful to him. €When Tobit came near to Sarah his daughter-in-law, he blessed her, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“²’ļ‚Ōļā’؋˜‘ƒsaying, "Welcome, daughter! Blessed is God who has brought you to us, €and blessed are your father and your mother." So there was rejoicing €among all his brethren in Nineveh. Ahikar and his nephew Nadab came, and Tobias' marriage was celebrated for seven days with great festivity.  @Tobit then called his son Tobias and said to him, "My son, see to the €wages of the man who went with you; and he must also be given more." He replied, "Father, it would do me no harm to give him half of what I €have brought back. For he has led me back to you safely, he cured my wife, he obtained the €money for me, and he also healed you." The old man said, "He deserves it." So he called the angel and said to him, "Take half of all that you two €have brought back." @Then the angel called the two of them privately and said to them: €"Praise God and give thanks to him; exalt him and give thanks to him in €the presence of all the living for what he has done for you. It is good €to praise God and to exalt his name, worthily declaring the works of €God. Do not be slow to give him thanks. It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the €works of God. Do good, and evil will not overtake you. Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and €righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with €wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold. For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. €Those who perform deeds of charity and of righteousness will have €fulness of life; but those who commit sin are the enemies of their own lives. @"I will not conceal anything from you. I have said, `It is good to €guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God.' And so, when you and your daughter-in-law Sarah prayed, I brought a €reminder of your prayer before the Holy One; and when you buried the €dead, I was likewise present with you. When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go €and lay out the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me, but I was €with you. So now God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of €the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One." @They were both alarmed; and they fell upon their faces, for they were €afraid. But he said to them, "Do not be afraid; you will be safe. But praise €God for ever. For I did not come as a favor on my part, but by the will of our God. €Therefore praise him for ever. All these days I merely appeared to you and did not eat or drink, but €you were seeing a vision. And now give thanks to God, for I am ascending to him who sent me. €Write in a book everything that has happened." Then they stood up; but they saw him no more. So they confessed the great and wonderful works of God, and €acknowledged that the angel of the Lord had appeared to them. €@6  @Then Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing, and said: €@@"Blessed is God who lives for ever, €@@@and blessed is his kingdom. @@For he afflicts, and he shows mercy; €@@@he leads down to Hades, and brings up again, €@@@and there is no one who can escape his hand. @@Acknowledge him before the nations, O sons of Israel; €@@@for he has scattered us among them. @@Make his greatness known there, €@@@and exalt him in the presence of all the living; €@@because he is our Lord and God, €@@@he is our Father for ever. @@He will afflict us for our iniquities; €@@@and again he will show mercy, €@@and will gather us from all the nations €@@@among whom you have been scattered. @@If you turn to him with all your heart and with all your soul, €@@@to do what is true before him, €@@then he will turn to you €@@@and will not hide his face from you. €@@But see what he will do with you; €@@@give thanks to him with your full voice. €@@Praise the Lord of righteousness, €@@@and exalt the King of the ages. €@@I give him thanks in the land of my captivity, €@@@and I show his power and majesty to a nation of sinners. €@@Turn back, you sinners, and do right before him; €@@@who knows if he will accept you and have mercy on you? @@I exalt my God; €@@@my soul exalts the King of heaven, €@@@and will rejoice in his majesty. @@Let all men speak, €@@@and give him thanks in Jerusalem. @@O Jerusalem, the holy city, €@@@he will afflict you for the deeds of your sons, €@@@but again he will show mercy to the sons of the righteous. @@Give thanks worthily to the Lord, €@@@and praise the King of the ages, €@@@that his tent may be raised for you again with joy. €@@May he cheer those within you who are captives, €@@@and love those within you who are distressed, €@@@to all generations for ever. @@Many nations will come from afar to the name of the Lord God, €@@@bearing gifts in their hands, gifts for the King of heaven. €@@Generations of generations will give you joyful praise. @@Cursed are all who hate you; €@@@blessed for ever will be all who love you. @@Rejoice and be glad for the sons of the righteous; €@@@for they will be gathered together, €@@@and will praise the Lord of the righteous. @@How blessed are those who love you! €@@@They will rejoice in your peace. €@@Blessed are those who grieved over all your afflictions; €@@@for they will rejoice for you upon seeing all your glory, €@@@and they will be made glad for ever. @@Let my soul praise God the great King. @@For Jerusalem will be built with sapphires and emeralds, €@@@her walls with precious stones, €@@@and her towers and battlements with pure gold. @@The streets of Jerusalem will be paved with €@@@@beryl and ruby and stones of Ophir; @@@all her lanes will cry `Hallelujah!' and will give praise, €@@@saying, `Blessed is God, who has exalted you for ever.'" €@6  @Here Tobit ended his words of praise. He was fifty-eight years old when he lost his sight, and after eight €years he regained it. He gave alms, and he continued to fear the Lord €God and to praise him. When he had grown very old he called his son and grandsons, and said to €him, "My son, take your sons; behold, I have grown old and am about to €depart this life. Go to Media, my son, for I fully believe what Jonah the prophet said €about Nineveh, that it will be overthrown. But in Media there will be €peace for a time. Our brethren will be scattered over the earth from €the good land, and Jerusalem will be desolate. The house of God in it €will be burned down and will be in ruins for a time. But God will again have mercy on them, and bring them back into their €land; and they will rebuild the house of God, though it will not be €like the former one until the times of the age are completed. After €this they will return from the places of their captivity, and will €rebuild Jerusalem in splendor. And the house of God will be rebuilt €there with a glorious building for all generations for ever, just as €the prophets said of it. Then all the Gentiles will turn to fear the Lord God in truth, and will €bury their idols. All the Gentiles will praise the Lord, and his people will give thanks €to God, and the Lord will exalt his people. And all who love the Lord €God in truth and righteousness will rejoice, showing mercy to our €brethren. @"So now, my son, leave Nineveh, because what the prophet Jonah said €will surely happen. But keep the law and the commandments, and be merciful and just, so €that it may be well with you. Bury me properly, and your mother with me. And do not live in Nineveh €any longer. See, my son, what Nadab did to Ahikar who had reared him, €how he brought him from light into darkness, and with what he repaid €him. But Ahikar was saved, and the other received repayment as he €himself went down into the darkness. Ahikar gave alms and escaped the €deathtrap which Nadab had set for him; but Nadab fell into the trap and €perished. So now, my children, consider what almsgiving accomplishes and how €righteousness delivers." As he said this he died in his bed. He was a €hundred and fifty-eight years old; and Tobias gave him a magnificent €funeral. And when Anna died he buried her with his father. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“²’ļ‚Ōļā’؎˜Œ‚@Then Tobias returned with his wife and his sons to Ecbatana, to €Raguel his father-in-law. He grew old with honor, and he gave his father-in-law and mother-in-law €magnificent funerals. He inherited their property and that of his €father Tobit. He died in Ecbatana of Media at the age of a hundred and twenty-seven €years. But before he died he heard of the destruction of Nineveh, which €Nebuchadnezzar and Ahasuerus had captured. Before his death he rejoiced €over Nineveh. ąļ‚Źäō’”In the twelfth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled over the €Assyrians in the great city of Nineveh, in the days of Arphaxad, who €ruled over the Medes in Ecbatana --he is the king who built walls about Ecbatana with hewn stones three €cubits thick and six cubits long; he made the walls seventy cubits high €and fifty cubits wide; at the gates he built towers a hundred cubits high and sixty cubits €wide at the foundations; and he made its gates, which were seventy cubits high and forty cubits €wide, so that his armies could march out in force and his infantry form €their ranks --it was in those days that King Nebuchadnezzar made war against King €Arphaxad in the great plain which is on the borders of Ragae. He was joined by all the people of the hill country and all those who €lived along the Euphrates and the Tigris and the Hydaspes and in the €plain where Arioch ruled the Elymaeans. Many nations joined the forces €of the Chaldeans. @Then Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians sent to all who lived in €Persia and to all who lived in the west, those who lived in Cilicia and €Damascus and Lebanon and Antilebanon and all who lived along the €seacoast, and those among the nations of Carmel and Gilead, and Upper Galilee and €the great Plain of Esdraelon, and all who were in Samaria and its surrounding towns, and beyond the €Jordan as far as Jerusalem and Bethany and Chelous and Kadesh and the €river of Egypt, and Tahpanhes and Raamses and the whole land of Goshen, even beyond Tanis and Memphis, and all who lived in Egypt as far as the €borders of Ethiopia. But all who lived in the whole region disregarded the orders of €Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians, and refused to join him in the €war; for they were not afraid of him, but looked upon him as only one €man, and they sent back his messengers empty-handed and shamefaced. @Then Nebuchadnezzar was very angry with this whole region, and swore €by his throne and kingdom that he would surely take revenge on the €whole territory of Cilicia and Damascus and Syria, that he would kill €them by the sword, and also all the inhabitants of the land of Moab, €and the people of Ammon, and all Judea, and every one in Egypt, as far €as the coasts of the two seas. In the seventeenth year he led his forces against King Arphaxad, and €defeated him in battle, and overthrew the whole army of Arphaxad, and €all his cavalry and all his chariots. Thus he took possession of his cities, and came to Ecbatana, captured €its towers, plundered its markets, and turned its beauty into shame. He captured Arphaxad in the mountains of Ragae and struck him down with €hunting spears; and he utterly destroyed him, to this day. Then he returned with them to Nineveh, he and all his combined forces, €a vast body of troops; and there he and his forces rested and feasted €for one hundred and twenty days.  @In the eighteenth year, on the twenty-second day of the first month, €there was talk in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians €about carrying out his revenge on the whole region, just as he said. He called together all his officers and all his nobles and set forth to €them his secret plan and recounted fully, with his own lips, all the €wickedness of the region; and it was decided that every one who had not obeyed his command should €be destroyed. When he had finished setting forth his plan, Nebuchadnezzar king of the €Assyrians called Holofernes, the chief general of his army, second only €to himself, and said to him, @"Thus says the Great King, the lord of the whole earth: When you €leave my presence, take with you men confident in their strength, to €the number of one hundred and twenty thousand foot soldiers and twelve €thousand cavalry. Go and attack the whole west country, because they disobeyed my orders. Tell them to prepare earth and water, for I am coming against them in €my anger, and will cover the whole face of the earth with the feet of €my armies, and will hand them over to be plundered by my troops, till their wounded shall fill their valleys, and every brook and river €shall be filled with their dead, and overflow; and I will lead them away captive to the ends of the whole earth. You shall go and seize all their territory for me in advance. They will €yield themselves to you, and you shall hold them for me till the day of €their punishment. But if they refuse, your eye shall not spare and you shall hand them €over to slaughter and plunder throughout your whole region. For as I live, and by the power of my kingdom, what I have spoken my €hand will execute. And you -- take care not to transgress any of your sovereign's commands, €but be sure to carry them out just as I have ordered you; and do not €delay about it." @So Holofernes left the presence of his master, and called together €all the commanders, generals, and officers of the Assyrian army, and mustered the picked troops by divisions as his lord had ordered him €to do, one hundred and twenty thousand of them, together with twelve €thousand archers on horseback, and he organized them as a great army is marshaled for a campaign. He collected a vast number of camels and asses and mules for transport, €and innumerable sheep and oxen and goats for provision; also plenty of food for every man, and a huge amount of gold and silver €from the royal palace. So he set out with his whole army, to go ahead of King Nebuchadnezzar €and to cover the whole face of the earth to the west with their €chariots and horsemen and picked troops of infantry. Along with them went a mixed crowd like a swarm of locusts, like the €dust of the earth -- a multitude that could not be counted. @They marched for three days from Nineveh to the plain of Bectileth, €and camped opposite Bectileth near the mountain which is to the north €of Upper Cilicia. From there Holofernes took his whole army, his infantry, cavalry, and €chariots, and went up into the hill country and ravaged Put and Lud, and plundered all the people of Rassis and the €Ishmaelites who lived along the desert, south of the country of the €Chelleans. Then he followed the Euphrates and passed through Mesopotamia and €destroyed all the hilltop cities along the brook Abron, as far as the €sea. He also seized the territory of Cilicia, and killed every one who €resisted him, and came to the southern borders of Japheth, fronting €toward Arabia. He surrounded all the Midianites, and burned their tents and plundered €their sheepfolds. Then he went down into the plain of Damascus during the wheat harvest, €and burned all their fields and destroyed their flocks and herds and €sacked their cities and ravaged their lands and put to death all their €young men with the edge of the sword. @So fear and terror of him fell upon all the people who lived along €the seacoast, at Sidon and Tyre, and those who lived in Sur and Ocina €and all who lived in Jamnia. Those who lived in Azotus and Ascalon €feared him exceedingly.  @So they sent messengers to sue for peace, and said, "Behold, we the servants of Nebuchadnezzar, the Great King, lie €prostrate before you. Do with us whatever you will. Behold, our buildings, and all our land, and all our wheat fields, and €our flocks and herds, and all our sheepfolds with their tents, lie €before you; do with them whatever you please. Our cities also and their inhabitants are your slaves; come and deal €with them in any way that seems good to you." @The men came to Holofernes and told him all this. Then he went down to the seacoast with his army and stationed garrisons €in the hilltop cities and took picked men from them as his allies. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“³’ļ‚Źäō’£—And these people and all in the country round about welcomed him with €garlands and dances and tambourines. And he demolished all their shrines and cut down their sacred groves; €for it had been given to him to destroy all the gods of the land, so €that all nations should worship Nebuchadnezzar only, and all their €tongues and tribes should call upon him as god. @Then he came to the edge of Esdraelon, near Dothan, fronting the €great ridge of Judea; here he camped between Geba and Scythopolis, and remained for a whole €month in order to assemble all the supplies for his army.  @By this time the people of Israel living in Judea heard of everything €that Holofernes, the general of Nebuchadnezzar the king of the €Assyrians, had done to the nations, and how he had plundered and €destroyed all their temples; they were therefore very greatly terrified at his approach, and were €alarmed both for Jerusalem and for the temple of the Lord their God. For they had only recently returned from the captivity, and all the €people of Judea were newly gathered together, and the sacred vessels €and the altar and the temple had been consecrated after their €profanation. So they sent to every district of Samaria, and to Kona and Beth-horon €and Belmain and Jericho and to Choba and Aesora and the valley of Salem, and immediately seized all the high hilltops and fortified the villages €on them and stored up food in preparation for war -- since their fields €had recently been harvested. And Joakim, the high priest, who was in Jerusalem at the time, wrote to €the people of Bethulia and Betomesthaim, which faces Esdraelon opposite €the plain near Dothan, ordering them to seize the passes up into the hills, since by them €Judea could be invaded, and it was easy to stop any who tried to enter, €for the approach was narrow, only wide enough for two men at the most. @So the Israelites did as Joakim the high priest and the senate of the €whole people of Israel, in session at Jerusalem, had given order. And every man of Israel cried out to God with great fervor, and they €humbled themselves with much fasting. They and their wives and their children and their cattle and every €resident alien and hired laborer and purchased slave -- they all girded €themselves with sackcloth. And all the men and women of Israel, and their children, living at €Jerusalem, prostrated themselves before the temple and put ashes on €their heads and spread out their sackcloth before the Lord. They even surrounded the altar with sackcloth and cried out in unison, €praying earnestly to the God of Israel not to give up their infants as €prey and their wives as booty, and the cities they had inherited to be €destroyed, and the sanctuary to be profaned and desecrated to the €malicious joy of the Gentiles. So the Lord heard their prayers and looked upon their affliction; for €the people fasted many days throughout Judea and in Jerusalem before €the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty. And Joakim the high priest and all the priests who stood before the €Lord and ministered to the Lord, with their loins girded with €sackcloth, offered the continual burnt offerings and the vows and €freewill offerings of the people. With ashes upon their turbans, they cried out to the Lord with all €their might to look with favor upon the whole house of Israel.  @When Holofernes, the general of the Assyrian army, heard that the €people of Israel had prepared for war and had closed the passes in the €hills and fortified all the high hilltops and set up barricades in the €plains, he was very angry. So he called together all the princes of Moab and €the commanders of Ammon and all the governors of the coastland, and said to them, "Tell me, you Canaanites, what people is this that €lives in the hill country? What cities do they inhabit? How large is €their army, and in what does their power or strength consist? Who rules €over them as king, leading their army? And why have they alone, of all who live in the west, refused to come €out and meet me?" @Then Achior, the leader of all the Ammonites, said to him, "Let my €lord now hear a word from the mouth of your servant, and I will tell €you the truth about this people that dwells in the nearby mountain €district. No falsehood shall come from your servant's mouth. This people is descended from the Chaldeans. At one time they lived in Mesopotamia, because they would not follow €the gods of their fathers who were in Chaldea. For they had left the ways of their ancestors, and they worshiped the €God of heaven, the God they had come to know; hence they drove them out €from the presence of their gods; and they fled to Mesopotamia, and €lived there for a long time. Then their God commanded them to leave the place where they were living €and go to the land of Canaan. There they settled, and prospered, with €much gold and silver and very many cattle. When a famine spread over Canaan they went down to Egypt and lived €there as long as they had food; and there they became a great €multitude -- so great that they could not be counted. So the king of Egypt became hostile to them; he took advantage of them €and set them to making bricks, and humbled them and made slaves of them. Then they cried out to their God, and he afflicted the whole land of €Egypt with incurable plagues; and so the Egyptians drove them out of €their sight. Then God dried up the Red Sea before them, and he led them by the way of Sinai and Kadesh-barnea, and drove out €all the people of the wilderness. So they lived in the land of the Amorites, and by their might destroyed €all the inhabitants of Heshbon; and crossing over the Jordan they took €possession of all the hill country. And they drove out before them the Canaanites and the Perizzites and €the Jebusites and the Shechemites and all the Gergesites, and lived €there a long time. As long as they did not sin against their God they prospered, for the €God who hates iniquity is with them. But when they departed from the way which he had appointed for them, €they were utterly defeated in many battles and were led away captive to €a foreign country; the temple of their God was razed to the ground, and €their cities were captured by their enemies. But now they have returned to their God, and have come back from the €places to which they were scattered, and have occupied Jerusalem, where €their sanctuary is, and have settled in the hill country, because it €was uninhabited. Now therefore, my master and lord, if there is any unwitting error in €this people and they sin against their God and we find out their €offense, then we will go up and defeat them. But if there is no transgression in their nation, then let my lord pass €them by; for their Lord will defend them, and their God will protect €them, and we shall be put to shame before the whole world." @When Achior had finished saying this, all the men standing around the €tent began to complain; Holofernes' officers and all the men from the €seacoast and from Moab insisted that he must be put to death. "For," they said, "we will not be afraid of the Israelites; they are a €people with no strength or power for making war. Therefore let us go up, Lord Holofernes, and they will be devoured by €your vast army."  @When the disturbance made by the men outside the council died down, €Holofernes, the commander of the Assyrian army, said to Achior and all €the Moabites in the presence of all the foreign contingents: @"And who are you, Achior, and you hirelings of Ephraim, to prophesy €among us as you have done today and tell us not to make war against the €people of Israel because their God will defend them? Who is God except €Nebuchadnezzar? He will send his forces and will destroy them from the face of the €earth, and their God will not deliver them -- we the king's servants will €destroy them as one man. They cannot resist the might of our cavalry. We will burn them up, and their mountains will be drunk with their €blood, and their fields will be full of their dead. They cannot €withstand us, but will utterly perish. So says King Nebuchadnezzar, the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“³’ļ‚Źäō’¦”„lord of the whole earth. For he has spoken; none of his words shall be €in vain. @"But you, Achior, you Ammonite hireling, who have said these words on €the day of your iniquity, you shall not see my face again from this day €until I take revenge on this race that came out of Egypt. Then the sword of my army and the spear of my servants shall pierce €your sides, and you shall fall among their wounded, when I return. Now my slaves are going to take you back into the hill country and put €you in one of the cities beside the passes, and you will not die until you perish along with them. If you really hope in your heart that they will not be taken, do not €look downcast! I have spoken and none of my words shall fail." @Then Holofernes ordered his slaves, who waited on him in his tent, to €seize Achior and take him to Bethulia and hand him over to the men of €Israel. So the slaves took him and led him out of the camp into the plain, and €from the plain they went up into the hill country and came to the €springs below Bethulia. When the men of the city saw them, they caught up their weapons and ran €out of the city to the top of the hill, and all the slingers kept them €from coming up by casting stones at them. However, they got under the shelter of the hill and they bound Achior €and left him lying at the foot of the hill, and returned to their €master. @Then the men of Israel came down from their city and found him; and €they untied him and brought him into Bethulia and placed him before the €magistrates of their city, who in those days were Uzziah the son of Micah, of the tribe of Simeon, €and Chabris the son of Gothoniel, and Charmis the son of Melchiel. They called together all the elders of the city, and all their young €men and their women ran to the assembly; and they set Achior in the €midst of all their people, and Uzziah asked him what had happened. He answered and told them what had taken place at the council of €Holofernes, and all that he had said in the presence of the Assyrian €leaders, and all that Holofernes had said so boastfully against the €house of Israel. Then the people fell down and worshiped God, and cried out to him, and €said, @"O Lord God of heaven, behold their arrogance, and have pity on the €humiliation of our people, and look this day upon the faces of those €who are consecrated to thee." @Then they consoled Achior, and praised him greatly. And Uzziah took him from the assembly to his own house and gave a €banquet for the elders; and all that night they called on the God of €Israel for help.  @The next day Holofernes ordered his whole army, and all the allies €who had joined him, to break camp and move against Bethulia, and to €seize the passes up into the hill country and make war on the €Israelites. So all their warriors moved their camp that day; their force of men of €war was one hundred and seventy thousand infantry and twelve thousand €cavalry, together with the baggage and the foot soldiers handling it, a €very great multitude. They encamped in the valley near Bethulia, beside the spring, and they €spread out in breadth over Dothan as far as Balbaim and in length from €Bethulia to Cyamon, which faces Esdraelon. @When the Israelites saw their vast numbers they were greatly €terrified, and every one said to his neighbor, "These men will now lick €up the face of the whole land; neither the high mountains nor the €valleys nor the hills will bear their weight." Then each man took up his weapons, and when they had kindled fires on €their towers they remained on guard all that night. @On the second day Holofernes led out all his cavalry in full view of €the Israelites in Bethulia, and examined the approaches to the city, and visited the springs that €supplied their water, and seized them and set guards of soldiers over €them, and then returned to his army. @Then all the chieftains of the people of Esau and all the leaders of €the Moabites and the commanders of the coastland came to him and said, "Let our lord hear a word, lest his army be defeated. For these people, the Israelites, do not rely on their spears but on €the height of the mountains where they live, for it is not easy to €reach the tops of their mountains. Therefore, my lord, do not fight against them in battle array, and not €a man of your army will fall. Remain in your camp, and keep all the men in your forces with you; only €let your servants take possession of the spring of water that flows €from the foot of the mountain --for this is where all the people of Bethulia get their water. So thirst €will destroy them, and they will give up their city. We and our people €will go up to the tops of the nearby mountains and camp there to keep €watch that not a man gets out of the city. They and their wives and children will waste away with famine, and €before the sword reaches them they will be strewn about in the streets €where they live. So you will pay them back with evil, because they rebelled and did not €receive you peaceably." @These words pleased Holofernes and all his servants, and he gave €orders to do as they had said. So the army of the Ammonites moved forward, together with five thousand €Assyrians, and they encamped in the valley and seized the water supply €and the springs of the Israelites. And the sons of Esau and the sons of Ammon went up and encamped in the €hill country opposite Dothan; and they sent some of their men toward €the south and the east, toward Acraba, which is near Chusi beside the €brook Mochmur. The rest of the Assyrian army encamped in the plain, and €covered the whole face of the land, and their tents and supply trains €spread out in great number, and they formed a vast multitude. @The people of Israel cried out to the Lord their God, for their €courage failed, because all their enemies had surrounded them and there €was no way of escape from them. The whole Assyrian army, their infantry, chariots, and cavalry, €surrounded them for thirty-four days, until all the vessels of water €belonging to every inhabitant of Bethulia were empty; their cisterns were going dry, and they did not have enough water to €drink their fill for a single day, because it was measured out to them €to drink. Their children lost heart, and the women and young men fainted from €thirst and fell down in the streets of the city and in the passages €through the gates; there was no strength left in them any longer. @Then all the people, the young men, the women, and the children, €gathered about Uzziah and the rulers of the city and cried out with a €loud voice, and said before all the elders, "God be judge between you and us! For you have done us a great injury €in not making peace with the Assyrians. For now we have no one to help us; God has sold us into their hands, to €strew us on the ground before them with thirst and utter destruction. Now call them in and surrender the whole city to the army of Holofernes €and to all his forces, to be plundered. For it would be better for us to be captured by them; for we will be €slaves, but our lives will be spared, and we shall not witness the €death of our babes before our eyes, or see our wives and children draw €their last breath. We call to witness against you heaven and earth and our God, the Lord €of our fathers, who punishes us according to our sins and the sins of €our fathers. Let him not do this day the things which we have €described!" @Then great and general lamentation arose throughout the assembly, and €they cried out to the Lord God with a loud voice. And Uzziah said to them, "Have courage, my brothers! Let us hold out €for five more days; by that time the Lord our God will restore to us €his mercy, for he will not forsake us utterly. But if these days pass by, and no help comes for us, I will do what you €say." @Then he dismissed the people to their various posts, and they went up €on the walls and towers of their city. The women and children he sent €home. And they were greatly depressed in the city.  @At that time Judith heard about these things: she was the daughter of žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“³’ļ‚Źäō’؈‚Merari the son of Ox, son of Joseph, son of Oziel, son of Elkiah, son €of Ananias, son of Gideon, son of Raphaim, son of Ahitub, son of €Elijah, son of Hilkiah, son of Eliab, son of Nathanael, son of €Salamiel, son of Sarasadai, son of Israel. Her husband Manasseh, who belonged to her tribe and family, had died €during the barley harvest. For as he stood overseeing the men who were binding sheaves in the €field, he was overcome by the burning heat, and took to his bed and €died in Bethulia his city. So they buried him with his fathers in the €field between Dothan and Balamon. Judith had lived at home as a widow for three years and four months. She set up a tent for herself on the roof of her house, and girded €sackcloth about her loins and wore the garments of her widowhood. She fasted all the days of her widowhood, except the day before the €sabbath and the sabbath itself, the day before the new moon and the day €of the new moon, and the feasts and days of rejoicing of the house of €Israel. She was beautiful in appearance, and had a very lovely face; and her €husband Manasseh had left her gold and silver, and men and women €slaves, and cattle, and fields; and she maintained this estate. No one spoke ill of her, for she feared God with great devotion. @When Judith heard the wicked words spoken by the people against the €ruler, because they were faint for lack of water, and when she heard €all that Uzziah said to them, and how he promised them under oath to €surrender the city to the Assyrians after five days, she sent her maid, who was in charge of all she possessed, to summon €Chabris and Charmis, the elders of her city. They came to her, and she said to them, €@"Listen to me, rulers of the people of Bethulia! What you have said €to the people today is not right; you have even sworn and pronounced €this oath between God and you, promising to surrender the city to our €enemies unless the Lord turns and helps us within so many days. Who are you, that have put God to the test this day, and are setting €yourselves up in the place of God among the sons of men? You are putting the Lord Almighty to the test -- but you will never know €anything! You cannot plumb the depths of the human heart, nor find out what a man €is thinking; how do you expect to search out God, who made all these €things, and find out his mind or comprehend his thought? No, my €brethren, do not provoke the Lord our God to anger. For if he does not choose to help us within these five days, he has €power to protect us within any time he pleases, or even to destroy us €in the presence of our enemies. Do not try to bind the purposes of the Lord our God; for God is not €like man, to be threatened, nor like a human being, to be won over by €pleading. Therefore, while we wait for his deliverance, let us call upon him to €help us, and he will hear our voice, if it pleases him. @"For never in our generation, nor in these present days, has there €been any tribe or family or people or city of ours which worshiped gods €made with hands, as was done in days gone by --and that was why our fathers were handed over to the sword, and to be €plundered, and so they suffered a great catastrophe before our enemies. But we know no other god but him, and therefore we hope that he will €not disdain us or any of our nation. For if we are captured all Judea will be captured and our sanctuary €will be plundered; and he will exact of us the penalty for its €desecration. And the slaughter of our brethren and the captivity of the land and the €desolation of our inheritance -- all this he will bring upon our heads €among the Gentiles, wherever we serve as slaves; and we shall be an €offense and a reproach in the eyes of those who acquire us. For our slavery will not bring us into favor, but the Lord our God will €turn it to dishonor. @"Now therefore, brethren, let us set an example to our brethren, for €their lives depend upon us, and the sanctuary and the temple and the €altar rest upon us. In spite of everything let us give thanks to the Lord our God, who is €putting us to the test as he did our forefathers. Remember what he did with Abraham, and how he tested Isaac, and what €happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia in Syria, while he was keeping the €sheep of Laban, his mother's brother. For he has not tried us with fire, as he did them, to search their €hearts, nor has he taken revenge upon us; but the Lord scourges those €who draw near to him, in order to admonish them." @Then Uzziah said to her, "All that you have said has been spoken out €of a true heart, and there is no one who can deny your words. Today is not the first time your wisdom has been shown, but from the €beginning of your life all the people have recognized your €understanding, for your heart's disposition is right. But the people were very thirsty, and they compelled us to do for them €what we have promised, and made us take an oath which we cannot break. So pray for us, since you are a devout woman, and the Lord will send us €rain to fill our cisterns and we will no longer be faint." @Judith said to them, "Listen to me. I am about to do a thing which €will go down through all generations of our descendants. Stand at the city gate tonight, and I will go out with my maid; and €within the days after which you have promised to surrender the city to €our enemies, the Lord will deliver Israel by my hand. Only, do not try to find out what I plan; for I will not tell you until €I have finished what I am about to do." @Uzziah and the rulers said to her, "Go in peace, and may the Lord God €go before you, to take revenge upon our enemies." So they returned from the tent and went to their posts.  @Then Judith fell upon her face, and put ashes on her head, and €uncovered the sackcloth she was wearing; and at the very time when that €evening's incense was being offered in the house of God in Jerusalem, €Judith cried out to the Lord with a loud voice, and said, @"O Lord God of my father Simeon, to whom thou gavest a sword to take €revenge on the strangers who had loosed the girdle of a virgin to €defile her, and uncovered her thigh to put her to shame, and polluted €her womb to disgrace her; for thou hast said, `It shall not be €done' -- yet they did it. So thou gavest up their rulers to be slain, and their bed, which was €ashamed of the deceit they had practiced, to be stained with blood, and €thou didst strike down slaves along with princes, and princes on their €thrones; and thou gavest their wives for a prey and their daughters to €captivity, and all their booty to be divided among thy beloved sons, €who were zealous for thee, and abhorred the pollution of their blood, €and called on thee for help -- O God, my God, hear me also, a widow. @"For thou hast done these things and those that went before and those €that followed; thou hast designed the things that are now, and those €that are to come. Yea, the things thou didst intend came to pass, and the things thou didst will presented themselves and said, `Lo, we €are here'; for all they ways are prepared in advance, and thy judgment €is with foreknowledge. @"Behold now, the Assyrians are increased in their might; they are €exalted, with their horses and riders; they glory in the strength of €their foot soldiers; they trust in shield and spear, in bow and sling, €and know not that thou art the Lord who crushest wars; the Lord is thy €name. Break their strength by thy might, and bring down their power in thy €anger; for they intend to defile thy sanctuary, and to pollute the €tabernacle where thy glorious name rests, and to cast down the horn of €thy altar with the sword. Behold their pride, and send thy wrath upon their heads; give to me, a €widow, the strength to do what I plan. By the deceit of my lips strike down the slave with the prince and the €prince with his servant; crush their arrogance by the hand of a woman. @"For thy power depends not upon numbers, nor thy might upon men of €strength; for thou art God of the lowly, helper of the oppressed, €upholder of the weak, protector of the forlorn, savior of those without €hope. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“³’ļ‚Źäō’؉˜ŒHear, O hear me, God of my father, God of the inheritance of Israel, €Lord of heaven and earth, Creator of the waters, King of all thy €creation, hear my prayer! Make my deceitful words to be their wound and stripe, for they have €planned cruel things against thy covenant, and against thy consecrated €house, and against the top of Zion, and against the house possessed by €thy children. And cause thy whole nation and every tribe to know and understand that €thou art God, the God of all power and might, and that there is no €other who protects the people of Israel but thou alone!"  @When Judith had ceased crying out to the God of Israel, and had ended €all these words, she rose from where she lay prostrate and called her maid and went down €into the house where she lived on sabbaths and on her feast days; and she removed the sackcloth which she had been wearing, and took off €her widow's garments, and bathed her body with water, and anointed €herself with precious ointment, and combed her hair and put on a tiara, €and arrayed herself in her gayest apparel, which she used to wear while €her husband Manasseh was living. And she put sandals on her feet, and put on her anklets and bracelets €and rings, and her earrings and all her ornaments, and made herself €very beautiful, to entice the eyes of all men who might see her. And she gave her maid a bottle of wine and a flask of oil, and filled a €bag with parched grain and a cake of dried fruit and fine bread; and €she wrapped up all her vessels and gave them to her to carry. @Then they went out to the city gate of Bethulia, and found Uzziah €standing there with the elders of the city, Chabris and Charmis. When they saw her, and noted how her face was altered and her clothing €changed, they greatly admired her beauty, and said to her, "May the God of our fathers grant you favor and fulfil your plans, that €the people of Israel may glory and Jerusalem may be exalted." And she €worshiped God. @Then she said to them, "Order the gate of the city to be opened for €me, and I will go out and accomplish the things about which you spoke €with me." So they ordered the young men to open the gate for her, as €she had said. When they had done this, Judith went out, she and her maid with her; €and the men of the city watched her until she had gone down the €mountain and passed through the valley and they could no longer see her. @The women went straight on through the valley; and an Assyrian patrol €met her and took her into custody, and asked her, "To what people do you €belong, and where are you coming from, and where are you going?" She €replied, "I am a daughter of the Hebrews, but I am fleeing from them, €for they are about to be handed over to you to be devoured. I am on my way to the presence of Holofernes the commander of your €army, to give him a true report; and I will show him a way by which he €can go and capture all the hill country without losing one of his men, €captured or slain." @When the men heard her words, and observed her face -- she was in their €eyes marvelously beautiful -- they said to her, "You have saved your life by hurrying down to the presence of our lord. €Go at once to his tent; some of us will escort you and hand you over to €him. And when you stand before him, do not be afraid in your heart, but tell €him just what you have said, and he will treat you well." @They chose from their number a hundred men to accompany her and her €maid, and they brought them to the tent of Holofernes. There was great excitement in the whole camp, for her arrival was €reported from tent to tent, and they came and stood around her as she €waited outside the tent of Holofernes while they told him about her. And they marveled at her beauty, and admired the Israelites, judging €them by her, and every one said to his neighbor, "Who can despise these €people, who have women like this among them? Surely not a man of them €had better be left alive, for if we let them go they will be able to €ensnare the whole world!" @Then Holofernes' companions and all his servants came out and led her €into the tent. Holofernes was resting on his bed, under a canopy which was woven with €purple and gold and emeralds and precious stones. When they told him of her he came forward to the front of the tent, €with silver lamps carried before him. And when Judith came into the presence of Holofernes and his servants, €they all marveled at the beauty of her face; and she prostrated herself €and made obeisance to him, and his slaves raised her up.  @Then Holofernes said to her, "Take courage, woman, and do not be €afraid in your heart, for I have never hurt any one who chose to serve €Nebuchadnezzar, the king of all the earth. And even now, if your people who live in the hill country had not €slighted me, I would never have lifted my spear against them; but they €have brought all this on themselves. And now tell me why you have fled from them and have come over to €us -- since you have come to safety. Have courage; you will live, tonight and from now on. No one will hurt €you, but all will treat you well, as they do the servants of my lord €King Nebuchadnezzar." @Judith replied to him, "Accept the words of your servant, and let €your maidservant speak in your presence, and I will tell nothing false €to my lord this night. And if you follow out the words of your maidservant, God will €accomplish something through you, and my lord will not fail to achieve €his purposes. Nebuchadnezzar the king of the whole earth lives, and as his power €endures, who had sent you to direct every living soul, not only do men €serve him because of you, but also the beasts of the field and the €cattle and the birds of the air will live by your power under €Nebuchadnezzar and all his house. For we have heard of your wisdom and skill, and it is reported €throughout the whole world that you are the one good man in the whole €kingdom, thoroughly informed and marvelous in military strategy. @"Now as for the things Achior said in your council, we have heard his €words, for the men of Bethulia spared him and he told them all he had €said to you. Therefore, my lord and master, do not disregard what he said, but keep €it in your mind, for it is true: our nation cannot be punished, nor can €the sword prevail against them, unless they sin against their God. @"And now, in order that my lord may not be defeated and his purpose €frustrated, death will fall upon them, for a sin has overtaken them by €which they are about to provoke their God to anger when they do what is €wrong. Since their food supply is exhausted and their water has almost given €out, they have planned to kill their cattle and have determined to use €all that God by his laws has forbidden them to eat. They have decided to consume the first fruits of the grain and the €tithes of the wine and oil, which they had consecrated and set aside €for the priests who minister in the presence of our God at €Jerusalem -- although it is not lawful for any of the people so much as €to touch these things with their hands. They have sent men to Jerusalem, because even the people living there €have been doing this, to bring back to them permission from the senate. When the word reaches them and they proceed to do this, on that very €day they will be handed over to you to be destroyed. @"Therefore, when I, your servant, learned all this, I fled from them; €and God has sent me to accomplish with you things that will astonish €the whole world, as many as shall hear about them. For your servant is religious, and serves the God of heaven day and €night; therefore, my lord, I will remain with you, and every night your €servant will go out into the valley, and I will pray to God and he will €tell me when they have committed their sins. And I will come and tell you, and then you shall go out with your whole €army, and not one of them will withstand you. Then I will lead you through the middle of Judea, till you come to €Jerusalem; and I will set your throne in the midst of it; and you will žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“³’ļ‚Źäō’؋˜“ƒlead them like sheep that have no shepherd, and not a dog will so much €as open its mouth to growl at you. For this has been told me, by my €foreknowledge; it was announced to me, and I was sent to tell you." @Her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants, and they marveled €at her wisdom and said, "There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, €either for beauty of face or wisdom of speech!" And Holofernes said to her, "God has done well to send you before the €people, to lend strength to our hands and to bring destruction upon €those who have slighted my lord. You are not only beautiful in appearance, but wise in speech; and if €you do as you have said, your God shall be my God, and you shall live €in the house of King Nebuchadnezzar and be renowned throughout the €whole world."  @Then he commanded them to bring her in where his silver dishes were €kept, and ordered them to set a table for her with some of his own food €and to serve her with his own wine. But Judith said, "I cannot eat it, lest it be an offense; but I will be €provided from the things I have brought with me." Holofernes said to her, "If your supply runs out, where can we get more €like it for you? For none of your people is here with us." Judith replied, "As your soul lives, my lord, your servant will not use €up the things I have with me before the Lord carries out by my hand €what he has determined to do." @Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent, and she €slept until midnight. Along toward the morning watch she arose and sent to Holofernes and said, "Let my lord now command that your €servant be permitted to go out and pray." So Holofernes commanded his guards not to hinder her. And she remained €in the camp for three days, and went out each night to the valley of €Bethulia, and bathed at the spring in the camp. When she came up from the spring she prayed the Lord God of Israel to €direct her way for the raising up of her people. So she returned clean and stayed in the tent until she ate her food €toward evening. @On the fourth day Holofernes held a banquet for his slave only, and €did not invite any of his officers. And he said to Bagoas, the eunuch who had charge of his personal €affairs, "Go now and persuade the Hebrew woman who is in your care to €join us and eat and drink with us. For it will be a disgrace if we let such a woman go without enjoying €her company, for if we do not embrace her she will laugh at us." So Bagoas went out from the presence of Holofernes, and approached her €and said, "This beautiful maidservant will please come to my lord and €be honored in his presence, and drink wine and be merry with us, and €become today like one of the daughters of the Assyrians who serve in €the house of Nebuchadnezzar." And Judith said, "Who am I, to refuse my lord? Surely whatever pleases €him I will do at once, and it will be a joy to me until the day of my €death!" So she got up and arrayed herself in all her woman's finery, and her €maid went and spread on the ground for her before Holofernes the soft €fleeces which she had received from Bagoas for her daily use, so that €she might recline on them when she ate. @Then Judith came in and lay down, and Holofernes' heart was ravished €with her and he was moved with great desire to possess her; for he had €been waiting for an opportunity to deceive her, ever since the day he €first saw her. So Holofernes said to her. "Drink now, and be merry with us!" Judith said, "I will drink now, my lord, because my life means more to €me today than in all the days since I was born." Then she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had prepared. And Holofernes was greatly pleased with her, and drank a great quantity €of wine, much more than he had ever drunk in any one day since he was €born.  @When evening came, his slaves quickly withdrew, and Bagoas closed the €tent from outside and shut out the attendants from his master's €presence; and they went to bed, for they all were weary because the €banquet had lasted long. So Judith was left alone in the tent , with Holofernes stretched out on €his bed, for he was overcome with wine. @Now Judith had told her maid to stand outside the bedchamber and to €wait for her to come out, as she did every day; for she said she would €be going out for her prayers. And she had said the same thing to Bagoas. So every one went out, and no one, either small or great, was left in €the bedchamber. Then Judith, standing beside his bed, said in her €heart, "O Lord God of all might, look in this hour upon the work of my €hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem. For now is the time to help thy inheritance, and to carry out my €undertaking for the destruction of the enemies who have risen up €against us." @She went up to the post at the end of the bed, above Holofernes' €head, and took down his sword that hung there. She came close to his bed and took hold of the hair of his head, and €said, "Give me strength this day, O Lord God of Israel!" And she struck his neck twice with all her might, and severed it from €his body. Then she tumbled his body off the bed and pulled down the canopy from €the posts; after a moment she went out, and gave Holofernes' head to €her maid, who placed it in her food bag. €@Then the two of them went out together, as they were accustomed to go €for prayer; and they passed through the camp and circled around the €valley and went up the mountain to Bethulia and came to its gates. Judith called out from afar to the watchmen at the gates, "Open, open €the gate! God, our God, is still with us, to show his power in Israel, €and his strength against our enemies, even as he has done this day!" @When the men of her city heard her voice, they hurried down to the €city gate and called together the elders of the city. They all ran together, both small and great, for it was unbelievable €that she had returned; they opened the gate and admitted them, and they €kindled a fire for light, and gathered around them. Then she said to them with a loud voice, "Praise God, O praise him! €Praise God, who has not withdrawn his mercy from the house of Israel, €but has destroyed our enemies by my hand this very night!" @Then she took the head out of the bag and showed it to them, and €said, "See, here is the head of Holofernes, the commander of the €Assyrian army, and here is the canopy beneath which he lay in his €drunken stupor. The Lord has struck him down by the hand of a woman. As the Lord lives, who has protected me in the way I went, it was my €face that tricked him to his destruction, and yet he committed no act €of sin with me, to defile and shame me." @All the people were greatly astonished, and bowed down and worshiped €God, and said with one accord, "Blessed art thou, our God, who hast €brought into contempt this day the enemies of thy people." @And Uzziah said to her, "O daughter, you are blessed by the Most High €God above all women on earth; and blessed be the Lord God, who created €the heavens and the earth, who has guided you to strike the head of the €leader of our enemies. Your hope will never depart from the hearts of men, as they remember €the power of God. May God grant this to be a perpetual honor to you, and may he visit you €with blessings, because you did not spare your own life when our nation €was brought low, but have avenged our ruin, walking in the straight €path before our God." And all the people said, "So be it, so be it!"  Then Judith said to them, "Listen to me, my brethren, and take this €head and hang it upon the parapet of your wall. And as soon as morning comes and the sun rises, let every valiant man €take his weapons and go out of the city, and set a captain over them, €as if you were going down to the plain against the Assyrian outpost; €only do not go down. Then they will seize their arms and go into the camp and rouse the €officers of the Assyrian army; and they will rush into the tent of €Holofernes, and will not find him. Then fear will come over them, and €they will flee before you, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“³’ļ‚Źäō’؎”and you and all who live within the borders of Israel shall pursue them €and cut them down as they flee. But before you do all this, bring Achior the Ammonite to me, and let €him see and recognize the man who despised the house of Israel and sent €him to us as if to his death." @So they summoned Achior from the house of Uzziah. And when he came €and saw the head of Holofernes in the hand of one of the men at the €gathering of the people, he fell down on his face and his spirit failed €him. And when they raised him up he fell at Judith's feet, and knelt before €her, and said, "Blessed are you in every tent of Judah! In every nation €those who hear your name will be alarmed. Now tell me what you have done during these days." €@Then Judith described to him in the presence of the people all that €she had done, from the day she left until the moment of her speaking to €them. And when she had finished, the people raised a great shout and made a €joyful noise in their city. And when Achior saw all that the God of Israel had done, he believed €firmly in God, and was circumcised, and joined the house of Israel, €remaining so to this day. @As soon as it was dawn they hung the head of Holofernes on the wall, €and every man took his weapons, and they went out in companies to the €passes in the mountains. And when the Assyrians saw them they sent word to their commanders, and €they went to the generals and the captains and to all their officers. So they came to Holofernes' tent and said to the steward in charge of €all his personal affairs, "Wake up our lord, for the slaves have been €so bold as to come down against us to give battle, in order to be €destroyed completely." @So Bagoas went in and knocked at the door of the tent, for he €supposed that he was sleeping with Judith. But when no one answered, he opened it and went into the bedchamber and €found him thrown down on the platform dead, with his head cut off and €missing. And he cried out with a loud voice and wept and groaned and shouted, €and rent his garments. Then he went to the tent where Judith had stayed, and when he did not €find her he rushed out to the people and shouted, "The slaves have tricked us! One Hebrew woman has brought disgrace upon €the house of King Nebuchadnezzar! For look, here is Holofernes lying on €the ground, and his head is not on him!" @When the leaders of the Assyrian army heard this, they rent their €tunics and were greatly dismayed, and their loud cries and shouts arose €in the midst of the camp.  @When the men in the tents heard it, they were amazed at what had €happened. Fear and trembling came over them, so that they did not wait for one €another, but with one impulse all rushed out and fled by every path €across the plain and through the hill country. Those who had camped in the hills around Bethulia also took to flight. €Then the men of Israel, every one that was a soldier, rushed out upon €them. And Uzziah sent men to Betomasthaim and Bebai and Choba and Kola, and €to all the frontiers of Israel, to tell what had taken place and to €urge all to rush out upon their enemies to destroy them. And when the Israelites heard it, with one accord they fell upon the €enemy, and cut them down as far as Choba. Those in Jerusalem and all €the hill country also came, for they were told what had happened in the €camp of the enemy; and those in Gilead and in Galilee outflanked them €with great slaughter, even beyond Damascus and its borders. The rest of the people of Bethulia fell upon the Assyrian camp and €plundered it, and were greatly enriched. And the Israelites, when they returned from the slaughter, took €possession of what remained, and the villages and towns in the hill €country and in the plain got a great amount of booty, for there was a €vast quantity of it. @Then Joakim the high priest, and the senate of the people of Israel €who lived at Jerusalem, came to witness the good things which the Lord €had done for Israel, and to see Judith and to greet her. And when they met her they all blessed her with one accord and said to €her, "You are the exaltation of Jerusalem, you are the great glory of €Israel, you are the great pride of our nation! You have done all this singlehanded; you have done great good to €Israel, and God is well pleased with it. May the Almighty Lord bless €you for ever!" And all the people said, "So be it!" @So all the people plundered the camp for thirty days. They gave €Judith the tent of Holofernes and all his silver dishes and his beds €and his bowls and all his furniture; and she took them and loaded her €mule and hitched up her carts and piled the things on them. @Then all the women of Israel gathered to see her, and blessed her, €and some of them performed a dance for her; and she took branches in €her hands and gave them to the women who were with her; and they crowned themselves with olive wreaths, she and those who were €with her; and she went before all the people in the dance, leading all €the women, while all the men of Israel followed, bearing their arms and €wearing garlands and with songs on their lips.  @Then Judith began this thanksgiving before all Israel, and all the €people loudly sang this song of praise. And Judith said, €@@Begin a song to my God with tambourines, €@@@sing to my Lord with cymbals. €@@Raise to him a new psalm; €@@@exalt him, and call upon his name. @@For God is the Lord who crushes wars; €@@@for he has delivered me out of the hands of my pursuers, €@@@and brought me to his camp, in the midst of the people. €@6 @@The Assyrian came down from the mountains of the north; €@@@he came with myriads of his warriors; €@@their multitude blocked up the valleys, €@@@their cavalry covered the hills. @@He boasted that he would burn up my territory, €@@@and kill my young men with the sword, €@@and dash my infants to the ground €@@@and seize my children as prey, €@@@and take my virgins as booty. €@6 @@But the Lord Almighty has foiled them €@@@by the hand of a woman. @@For their mighty one did not fall by the hands €@@@@of the young men, €@@@nor did the sons of the Titans smite him, €@@@nor did tall giants set upon him; €@@but Judith the daughter of Merari undid him €@@@with the beauty of her countenance. €@6 @@For she took off her widow's mourning €@@@to exalt the oppressed in Israel. €@@She anointed her face with ointment €@@@and fastened her hair with a tiara €@@@and put on a linen gown to deceive him. @@Her sandal ravished his eyes, €@@@her beauty captivated his mind, €@@@and the sword severed his neck. @@The Persians trembled at her boldness, €@@@the Medes were daunted at her daring. €@6 @@Then my oppressed people shouted for joy; €@@@my weak people shouted and the enemy trembled; €@@@they lifted up their voices, and the enemy were turned back. @@The sons of maidservants have pierced them through; €@@@they were wounded like the children of fugitives, €@@@they perished before the army of my Lord. €@6 @@I will sing to my God a new song: €@@O Lord, thou are great and glorious, €@@@wonderful in strength, invincible. @@Let all thy creatures serve thee, €@@@for thou didst speak, and they were made. €@@Thou didst send forth thy Spirit, and it formed them; €@@@there is none that can resist thy voice. @@For the mountains shall be shaken to their €@@@@foundations with the waters; €@@@at thy presence the rocks shall melt like wax, €@@but to those who fear thee €@@@thou wilt continue to show mercy. @@For every sacrifice as a fragrant offering is a small thing, €@@@and all fat for burnt offerings to thee is €@@@@a very little thing, €@@but he who fears the Lord shall be great for ever. €@6 @@Woe to the nations that rise up against my people! €@@@The Lord Almighty will take vengeance on them €@@@@in the day of judgment; €@@fire and worms he will give to their flesh; €@@@they shall weep in pain for ever. €@6 @When they arrived at Jerusalem they worshiped God. As soon as the €people were purified, they offered their burnt offerings, their €freewill offerings, and their gifts. Judith also dedicated to God all the vessels of Holofernes, which the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“³’ļ‚Źäō’ؐ˜“‚people had given her; and the canopy which she took for herself from €his bedchamber she gave as a votive offering to the Lord. So the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the sanctuary for €three months, and Judith remained with them. @After this every one returned home to his own inheritance, and Judith €went to Bethulia, and remained on her estate, and was honored in her €time throughout the whole country. Many desired to marry her, but she remained a widow all the days of her €life after Manasseh her husband died and was gathered to his people. She became more and more famous, and grew old in her husband's house, €until she was one hundred and five years old. She set her maid free. €She died in Bethulia, and they buried her in the cave of her husband €Manasseh, and the house of Israel mourned for her seven days. Before she died she €distributed her property to all those who were next of kin to her €husband Manasseh, and to her own nearest kindred. And no one ever again spread terror among the people of Israel in the €days of Judith, or for a long time after her death. ąļ‚ĮääÅóōč’؋’In the second year of the reign of Artaxerxes the Great, on the first €day of Nisan, Mordecai the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, of €the tribe of Benjamin, had a dream. He was a Jew, dwelling in the city of Susa, a great man, serving in the €court of the king. He was one of the captives whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had €brought from Jerusalem with Jeconiah king of Judea. And this was his €dream: Behold, noise and confusion, thunders and earthquake, tumult upon the €earth! And behold, two great dragons came forward, both ready to fight, and €they roared terribly. And at their roaring every nation prepared for war, to fight against €the nation of the righteous. And behold, a day of darkness and gloom, tribulation and distress, €affliction and great tumult upon the earth! And the whole righteous nation was troubled; they feared the evils that €threatened them, and were ready to perish. Then they cried to God; and from their cry, as though from a tiny €spring, there came a great river, with abundant water; light came, and the sun rose, and the lowly were exalted and consumed €those held in honor. @Mordecai saw in this dream what God had determined to do, and after €he awoke he had it on his mind and sought all day to understand it in €every detail.  @Now Mordecai took his rest in the courtyard with Gabatha and Tharra, €the two eunuchs of the king who kept watch in the courtyard. He overheard their conversation and inquired into their purposes, and €learned that they were preparing to lay hands upon Artaxerxes the king; €and he informed the king concerning them. Then the king examined the two eunuchs, and when they confessed they €were led to execution. The king made a permanent record of these things, and Mordecai wrote an €account of them. And the king ordered Mordecai to serve in the court and rewarded him €for these things. But Haman, the son of Hammedatha, a Bougaean, was in great honor with €the king, and he sought to injure Mordecai and his people because of €the two eunuchs of the king.  @This is a copy of the letter: "The Great King, Artaxerxes, to the €rulers of the hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia €and to the governors under them, writes thus: @"Having become ruler of many nations and master of the whole world, €not elated with presumption of authority but always acting reasonably €and with kindness, I have determined to settle the lives of my subjects €in lasting tranquillity and, in order to make my kingdom peaceable and €open to travel throughout all its extent, to re-establish the peace €which all men desire. @"When I asked my counselors how this might be accomplished, Haman, €who excels among us in sound judgment, and is distinguished for his €unchanging good will and steadfast fidelity, and has attained the €second place in the kingdom, pointed out to us that among all the nations in the world there is €scattered a certain hostile people, who have laws contrary to those of €every nation and continually disregard the ordinances of the kings, so €that the unifying of the kingdom which we honorably intend cannot be €brought about. We understand that this people, and it alone, stands constantly in €opposition to all men, perversely following a strange manner of life €and laws, and is ill-disposed to our government, doing all the harm €they can so that our kingdom may not attain stability. @"Therefore we have decreed that those indicated to you in the letters €of Haman, who is in charge of affairs and is our second father, shall €all, with their wives and children, be utterly destroyed by the sword €of their enemies, without pity or mercy, on the fourteenth day of the €twelfth month, Adar, of this present year, so that those who have long been and are now hostile may in one day go €down in violence to Hades, and leave our government completely secure €and untroubled hereafter." @Then Mordecai prayed to the Lord, calling to remembrance all the €works of the Lord. He said: @"O Lord, Lord, King who rulest over all things, for the universe is €in thy power and there is no one who can oppose thee if it is thy will €to save Israel. For thou hast made heaven and earth and every wonderful thing under €heaven, and thou art Lord of all, and there is no one who can resist thee, who €art the Lord. Thou knowest all things; thou knowest, O Lord, that it was not in €insolence or pride or for any love of glory that I did this, and €refused to bow down to this proud Haman. For I would have been willing to kiss the soles of his feet, to save €Israel! But I did this, that I might not set the glory of man above the glory €of God, and I will not bow down to any one but to thee, who art my €Lord; and I will not do these things in pride. And now, O Lord God and King, God of Abraham, spare thy people; for the €eyes of our foes are upon us to annihilate us, and they desire to €destroy the inheritance that has been thine from the beginning. Do not neglect thy portion, which thou didst redeem for thyself out of €the land of Egypt. Hear my prayer, and have mercy upon thy inheritance turn our mourning €into feasting, that we may live and sing praise to thy name, O Lord; do €not destroy the mouth of those who praise thee." @And all Israel cried out mightily, for their death was before their €eyes.  @And Esther the queen, seized with deathly anxiety, fled to the Lord; she took off her splendid apparel and put on the garments of distress €and mourning, and instead of costly perfumes she covered her head with €ashes and dung, and she utterly humbled her body, and every part that €she loved to adorn she covered with her tangled hair. And she prayed to the Lord God of Israel, and said: €@Lord, thou only art our King; help me, who am alone and have no €helper but thee, for my danger is in my hand. Ever since I was born I have heard in the tribe of my family that thou, €O Lord, didst take Israel out of all the nations, and our fathers from €among all their ancestors, for an everlasting inheritance, and that €thou didst do for them all that thou didst promise. And now we have sinned before thee, and thou hast given us into the €hands of our enemies, because we glorified their gods. Thou art righteous, O Lord! And now they are not satisfied that we are in bitter slavery, but they €have covenanted with their idols to abolish what thy mouth has ordained and to destroy thy inheritance, €to stop the mouths of those who praise thee and to quench thy altar and €the glory of thy house, to open the mouths of the nations for the praise of vain idols, and to €magnify for ever a mortal king. O Lord, do not surrender thy scepter to what has no being; and do not €let them mock at our downfall; but turn their plan against themselves, €and make an example of the man who began this against us. Remember, O Lord; make thyself known in this time of our affliction, €and give me courage, O King of the gods and Master of all dominion! žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°““’ļ‚ĮääÅóōč’؎˜Put eloquent speech in my mouth before the lion, and turn his heart to €hate the man who is fighting against us, so that there may be an end of €him and those who agree with him. But save us by thy hand, and help me, who am alone and have no helper €but thee, O Lord. Thou hast knowledge of all things; and thou knowest that I hate the €splendor of the wicked and abhor the bed of the uncircumcised and of €any alien. Thou knowest my necessity -- that I abhor the sign of my proud position, €which is upon my head on the days when I appear in public. I abhor it €like a menstruous rag, and I do not wear it on the days when I am at €leisure. And thy servant has not eaten at Haman's table, and I have not honored €the king's feast or drunk the wine of the libations. Thy servant has had no joy since the day that I was brought here until €now, except in thee, O Lord God of Abraham. O God, whose might is over all, hear the voice of the despairing, and €save us from the hands of evildoers. And save me from my fear!"  @On the third day, when she ended her prayer, she took off the €garments in which she had worshiped, and arrayed herself in splendid €attire. Then, majestically adorned, after invoking the aid of the all-seeing €God and Savior, she took her two maids with her, leaning daintily on one, while the other followed carrying her train. She was radiant with perfect beauty, and she looked happy, as if €beloved, but her heart was frozen with fear. When she had gone through all the doors, she stood before the king. He €was seated on his royal throne, clothed in the full array of his €majesty, all covered with gold and precious stones. And he was most €terrifying. @Lifting his face, flushed with splendor, he looked at her in fierce €anger. And the queen faltered, and turned pale and faint, and collapsed €upon the head of the maid who went before her. Then God changed the spirit of the king to gentleness, and in alarm he €sprang from his throne and took her in his arms until she came to €herself. And he comforted her with soothing words, and said to her, "What is it, Esther? I am your brother. Take courage; you shall not die, for our law applies only to the people. Come near." @Then he raised the golden scepter and touched it to her neck; and he embraced her, and said, "Speak to me." And she said to him, "I saw you, my lord, like an angel of God and my €heart was shaken with fear at your glory. For you are wonderful, my lord, and your countenance is full of grace." But as she was speaking, she fell fainting. And the king was agitated, and all his servants sought to comfort her.  @The following is a copy of this letter: €@"The Great King, Artaxerxes, to the rulers of the provinces from €India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven satrapies, and to those €who are loyal to our government, greeting. @"The more often they are honored by the too great kindness of their €benefactors, the more proud do many men become. They not only seek to injure our subjects, but in their inability to €stand prosperity they even undertake to scheme against their own €benefactors. They not only take away thankfulness from among men, but, carried away €by the boasts of those who know nothing of goodness, they suppose that €they will escape the evil-hating justice of God, who always sees €everything. And often many of those who are set in places of authority have been €made in part responsible for the shedding of innocent blood, and have €been involved in irremediable calamities, by the persuasion of friends €who have been entrusted with the administration of public affairs, when these men by the false trickery of their evil natures beguile the €sincere good will of their sovereigns. @"What has been wickedly accomplished through the pestilent behavior €of those who exercise authority unworthily, can be seen not so much €from the more ancient records which we hand on as from investigation of €matters close at hand. For the future we will take care to render our kingdom quiet and €peaceable for all men, by changing our methods and always judging what comes before our eyes €with more equitable consideration. For Haman, the son of Hammedatha, a Macedonian (really an alien to the €Persian blood, and quite devoid of our kindliness), having become our €guest, so far enjoyed the good will that we have for every nation that he was €called our father and was continually bowed down to by all as the €person second to the royal throne. But, unable to restrain his arrogance, he undertook to deprive us of €our kingdom and our life, and with intricate craft and deceit asked for the destruction of €Mordecai, our savior and perpetual benefactor, and of Esther, the €blameless partner of our kingdom, together with their whole nation. He thought that in this way he would find us undefended and would €transfer the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians. @"But we find that the Jews, who were consigned to annihilation by €this thrice accursed man, are not evildoers but are governed by most €righteous laws and are sons of the Most High, the most mighty living God, who has €directed the kingdom both for us and for our fathers in the most €excellent order. @"You will therefore do well not to put in execution the letters sent €by Haman the son of Hammedatha, because the man himself who did these things has been hanged at the €gate of Susa, with all his household. For God, who rules over all €things, has speedily inflicted on him the punishment he deserved. @"Therefore post a copy of this letter publicly in every place, and €permit the Jews to live under their own laws. And give them reinforcements, so that on the thirteenth day of the €twelfth month, Adar, on that very day they may defend themselves €against those who attack them at the time of their affliction. For God, who rules over all things, has made this day to be a joy to €his chosen people instead of a day of destruction for them. @"Therefore you shall observe this with all good cheer as a notable €day among your commemorative festivals, so that both now and hereafter it may mean salvation for us and the €loyal Persians, but that for those who plot against us it may be a €reminder of destruction. @"Every city and country, without exception, which does not act €accordingly, shall be destroyed in wrath with spear and fire. It shall €be made not only impassable for men, but also most hateful for all time €to beasts and birds." ؊„@And Mordecai said, "These things have come from God. For I remember the dream that I had concerning these matters, and none €of them has failed to be fulfilled. The tiny spring which became a river, and there was light and the sun €and abundant water -- the river is Esther, whom the king married and made €queen. The two dragons are Haman and myself. The nations are those that gathered to destroy the name of the Jews. And my nation, this is Israel, who cried out to God and were saved. The €Lord has saved his people; the Lord has delivered us from all these €evils; God has done great signs and wonders, which have not occurred €among the nations. For this purpose he made two lots, one for the people of God and one €for all the nations. And these two lots came to the hour and moment and day of decision €before God and among all the nations. And God remembered his people and vindicated his inheritance. So they will observe these days in the month of Adar, on the fourteenth €and fifteenth of that month, with an assembly and joy and gladness €before God, from generation to generation for ever among his people €Israel."  @In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, €who said that he was a priest and a Levite, and Ptolemy his son brought €to Egypt the preceeding Letter of Purim, which they said was genuine €and had been translated by Lysimachus the son of Ptolemy, one of the €residents of Jerusalem. ąļ‚×éó’”@@Love righteousness, you rulers of the earth, €@@think of the Lord with uprightness, €@@and seek him with sincerity of heart; @@because he is found by those who do not put him to the test, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“µ’ļ‚×éó’”’‚@@and manifests himself to those who do not distrust him. @@For perverse thoughts separate men from God, €@@and when his power is tested, it convicts the foolish; @@because wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul, €@@nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin. @@For a holy and disciplined spirit will flee from deceit, €@@and will rise and depart from foolish thoughts, €@@and will be ashamed at the approach of unrighteousness. €@6 @@For wisdom is a kindly spirit and €@@will not free a blasphemer from the guilt of his words; €@@because God is witness of his inmost feelings, €@@and a true observer of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue. @@Because the Spirit of the Lord has filled the world, €@@and that which holds all things together knows what is said; @@therefore no one who utters unrighteous things €@@@@will escape notice, €@@and justice, when it punishes, will not pass him by. @@For inquiry will be made into the counsels of an ungodly man, €@@and a report of his words will come to the Lord, €@@to convict him of his lawless deeds; @@because a jealous ear hears all things, €@@and the sound of murmurings does not go unheard. @@Beware then of useless murmuring, €@@and keep your tongue from slander; €@@because no secret word is without result, €@@and a lying mouth destroys the soul. €@6 @@Do not invite death by the error of your life, €@@nor bring on destruction by the works of your hands; @@because God did not make death, €@@and he does not delight in the death of the living. @@For he created all things that they might exist, €@@and the generative forces of the world are wholesome, €@@and there is no destructive poison in them; €@@and the dominion of Hades is not on earth. @@For righteousness is immortal. €@6 @@But ungodly men by their words and deeds summoned death; €@@considering him a friend, they pined away, €@@and they made a covenant with him, €@@because they are fit to belong to his party.  @@For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, €@@"Short and sorrowful is our life, €@@and there is no remedy when a man comes to his end, €@@and no one has been known to return from Hades. @@Because we were born by mere chance, €@@and hereafter we shall be as though we had never been; €@@because the breath in our nostrils is smoke, €@@and reason is a spark kindled by the beating of our hearts. @@When it is extinguished, the body will turn to ashes, €@@and the spirit will dissolve like empty air. @@Our name will be forgotten in time €@@and no one will remember our works; €@@our life will pass away like the traces of a cloud, €@@and be scattered like mist €@@that is chased by the rays of the sun €@@and overcome by its heat. @@For our allotted time is the passing of a shadow, €@@and there is no return from our death, €@@because it is sealed up and no one turns back. €@6 @@"Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that exist, €@@and make use of the creation to the full as in youth. @@Let us take our fill of costly wine and perfumes, €@@and let no flower of spring pass by us. @@Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither. @@Let none of us fail to share in our revelry, €@@everywhere let us leave signs of enjoyment, €@@because this is our portion, and this our lot. @@Let us oppress the righteous poor man; €@@let us not spare the widow €@@nor regard the gray hairs of the aged. @@But let our might be our law of right, €@@for what is weak proves itself to be useless. €@6 @@"Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, €@@because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; €@@he reproaches us for sins against the law, €@@and accuses us of sins against our training. @@He professes to have knowledge of God, €@@and calls himself a child of the Lord. @@He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; @@the very sight of him is a burden to us, €@@because his manner of life is unlike that of others, €@@and his ways are strange. @@We are considered by him as something base, €@@and he avoids our ways as unclean; €@@he calls the last end of the righteous happy, €@@and boasts that God is his father. @@Let us see if his words are true, €@@and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; @@for if the righteous man is God's son, he will help him, €@@and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. @@Let us test him with insult and torture, €@@that we may find out how gentle he is, €@@and make trial of his forbearance. @@Let us condemn him to a shameful death, €@@for, according to what he says, he will be protected." €@6 @@Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, €@@for their wickedness blinded them, @@and they did not know the secret purposes of God, €@@nor hope for the wages of holiness, €@@nor discern the prize for blameless souls; @@for God created man for incorruption, €@@and made him in the image of his own eternity, @@but through the devil's envy death entered the world, €@@and those who belong to his party experience it. €@6  @@But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, €@@and no torment will ever touch them. @@In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, €@@and their departure was thought to be an affliction, @@and their going from us to be their destruction; €@@but they are at peace. @@For though in the sight of men they were punished, €@@their hope is full of immortality. @@Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, €@@because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; @@like gold in the furnace he tried them, €@@and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them. @@In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, €@@and will run like sparks through the stubble. @@They will govern nations and rule over peoples, €@@and the Lord will reign over them for ever. @@Those who trust in him will understand truth, €@@and the faithful will abide with him in love, €@@because grace and mercy are upon his elect, €@@and he watches over his holy ones. €@6 @@But the ungodly will be punished as their reasoning deserves, €@@who disregarded the righteous man and rebelled €@@@@against the Lord; @@for whoever despises wisdom and instruction is miserable. €@@Their hope is vain, their labors are unprofitable, €@@and their works are useless. @@Their wives are foolish, and their children evil; @@their offspring are accursed. €@@For blessed is the barren woman who is undefiled, €@@who has not entered into a sinful union; €@@she will have fruit when God examines souls. @@Blessed also is the eunuch whose hands have €@@@@done no lawless deed, €@@and who has not devised wicked things against the Lord; €@@for special favor will be shown him for his faithfulness, €@@and a place of great delight in the temple of the Lord. @@For the fruit of good labors is renowned, €@@and the root of understanding does not fail. @@But children of adulterers will not come to maturity, €@@and the offspring of an unlawful union will perish. @@Even if they live long they will be held of no account, €@@and finally their old age will be without honor. @@If they die young, they will have no hope €@@and no consolation in the day of decision. @@For the end of an unrighteous generation is grievous. €@6  @@Better than this is childlessness with virtue, €@@for in the memory of virtue is immortality, €@@because it is known both by God and by men. @@When it is present, men imitate it, €@@and they long for it when it has gone; €@@and throughout all time it marches crowned in triumph, €@@victor in the contest for prizes that are undefiled. @@But the prolific brood of the ungodly will be of no use, €@@and none of their illegitimate seedlings will €@@@@strike a deep root €@@or take a firm hold. @@For even if they put forth boughs for a while, €@@standing insecurely they will be shaken by the wind, €@@and by the violence of the winds they will be uprooted. @@The branches will be broken off before they come to maturity, €@@and their fruit will be useless, €@@not ripe enough to eat, and good for nothing. @@For children born of unlawful unions €@@are witnesses of evil against their parents €@@@@when God examines them. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“µ’ļ‚×éó’¤—@@But the righteous man, though he die early, will be at rest. @@For old age is not honored for length of time, €@@nor measured by number of years; @@but understanding is gray hair for men, €@@and a blameless life is ripe old age. €@6 @@There was one who pleased God and was loved by him, €@@and while living among sinners he was taken up. @@He was caught up lest evil change his understanding €@@or guile deceive his soul. @@For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good, €@@and roving desire perverts the innocent mind. @@Being perfected in a short time, he fulfilled long years; @@for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, €@@therefore he took him quickly from the midst of wickedness. @@Yet the peoples saw and did not understand, €@@nor take such a thing to heart, €@@that God's grace and mercy are with his elect, €@@and he watches over his holy ones. €@6 @@The righteous man who had died will condemn €@@@@the ungodly who are living, €@@and youth that is quickly perfected will condemn €@@@@the prolonged old age of the unrighteous man. @@For they will see the end of the wise man, €@@and will not understand what the Lord purposed for him, €@@and for what he kept him safe. @@They will see, and will have contempt for him, €@@but the Lord will laugh them to scorn. €@@After this they will become dishonored corpses, €@@and an outrage among the dead for ever; @@because he will dash them speechless to the ground, €@@and shake them from the foundations; €@@they will be left utterly dry and barren, €@@and they will suffer anguish, €@@and the memory of them will perish. €@6 @@They will come with dread when their sins are reckoned up, €@@and their lawless deeds will convict them to their face.  @@Then the righteous man will stand with great confidence €@@in the presence of those who have afflicted him, €@@and those who make light of his labors. @@When they see him, they will be shaken with dreadful fear, €@@and they will be amazed at his unexpected salvation. @@They will speak to one another in repentance, €@@and in anguish of spirit they will groan, and say, @@"This is the man whom we once held in derision €@@and made a byword of reproach -- we fools! €@@We thought that his life was madness €@@and that his end was without honor. @@Why has he been numbered among the sons of God? €@@And why is his lot among the saints? @@So it was we who strayed from the way of truth, €@@and the light of righteousness did not shine on us, €@@and the sun did not rise upon us. @@We took our fill of the paths of lawlessness and destruction, €@@and we journeyed through trackless deserts, €@@but the way of the Lord we have not known. @@What has our arrogance profited us? €@@And what good has our boasted wealth brought us? €@6 @@"All those things have vanished like a shadow, €@@and like a rumor that passes by; @@like a ship that sails through the billowy water, €@@and when it has passed no trace can be found, €@@nor track of its keel in the waves; @@or as, when a bird flies through the air, €@@no evidence of its passage is found; €@@the light air, lashed by the beat of its pinions €@@and pierced by the force of its rushing flight, €@@is traversed by the movement of its wings, €@@and afterward no sign of its coming is found there; @@or as, when an arrow is shot at a target, €@@the air, thus divided, comes together at once, €@@so that no one knows its pathway. @@So we also, as soon as we were born, ceased to be, €@@and we had no sign of virtue to show, €@@but were consumed in our wickedness." @@Because the hope of the ungodly man is like €@@@@chaff carried by the wind, €@@and like a light hoarfrost driven away by a storm; €@@it is dispersed like smoke before the wind, €@@and it passes like the remembrance of a guest €@@@@who stays but a day. €@6 @@But the righteous live for ever, €@@and their reward is with the Lord; €@@the Most High takes care of them. @@Therefore they will receive a glorious crown €@@and a beautiful diadem from the hand of the Lord, €@@because with his right hand he will cover them, €@@and with his arm he will shield them. @@The Lord will take his zeal as his whole armor, €@@and will arm all creation to repel his enemies; @@he will put on righteousness as a breastplate, €@@and wear impartial justice as a helmet; @@he will take holiness as an invincible shield, @@and sharpen stern wrath for a sword, €@@and creation will join with him to fight against the madmen. @@Shafts of lightning will fly with true aim, €@@and will leap to the target as from a well-drawn bow of clouds, @@and hailstones full of wrath will be hurled as from a catapult; €@@the water of the sea will rage against them, €@@and rivers will relentlessly overwhelm them; @@a mighty wind will rise against them , €@@and like a tempest it will winnow them away. €@@Lawlessness will lay waste the whole earth, €@@and evil-doing will overturn the thrones of rulers. €@6  @@Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; €@@learn, O judges of the ends of the earth. @@Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, €@@and boast of many nations. @@For your dominion was given you from the Lord, €@@and your sovereignty from the Most High, €@@who will search out your works and inquire into your plans. @@Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly, €@@nor keep the law, €@@nor walk according to the purpose of God, @@he will come upon you terribly and swiftly, €@@because severe judgment falls on those in high places. @@For the lowliest man may be pardoned in mercy, €@@but mighty men will be mightily tested. @@For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of any one, €@@nor show deference to greatness; €@@because he himself made both small and great, €@@and he takes thought for all alike. @@But a strict inquiry is in store for the mighty. @@To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed, €@@that you may learn wisdom and not transgress. @@For they will be made holy who observe holy things in holiness, €@@and those who have been taught them will find a defense. @@Therefore set your desire on my words; €@@long for them, and you will be instructed. €@6 @@Wisdom is radiant and unfading, €@@and she is easily discerned by those who love her, €@@and is found by those who seek her. @@She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. @@He who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, €@@for he will find her sitting at his gates. @@To fix one's thought on her is perfect understanding, €@@and he who is vigilant on her account will €@@@@soon be free from care, @@because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, €@@and she graciously appears to them in their paths, €@@and meets them in every thought. €@6 @@The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere €@@@@desire for instruction, €@@and concern for instruction is love of her, @@and love of her is the keeping of her laws, €@@and giving heed to her laws is assurance of immortality, @@and immortality brings one near to God; @@so the desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom. €@6 @@Therefore if you delight in thrones and scepters, €@@@@O monarchs over the peoples, €@@honor wisdom, that you may reign for ever. @@I will tell you what wisdom is and how she came to be, €@@and I will hide no secrets from you, €@@but I will trace her course from the beginning of creation, €@@and make knowledge of her clear, €@@and I will not pass by the truth; @@neither will I travel in the company of sickly envy, €@@for envy does not associate with wisdom. @@A multitude of wise men is the salvation of the world, €@@and a sensible king is the stability of his people. @@Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will profit. €@6  @@I also am mortal, like all men, €@@a descendant of the first-formed child of earth; €@@and in the womb of a mother I was molded into flesh, @@within the period of ten months, compacted with blood, €@@from the seed of a man and the pleasure of marriage. @@And when I was born, I began to breathe the common air, €@@and fell upon the kindred earth, €@@and my first sound was a cry, like that of all. @@I was nursed with care in swaddling cloths. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“µ’ļ‚×é󒧕@@For no king has had a different beginning of existence; @@there is for all mankind one entrance into €@@@@life, and a common departure. €@6 @@Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; €@@I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. @@I preferred her to scepters and thrones, €@@and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her. @@Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, €@@because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, €@@and silver will be accounted as clay before her. @@I loved her more than health and beauty, €@@and I chose to have her rather than light, €@@because her radiance never ceases. @@All good things came to me along with her, €@@and in her hands uncounted wealth. @@I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom leads them; €@@but I did not know that she was their mother. @@I learned without guile and I impart without grudging; €@@I do not hide her wealth, @@for it is an unfailing treasure for men; €@@those who get it obtain friendship with God, €@@commended for the gifts that come from instruction. €@6 @@May God grant that I speak with judgment €@@and have thought worthy of what I have received, €@@for he is the guide even of wisdom €@@and the corrector of the wise. @@For both we and our words are in his hand, €@@as are all understanding and skill in crafts. @@For it is he who gave me unerring knowledge of what exists, €@@to know the structure of the world and the €@@@@activity of the elements; @@the beginning and end and middle of times, €@@the alternations of the solstices and the changes €@@@@of the seasons, @@the cycles of the year and the constellations of the stars, @@the natures of animals and the tempers of wild beasts, €@@the powers of spirits and the reasonings of men, €@@the varieties of plants and the virtues of roots; @@I learned both what is secret and what is manifest, @@for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me. €@6 €@@For in her there is a spirit that is intelligent, holy, €@@unique, manifold, subtle, €@@mobile, clear, unpolluted, €@@distinct, invulnerable, loving the good, keen, €@@irresistible, beneficent, humane, €@@steadfast, sure, free from anxiety, €@@all-powerful, overseeing all, €@@and penetrating through all spirits €@@that are intelligent and pure and most subtle. @@For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; €@@because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things. @@For she is a breath of the power of God, €@@and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; €@@therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. @@For she is a reflection of eternal light, €@@a spotless mirror of the working of God, €@@and an image of his goodness. @@Though she is but one, she can do all things, €@@and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; €@@in every generation she passes into holy souls €@@and makes them friends of God, and prophets; @@for God loves nothing so much as the man who lives with wisdom. @@For she is more beautiful than the sun, €@@and excels every constellation of the stars. €@@Compared with the light she is found to be superior, @@for it is succeeded by the night, €@@but against wisdom evil does not prevail.  @@She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other, €@@and she orders all things well. @@I loved her and sought her from my youth, €@@and I desired to take her for my bride, €@@and I became enamored of her beauty. @@She glorifies her noble birth by living with God, €@@and the Lord of all loves her. @@For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God, €@@and an associate in his works. @@If riches are a desirable possession in life, €@@what is richer than wisdom who effects all things? @@And if understanding is effective, €@@who more than she is fashioner of what exists? @@And if any one loves righteousness, €@@her labors are virtues; €@@for she teaches self-control and prudence, €@@justice and courage; €@@nothing in life is more profitable for men than these. @@And if any one longs for wide experience, €@@she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come; €@@she understands turns of speech and the solutions of riddles; €@@she has foreknowledge of signs and wonders €@@and of the outcome of seasons and times. @@Therefore I determined to take her to live with me, €@@knowing that she would give me good counsel €@@and encouragement in cares and grief. @@Because of her I shall have glory among the multitudes €@@and honor in the presence of the elders, though I am young. @@I shall be found keen in judgment, €@@and in the sight of rulers I shall be admired. @@When I am silent they will wait for me, €@@and when I speak they will give heed; €@@and when I speak at greater length €@@they will put their hands on their mouths. @@Because of her I shall have immortality, €@@and leave an everlasting remembrance to those €@@@@who come after me. @@I shall govern peoples, €@@and nations will be subject to me; @@dread monarchs will be afraid of me when they hear of me; €@@among the people I shall show myself capable, €@@@@and courageous in war. @@When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her, €@@for companionship with her has no bitterness, €@@and life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy. @@When I considered these things inwardly, €@@and thought upon them in my mind, €@@that in kinship with wisdom there is immortality, @@and in friendship with her, pure delight, €@@and in the labors of her hands, unfailing wealth, €@@and in the experience of her company, understanding, €@@and renown in sharing her words, €@@I went about seeking how to get her for myself. @@As a child I was by nature well endowed, €@@and a good soul fell to my lot; @@or rather, being good, I entered an undefiled body. @@But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom €@@@@unless God gave her to me --€@@and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift she was --€@@so I appealed to the Lord and besought him, €@@and with my whole heart I said:  @@"O God of my fathers and Lord of mercy, €@@who hast made all things by thy word, @@and by thy wisdom hast formed man, €@@to have dominion over the creatures thou hast made, @@and rule the world in holiness and righteousness, €@@and pronounce judgment in uprightness of soul, @@give me the wisdom that sits by thy throne, €@@and do not reject me from among thy servants. @@For I am thy slave and the son of thy maidservant, €@@a man who is weak and short-lived, €@@with little understanding of judgment and laws; @@for even if one is perfect among the sons of men, €@@yet without the wisdom that comes from thee €@@@@he will be regarded as nothing. @@Thou hast chosen me to be king of thy people €@@and to be judge over thy sons and daughters. @@Thou hast given command to build a temple on thy holy mountain, €@@and an altar in the city of thy habitation, €@@a copy of the holy tent which thou didst prepare €@@@@from the beginning. @@With thee is wisdom, who knows thy works €@@and was present when thou didst make the world, €@@and who understand what is pleasing in thy sight €@@and what is right according to thy commandments. @@Send her forth from the holy heavens, €@@and from the throne of thy glory send her, €@@that she may be with me and toil, €@@and that I may learn what is pleasing to thee. @@For she knows and understands all things, €@@and she will guide me wisely in my actions €@@and guard me with her glory. @@Then my works will be acceptable, €@@and I shall judge thy people justly, €@@and shall be worthy of the throne of my father. @@For what man can learn the counsel of God? €@@Or who can discern what the Lord wills? @@For the reasoning of mortals is worthless, €@@and our designs are likely to fail, @@for a perishable body weighs down the soul, €@@and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind. @@We can hardly guess at what is on earth, €@@and what is at hand we find with labor; €@@but who has traced out what is in the heavens? @@Who has learned thy counsel, unless thou hast given wisdom €@@and sent thy holy Spirit from on high? @@And thus the paths of those on earth were set right, €@@and men were taught what pleases thee, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“µ’ļ‚×éó’؉˜’ƒ@@and were saved by wisdom." €@6  @@Wisdom protected the first-formed father of the €@@world, when he alone had been created; €@@she delivered him from his transgression, @@and gave him strength to rule all things. @@But when an unrighteous man departed from her in his anger, €@@he perished because in rage he slew his brother. @@When the earth was flooded because of him, €@@@@wisdom again saved it, €@@steering the righteous man by a paltry piece of wood. €@6 @@Wisdom also, when the nations in wicked agreement €@@@@had been confounded, €@@recognized the righteous man and preserved €@@@@him blameless before God, €@@and kept him strong in the face of his compassion €@@@@for his child. €@6 @@Wisdom rescued a righteous man when the ungodly were perishing; €@@he escaped the fire that descended on the Five Cities. @@Evidence of their wickedness still remains: €@@a continually smoking wasteland, €@@plants bearing fruit that does not ripen, €@@and a pillar of salt standing as a monument €@@@@to an unbelieving soul. @@For because they passed wisdom by, €@@they not only were hindered from recognizing the good, €@@but also left for mankind a reminder of their folly, €@@so that their failures could never go unnoticed. €@6 @@Wisdom rescued from troubles those who served her. @@When a righteous man fled from his brother's wrath, €@@she guided him on straight paths; €@@she showed him the kingdom of God, €@@and gave him knowledge of angels; €@@she prospered him in his labors, €@@and increased the fruit of his toil. @@When his oppressors were covetous, €@@she stood by him and made him rich. @@She protected him from his enemies, €@@and kept him safe from those who lay in wait for him; €@@in his arduous contest she gave him the victory, €@@so that he might learn that godliness is more €@@@@powerful than anything. €@6 @@When a righteous man was sold, wisdom did not desert him, €@@but delivered him from sin. €@@She descended with him into the dungeon, @@and when he was in prison she did not leave him, €@@until she brought him the scepter of a kingdom €@@and authority over his masters. €@@Those who accused him she showed to be false, €@@and she gave him everlasting honor. €@6 @@A holy people and blameless race €@@wisdom delivered from a nation of oppressors. @@She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord, €@@and withstood dread kings with wonders and signs. @@She gave holy men the reward of their labors; €@@she guided them along a marvelous way, €@@and became a shelter to them by day, €@@and a starry flame through the night. @@She brought them over the Red Sea, €@@and led them through deep waters; @@but she drowned their enemies, €@@and cast them up from the depth of the sea. @@Therefore the righteous plundered the ungodly; €@@they sang hymns, O Lord, to thy holy name, €@@and praised with one accord thy defending hand, @@because wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, €@@and made the tongues of babes speak clearly. €@6  @@Wisdom prospered their works by the hand of a holy prophet. @@They journeyed through an uninhabited wilderness, €@@and pitched their tents in untrodden places. @@They withstood their enemies and fought off their foes. @@When they thirsted they called upon thee, €@@and water was given them out of flinty rock, €@@and slaking of thirst from hard stone. @@For through the very things by which their €@@@@enemies were punished, €@@they themselves received benefit in their need. @@Instead of the fountain of an ever-flowing river, €@@stirred up and defiled with blood @@in rebuke for the decree to slay the infants, €@@thou gavest them abundant water unexpectedly, @@showing by their thirst at that time €@@how thou didst punish their enemies. @@For when they were tried, though they were €@@@@being disciplined in mercy, €@@they learned how the ungodly were tormented €@@@@when judged in wrath. @@For thou didst test them as a father does in warning, €@@but thou didst examine the ungodly as a stern €@@@@king does in condemnation. @@Whether absent or present, they were equally distressed, @@for a twofold grief possessed them, €@@and a groaning at the memory of what had occurred. @@For when they heard that through their own punishments €@@the righteous had received benefit, they perceived €@@@@it was the Lord's doing. @@For though they had mockingly rejected him €@@@@who long before had been cast out and exposed, €@@at the end of the events they marveled at him, €@@for their thirst was not like that of the righteous. €@6 @@In return for their foolish and wicked thoughts, €@@which led them astray to worship irrational €@@@@serpents and worthless animals, €@@thou didst send upon them a multitude of irrational €@@@@creatures to punish them, @@that they might learn that one is punished €@@@@by the very things by which he sins. @@For thy all-powerful hand, €@@which created the world out of formless matter, €@@did not lack the means to send upon them a €@@@@multitude of bears, or bold lions, @@or newly created unknown beasts full of rage, €@@or such as breathe out fiery breath, €@@or belch forth a thick pall of smoke, €@@or flash terrible sparks from their eyes; @@not only could their damage exterminate men, €@@but the mere sight of them could kill by fright. @@Even apart from these, men could fall at a single breath €@@when pursued by justice €@@and scattered by the breath of thy power. €@@But thou hast arranged all things by measure €@@@@and number and weight. €@6 @@For it is always in thy power to show great strength, €@@and who can withstand the might of thy arm? @@Because the whole world before thee is like €@@@@a speck that tips the scales, €@@and like a drop of morning dew that falls upon the ground. @@But thou art merciful to all, for thou canst do all things, €@@and thou dost overlook men's sins, that they may repent. @@For thou lovest all things that exist, €@@and hast loathing for none of the things which thou hast made, €@@for thou wouldst not have made anything if thou hadst hated it. @@How would anything have endured if thou hadst not willed it? €@@Or how would anything not called forth by thee €@@@@have been preserved? @@Thou sparest all things, for they are thine, €@@@@O Lord who lovest the living.  @@For thy immortal spirit is in all things. @@Therefore thou dost correct little by little €@@@@those who trespass, €@@and dost remind and warn them of the things wherein they sin, €@@that they may be freed from wickedness and €@@@@put their trust in thee, O Lord. €@6 @@Those who dwelt of old in thy holy land @@thou didst hate for their detestable practices, €@@their works of sorcery and unholy rites, @@their merciless slaughter of children, €@@and their sacrificial feasting on human flesh and blood. €@@These initiates from the midst of a heathen cult, @@these parents who murder helpless lives, €@@thou didst will to destroy by the hands of our fathers, @@that the land most precious of all to thee €@@might receive a worthy colony of the servants of God. @@But even these thou didst spare, since they were but men, €@@and didst send wasps as forerunners of thy army, €@@to destroy them little by little, @@though thou wast not unable to give the ungodly €@@@@into the hands of the righteous in battle, €@@or to destroy them at one blow by dread wild €@@@@beasts or thy stern word. @@But judging them little by little thou gavest €@@@@them a chance to repent, €@@though thou wast not unaware that their origin was evil €@@and their wickedness inborn, €@@and that their way of thinking would never change. @@For they were an accursed race from the beginning, €@@and it was not through fear of any one that €@@@@thou didst leave them unpunished for their sins. €@6 @@For who will say, "What hast thou done?" €@@Or will resist thy judgment? €@@Who will accuse thee for the destruction of €@@@@nations which thou didst make? €@@Or who will come before thee to plead as an €@@@@advocate for unrighteous men? @@For neither is there any god besides thee, €@@@@whose care is for all men, €@@to whom thou shouldst prove that thou hast not judged unjustly; @@nor can any king or monarch confront thee about žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“µ’ļ‚×éó’،˜Ž‚@@@@those whom thou hast punished. @@Thou art righteous and rulest all things righteously, €@@deeming it alien to thy power €@@to condemn him who does not deserve to be punished. @@For thy strength is the source of righteousness, €@@and thy sovereignty over all causes thee to spare all. @@For thou dost show thy strength when men doubt €@@@@the completeness of thy power, €@@and dost rebuke any insolence among those who know it. @@Thou who art sovereign in strength dost judge with mildness, €@@and with great forbearance thou dost govern us; €@@for thou hast power to act whenever thou dost choose. €@6 @@Through such works thou has taught thy people €@@that the righteous man must be kind, €@@and thou hast filled thy sons with good hope, €@@because thou givest repentance for sins. @@For if thou didst punish with such great care and indulgence €@@the enemies of thy servants and those deserving of death, €@@granting them time and opportunity to give up their wickedness, @@with what strictness thou hast judged thy sons, €@@to whose fathers thou gavest oaths and covenants €@@@@full of good promises! @@So while chastening us thou scourgest our enemies €@@@@ten thousand times more, €@@so that we may meditate upon thy goodness when we judge, €@@and when we are judged we may expect mercy. €@6 @@Therefore those who in folly of life lived unrighteously €@@thou didst torment through their own abominations. @@For they went far astray on the paths of error, €@@accepting as gods those animals which even €@@@@their enemies despised; €@@they were deceived like foolish babes. @@Therefore, as to thoughtless children, €@@thou didst send thy judgment to mock them. @@But those who have not heeded the warning of light rebukes €@@will experience the deserved judgment of God. @@For when in their suffering they became incensed €@@at those creatures which they had thought to €@@@@be gods, being punished by means of them, €@@they saw and recognized as the true God him €@@@@whom they had before refused to know. €@@Therefore the utmost condemnation came upon them. €@6  @@For all men who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature; €@@and they were unable from the good things that €@@@@are seen to know him who exists, €@@nor did they recognize the craftsman while €@@@@paying heed to his works; @@but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air, €@@or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, €@@or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world. @@If through delight in the beauty of these things €@@@@men assumed them to be gods, €@@let them know how much better than these is their Lord, €@@for the author of beauty created them. @@And if men were amazed at their power and working, €@@let them perceive from them €@@how much more powerful is he who formed them. @@For from the greatness and beauty of created things €@@comes a corresponding perception of their Creator. @@Yet these men are little to be blamed, €@@for perhaps they go astray €@@while seeking God and desiring to find him. @@For as they live among his works they keep searching, €@@and they trust in what they see, because the €@@@@things that are seen are beautiful. @@Yet again, not even they are to be excused; @@for if they had the power to know so much €@@that they could investigate the world, €@@how did they fail to find sooner the Lord of these things? €@6 @@But miserable, with their hopes set on dead things, are the men €@@who give the name "gods" to the works of men's hands, €@@gold and silver fashioned with skill, €@@and likenesses of animals, €@@or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand. @@A skilled woodcutter may saw down a tree easy to handle €@@and skilfully strip off all its bark, €@@and then with pleasing workmanship €@@make a useful vessel that serves life's needs, @@and burn the castoff pieces of his work €@@to prepare his food, and eat his fill. @@But a castoff piece from among them, useful for nothing, €@@a stick crooked and full of knots, €@@he takes and carves with care in his leisure, €@@and shapes it with skill gained in idleness; €@@he forms it like the image of a man, @@or makes it like some worthless animal, €@@giving it a coat of red paint and coloring its surface red €@@and covering every blemish in it with paint; @@then he makes for it a niche that befits it, €@@and sets it in the wall, and fastens it there with iron. @@So he takes thought for it, that it may not fall, €@@because he knows that it cannot help itself, €@@for it is only an image and has need of help. @@When he prays about possessions and his marriage and children, €@@he is not ashamed to address a lifeless thing. @@For health he appeals to a thing that is weak; €@@for life he prays to a thing that is dead; €@@for aid he entreats a thing that is utterly inexperienced; €@@for a prosperous journey, a thing that cannot take a step; @@for money-making and work and success with his hands €@@he asks strength of a thing whose hands have no strength. €@6  @@Again, one preparing to sail and about to voyage €@@@@over raging waves €@@calls upon a piece of wood more fragile than €@@@@the ship which carries him. @@For it was desire for gain that planned that vessel, €@@and wisdom was the craftsman who built it; @@but it is thy providence, O Father, that steers its course, €@@because thou hast given it a path in the sea, €@@and a safe way through the waves, @@showing that thou canst save from every danger, €@@so that even if a man lacks skill, he may put to sea. @@It is thy will that works of thy wisdom should €@@@@not be without effect; €@@therefore men trust their lives even to the €@@@@smallest piece of wood, €@@and passing through the billows on a raft they €@@@@come safely to land. @@For even in the beginning, when arrogant giants were perishing, €@@the hope of the world took refuge on a raft, €@@and guided by thy hand left to the world the €@@@@seed of a new generation. @@For blessed is the wood by which righteousness comes. €@6 @@But the idol made with hands is accursed, and €@@@@so is he who made it; €@@because he did the work, and the perishable €@@@@thing was named a god. @@For equally hateful to God are the ungodly €@@@@man and his ungodliness, @@for what was done will be punished together €@@@@with him who did it. @@Therefore there will be a visitation also upon €@@@@the heathen idols, €@@because, though part of what God created, they €@@@@became an abomination, €@@and became traps for the souls of men €@@and a snare to the feet of the foolish. €@6 @@For the idea of making idols was the beginning of fornication, €@@and the invention of them was the corruption of life, @@for neither have they existed from the beginning €@@nor will they exist for ever. @@For through the vanity of men they entered the world, €@@and therefore their speedy end has been planned. @@For a father, consumed with grief at an untimely bereavement, €@@made an image of his child, who had been suddenly €@@@@taken from him; €@@and he now honored as a god what was once a dead human being, €@@and handed on to his dependents secret rites and initiations. @@Then the ungodly custom, grown strong with €@@@@time, was kept as a law, €@@and at the command of monarchs graven images were worshiped. @@When men could not honor monarchs in their €@@@@presence, since they lived at a distance, €@@they imagined their appearance far away, €@@and made a visible image of the king whom they honored, €@@so that by their zeal they might flatter the €@@@@absent one as though present. @@Then the ambition of the craftsman impelled €@@even those who did not know the king to intensify €@@@@their worship. @@For he, perhaps wishing to please his ruler, €@@skilfully forced the likeness to take more beautiful form, @@and the multitude, attracted by the charm of his work, €@@now regarded as an object of worship the one €@@@@whom shortly before they had honored as a man. @@And this became a hidden trap for mankind, €@@because men, in bondage to misfortune or to royal authority, €@@bestowed on objects of stone or wood the name €@@@@that ought not to be shared. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“µ’ļ‚×éó’؎˜–@@Afterward it was not enough for them to err €@@@@about the knowledge of God, €@@but they live in great strife due to ignorance, €@@and they call such great evils peace. @@For whether they kill children in their initiations, €@@@@or celebrate secret mysteries, €@@or hold frenzied revels with strange customs, @@they no longer keep either their lives or their marriages pure, €@@but they either treacherously kill one another, €@@@@or grieve one another by adultery, @@and all is a raging riot of blood and murder, €@@@@theft and deceit, corruption, faithlessness, tumult, perjury, @@confusion over what is good, forgetfulness of favors, €@@pollution of souls, sex perversion, €@@disorder in marriage, adultery, and debauchery. @@For the worship of idols not to be named €@@is the beginning and cause and end of every evil. @@For their worshipers either rave in exultation, €@@@@or prophesy lies, €@@or live unrighteously, or readily commit perjury; @@for because they trust in lifeless idols €@@they swear wicked oaths and expect to suffer no harm. @@But just penalties will overtake them on two counts: €@@because they thought wickedly of God in devoting €@@@@themselves to idols, €@@and because in deceit they swore unrighteously €@@@@through contempt for holiness. @@For it is not the power of the things by which men swear, €@@but the just penalty for those who sin, €@@that always pursues the transgression of the unrighteous. €@6  @@But thou, our God, art kind and true, €@@patient, and ruling all things in mercy. @@For even if we sin we are thine, knowing thy power; €@@but we will not sin, because we know that we €@@@@are accounted thine. @@For to know thee is complete righteousness, €@@and to know thy power is the root of immortality. @@For neither has the evil intent of human art misled us, €@@nor the fruitless toil of painters, €@@a figure stained with varied colors, @@whose appearance arouses yearning in fools, €@@so that they desire the lifeless form of a dead image. @@Lovers of evil things and fit for such objects of hope €@@are those who either make or desire or worship them. €@6 @@For when a potter kneads the soft earth €@@and laboriously molds each vessel for our service, €@@he fashions out of the same clay €@@both the vessels that serve clean uses €@@and those for contrary uses, making all in like manner; €@@but which shall be the use of each of these €@@the worker in clay decides. @@With misspent toil, he forms a futile god from the same clay --€@@this man who was made of earth a short time before €@@and after a little while goes to the earth €@@@@from which he was taken, €@@when he is required to return the soul that was lent him. @@But he is not concerned that he is destined to die €@@or that his life is brief, €@@but he competes with workers in gold and silver, €@@and imitates workers in copper; €@@and he counts it his glory that he molds counterfeit gods. @@His heart is ashes, his hope is cheaper than dirt, €@@and his life is of less worth than clay, @@because he failed to know the one who formed him €@@and inspired him with an active soul €@@and breathed into him a living spirit. @@But he considered our existence an idle game, €@@and life a festival held for profit, €@@for he says one must get money however one €@@@@can, even by base means. @@For this man, more than all others, knows that he sins €@@when he makes from earthy matter fragile vessels €@@@@and graven images. €@6 @@But most foolish, and more miserable than an infant, €@@are all the enemies who oppressed thy people. @@For they thought that all their heathen idols were gods, €@@though these have neither the use of their eyes to see with, €@@nor nostrils with which to draw breath, €@@nor ears with which to hear, €@@nor fingers to feel with, €@@and their feet are of no use for walking. @@For a man made them, €@@and one whose spirit is borrowed formed them; €@@for no man can form a god which is like himself. @@He is mortal, and what he makes with lawless hands is dead, €@@for he is better than the objects he worships, €@@since he has life, but they never have. €@6 @@The enemies of thy people worship even the €@@@@most hateful animals, €@@which are worse than all others, when judged €@@@@by their lack of intelligence; @@and even as animals they are not so beautiful €@@@@in appearance that one would desire them, €@@but they have escaped both the praise of God and his blessing.  @@Therefore those men were deservedly punished €@@@@through such creatures, €@@and were tormented by a multitude of animals. @@Instead of this punishment thou didst show €@@@@kindness to thy people, €@@and thou didst prepare quails to eat, €@@a delicacy to satisfy the desire of appetite; @@in order that those men, when they desired food, €@@might lose the least remnant of appetite €@@because of the odious creatures sent to them, €@@while thy people, after suffering want a short time, €@@might partake of delicacies. @@For it was necessary that upon those oppressors €@@@@inexorable want should come, €@@while to these it was merely shown how their €@@@@enemies were being tormented. €@6 @@For when the terrible rage of wild beasts came upon thy people €@@and they were being destroyed by the bites €@@@@of writhing serpents, €@@thy wrath did not continue to the end; @@they were troubled for a little while as a warning, €@@and received a token of deliverance to remind €@@@@them of thy law's command. @@For he who turned toward it was saved, not by what he saw, €@@but by thee, the Savior of all. @@And by this also thou didst convince our enemies €@@that it is thou who deliverest from every evil. @@For they were killed by the bites of locusts and flies, €@@and no healing was found for them, €@@because they deserved to be punished by such things; @@but thy sons were not conquered even by the €@@@@teeth of venomous serpents, €@@for thy mercy came to their help and healed them. @@To remind them of thy oracles they were bitten, €@@and then were quickly delivered, €@@lest they should fall into deep forgetfulness €@@and become unresponsive to thy kindness. @@For neither herb nor poultice cured them, €@@but it was thy word, O Lord, which heals all men. @@For thou hast power over life and death; €@@thou dost lead men down to the gates of Hades and back again. @@A man in his wickedness kills another, €@@but he cannot bring back the departed spirit, €@@nor set free the imprisoned soul. €@6 @@To escape from thy hand is impossible; @@for the ungodly, refusing to know thee, €@@were scourged by the strength of thy arm, €@@pursued by unusual rains and hail and relentless storms, €@@and utterly consumed by fire. @@For -- most incredible of all -- in the water, €@@@@which quenches all things, €@@the fire had still greater effect, €@@for the universe defends the righteous. @@At one time the flame was restrained, €@@so that it might not consume the creatures €@@@@sent against the ungodly, €@@but that seeing this they might know €@@that they were being pursued by the judgment of God; @@and at another time even in the midst of water €@@@@it burned more intensely than fire, €@@to destroy the crops of the unrighteous land. @@Instead of these things thou didst give thy €@@@@people food of angels, €@@and without their toil thou didst supply them €@@@@from heaven with bread ready to eat, €@@providing every pleasure and suited to every taste. @@For thy sustenance manifested thy sweetness €@@@@toward thy children; €@@and the bread, ministering to the desire of €@@@@the one who took it, €@@was changed to suit every one's liking. @@Snow and ice withstood fire without melting, €@@so that they might know that the crops of their enemies €@@were being destroyed by the fire that blazed in the hail €@@and flashed in the showers of rain; @@whereas the fire, in order that the righteous might be fed, €@@even forgot its native power. €@6 @@For creation, serving thee who hast made it, €@@exerts itself to punish the unrighteous, €@@and in kindness relaxes on behalf of those who trust in thee. @@Therefore at that time also, changed into all forms, €@@it served thy all-nourishing bounty, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“µ’ļ‚×éó’ؐ˜™ƒ@@according to the desire of those who had need, @@so that thy sons, whom thou didst love, O Lord, might learn €@@that it is not the production of crops that feeds man, €@@but that thy word preserves those who trust in thee. @@For what was not destroyed by fire €@@was melted when simply warmed by a fleeting ray of the sun, @@to make it known that one must rise before €@@@@the sun to give thee thanks, €@@and must pray to thee at the dawning of the light; @@for the hope of an ungrateful man will melt like wintry frost, €@@and flow away like waste water. €@6  @@Great are thy judgments and hard to describe; €@@therefore unintructed souls have gone astray. @@For when lawless men supposed that they held €@@@@the holy nation in their power, €@@they themselves lay as captives of darkness €@@@@and prisoners of long night, €@@shut in under their roofs, exiles from eternal providence. @@For thinking that in their secret sins they were unobserved €@@behind a dark curtain of forgetfulness, €@@they were scattered, terribly alarmed, €@@and appalled by specters. @@For not even the inner chamber that held them €@@@@protected them from fear, €@@but terrifying sounds rang out around them, €@@and dismal phantoms with gloomy faces appeared. @@And no power of fire was able to give light, €@@nor did the brilliant flames of the stars €@@avail to illumine that hateful night. @@Nothing was shining through to them €@@except a dreadful, self-kindled fire, €@@and in terror they deemed the things which they saw €@@to be worse than that unseen appearance. @@The delusions of their magic art lay humbled, €@@and their boasted wisdom was scornfully rebuked. @@For those who promised to drive off the fears €@@@@and disorders of a sick soul €@@were sick themselves with ridiculous fear. @@For even if nothing disturbing frightened them, €@@yet, scared by the passing of beasts and the €@@@@hissing of serpents, @@they perished in trembling fear, €@@refusing to look even at the air, though it €@@@@nowhere could be avoided. @@For wickedness is a cowardly thing, condemned €@@@@by its own testimony; €@@distressed by conscience, it has always exaggerated €@@@@the difficulties. @@For fear is nothing but surrender of the helps €@@@@that come from reason; @@and the inner expectation of help, being weak, €@@prefers ignorance of what causes the torment. @@But throughout the night, which was really powerless, €@@and which beset them from the recesses of powerless Hades, €@@they all slept the same sleep, @@and now were driven by monstrous specters, €@@and now were paralyzed by their souls' surrender, €@@for sudden and unexpected fear overwhelmed them. @@And whoever was there fell down, €@@and thus was kept shut up in a prison not made of iron; @@for whether he was a farmer or a shepherd €@@or a workman who toiled in the wilderness, €@@he was seized, and endured the inescapable fate; €@@for with one chain of darkness they all were bound. @@Whether there came a whistling wind, €@@or a melodious sound of birds in wide-spreading branches, €@@or the rhythm of violently rushing water, @@or the harsh crash of rocks hurled down, €@@or the unseen running of leaping animals, €@@or the sound of the most savage roaring beasts, €@@or an echo thrown back from a hollow of the mountains, €@@it paralyzed them with terror. @@For the whole world was illumined with brilliant light, €@@and was engaged in unhindered work, @@while over those men alone heavy night was spread, €@@an image of the darkness that was destined to receive them; €@@but still heavier than darkness were they to themselves.  @@But for thy holy ones there was very great light. €@@Their enemies heard their voices but did not see their forms, €@@and counted them happy for not having suffered, @@and were thankful that thy holy ones, though €@@@@previously wronged, were doing them no injury; €@@and they begged their pardon for having been €@@@@at variance with them. @@Therefore thou didst provide a flaming pillar of fire €@@as a guide for thy people's unknown journey, €@@and a harmless sun for their glorious wandering. @@For their enemies deserved to be deprived of €@@@@light and imprisoned in darkness, €@@those who had kept thy sons imprisoned, €@@through whom the imperishable light of the €@@@@law was to be given to the world. €@6 @@When they had resolved to kill the babes of thy holy ones, €@@and one child had been exposed and rescued, €@@thou didst in punishment take away a multitude €@@@@of their children; €@@and thou didst destroy them all together by a mighty flood. @@That night was made known beforehand to our fathers, €@@so that they might rejoice in sure knowledge €@@@@of the oaths in which they trusted. @@The deliverance of the righteous and the destruction €@@@@of their enemies €@@were expected by thy people. @@For by the same means by which thou didst punish our enemies €@@thou didst call us to thyself and glorify us. @@For in secret the holy children of good men offered sacrifices, €@@and with one accord agreed to the divine law, €@@that the saints would share alike the same things, €@@both blessings and dangers; €@@and already they were singing the praises of the fathers. @@But the discordant cry of their enemies echoed back, €@@and their piteous lament for their children was spread abroad. @@The slave was punished with the same penalty as the master, €@@and the common man suffered the same loss as the king; @@and they all together, by the one form of death, €@@had corpses too many to count. €@@For the living were not sufficient even to bury them, €@@since in one instant their most valued children €@@@@had been destroyed. @@For though they had disbelieved everything €@@@@because of their magic arts, €@@yet, when their first-born were destroyed, €@@@@they acknowledged thy people to be God's son. @@For while gentle silence enveloped all things, €@@and night in its swift course was now half gone, @@thy all-powerful word leaped from heaven, from €@@@@the royal throne, €@@into the midst of the land that was doomed, €@@a stern warrior carrying the sharp sword of thy authentic command, €@@and stood and filled all things with death, €@@and touched heaven while standing on the earth. @@Then at once apparitions in dreadful dreams €@@@@greatly troubled them, €@@and unexpected fears assailed them; @@and one here and another there, hurled down half dead, €@@made known why they were dying; @@for the dreams which disturbed them forewarned them of this, €@@so that they might not perish without knowing €@@@@why they suffered. €@6 @@The experience of death touched also the righteous, €@@and a plague came upon the multitude in the desert, €@@but the wrath did not long continue. @@For a blameless man was quick to act as their champion; €@@he brought forward the shield of his ministry, €@@prayer and propitiation by incense; €@@he withstood the anger and put an end to the disaster, €@@showing that he was thy servant. @@He conquered the wrath not by strength of body, €@@and not by force of arms, €@@but by his word he subdued the punisher, €@@appealing to the oaths and covenants given to our fathers. @@For when the dead had already fallen on one another in heaps, €@@he intervened and held back the wrath, €@@and cut off its way to the living. @@For upon his long robe the whole world was depicted, €@@and the glories of the fathers were engraved €@@@@on the four rows of stones, €@@and thy majesty on the diadem upon his head. @@To these the destroyer yielded, these he feared; €@@for merely to test the wrath was enough. €@6  @@But the ungodly were assailed to the end by pitiless anger, €@@for God knew in advance even their future actions, @@that, though they themselves had permitted thy people to depart €@@and hastily sent them forth, €@@they would change their minds and pursue them. @@For while they were still busy at mourning, €@@and were lamenting at the graves of their dead, €@@they reached another foolish decision, €@@and pursued as fugitives those whom they had €@@@@begged and compelled to depart. @@For the fate they deserved drew them on to this end, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“µ’ļ‚×éó’ؓ”‚@@and made them forget what had happened, €@@in order that they might fill up the punishment €@@@@which their torments still lacked, @@and that thy people might experience an incredible journey, €@@but they themselves might meet a strange death. €@6 @@For the whole creation in its nature was fashioned anew, €@@complying with thy commands, €@@that thy children might be kept unharmed. @@The cloud was seen overshadowing the camp, €@@and dry land emerging where water had stood before, €@@an unhindered way out of the Red Sea, €@@and a grassy plain out of the raging waves, @@where those protected by thy hand passed through as one nation, €@@after gazing on marvelous wonders. @@For they ranged like horses, €@@and leaped like lambs, €@@praising thee, O Lord, who didst deliver them. @@For they still recalled the events of their sojourn, €@@how instead of producing animals the earth brought forth gnats, €@@and instead of fish the river spewed out vast numbers of frogs. @@Afterward they saw also a new kind of birds, €@@when desire led them to ask for luxurious food; @@for, to give them relief, quails came up from the sea. €@6 @@The punishments did not come upon the sinners €@@without prior signs in the violence of thunder, €@@for they justly suffered because of their wicked acts; €@@for they practiced a more bitter hatred of strangers. @@Others had refused to receive strangers when they came to them, €@@but these made slaves of guests who were their benefactors. @@And not only so, but punishment of some sort €@@@@will come upon the former €@@for their hostile reception of the aliens; @@but the latter, after receiving them with festal celebrations, €@@afflicted with terrible sufferings €@@those who had already shared the same rights. @@They were stricken also with loss of sight --€@@just as were those at the door of the righteous man --€@@when, surrounded by yawning darkness, €@@each tried to find the way through his own door. €@6 @@For the elements changed places with one another, €@@as on a harp the notes vary the nature of the rhythm, €@@while each note remains the same. €@@This may be clearly inferred from the sight of what took place. @@For land animals were transformed into water creatures, €@@and creatures that swim moved over to the land. @@Fire even in water retained its normal power, €@@and water forgot its fire-quenching nature. @@Flames, on the contrary, failed to consume €@@the flesh of perishable creatures that walked among them, €@@nor did they melt the crystalline, easily melted €@@@@kind of heavenly food. €@6 @@For in everything, O Lord, thou hast exalted €@@@@and glorified thy people; €@@and thou hast not neglected to help them at €@@@@all times and in all places. ąļ‚Óéņ’Æš’Ÿō’The Prologue š­±“’Whereas many great teachings have been given to us through the €law and the prophets and the others that followed them, on account €of which we should praise Israel for instruction and wisdom; and since €it is necessary not only that the readers themselves should acquire €understanding but also that those who love learning should be able to €help the outsiders by both speaking and writing, my grandfather Jesus, €after devoting himself especially to the reading of the law and the €prophets and the other books of our fathers, and after acquiring €considerable proficiency in them, was himself also led to write €something pertaining to instruction and wisdom, in order that, by €becoming conversant with this also, those who love learning should make €even greater progress in living according to the law. š­²¶’@You are urged therefore to read with good will and attention, and to €be indulgent in cases where, despite out diligent labor in translating, €we may seem to have rendered some phrases imperfectly. For what was €originally expressed in Hebrew does not have exactly the same sense €when translated into another language. Not only this work, but even the €law itself, the prophecies, and the rest of the books differ not a €little as originally expressed. š›­³¶’@When I came to Egypt in the thirty-eighth year of the reign of €Euergetes and stayed for some time, I found opportunity for no little €instruction. It seemed highly necessary that I should myself devote €some pains and labor to the translation of the following book, using in €that period of time great watchfulness and skill in order to complete €and publish the book for those living abroad who wished to gain €learning, being prepared in character to live according to the law. ”@@All wisdom comes from the Lord €@@@and is with him for ever. @@The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, €@@@and the days of eternity -- who can count them? @@The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, €@@@the abyss, and wisdom -- who can search them out? @@Wisdom was created before all things, €@@@and prudent understanding from eternity. @@The root of wisdom -- to whom has it been revealed? €@@@Her clever devices -- who knows them? @@There is One who is wise, greatly to be feared, €@@@sitting upon his throne. @@The Lord himself created wisdom; €@@@he saw her and apportioned her, €@@@he poured her out upon all his works. @@She dwells with all flesh according to his gift, €@@@and he supplied her to those who love him. €@6 @@The fear of the Lord is glory and exultation, €@@@and gladness and a crown of rejoicing. @@The fear of the Lord delights the heart, €@@@and gives gladness and joy and long life. @@With him who fears the Lord it will go well at the end; €@@@on the day of his death he will be blessed. €@6 @@To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; €@@@she is created with the faithful in the womb. @@She made among men an eternal foundation, €@@@and among their descendants she will be trusted. @@To fear the Lord is wisdom's full measure; €@@@she satisfies men with her fruits; @@she fills their whole house with desirable goods, €@@@and their storehouses with her produce. @@The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom, €@@@making peace and perfect health to flourish. @@He saw her and apportioned her; €@@@he rained down knowledge and discerning comprehension, €@@@and he exalted the glory of those who held her fast. @@To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom, €@@@and her branches are long life. €@6 ˜–@@Unrighteous anger cannot be justified, €@@@for a man's anger tips the scale to his ruin. @@A patient man will endure until the right moment, €@@@and then joy will burst forth for him. @@He will hide his words until the right moment, €@@@and the lips of many will tell of his good sense. @@In the treasuries of wisdom are wise sayings, €@@@but godliness is an abomination to a sinner. @@If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, €@@@and the Lord will supply it for you. @@For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction, €@@@and he delights in fidelity and meekness. @@Do not disobey the fear of the Lord; €@@@do not approach him with a divided mind. @@Be not a hypocrite in men's sight, €@@@and keep watch over your lips. @@Do not exalt yourself lest you fall, €@@@and thus bring dishonor upon yourself. €@@The Lord will reveal your secrets €@@@and cast you down in the midst of the congregation, €@@because you did not come in the fear of the Lord, €@@@and your heart was full of deceit. €@6  @@My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, €@@@prepare yourself for temptation. @@Set your heart right and be steadfast, €@@@and do not be hasty in time of calamity. @@Cleave to him and do not depart, €@@@that you may be honored at the end of your life. @@Accept whatever is brought upon you, €@@@and in changes that humble you be patient. @@For gold is tested in the fire, €@@@and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation. @@Trust in him, and he will help you; €@@@make your ways straight, and hope in him. €@6 @@You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; €@@@and turn not aside, lest you fall. @@You who fear the Lord, trust in him, €@@@and your reward will not fail; @@you who fear the Lord, hope for good things, €@@@for everlasting joy and mercy. @@Consider the ancient generations and see: €@@@who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame? žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’¢˜Šƒ@@Or who ever persevered in the fear of the Lord €@@@@and was forsaken? €@@@Or who ever called upon him and was overlooked? @@For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; €@@@he forgives sins and saves in time of affliction. €@6 @@Woe to timid hearts and to slack hands, €@@@and to the sinner who walks along two ways! @@Woe to the faint heart, for it has no trust! €@@@Therefore it will not be sheltered. @@Woe to you who have lost your endurance! €@@@What will you do when the Lord punishes you? @@Those who fear the Lord will not disobey his words, €@@@and those who love him will keep his ways. @@Those who fear the Lord will seek his approval, €@@@and those who love him will be filled with the law. @@Those who fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, €@@@and will humble themselves before him. @@Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, €@@@but not into the hands of men; €@@for as his majesty is, €@@@so also is his mercy. €@6  @@Listen to me your father, O children; €@@@and act accordingly, that you may be kept in safety. @@For the Lord honored the father above the children, €@@@and he confirmed the right of the mother over her sons. @@Whoever honors his father atones for sins, @@@and whoever glorifies his mother is like one €@@@@who lays up treasure. @@Whoever honors his father will be gladdened €@@@@by his own children, €@@@and when he prays he will be heard. @@Whoever glorifies his father will have long life, €@@@and whoever obeys the Lord will refresh his mother; @@@he will serve his parents as his masters. @@Honor your father by word and deed, €@@@that a blessing from him may come upon you. @@For a father's blessing strengthens the houses of the children, €@@@but a mother's curse uproots their foundations. €@6 @@Do not glorify yourself by dishonoring your father, €@@@for your father's dishonor is no glory to you. @@For a man's glory comes from honoring his father, €@@@and it is a disgrace for children not to respect their mother. @@O son, help your father in his old age, €@@@and do not grieve him as long as he lives; @@even if he is lacking in understanding, show forbearance; €@@@in all your strength do not despise him. @@For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, €@@@and against your sins it will be credited to you; @@in the day of your affliction it will be remembered €@@@@in your favor; €@@@as frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away. @@Whoever forsakes his father is like a blasphemer, €@@@and whoever angers his mother is cursed by the Lord. €@6 @@My son, perform your tasks in meekness; €@@@then you will be loved by those whom God accepts. @@The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; €@@@so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord. ˜”@@For great is the might of the Lord; €@@@he is glorified by the humble. @@Seek not what is too difficult for you, €@@@nor investigate what is beyond your power. @@Reflect upon what has been assigned to you, €@@@for you do not need what is hidden. @@Do not meddle in what is beyond your tasks, €@@@for matters too great for human understanding €@@@@have been shown you. @@For their hasty judgment has led many astray, €@@@and wrong opinion has caused their thoughts to slip. €@6 ˜š@@A stubborn mind will be afflicted at the end, €@@@and whoever loves danger will perish by it. @@A stubborn mind will be burdened by troubles, €@@@and the sinner will heap sin upon sin. @@The affliction of the proud has no healing, €@@@for a plant of wickedness has taken root in him. @@The mind of the intelligent man will ponder a parable, €@@@and an attentive ear is the wise man's desire. @@Water extinguishes a blazing fire: €@@@so almsgiving atones for sin. @@Whoever requites favors gives thought to the future; €@@@at the moment of his falling he will find support. €@6  @@My son, deprive not the poor of his living, €@@@and do not keep needy eyes waiting. @@Do not grieve the one who is hungry, €@@@nor anger a man in want. @@Do not add to the troubles of an angry mind, €@@@nor delay your gift to a beggar. @@Do not reject an afflicted suppliant, €@@@nor turn your face away from the poor. @@Do not avert your eye from the needy, €@@@nor give a man occasion to curse you; @@for if in bitterness of soul he calls down a curse upon you, €@@@his Creator will hear his prayer. €@6 @@Make yourself beloved in the congregation; €@@@bow your head low to a great man. @@Incline your ear to the poor, €@@@and answer him peaceably and gently. @@Deliver him who is wronged from the hand of the wrongdoer; €@@@and do not be fainthearted in judging a case. @@Be like a father to orphans, €@@@and instead of a husband to their mother; €@@you will then be like a son of the Most High, €@@@and he will love you more than does your mother. €@6 @@Wisdom exalts her sons €@@@and gives help to those who seek her. @@Whoever loves her loves life, €@@@and those who seek her early will be filled with joy. @@Whoever holds her fast will obtain glory, €@@@and the Lord will bless the place she enters. @@Those who serve her will minister to the Holy One; €@@@the Lord loves those who love her. @@He who obeys her will judge the nations, €@@@and whoever gives heed to her will dwell secure. @@If he has faith in her he will obtain her; €@@@and his descendants will remain in possession of her. @@For at first she will walk with him on tortuous paths, €@@@she will bring fear and cowardice upon him, €@@and will torment him by her discipline €@@@until she trusts him, €@@and she will test him with her ordinances. @@Then she will come straight back to him and gladden him, €@@@and will reveal her secrets to him. @@If he goes astray she will forsake him, €@@@and hand him over to his ruin. €@6 @@Observe the right time, and beware of evil; €@@@and do not bring shame on yourself. @@For there is a shame which brings sin, €@@@and there is a shame which is glory and favor. @@Do not show partiality, to your own harm, €@@@or deference, to your downfall. @@Do not refrain from speaking at the crucial time, €@@@and do not hide your wisdom. @@For wisdom is known through speech, €@@@and education through the words of the tongue. @@Never speak against the truth, €@@@but be mindful of your ignorance. @@Do not be ashamed to confess your sins, €@@@and do not try to stop the current of a river. @@Do not subject yourself to a foolish fellow, €@@@nor show partiality to a ruler. @@Strive even to death for the truth €@@@and the Lord God will fight for you. €@6 @@Do not be reckless in your speech, €@@@or sluggish and remiss in your deeds. @@Do not be like a lion in your home, €@@@nor be a faultfinder with your servants. @@Let not your hand be extended to receive, €@@@but withdrawn when it is time to repay.  @@Do not set your heart on your wealth, €@@@nor say, "I have enough." @@Do not follow your inclination and strength, €@@@walking according to the desires of your heart. @@Do not say, "Who will have power over me?" €@@@for the Lord will surely punish you. €@6 @@Do not say, "I sinned, and what happened to me?" €@@@for the Lord is slow to anger. @@Do not be so confident of atonement €@@@that you add sin to sin. @@Do not say, "His mercy is great, €@@@he will forgive the multitude of my sins," €@@for both mercy and wrath are with him, €@@@and his anger rests on sinners. @@Do not delay to turn to the Lord, €@@@nor postpone it from day to day; €@@for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will go forth, €@@@and at the time of punishment you will perish. €@6 @@Do not depend on dishonest wealth, €@@@for it will not benefit you in the day of calamity. @@Do not winnow with every wind, €@@@nor follow every path: €@@@the double-tongued sinner does that. @@Be steadfast in your understanding, €@@@and let your speech be consistent. @@Be quick to hear, €@@@and be deliberate in answering. @@If you have understanding, answer your neighbor; €@@@but if not, put your hand on your mouth. @@Glory and dishonor come from speaking, €@@@and a man's tongue is his downfall. €@6 @@Do not be called a slanderer, €@@@and do not lie in ambush with your tongue; €@@for shame comes to the thief, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’„˜Ž„@@@and severe condemnation to the double-tongued. @@In great and small matters do not act amiss,  @@@and do not become an enemy instead of a friend; €@@@for a bad name incurs shame and reproach: €@@@so fares the double-tongued sinner. €@6 @@Do not exalt yourself through your soul's counsel, €@@@lest your soul be torn in pieces like a bull. @@You will devour your leaves and destroy your fruit, €@@@and will be left like a withered tree. @@An evil soul will destroy him who has it, €@@@and make him the laughingstock of his enemies. €@6 @@A pleasant voice multiplies friends, €@@@and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies. @@Let those that are at peace with you be many, €@@@but let your advisers be one in a thousand. @@When you gain a friend, gain him through testing, €@@@and do not trust him hastily. @@For there is a friend who is such at his own convenience, €@@@but will not stand by you in your day of trouble. @@And there is a friend who changes into an enemy, €@@@and will disclose a quarrel to your disgrace. @@And there is a friend who is a table companion, €@@@but will not stand by you in your day of trouble. @@In prosperity he will make himself your equal, €@@@and be bold with your servants; @@but if you are brought low he will turn against you, €@@@and will hide himself from your presence. @@Keep yourself far from your enemies, €@@@and be on guard toward your friends. €@6 @@A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter: €@@@he that has found one has found a treasure. @@There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend, €@@@and no scales can measure his excellence. @@A faithful friend is an elixir of life; €@@@and those who fear the Lord will find him. @@Whoever fears the Lord directs his friendship aright, €@@@for as he is, so is his neighbor also. €@6 @@My son, from your youth up choose instruction, €@@@and until you are old you will keep finding wisdom. @@Come to her like one who plows and sows, €@@@and wait for her good harvest. €@@For in her service you will toil a little while, €@@@and soon you will eat of her produce. @@She seems very harsh to the uninstructed; €@@@a weakling will not remain with her. @@She will weigh him down like a heavy testing stone, €@@@and he will not be slow to cast her off. @@For wisdom is like her name, €@@@and is not manifest to many. €@6 @@Listen, my son, and accept my judgment; €@@@do not reject my counsel. @@Put your feet into her fetters, €@@@and your neck into her collar. @@Put your shoulder under her and carry her, €@@@and do not fret under her bonds. @@Come to her with all your soul, €@@@and keep her ways with all your might. @@Search out and seek, and she will become known to you; €@@@and when you get hold of her, do not let her go. @@For at last you will find the rest she gives, €@@@and she will be changed into joy for you. @@Then her fetters will become for you a strong protection, €@@@and her collar a glorious robe. @@Her yoke is a golden ornament, €@@@and her bonds are a cord of blue. @@You will wear her like a glorious robe, €@@@and put her on like a crown of gladness. €@6 @@If you are willing, my son, you will be taught, €@@@and if you apply yourself you will become clever. @@If you love to listen you will gain knowledge, €@@@and if you incline your ear you will become wise. @@Stand in the assembly of the elders. €@@@Who is wise? Cleave to him. @@Be ready to listen to every narrative, €@@@and do not let wise proverbs escape you. @@If you see an intelligent man, visit him early; €@@@let your foot wear out his doorstep. @@Reflect on the statutes of the Lord, €@@@and meditate at all times on his commandments. €@@It is he who will give insight to your mind, €@@@and your desire for wisdom will be granted. €@6  @@Do no evil, and evil will never befall you. @@@Stay away from wrong, and it will turn away from you. @@My son, do not sow the furrows of injustice, €@@@and you will not reap a sevenfold crop. €@6 @@Do not seek from the Lord the highest office, €@@@nor the seat of honor from the king. @@Do not assert your righteousness before the Lord, €@@@nor display your wisdom before the king. @@Do not seek to become a judge, €@@@lest you be unable to remove iniquity, €@@lest you be partial to a powerful man, €@@@and thus put a blot on your integrity. @@Do not offend against the public, €@@@and do not disgrace yourself among the people. €@6 @@Do not commit a sin twice; €@@@even for one you will not go unpunished. @@Do not say, "He will consider the multitude of my gifts, €@@@and when I make an offering to the Most High €@@@@God he will accept it." @@Do not be fainthearted in your prayer, €@@@nor neglect to give alms. €@6 @@Do not ridicule a man who is bitter in soul, €@@@for there is One who abases and exalts. @@Do not devise a lie against your brother, €@@@nor do the like to a friend. @@Refuse to utter any lie, €@@@for the habit of lying serves no good. @@Do not prattle in the assembly of the elders, €@@@nor repeat yourself in your prayer. €@6 @@Do not hate toilsome labor, €@@@or farm work, which were created by the Most High. @@Do not count yourself among the crowd of sinners; €@@@remember that wrath does not delay. @@Humble yourself greatly, €@@@for the punishment of the ungodly is fire and worms. €@6 @@Do not exchange a friend for money, €@@@or a real brother for the gold of Ophir. @@Do not deprive yourself of a wise and good wife, €@@@for her charm is worth more than gold. @@Do not abuse a servant who performs his work faithfully, €@@@or a hired laborer who devotes himself to you. @@Let your soul love an intelligent servant; €@@@do not withhold from him his freedom. €@6 @@Do you have cattle? Look after them; €@@@if they are profitable to you, keep them. @@Do you have children? Discipline them, €@@@and make them obedient from their youth. @@Do you have daughters? Be concerned for their chastity, €@@@and do not show yourself too indulgent with them. @@Give a daughter in marriage; you will have €@@@@finished a great task. €@@@But give her to a man of understanding. €@6 @@If you have a wife who pleases you, do not cast her out; €@@@but do not trust yourself to one whom you detest. @@With all your heart honor your father, €@@@and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother. @@Remember that through your parents you were born; €@@@and what can you give back to them that equals €@@@@their gift to you? €@6 @@With all your soul fear the Lord, €@@@and honor his priests. @@With all your might love your Maker, €@@@and do not forsake his ministers. @@Fear the Lord and honor the priest, €@@@and give him his portion, as is commanded you: €@@the first fruits, the guilt offering, the gift €@@@@of the shoulders, €@@@the sacrifice of sanctification, €@@@@and the first fruits of the holy things. €@6 @@Stretch forth your hand to the poor, €@@@so that your blessing may be complete. @@Give graciously to all the living, €@@@and withhold not kindness from the dead. @@Do not fail those who weep, €@@@but mourn with those who mourn. @@Do not shrink from visiting a sick man, €@@@because for such deeds you will be loved. @@In all you do, remember the end of your life, €@@@and then you will never sin. €@6  @@Do not contend with a powerful man, €@@@lest you fall into his hands. @@Do not quarrel with a rich man, €@@@lest his resources outweigh yours; €@@for gold has ruined many, €@@@and has perverted the minds of kings. @@Do not argue with a chatterer, €@@@nor heap wood on his fire. €@6 @@Do not jest with an ill-bred person, €@@@lest your ancestors be disgraced. @@Do not reproach a man who is turning away from sin; €@@@remember that we all deserve punishment. @@Do not disdain a man when he is old, €@@@for some of us are growing old. @@Do not rejoice over any one's death; €@@@remember that we all must die. @@Do not slight the discourse of the sages, €@@@but busy yourself with their maxims; €@@because from them you will gain instruction €@@@and learn how to serve great men. @@Do not disregard the discourse of the aged, €@@@for they themselves learned from their fathers; €@@because from them you will gain understanding žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’؈˜‰„@@@and learn how to give an answer in time of need. €@6 @@Do not kindle the coals of a sinner, €@@@lest you be burned in his flaming fire. @@Do not get up and leave an insolent fellow, €@@@lest he lie in ambush against your words. @@Do not lend to a man who is stronger than you; €@@@but if you do lend anything, be as one who has lost it. @@Do not give surety beyond your means, €@@@but if you give surety, be concerned as one who must pay. €@6 @@Do not go to law against a judge, €@@@for the decision will favor him because of his standing. @@Do not travel on the road with a foolhardy fellow, €@@@lest he be burdensome to you; €@@for he will act as he pleases, €@@@and through his folly you will perish with him. @@Do not fight with a wrathful man, €@@@and do not cross the wilderness with him; €@@because blood is as nothing in his sight, €@@@and where no help is at hand, he will strike you down. @@Do not consult with a fool, €@@@for he will not be able to keep a secret. @@In the presence of a stranger do nothing that €@@@@is to be kept secret, €@@@for you do not know what he will divulge. @@Do not reveal your thoughts to every one, €@@@lest you drive away your good luck. €@6  @@Do not be jealous of the wife of your bosom, €@@@and do not teach her an evil lesson to your own hurt. @@Do not give yourself to a woman €@@@so that she gains mastery over your strength. @@Do not go to meet a loose woman, €@@@lest you fall into her snares. @@Do not associate with a woman singer, €@@@lest you be caught in her intrigues. @@Do not look intently at a virgin, €@@@lest you stumble and incur penalties for her. @@Do not give yourself to harlots €@@@lest you lose your inheritance. @@Do not look around in the streets of a city, €@@@nor wander about in its deserted sections. @@Turn away your eyes from a shapely woman, €@@@and do not look intently at beauty belonging to another; €@@many have been misled by a woman's beauty, €@@@and by it passion is kindled like a fire. @@Never dine with another man's wife, €@@@nor revel with her at wine; €@@lest your heart turn aside to her, €@@@and in blood you be plunged into destruction. €@6 @@Forsake not an old friend, €@@@for a new one does not compare with him. €@@A new friend is like new wine; €@@@when it has aged you will drink it with pleasure. €@6 @@Do not envy the honors of a sinner, €@@@for you do not know what his end will be. @@Do not delight in what pleases the ungodly; €@@@remember that they will not be held guiltless €@@@@as long as they live. €@6 @@Keep far from a man who has the power to kill, €@@@and you will not be worried by the fear of death. €@@But if you approach him, make no misstep, €@@@lest he rob you of your life. €@@Know that you are walking in the midst of snares, €@@@and that you are going about on the city battlements. €@6 @@As much as you can, aim to know your neighbors, €@@@and consult with the wise. @@Let your conversation be with men of understanding, €@@@and let all your discussion be about the law of the Most High. @@Let righteous men be your dinner companions, €@@@and let your glorying be in the fear of the Lord. @@A work will be praised for the skill of the craftsmen; €@@@so a people's leader is proved wise by his words. @@A babbler is feared in his city, €@@@and the man who is reckless in speech will be hated. €@6  @@A wise magistrate will educate his people, €@@@and the rule of an understanding man will be well ordered. @@Like the magistrate of the people, so are his officials; €@@@and like the ruler of the city, so are all its inhabitants. @@An undisciplined king will ruin his people, €@@@but a city will grow through the understanding of its rulers. @@The government of the earth is in the hands of the Lord, €@@@and over it he will raise up the right man for the time. @@The success of a man is in the hands of the Lord, €@@@and he confers his honor upon the person of the scribe. €@6 @@Do not be angry with your neighbor for any injury, €@@@and do not attempt anything by acts of insolence. @@Arrogance is hateful before the Lord and before men, €@@@and injustice is outrageous to both. @@Sovereignty passes from nation to nation €@@@on account of injustice and insolence and wealth. @@How can he who is dust and ashes be proud? €@@@for even in life his bowels decay. @@A long illness baffles the physician; €@@@the king of today will die tomorrow. @@For when a man is dead, €@@@he will inherit creeping things, and wild beasts, and worms. @@The beginning of man's pride is to depart from the Lord; €@@@his heart has forsaken his Maker. @@For the beginning of pride is sin, €@@@and the man who clings to it pours out abominations. €@@Therefore the Lord brought upon them extraordinary afflictions, €@@@and destroyed them utterly. @@The Lord has cast down the thrones of rulers, €@@@and has seated the lowly in their place. @@The Lord has plucked up the roots of the nations, €@@@and has planted the humble in their place. @@The Lord has overthrown the lands of the nations, €@@@and has destroyed them to the foundations of the earth. @@He has removed some of them and destroyed them, €@@@and has extinguished the memory of them from the earth. @@Pride was not created for men, €@@@nor fierce anger for those born of women. €@6 @@What race is worthy of honor? The human race. €@@@What race is worthy of honor? Those who fear the Lord. €@@What race is unworthy of honor? The human race. €@@@What race is unworthy of honor? Those who €@@@@transgress the commandments. @@Among brothers their leader is worthy of honor, €@@@and those who fear the Lord are worthy of honor in his eyes. ˜–@@The rich, and the eminent, and the poor --€@@@their glory is the fear of the Lord. @@It is not right to despise an intelligent poor man, €@@@nor is it proper to honor a sinful man. @@The nobleman, and the judge, and the ruler will be honored, €@@@but none of them is greater than the man who fears the Lord. @@Free men will be at the service of a wise servant, €@@@and a man of understanding will not grumble. €@6 @@Do not make a display of your wisdom when you do your work, €@@@nor glorify yourself at a time when you are in want. @@Better is a man who works and has an abundance of everything, €@@@than one who goes about boasting, but lacks bread. @@My son, glorify yourself with humility, €@@@and ascribe to yourself honor according to your worth. @@Who will justify the man that sins against himself? €@@@And who will honor the man that dishonors his own life? @@A poor man is honored for his knowledge, €@@@while a rich man is honored for his wealth. @@A man honored in poverty, how much more in wealth! €@@@And a man dishonored in wealth, how much more in poverty!  @@The wisdom of a humble man will lift up his head, €@@@and will seat him among the great. €@6 @@Do not praise a man for his good looks, €@@@nor loathe a man because of his appearance. @@The bee is small among flying creatures, €@@@but her product is the best of sweet things. @@Do not boast about wearing fine clothes, €@@@nor exalt yourself in the day that you are honored; €@@for the works of the Lord are wonderful, €@@@and his works are concealed from men. @@Many kings have had to sit on the ground, €@@@but one who was never thought of has worn a crown. @@Many rulers have been greatly disgraced, €@@@and illustrious men have been handed over to others. €@6 @@Do not find fault before you investigate; €@@@first consider, and then reprove. @@Do not answer before you have heard, €@@@nor interrupt a speaker in the midst of his words. @@Do not argue about a matter which does not concern you, €@@@nor sit with sinners when they judge a case. €@6 @@My son, do not busy yourself with many matters; €@@@if you multiply activities you will not go unpunished, €@@and if you pursue you will not overtake, €@@@and by fleeing you will not escape. @@There is a man who works, and toils, and presses on, €@@@but is so much the more in want. @@There is another who is slow and needs help, €@@@who lacks strength and abounds in poverty; €@@but the eyes of the Lord look upon him for his good; €@@@he lifts him out of his low estate žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’؋˜@@and raises up his head, €@@@so that many are amazed at him. €@6 @@Good things and bad, life and death, €@@@poverty and wealth, come from the Lord. ˜‘@@The gift of the Lord endures for those who are godly, €@@@and what he approves will have lasting success. @@There is a man who is rich through his diligence €@@@@and self-denial, €@@@and this is the reward allotted to him: @@when he says, "I have found rest, €@@@and now I shall enjoy my goods!" €@@he does not know how much time will pass €@@@until he leaves them to others and dies. @@Stand by your covenant and attend to it, €@@@and grow old in your work. €@6 @@Do not wonder at the works of a sinner, €@@@but trust in the Lord and keep at your toil; €@@for it is easy in the sight of the Lord €@@@to enrich a poor man quickly and suddenly. @@The blessing of the Lord is the reward of the godly, €@@@and quickly God causes his blessing to flourish. @@Do not say, "What do I need, €@@@and what prosperity could be mine in the future?" @@Do not say, "I have enough, €@@@and what calamity could happen to me in the future?" @@In the day of prosperity, adversity is forgotten, €@@@and in the day of adversity, prosperity is not remembered. @@For it is easy in the sight of the Lord €@@@to reward a man on the day of death according to his conduct. @@The misery of an hour makes one forget luxury, €@@@and at the close of a man's life his deeds will be revealed. @@Call no one happy before his death; €@@@a man will be known through his children. €@6 @@Do not bring every man into your home, €@@@for many are the wiles of the crafty. @@Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the €@@@@mind of a proud man, €@@@and like a spy he observes your weakness; @@for he lies in wait, turning good into evil, €@@@and to worthy actions he will attach blame. @@From a spark of fire come many burning coals, €@@@and a sinner lies in wait to shed blood. @@Beware of a scoundrel, for he devises evil, €@@@lest he give you a lasting blemish. @@Receive a stranger into your home and he will €@@@@upset you with commotion, €@@@and will estrange you from your family. €@6  @@If you do a kindness, know to whom you do it, €@@@and you will be thanked for your good deeds. @@Do good to a godly man, and you will be repaid --€@@@if not by him, certainly by the Most High. @@No good will come to the man who persists in evil €@@@or to him who does not give alms. @@Give to the godly man, but do not help the sinner. @@@Do good to the humble, but do not give to the ungodly; €@@hold back his bread, and do not give it to him, €@@@lest by means of it he subdue you; €@@for you will receive twice as much evil €@@@for all the good which you do to him. @@For the Most High also hates sinners €@@@and will inflict punishment on the ungodly. @@Give to the good man, but do not help the sinner. @@A friend will not be known in prosperity, €@@@nor will an enemy be hidden in adversity. @@A man's enemies are grieved when he prospers, €@@@and in his adversity even his friend will separate from him. @@Never trust your enemy, €@@@for like the rusting of copper, so is his wickedness. @@Even if he humbles himself and goes about cringing, €@@@watch yourself, and be on your guard against him; €@@and you will be to him like one who has polished a mirror, €@@@and you will know that it was not hopelessly tarnished. @@Do not put him next to you, €@@@lest he overthrow you and take your place; €@@do not have him sit at your right, €@@@lest he try to take your seat of honor, €@@and at last you will realize the truth of my words, €@@@and be stung by what I have said. €@6 @@Who will pity a snake charmer bitten by a serpent, €@@@or any who go near wild beasts? @@So no one will pity a man who associates with a sinner €@@@and becomes involved in his sins. @@He will stay with you for a time, €@@@but if you falter, he will not stand by you. €@6 @@An enemy will speak sweetly with his lips, €@@@but in his mind he will plan to throw you into a pit; €@@an enemy will weep with his eyes, €@@@but if he finds an opportunity his thirst €@@@@for blood will be insatiable. @@If calamity befalls you, you will find him there ahead of you; €@@@and while pretending to help you, he will €@@@@trip you by the heel; @@he will shake his head, and clap his hands, €@@@and whisper much, and change his expression. €@6  @@Whoever touches pitch will be defiled, €@@@and whoever associates with a proud man will become like him. @@Do not lift a weight beyond your strength, €@@@nor associate with a man mightier and richer than you. €@@How can the clay pot associate with the iron kettle? €@@@The pot will strike against it, and will itself be broken. @@A rich man does wrong, and he even adds reproaches; €@@@a poor man suffers wrong, and he must add apologies. @@A rich man will exploit you if you can be of use to him, €@@@but if you are in need he will forsake you. @@If you own something, he will live with you; €@@@he will drain your resources and he will not care. @@When he needs you he will deceive you, €@@@he will smile at you and give you hope. €@@He will speak to you kindly and say, "What do you need?" @@He will shame you with his foods, €@@@until he has drained you two or three times; €@@@and finally he will deride you. €@@Should he see you afterwards, he will forsake you, €@@@and shake his head at you. €@6 @@Take care not to be led astray, €@@@and not to be humiliated in your feasting. @@When a powerful man invites you, be reserved; €@@@and he will invite you the more often. @@Do not push forward, lest you be repulsed; €@@@and do not remain at a distance, lest you be forgotten. @@Do not try to treat him as an equal, €@@@nor trust his abundance of words; €@@for he will test you through much talk, €@@@and while he smiles he will be examining you. @@Cruel is he who does not keep words to himself; €@@@he will not hesitate to injure or to imprison. @@Keep words to yourself and be very watchful, €@@@for you are walking about with your own downfall. €@6 ˜@@Every creature loves its like, €@@@and every person his neighbor; @@all living beings associate by species, €@@@and a man clings to one like himself. @@What fellowship has a wolf with a lamb? €@@@No more has a sinner with a godly man. @@What peace is there between a hyena and a dog? €@@@And what peace between a rich man and a poor man? @@Wild asses in the wilderness are the prey of lions; €@@@likewise the poor are pastures for the rich. @@Humility is an abomination to a proud man; €@@@likewise a poor man is an abomination to a rich one. €@6 @@When a rich man totters, he is steadied by friends, €@@@but when a humble man falls, he is even pushed €@@@@away by friends. @@If a rich man slips, his helpers are many; €@@@he speaks unseemly words, and they justify him. €@@If a humble man slips, they even reproach him; €@@@he speaks sensibly, and receives no attention. @@When the rich man speaks all are silent, €@@@and they extol to the clouds what he says. €@@When the poor man speaks they say, "Who is this fellow?" €@@@And should he stumble, they even push him down. €@6 @@Riches are good if they are free from sin, €@@@and poverty is evil in the opinion of the ungodly. @@A man's heart changes his countenance, €@@@either for good or for evil. @@The mark of a happy heart is a cheerful face, €@@@but to devise proverbs requires painful thinking.  @@Blessed is the man who does not blunder with his lips €@@@and need not suffer grief for sin. @@Blessed is he whose heart does not condemn him, €@@@and who has not given up his hope. €@6 @@Riches are not seemly for a stingy man; €@@@and of what use is property to an envious man? @@Whoever accumulates by depriving himself, accumulates €@@@@for others; €@@@and others will live in luxury on his goods. @@If a man is mean to himself, to whom will he be generous? €@@@He will not enjoy his own riches. @@No one is meaner than the man who is grudging to himself, €@@@and this is the retribution for his baseness; @@even if he does good, he does it unintentionally, €@@@and betrays his baseness in the end. @@Evil is the man with a grudging eye; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’؎˜ˆ‚@@@he averts his face and disregards people. @@A greedy man's eye is not satisfied with a portion, €@@@and mean injustice withers the soul. @@A stingy man's eye begrudges bread, €@@@and it is lacking at his table. €@6 @@My son, treat yourself well, according to your means, €@@@and present worthy offerings to the Lord. @@Remember that death will not delay, €@@@and the decree of Hades has not been shown to you. @@Do good to a friend before you die, €@@@and reach out and give to him as much as you can. @@Do not deprive yourself of a happy day; €@@@let not your share of desired good pass by you. @@Will you not leave the fruit of your labors to another, €@@@and what you acquired by toil to be divided by lot? @@Give, and take, and beguile yourself, €@@@because in Hades one cannot look for luxury. @@All living beings become old like a garment, €@@@for the decree from of old is, "You must surely die!" @@Like flourishing leaves on a spreading tree €@@@which sheds some and puts forth others, €@@so are the generations of flesh and blood: €@@@one dies and another is born. @@Every product decays and ceases to exist, €@@@and the man who made it will pass away with it. €@6 @@Blessed is the man who meditates on wisdom €@@@and who reasons intelligently. @@He who reflects in his mind on her ways €@@@will also ponder her secrets. @@Pursue wisdom like a hunter, €@@@and lie in wait on her paths. @@He who peers through her windows €@@@will also listen at her doors; @@he who encamps near her house €@@@will also fasten his tent peg to her walls; @@he will pitch his tent near her, €@@@and will lodge in an excellent lodging place; @@he will place his children under her shelter, €@@@and will camp under her boughs; @@he will be sheltered by her from the heat, €@@@and will dwell in the midst of her glory. €@6  @@The man who fears the Lord will do this, €@@@and he who holds to the law will obtain wisdom. @@She will come to meet him like a mother, €@@@and like the wife of his youth she will welcome him. @@She will feed him with the bread of understanding, €@@@and give him the water of wisdom to drink. @@He will lean on her and will not fall, €@@@and he will rely on her and will not be put to shame. @@She will exalt him above his neighbors, €@@@and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly. @@He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing, €@@@and will acquire an everlasting name. @@Foolish men will not obtain her, €@@@and sinful men will not see her. @@She is far from men of pride, €@@@and liars will never think of her. €@6 @@A hymn of praise is not fitting on the lips of a sinner, €@@@for it has not been sent from the Lord. @@For a hymn of praise should be uttered in wisdom, €@@@and the Lord will prosper it. €@6 @@Do not say, "Because of the Lord I left the right way"; €@@@for he will not do what he hates. @@Do not say, "It was he who led me astray"; €@@@for he had no need of a sinful man. @@The Lord hates all abominations, €@@@and they are not loved by those who fear him. @@It was he who created man in the beginning, €@@@and he left him in the power of his own inclination. @@If you will, you can keep the commandments, €@@@and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice. @@He has placed before you fire and water: €@@@stretch out your hand for whichever you wish. @@Before a man are life and death, €@@@and whichever he chooses will be given to him. @@For great is the wisdom of the Lord; €@@@he is mighty in power and sees everything; @@his eyes are on those who fear him, €@@@and he knows every deed of man. @@He has not commanded any one to be ungodly, €@@@and he has not given any one permission to sin. €@6  @@Do not desire a multitude of useless children, €@@@nor rejoice in ungodly sons. @@If they multiply , do not rejoice in them, €@@@unless the fear of the Lord is in them. @@Do not trust in their survival, €@@@and do not rely on their multitude; €@@for one is better than a thousand, €@@@and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children. @@For through one man of understanding a city €@@@@will be filled with people, €@@@but through a tribe of lawless men it will be made desolate. @@Many such things my eye has seen, €@@@and my ear has heard things more striking than these. €@6 @@In an assembly of sinners a fire will be kindled, €@@@and in a disobedient nation wrath was kindled. @@He was not propitiated for the ancient giants €@@@who revolted in their might. @@He did not spare the neighbors of Lot, €@@@whom he loathed on account of their insolence. @@He showed no pity for a nation devoted to destruction, €@@@for those destroyed in their sins; @@nor for the six hundred thousand men on foot, €@@@who rebelliously assembled in their stubbornness. @@Even if there is only one stiff-necked person, €@@@it will be a wonder if he remains unpunished. €@@For mercy and wrath are with the Lord; €@@@he is mighty to forgive, and he pours out wrath. @@As great as his mercy, so great is also his reproof; €@@@he judges a man according to his deeds. @@The sinner will not escape with his plunder, €@@@and the patience of the godly will not be frustrated. @@He will make room for every act of mercy; €@@@every one will receive in accordance with his deeds. €@6 ˜‘@@Do not say, "I shall be hidden from the Lord, €@@@and who from on high will remember me? €@@Among so many people I shall not be known, €@@@for what is my soul in the boundless creation? @@Behold, heaven and the highest heaven, €@@@the abyss and the earth, will tremble at his visitation. @@The mountains also and the foundations of the earth €@@@shake with trembling when he looks upon them. @@And no mind will reflect on this. €@@@Who will ponder his ways? @@Like a tempest which no man can see, €@@@so most of his works are concealed. @@Who will announce his acts of justice? €@@@Or who will await them? For the covenant is far off." @@This is what one devoid of understanding thinks; €@@@a senseless and misguided man thinks foolishly. €@6 @@Listen to me, my son, and acquire knowledge, €@@@and pay close attention to my words. @@I will impart instruction by weight, €@@@and declare knowledge accurately. €@6 @@The works of the Lord have existed from the beginning by his €creation, €@@@and when he made them, he determined their divisions. @@He arranged his works in an eternal order, €@@@and their dominion for all generations; €@@they neither hunger nor grow weary, €@@@and they do not cease from their labors. @@They do not crowd one another aside, €@@@and they will never disobey his word. @@After this the Lord looked upon the earth, €@@@and filled it with his good things; @@with all kinds of living beings he covered its surface, €@@@and to it they return. €@6  @@The Lord created man out of earth, €@@@and turned him back to it again. @@He gave to men few days, a limited time, €@@@but granted them authority over the things upon the earth. @@He endowed them with strength like his own, €@@@and made them in his own image. @@He placed the fear of them in all living beings, €@@@and granted them dominion over beasts and birds. –@@He made for them tongue and eyes; €@@@he gave them ears and a mind for thinking. @@He filled them with knowledge and understanding, €@@@and showed them good and evil. @@He set his eye upon their hearts €@@@to show them the majesty of his works. ˜Š@@And they will praise his holy name, €@@@to proclaim the grandeur of his works. @@He bestowed knowledge upon them, €@@@and allotted to them the law of life. @@He established with them an eternal covenant, €@@@and showed them his judgments. @@Their eyes saw his glorious majesty, €@@@and their ears heard the glory of his voice. @@And he said to them, "Beware of all unrighteousness." €@@@And he gave commandment to each of them concerning €@@@@his neighbor. @@Their ways are always before him, €@@@they will not be hid from his eyes. ˜‘@@He appointed a ruler for every nation, €@@@but Israel is the Lord's own portion. ˜“@@All their works are as the sun before him, €@@@and his eyes are continually upon their ways. @@Their iniquities are not hidden from him, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’ؑ˜”‚@@@and all their sins are before the Lord. ˜–@@A man's almsgiving is like a signet with the Lord €@@@and he will keep a person's kindness like €@@@@the apple of his eye. @@Afterward he will arise and requite them, €@@@and he will bring their recompense on their heads. @@Yet to those who repent he grants a return, €@@@and he encourages those whose endurance is failing. €@6 @@Turn to the Lord and forsake your sins; €@@@pray in his presence and lessen your offenses. @@Return to the Most High and turn away from iniquity, €@@@and hate abominations intensely. @@Who will sing praises to the Most High in Hades, €@@@as do those who are alive and give thanks? @@From the dead, as from one who does not exist, €@@@@thanksgiving has ceased; €@@@he who is alive and well sings the Lord's praises. @@How great is the mercy of the Lord, €@@@and his forgiveness for those who turn to him! @@For all things cannot be in men, €@@@since a son of man is not immortal. @@What is brighter than the sun? Yet its light fails. €@@@So flesh and blood devise evil. @@He marshals the host of the height of heaven; €@@@but all men are dust and ashes. €@6  @@He who lives for ever created the whole universe; @@@the Lord alone will be declared righteous. ”@@To none has he given power to proclaim his works; €@@@and who can search out his mighty deeds? @@Who can measure his majestic power? €@@@And who can fully recount his mercies? @@It is not possible to diminish or increase them, €@@@nor is it possible to trace the wonders of the Lord. @@When a man has finished, he is just beginning, €@@@and when he stops, he will be at a loss. @@What is man, and of what use is he? €@@@What is his good and what is his evil? @@The number of a man's days is great if he reaches €@@@@a hundred years. @@Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand €@@@so are a few years in the day of eternity. @@Therefore the Lord is patient with them €@@@and pours out his mercy upon them. @@He sees and recognizes that their end will be evil; €@@@therefore he grants them forgiveness in abundance. @@The compassion of man is for his neighbor, €@@@but the compassion of the Lord is for all living beings. €@@He rebukes and trains and teaches them, €@@@and turns them back, as a shepherd his flock. @@He has compassion on those who accept his discipline €@@@and who are eager for his judgments. €@6 @@My son, do not mix reproach with your good deeds, €@@@nor cause grief by your words when you present a gift. @@Does not the dew assuage the scorching heat? €@@@So a word is better than a gift. @@Indeed, does not a word surpass a good gift? €@@@Both are to be found in a gracious man. @@A fool is ungracious and abusive, €@@@and the gift of a grudging man makes the eyes dim. €@6 @@Before you speak, learn, €@@@and before you fall ill, take care of your health. @@Before judgment, examine yourself, €@@@and in the hour of visitation you will find forgiveness. @@Before falling ill, humble yourself, €@@@and when you are on the point of sinning, turn back. @@Let nothing hinder you from paying a vow promptly, €@@@and do not wait until death to be released from it. @@Before making a vow, prepare yourself; €@@@and do not be like a man who tempts the Lord. @@Think of his wrath on the day of death, €@@@and of the moment of vengeance when he turns away his face. @@In the time of plenty think of the time of hunger; €@@@in the days of wealth think of poverty and need. @@From morning to evening conditions change, €@@@and all things move swiftly before the Lord. €@6 @@A wise man is cautious in everything, €@@@and in days of sin he guards against wrongdoing. @@Every intelligent man knows wisdom, €@@@and he praises the one who finds her. @@Those who understand sayings become skilled themselves, €@@@and pour forth apt proverbs. €@6 @@Do not follow your base desires, €@@@but restrain your appetites. @@If you allow your soul to take pleasure in base desire, €@@@it will make you the laughingstock of your enemies. @@Do not revel in great luxury, €@@@lest you become impoverished by its expense. @@Do not become a beggar by feasting with borrowed money, €@@@when you have nothing in your purse. €@6  @@A workman who is a drunkard will not become rich; €@@@he who despises small things will fail little by little. @@Wine and women lead intelligent men astray, €@@@and the man who consorts with harlots is very reckless. @@Decay and worms will inherit him, €@@@and the reckless soul will be snatched away. €@6 @@One who trusts others too quickly is lightminded, €@@@and one who sins does wrong to himself. @@One who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned, @@and for one who hates gossip evil is lessened. @@Never repeat a conversation, €@@@and you will lose nothing at all. @@With friend or foe do not report it, €@@@and unless it would be a sin for you, do not disclose it; @@for some one has heard you and watched you, €@@@and when the time comes he will hate you. @@Have you heard a word? Let it die with you. €@@@Be brave! It will not make you burst! @@With such a word a fool will suffer pangs €@@@like a woman in labor with a child. @@Like an arrow stuck in the flesh of the thigh, €@@@so is a word inside a fool. €@6 @@Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; €@@@but if he did anything, so that he may do it no more. @@Question a neighbor, perhaps he did not say it; €@@@but if he said it, so that he may not say it again. @@Question a friend, for often it is slander; €@@@so do not believe everything you hear. @@A person may make a slip without intending it. €@@@Who has never sinned with his tongue? @@Question your neighbor before you threaten him; €@@@and let the law of the Most High take its course. €@6 ˜”@@All wisdom is the fear of the Lord, €@@@and in all wisdom there is the fulfilment of the law. ˜–@@But the knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, €@@@nor is there prudence where sinners take counsel. @@There is a cleverness which is abominable, €@@@but there is a fool who merely lacks wisdom. @@Better is the God-fearing man who lacks intelligence, €@@@than the highly prudent man who transgresses the law. @@There is a cleverness which is scrupulous but unjust, €@@@and there are people who distort kindness to gain a verdict. @@There is a rascal bowed down in mourning, €@@@but inwardly he is full of deceit. @@He hides his face and pretends not to hear; €@@@but where no one notices, he will forestall you. @@And if by lack of strength he is prevented from sinning, €@@@he will do evil when he finds an opportunity. @@A man is known by his appearance, €@@@and a sensible man is known by his face, when you meet him. @@A man's attire and open-mouthed laughter, €@@@and a man's manner of walking, show what he is. €@6  @@There is a reproof which is not timely; €@@@and there is a man who keeps silent but is wise. @@How much better it is to reprove than to stay angry! €@@@And the one who confesses his fault will be kept from loss. ”@@Like a eunuch's desire to violate a maiden €@@@is a man who executes judgments by violence. @@There is one who by keeping silent is found wise, €@@@while another is detested for being too talkative. @@There is one who keeps silent because he has no answer, €@@@while another keeps silent because he knows when to speak. @@A wise man will be silent until the right moment, €@@@but a braggart and fool goes beyond the right moment. @@Whoever uses too many words will be loathed, €@@@and whoever usurps the right to speak will be hated. €@6 @@There may be good fortune for a man in adversity, €@@@and a windfall may result in a loss. @@There is a gift that profits you nothing, €@@@and there is a gift that brings a double return. @@There are losses because of glory, €@@@and there are men who have raised their heads €@@@@from humble circumstances. @@There is a man who buys much for a little, €@@@but pays for it seven times over. @@The wise man makes himself beloved through his words, €@@@but the courtesies of fools are wasted. @@A fool's gift will profit you nothing, €@@@for he has many eyes instead of one. @@He gives little and upbraids much, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’ؔ˜‚@@@he opens his mouth like a herald; €@@today he lends and tomorrow he asks it back; €@@@such a one is a hateful man. @@A fool will say, "I have no friend, €@@@and there is no gratitude for my good deeds; €@@@those who eat my bread speak unkindly." @@How many will ridicule him, and how often! €@6 @@A slip on the pavement is better than a slip of the tongue; €@@@so the downfall of the wicked will occur speedily. @@An ungracious man is like a story told at the wrong time, €@@@which is continually on the lips of the ignorant. @@A proverb from a fool's lips will be rejected, €@@@for he does not tell it at its proper time. €@6 @@A man may be prevented from sinning by his poverty, €@@@so when he rests he feels no remorse. @@A man may lose his life through shame, €@@@or lose it because of his foolish look. @@A man may for shame make promises to a friend, €@@@and needlessly make him an enemy. €@6 @@A lie is an ugly blot on a man; €@@@it is continually on the lips of the ignorant. @@A thief is preferable to a habitual liar, €@@@but the lot of both is ruin. @@The disposition of a liar brings disgrace, €@@@and his shame is ever with him. €@6 @@He who speaks wisely will advance himself, €@@@and a sensible man will please great men. @@Whoever cultivates the soil will heap up his harvest, €@@@and whoever pleases great men will atone for injustice. @@Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise; €@@@like a muzzle on the mouth they avert reproofs. @@Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure, €@@@what advantage is there in either of them? @@Better is the man who hides his folly €@@@than the man who hides his wisdom. €@6  @@Have you sinned, my son? Do so no more, €@@@but pray about your former sins. @@Flee from sin as from a snake; €@@@for if you approach sin, it will bite you. €@@Its teeth are lion's teeth, €@@@and destroy the souls of men. @@All lawlessness is like a two-edged sword; €@@@there is no healing for its wound. €@6 @@Terror and violence will lay waste riches; €@@@thus the house of the proud will be laid waste. @@The prayer of a poor man goes from his lips to the ears of God, €@@@and his judgment comes speedily. @@Whoever hates reproof walks in the steps of the sinner, €@@@but he that fears the Lord will repent in his heart. @@He who is mighty in speech is known from afar; €@@@but the sensible man, when he slips, is aware of it. €@6 @@A man who builds his house with other people's money €@@@is like one who gathers stones for his burial mound. @@An assembly of the wicked is like tow gathered together, €@@@and their end is a flame of fire. @@The way of sinners is smoothly paved with stones, €@@@but at its end is the pit of Hades. €@6 @@Whoever keeps the law controls his thoughts, €@@@and wisdom is the fulfilment of the fear of the Lord. @@He who is not clever cannot be taught, €@@@but there is a cleverness which increases bitterness. @@The knowledge of a wise man will increase like a flood, €@@@and his counsel like a flowing spring. @@The mind of a fool is like a broken jar; €@@@it will hold no knowledge. €@6 @@When a man of understanding hears a wise saying, €@@@he will praise it and add to it; €@@when a reveler hears it, he dislikes it €@@@and casts it behind his back. @@A fool's narration is like a burden on a journey, €@@@but delight will be found in the speech of the intelligent. @@The utterance of a sensible man will be sought in the assembly, €@@@and they will ponder his words in their minds. €@6 @@Like a house that has vanished, so is wisdom to a fool; €@@@and the knowledge of the ignorant is unexamined talk. @@To a senseless man education is fetters on his feet, €@@@and like manacles on his right hand. @@A fool raises his voice when he laughs, €@@@but a clever man smiles quietly. @@To a sensible man education is like a golden ornament, €@@@and like a bracelet on the right arm. €@6 @@The foot of a fool rushes into a house, €@@@but a man of experience stands respectfully before it. @@A boor peers into the house from the door, €@@@but a cultivated man remains outside. @@It is ill-mannered for a man to listen at a door, €@@@and a discreet man is grieved by the disgrace. @@The lips of strangers will speak of these things, €@@@but the words of the prudent will be weighed in the balance. @@The mind of fools is in their mouth, €@@@but the mouth of wise men is in their mind. @@When an ungodly man curses his adversary, €@@@he curses his own soul. @@A whisperer defiles his own soul €@@@and is hated in his neighborhood. €@6  @@The indolent may be compared to a filthy stone, €@@@and every one hisses at his disgrace. @@The indolent may be compared to the filth of dunghills; €@@@any one that picks it up will shake it off his hand. €@6 @@It is a disgrace to be the father of an undisciplined son, €@@@and the birth of a daughter is a loss. @@A sensible daughter obtains her husband, €@@@but one who acts shamefully brings grief to her father. @@An impudent daughter disgraces father and husband, €@@@and will be despised by both. @@Like music in mourning is a tale told at the wrong time, €@@@but chastising and discipline are wisdom at all times. €@6 @@He who teaches a fool is like one who glues potsherds together, €@@@or who rouses a sleeper from deep slumber. @@He who tells a story to a fool tells it to a drowsy man; €@@@and at the end he will say, "What is it?" ˜‹@@Weep for the dead, for he lacks the light; €@@@and weep for the fool, for he lacks intelligence; €@@weep less bitterly for the dead, for he has attained rest; €@@@but the life of the fool is worse than death. @@Mourning for the dead lasts seven days, €@@@but for a fool or an ungodly man it lasts all his life. €@6 @@Do not talk much with a foolish man, €@@@and do not visit an unintelligent man; €@@guard yourself from him to escape trouble, €@@@and you will not be soiled when he shakes himself off; €@@avoid him and you will find rest, €@@@and you will never be wearied by his madness. @@What is heavier than lead? €@@@And what is its name except "Fool"? @@Sand, salt, and a piece of iron €@@@are easier to bear than a stupid man. €@6 @@A wooden beam firmly bonded into a building €@@@will not be torn loose by an earthquake; €@@so the mind firmly fixed on a reasonable counsel €@@@will not be afraid in a crisis. @@A mind settled on an intelligent thought €@@@is like the stucco decoration on the wall of a colonnade. @@Fences set on a high place €@@@will not stand firm against the wind; €@@so a timid heart with a fool's purpose €@@@will not stand firm against any fear. €@6 @@A man who pricks an eye will make tears fall, €@@@and one who pricks the heart makes it show feeling. @@One who throws a stone at birds scares them away, €@@@and one who reviles a friend will break off the friendship. @@Even if you have drawn your sword against a friend, €@@@do not despair, for a renewal of friendship is possible. @@If you have opened your mouth against your friend, €@@@do not worry, for reconciliation is possible; €@@but as for reviling, arrogance, disclosure €@@@@of secrets, or a treacherous blow --€@@@in these cases any friend will flee. €@6 @@Gain the trust of your neighbor in his poverty, €@@@that you may rejoice with him in his prosperity; €@@stand by him in time of affliction, €@@@that you may share with him in his inheritance. @@The vapor and smoke of the furnace precede the fire; €@@@so insults precede bloodshed. @@I will not be ashamed to protect a friend, €@@@and I will not hide from him; @@but if some harm should happen to me because of him, €@@@whoever hears of it will beware of him. €@6 @@O that a guard were set over my mouth, €@@@and a seal of prudence upon my lips, €@@that it may keep me from falling, €@@@so that my tongue may not destroy me!  @@O Lord, Father and Ruler of my life, €@@@do not abandon me to their counsel, €@@@and let me not fall because of them! @@O that whips were set over my thoughts, €@@@and the discipline of wisdom over my mind! €@@That they may not spare me in my errors, €@@@and that it may not pass by my sins; @@in order that my mistakes may not be multiplied, €@@@and my sins may not abound; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’ؗ“ƒ@@then I will not fall before my adversaries, €@@@and my enemy will not rejoice over me. @@O Lord, Father and God of my life, €@@@do not give me haughty eyes, @@@and remove from me evil desire. @@Let neither gluttony nor lust overcome me, €@@@and do not surrender me to a shameless soul. €@6 @@Listen, my children, to instruction concerning speech; €@@@the one who observes it will never be caught. @@The sinner is overtaken through his lips, €@@@the reviler and the arrogant are tripped by them. @@Do not accustom your mouth to oaths, €@@@and do not habitually utter the name of the Holy One; @@for as a servant who is continually examined under torture €@@@will not lack bruises, €@@so also the man who always swears and utters the Name €@@@will not be cleansed from sin. @@A man who swears many oaths will be filled with iniquity, €@@@and the scourge will not leave his house; €@@if he offends, his sin remains on him, €@@@and if he disregards it, he sins doubly; €@@if he has sworn needlessly, he will not be justified, €@@@for his house will be filled with calamities. €@6 @@There is an utterance which is comparable to death; €@@@may it never be found in the inheritance of Jacob! €@@For all these errors will be far from the godly, €@@@and they will not wallow in sins. @@Do not accustom your mouth to lewd vulgarity, €@@@for it involves sinful speech. @@Remember your father and mother €@@@when you sit among great men; €@@lest you be forgetful in their presence, €@@@and be deemed a fool on account of your habits; €@@then you will wish that you had never been born, €@@@and you will curse the day of your birth. @@A man accustomed to use insulting words €@@@will never become disciplined all his days. €@6 @@Two sorts of men multiply sins, €@@@and a third incurs wrath. €@@The soul heated like a burning fire €@@@will not be quenched until it is consumed; €@@a man who commits fornication with his near of kin €@@@will never cease until the fire burns him up. @@To a fornicator all bread tastes sweet; €@@@he will never cease until he dies. @@A man who breaks his marriage vows €@@@says to himself, "Who sees me? €@@Darkness surrounds me, and the walls hide me, €@@@and no one sees me. Why should I fear? €@@The Most High will not take notice of my sins." @@His fear is confined to the eyes of men, €@@@and he does not realize that the eyes of the Lord €@@@are ten thousand times brighter than the sun; €@@they look upon all the ways of men, €@@@and perceive even the hidden places. @@Before the universe was created, it was known to him; €@@@so it was also after it was finished. @@This man will be punished in the streets of the city, €@@@and where he least suspects it, he will be seized. @@So it is with a woman who leaves her husband €@@@and provides an heir by a stranger. @@For first of all, she has disobeyed the law of the Most High; €@@@second, she has committed an offense against her husband; €@@and third, she has committed adultery through harlotry €@@@and brought forth children by another man. @@She herself will be brought before the assembly, €@@@and punishment will fall on her children. @@Her children will not take root, €@@@and her branches will not bear fruit. @@She will leave her memory for a curse, €@@@and her disgrace will not be blotted out. @@Those who survive her will recognize €@@@that nothing is better than the fear of the Lord, €@@and nothing sweeter than to heed the commandments of the Lord. €@6  @@Wisdom will praise herself, €@@@and will glory in the midst of her people. @@In the assembly of the Most High she will open her mouth, €@@@and in the presence of his host she will glory: @@"I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, €@@@and covered the earth like a mist. @@I dwelt in high places, €@@@and my throne was in a pillar of cloud. @@Alone I have made the circuit of the vault of heaven €@@@and have walked in the depths of the abyss. @@In the waves of the sea, in the whole earth, €@@@and in every people and nation I have gotten a possession. @@Among all these I sought a resting place; €@@@I sought in whose territory I might lodge. €@6 @@"Then the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, €@@@and the one who created me assigned a place for my tent. €@@And he said, `Make your dwelling in Jacob, €@@@and in Israel receive your inheritance.' @@From eternity, in the beginning, he created me, €@@@and for eternity I shall not cease to exist. @@In the holy tabernacle I ministered before him, €@@@and so I was established in Zion. @@In the beloved city likewise he gave me a resting place, €@@@and in Jerusalem was my dominion. @@So I took root in an honored people, €@@@in the portion of the Lord, who is their inheritance. €@6 @@"I grew tall like a cedar in Lebanon, €@@@and like a cypress on the heights of Hermon. @@I grew tall like a palm tree in En-ge'di, €@@@and like rose plants in Jericho; €@@like a beautiful olive tree in the field, €@@@and like a plane tree I grew tall. @@Like cassia and camel's thorn I gave forth the aroma of spices, €@@@and like choice myrrh I spread a pleasant odor, €@@like galbanum, onycha, and stacte, €@@@and like the fragrance of frankincense in the tabernacle. @@Like a terebinth I spread out my branches, €@@@and my branches are glorious and graceful. @@Like a vine I caused loveliness to bud, €@@@and my blossoms became glorious and abundant fruit. €@6 ˜“@@"Come to me, you who desire me, €@@@and eat your fill of my produce. @@For the remembrance of me is sweeter than honey, €@@@and my inheritance sweeter than the honeycomb. @@Those who eat me will hunger for more, €@@@and those who drink me will thirst for more. @@Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame, €@@@and those who work with my help will not sin." €@6 @@All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God, €@@@the law which Moses commanded us €@@@as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob. ˜™@@It fills men with wisdom, like the Pishon, €@@@and like the Tigris at the time of the first fruits. @@It makes them full of understanding, like the Euphrates, €@@@and like the Jordan at harvest time. @@It makes instruction shine forth like light, €@@@like the Gihon at the time of vintage. @@Just as the first man did not know her perfectly, €@@@the last one has not fathomed her; @@for her thought is more abundant than the sea, €@@@and her counsel deeper than the great abyss. €@6 @@I went forth like a canal from a river €@@@and like a water channel into a garden. @@I said, "I will water my orchard €@@@and drench my garden plot"; €@@and lo, my canal became a river, €@@@and my river became a sea. @@I will again make instruction shine forth like the dawn, €@@@and I will make it shine afar; @@I will again pour out teaching like prophecy, €@@@and leave it to all future generations. @@Observe that I have not labored for myself alone, €@@@but for all who seek instruction. €@6  @@My soul takes pleasure in three things, €@@@and they are beautiful in the sight of the Lord and of men; €@@agreement between brothers, friendship between neighbors, €@@@and a wife and a husband who live in harmony. @@My soul hates three kinds of men, €@@@and I am greatly offended at their life: €@@a beggar who is proud, a rich man who is a liar, €@@@and an adulterous old man who lacks good sense. €@6 @@You have gathered nothing in your youth; €@@@how then can you find anything in your old age? @@What an attractive thing is judgment in gray-haired men, €@@@and for the aged to possess good counsel! @@How attractive is wisdom in the aged, €@@@and understanding and counsel in honorable men! @@Rich experience is the crown of the aged, €@@@and their boast is the fear of the Lord. €@6 @@With nine thoughts I have gladdened my heart, €@@@and a tenth I shall tell with my tongue: €@@a man rejoicing in his children; €@@@a man who lives to see the downfall of his foes; @@happy is he who lives with an intelligent wife, €@@@and he who has not made a slip with his tongue, €@@@and he who has not served a man inferior to himself; @@happy is he who has gained good sense, €@@@and he who speaks to attentive listeners. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’ؙ˜Š@@How great is he who has gained wisdom! €@@@But there is no one superior to him who fears the Lord. @@The fear of the Lord surpasses everything; €@@@to whom shall be likened the one who holds it fast? €@6 ˜@@Any wound, but not a wound of the heart! €@@@Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a wife! @@Any attack, but not an attack from those who hate! €@@@And any vengeance, but not the vengeance of enemies! @@There is no venom worse than a snake's venom, €@@@and no wrath worse than an enemy's wrath. €@6 @@I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragon €@@@than dwell with an evil wife. @@The wickedness of a wife changes her appearance, €@@@and darkens her face like that of a bear. @@Her husband takes his meals among the neighbors, €@@@and he cannot help sighing bitterly. @@Any iniquity is insignificant compared to a wife's iniquity; €@@@may a sinner's lot befall her! @@A sandy ascent for the feet of the aged --€@@@such is a garrulous wife for a quiet husband. @@Do not be ensnared by a woman's beauty, €@@@and do not desire a woman for her possessions. @@There is wrath and impudence and great disgrace €@@@when a wife supports her husband. @@A dejected mind, a gloomy face, €@@@and a wounded heart are caused by an evil wife. €@@Drooping hands and weak knees €@@@are caused by the wife who does not make her husband happy. @@From a woman sin had its beginning, €@@@and because of her we all die. @@Allow no outlet to water, €@@@and no boldness of speech in an evil wife. @@If she does not go as you direct, €@@@separate her from yourself. €@6  @@Happy is the husband of a good wife; €@@@the number of his days will be doubled. @@A loyal wife rejoices her husband, €@@@and he will complete his years in peace. @@A good wife is a great blessing; €@@@she will be granted among the blessings of €@@@@the man who fears the Lord. @@Whether rich or poor, his heart is glad, €@@@and at all times his face is cheerful. @@Of three things my heart is afraid, €@@@and of a fourth I am frightened: €@@The slander of a city, the gathering of a mob, €@@@and false accusation -- all these are worse than death. @@There is grief of heart and sorrow €@@@when a wife is envious of a rival, and a tongue-lashing €@@@@makes it known to all. @@An evil wife is an ox yoke which chafes; €@@@taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion. @@There is great anger when a wife is drunken; €@@@she will not hide her shame. @@A wife's harlotry shows in her lustful eyes, €@@@and she is known by her eyelids. @@Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter, €@@@lest, when she finds liberty, she use it to her hurt. @@Be on guard against her impudent eye, €@@@and do not wonder if she sins against you. @@As a thirsty wayfarer opens his mouth €@@@and drinks from any water near him, €@@so will she sit in front of every post €@@@and open her quiver to the arrow. €@6 @@A wife's charm delights her husband, €@@@and her skill puts fat on his bones. @@A silent wife is a gift of the Lord, €@@@and there is nothing so precious as a disciplined soul. @@A modest wife adds charm to charm, €@@@and no balance can weigh the value of a chaste soul. @@Like the sun rising in the heights of the Lord, €@@@so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home. @@Like the shining lamp on the holy lampstand, €@@@so is a beautiful face on a stately figure. @@Like pillars of gold on a base of silver, €@@@so are beautiful feet with a steadfast heart. €@6 ˜œ@@At two things my heart is grieved, €@@@and because of a third anger comes over me: €@@a warrior in want through poverty, €@@@and intelligent men who are treated contemptuously; €@@a man who turns back from righteousness to sin --€@@@the Lord will prepare him for the sword! €@6 @@A merchant can hardly keep from wrongdoing, €@@@and a tradesman will not be declared innocent of sin.  @@Many have committed sin for a trifle, €@@@and whoever seeks to get rich will avert his eyes. @@As a stake is driven firmly into a fissure between stones, €@@@so sin is wedged in between selling and buying. @@If a man is not steadfast and zealous in the fear of the Lord, €@@@his house will be quickly overthrown. €@6 @@When a sieve is shaken, the refuse remains; €@@@so a man's filth remains in his thoughts. @@The kiln tests the potter's vessels; €@@@so the test of a man is in his reasoning. @@The fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; €@@@so the expression of a thought discloses the €@@@@cultivation of a man's mind. @@Do not praise a man before you hear him reason, €@@@for this is the test of men. €@6 @@If you pursue justice, you will attain it €@@@and wear it as a glorious robe. @@Birds flock with their kind; €@@@so truth returns to those who practice it. @@A lion lies in wait for prey; €@@@so does sin for the workers of iniquity. €@6 @@The talk of the godly man is always wise, €@@@but the fool changes like the moon. @@Among stupid people watch for a chance to leave, €@@@but among thoughtful people stay on. @@The talk of fools is offensive, €@@@and their laughter is wantonly sinful. @@The talk of men given to swearing makes one's €@@@@hair stand on end, €@@@and their quarrels make a man stop his ears. @@The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed, €@@@and their abuse is grievous to hear. €@6 @@Whoever betrays secrets destroys confidence, €@@@and he will never find a congenial friend. @@Love your friend and keep faith with him; €@@@but if you betray his secrets, do not run after him. @@For as a man destroys his enemy, €@@@so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor. @@And as you allow a bird to escape from your hand, €@@@so you have let your neighbor go, and will €@@@@not catch him again. @@Do not go after him, for he is too far off, €@@@and has escaped like a gazelle from a snare. @@For a wound may be bandaged, €@@@and there is reconciliation after abuse, €@@but whoever has betrayed secrets is without hope. €@6 @@Whoever winks his eye plans evil deeds, €@@@and no one can keep him from them. @@In your presence his mouth is all sweetness, €@@@and he admires your words; €@@but later he will twist his speech €@@@and with your own words he will give offense. @@I have hated many things, but none to be compared to him; €@@@even the Lord will hate him. @@Whoever throws a stone straight up throws it on his own head; €@@@and a treacherous blow opens up wounds. @@He who digs a pit will fall into it, €@@@and he who sets a snare will be caught in it. @@If a man does evil, it will roll back upon him, €@@@and he will not know where it came from. @@Mockery and abuse issue from the proud man, €@@@but vengeance lies in wait for him like a lion. @@Those who rejoice in the fall of the godly €@@@@will be caught in a snare, €@@@and pain will consume them before their death. €@6 @@Anger and wrath, these also are abominations, €@@@and the sinful man will possess them.  @@He that takes vengeance will suffer vengeance from the Lord, €@@@and he will firmly establish his sins. @@Forgive your neighbor the wrong he has done, €@@@and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray. @@Does a man harbor anger against another, €@@@and yet seek for healing from the Lord? @@Does he have no mercy toward a man like himself, €@@@and yet pray for his own sins? @@If he himself, being flesh, maintains wrath, €@@@who will make expiation for his sins? @@Remember the end of your life, and cease from enmity, €@@@remember destruction and death, and be true €@@@@to the commandments. @@Remember the commandments, and do not be angry €@@@@with your neighbor; €@@@remember the covenant of the Most High, and €@@@@overlook ignorance. €@6 @@Refrain from strife, and you will lessen sins; €@@@for a man given to anger will kindle strife, @@and a sinful man will disturb friends €@@@and inject enmity among those who are at peace. @@In proportion to the fuel for the fire, so will be the burning, €@@@and in proportion to the obstinacy of strife €@@@@will be the burning; €@@in proportion to the strength of the man will be his anger, €@@@and in proportion to his wealth he will heighten his wrath. @@A hasty quarrel kindles fire, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’؜˜‹‚@@@and urgent strife sheds blood. @@If you blow on a spark, it will glow; €@@@if you spit on it, it will be put out; €@@@and both come out of your mouth. €@6 @@Curse the whisperer and deceiver, €@@@for he has destroyed many who were at peace. @@Slander has shaken many, €@@@and scattered them from nation to nation, €@@and destroyed strong cities, €@@@and overturned the houses of great men. @@Slander has driven away courageous women, €@@@and deprived them of the fruit of their toil. @@Whoever pays heed to slander will not find rest, €@@@nor will he settle down in peace. @@The blow of a whip raises a welt, €@@@but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones. @@Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, €@@@but not so many as have fallen because of the tongue. @@Happy is the man who is protected from it, €@@@who has not been exposed to its anger, €@@who has not borne its yoke, €@@@and has not been bound with its fetters; @@for its yoke is a yoke of iron, €@@@and its fetters are fetters of bronze; @@its death is an evil death, €@@@and Hades is preferable to it. @@It will not be master over the godly, €@@@and they will not be burned in its flame. @@Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power; €@@@it will burn among them and will not be put out. €@@It will be sent out against them like a lion; €@@@like a leopard it will mangle them. @@See that you fence in your property with thorns, €@@@lock up your silver and gold, @@make balances and scales for your words, €@@@and make a door and a bolt for your mouth. @@Beware lest you err with your tongue, €@@@lest you fall before him who lies in wait. €@6  @@He that shows mercy will lend to his neighbor, €@@@and he that strengthens him with his hand €@@@@keeps the commandments. @@Lend to your neighbor in the time of his need; €@@@and in turn, repay your neighbor promptly. @@Confirm your word and keep faith with him, €@@@and on every occasion you will find what you need. @@Many persons regard a loan as a windfall, €@@@and cause trouble to those who help them. @@A man will kiss another's hands until he gets a loan, €@@@and will lower his voice in speaking of his neighbor's money; €@@but at the time for repayment he will delay, €@@@and will pay in words of unconcern, €@@@and will find fault with the time. @@If the lender exert pressure, he will hardly get back half, €@@@and will regard that as a windfall. €@@If he does not, the borrower has robbed him of his money, €@@@and he has needlessly made him his enemy; €@@he will repay him with curses and reproaches, €@@@and instead of glory will repay him with dishonor. @@Because of such wickedness, therefore, many €@@@@have refused to lend; €@@@they have been afraid of being defrauded needlessly. €@6 @@Nevertheless, be patient with a man in humble circumstances, €@@@and do not make him wait for your alms. @@Help a poor man for the commandment's sake, €@@@and because of his need do not send him away empty. @@Lose your silver for the sake of a brother or a friend, €@@@and do not let it rust under a stone and be lost. @@Lay up your treasure according to the commandments €@@@@of the Most High, €@@@and it will profit you more than gold. @@Store up almsgiving in your treasury, €@@@and it will rescue you from all affliction; @@more than a mighty shield and more than a heavy spear, €@@@it will fight on your behalf against your enemy. €@6 @@A good man will be surety for his neighbor, €@@@but a man who has lost his sense of shame will fail him. @@Do not forget all the kindness of your surety, €@@@for he has given his life for you. @@A sinner will overthrow the prosperity of his surety, @@@and one who does not feel grateful will abandon his rescuer. @@Being surety has ruined many men who were prosperous, €@@@and has shaken them like a wave of the sea; €@@it has driven men of power into exile, €@@@and they have wandered among foreign nations. @@The sinner who has fallen into suretyship €@@@and pursues gain will fall into lawsuits. @@Assist your neighbor according to your ability, €@@@but take heed to yourself lest you fall. €@6 @@The essentials for life are water and bread €@@@and clothing and a house to cover one's nakedness. @@Better is the life of a poor man under the shelter of his roof €@@@than sumptuous food in another man's house. @@Be content with little or much. @@It is a miserable life to go from house to house, €@@@and where you are a stranger you may not open your mouth; @@you will play the host and provide drink without being thanked, €@@@and besides this you will hear bitter words: @@"Come here, stranger, prepare the table, €@@@and if you have anything at hand, let me have it to eat." @@"Give place, stranger, to an honored person; €@@@my brother has come to stay with me; I need my house." @@These things are hard to bear for a man who has feeling: €@@@scolding about lodging and the reproach of the moneylender. €@6  @@He who loves his son will whip him often, €@@@in order that he may rejoice at the way he turns out. @@He who disciplines his son will profit by him, €@@@and will boast of him among acquaintances. @@He who teaches his son will make his enemies envious, €@@@and will glory in him in the presence of friends. @@The father may die, and yet he is not dead, €@@@for he has left behind him one like himself; @@while alive he saw and rejoiced, €@@@and when he died he was not grieved; @@he has left behind him an avenger against his enemies, €@@@and one to repay the kindness of his friends. €@6 @@He who spoils his son will bind up his wounds, €@@@and his feelings will be troubled at every cry. @@A horse that is untamed turns out to be stubborn, €@@@and a son unrestrained turns out to be wilful. @@Pamper a child, and he will frighten you; €@@@play with him, and he will give you grief. @@Do not laugh with him, lest you have sorrow with him, €@@@and in the end you will gnash your teeth. @@Give him no authority in his youth, €@@@and do not ignore his errors. @@Bow down his neck in his youth, €@@@and beat his sides while he is young, €@@lest he become stubborn and disobey you, €@@@and you have sorrow of soul from him. @@Discipline your son and take pains with him, €@@@that you may not be offended by his shamelessness. €@6 @@Better off is a poor man who is well and strong in constitution €@@@than a rich man who is severely afflicted in body. @@Health and soundness are better than all gold, €@@@and a robust body than countless riches. @@There is no wealth better than health of body, €@@@and there is no gladness above joy of heart. @@Death is better than a miserable life, €@@@and eternal rest than chronic sickness. €@6 @@Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed €@@@are like offerings of food placed upon a grave. @@Of what use to an idol is an offering of fruit? €@@@For it can neither eat nor smell. €@@So is he who is afflicted by the Lord; @@he sees with his eyes and groans, €@@@like a eunuch who embraces a maiden and groans. €@6 @@Do not give yourself over to sorrow, €@@@and do not afflict yourself deliberately. @@Gladness of heart is the life of man, €@@@and the rejoicing of a man is length of days. @@Delight your soul and comfort your heart, €@@@and remove sorrow far from you, €@@@for sorrow has destroyed many, and there is no profit in it. @@Jealousy and anger shorten life, €@@@and anxiety brings on old age too soon. @@A man of cheerful and good heart €@@@will give heed to the food he eats. €@6  @@Wakefulness over wealth wastes away one's flesh, €@@@and anxiety about it removes sleep. @@Wakeful anxiety prevents slumber, €@@@and a severe illness carries off sleep. @@The rich man toils as his wealth accumulates, €@@@and when he rests he fills himself with his dainties. @@The poor man toils as his livelihood diminishes, €@@@and when he rests he becomes needy. €@6 @@He who loves gold will not be justified, €@@@and he who pursues money will be led astray by it. @@Many have come to ruin because of gold, €@@@and their destruction has met them face to face. @@It is a stumbling block to those who are devoted to it, €@@@and every fool will be taken captive by it. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’؟˜ˆ@@Blessed is the rich man who is found blameless, €@@@and who does not go after gold. @@Who is he? And we will call him blessed, €@@@for he has done wonderful things among his people. @@Who has been tested by it and been found perfect? €@@@Let it be for him a ground for boasting. €@@Who has had the power to transgress and did not transgress, €@@@and to do evil and did not do it? @@His prosperity will be established, €@@@and the assembly will relate his acts of charity. €@6 @@Are you seated at the table of a great man? €@@@Do not be greedy at it, €@@@and do not say, "There is certainly much upon it!" @@Remember that a greedy eye is a bad thing. €@@@What has been created more greedy than the eye? €@@@Therefore it sheds tears from every face. @@Do not reach out your hand for everything you see, €@@@and do not crowd your neighbor at the dish. @@Judge your neighbor's feelings by your own, €@@@and in every matter be thoughtful. @@Eat like a human being what is set before you, €@@@and do not chew greedily, lest you be hated. @@Be the first to stop eating, for the sake of good manners, €@@@and do not be insatiable, lest you give offense. @@If you are seated among many persons, €@@@do not reach out your hand before they do. €@6 @@How ample a little is for a well-disciplined man! €@@@He does not breathe heavily upon his bed. @@Healthy sleep depends on moderate eating; €@@@he rises early, and feels fit. €@@The distress of sleeplessness and of nausea €@@@and colic are with the glutton. @@If you are overstuffed with food, €@@@get up in the middle of the meal, and you will have relief. @@Listen to me, my son, and do not disregard me, €@@@and in the end you will appreciate my words. €@@In all your work be industrious, €@@@and no sickness will overtake you. €@6 @@Men will praise the one who is liberal with food, €@@@and their testimony to his excellence is trustworthy. @@The city will complain of the one who is niggardly with food, €@@@and their testimony to his niggardliness is accurate. €@6 @@Do not aim to be valiant over wine, €@@@for wine has destroyed many. @@Fire and water prove the temper of steel, €@@@so wine tests hearts in the strife of the proud. @@Wine is like life to men, €@@@if you drink it in moderation. €@@What is life to a man who is without wine? €@@@It has been created to make men glad. @@Wine drunk in season and temperately €@@@is rejoicing of heart and gladness of soul. @@Wine drunk to excess is bitterness of soul, €@@@with provocation and stumbling. @@Drunkenness increases the anger of a fool to his injury, €@@@reducing his strength and adding wounds. @@Do not reprove your neighbor at a banquet of wine, €@@@and do not despise him in his merrymaking; €@@speak no word of reproach to him, €@@@and do not afflict him by making demands of him.  @@If they make you master of the feast, do not exalt yourself; €@@@be among them as one of them; €@@take good care of them and then be seated; @@@when you have fulfilled your duties, take your place, €@@that you may be merry on their account €@@@and receive a wreath for your excellent leadership. €@6 @@Speak, you who are older, for it is fitting that you should, €@@@but with accurate knowledge, and do not interrupt the music. @@Where there is entertainment, do not pour out talk; €@@@do not display your cleverness out of season. @@A ruby seal in a setting of gold €@@@is a concert of music at a banquet of wine. @@A seal of emerald in a rich setting of gold €@@@is the melody of music with good wine. €@6 @@Speak, young man, if there is need of you, €@@@but no more than twice, and only if asked. @@Speak concisely, say much in few words; €@@@be as one who knows and yet holds his tongue. @@Among the great do not act as their equal; €@@@and when another is speaking, do not babble. €@6 @@Lightning speeds before the thunder, €@@@and approval precedes a modest man. @@Leave in good time and do not be the last; €@@@go home quickly and do not linger. @@Amuse yourself there, and do what you have in mind, €@@@but do not sin through proud speech. @@And for these things bless him who made you €@@@and satisfies you with his good gifts. €@6 @@He who fears the Lord will accept his discipline, €@@@and those who rise early to seek him will find favor. @@He who seeks the law will be filled with it, €@@@but the hypocrite will stumble at it. @@Those who fear the Lord will form true judgments, €@@@and like a light they will kindle righteous deeds. @@A sinful man will shun reproof, €@@@and will find a decision according to his liking. €@6 @@A man of judgment will not overlook an idea, €@@@and an insolent and proud man will not cower in fear. @@Do nothing without deliberation; €@@@and when you have acted, do not regret it. @@Do not go on a path full of hazards, €@@@and do not stumble over stony ground. @@Do not be overconfident on a smooth way, @@@and give good heed to your paths. @@Guard yourself in every act, €@@@for this is the keeping of the commandments. €@6 @@He who believes the law gives heed to the commandments, €@@@and he who trusts the Lord will not suffer loss.  @@No evil will befall the man who fears the Lord, €@@@but in trial he will deliver him again and again. @@A wise man will not hate the law, €@@@but he who is hypocritical about it is like a boat in a storm. @@A man of understanding will trust in the law; €@@@for him the law is as dependable as an inquiry €@@@@by means of Urim. €@6 @@Prepare what to say, and thus you will be heard; €@@@bind together your instruction, and make your answer. @@The heart of a fool is like a cart wheel, €@@@and his thoughts like a turning axle. @@A stallion is like a mocking friend; €@@@he neighs under every one who sits on him. @@Why is any day better than another, €@@@when all the daylight in the year is from the sun? @@By the Lord's decision they were distinguished, €@@@and he appointed the different seasons and feasts; @@some of them he exalted and hallowed, €@@@and some of them he made ordinary days. @@All men are from the ground, €@@@and Adam was created of the dust. @@In the fulness of his knowledge the Lord distinguished them €@@@and appointed their different ways; @@some of them he blessed and exalted, €@@@and some of them he made holy and brought near to himself; €@@but some of them he cursed and brought low, €@@@and he turned them out of their place. @@As clay in the hand of the potter --€@@@for all his ways are as he pleases --€@@so men are in the hand of him who made them, €@@@to give them as he decides. €@6 @@Good is the opposite of evil, €@@@and life the opposite of death; €@@@so the sinner is the opposite of the godly. @@Look upon all the works of the Most High; €@@@they likewise are in pairs, one the opposite of the other. €@6 @@I was the last on watch; €@@@I was like one who gleans after the grape-gatherers; €@@by the blessing of the Lord I excelled, €@@@and like a grape-gatherer I filled my wine press. @@Consider that I have not labored for myself alone, €@@@but for all who seek instruction. @@Hear me, you who are great among the people, €@@@and you leaders of the congregation, hearken. €@6 @@To son or wife, to brother or friend, €@@@do not give power over yourself, as long as you live; €@@and do not give your property to another, €@@@lest you change your mind and must ask for it. @@While you are still alive and have breath in you, €@@@do not let any one take your place. @@For it is better that your children should ask from you €@@@than that you should look to the hand of you sons. @@Excel in all that you do; €@@@bring no stain upon your honor. @@At the time when you end the days of your life, €@@@in the hour of death, distribute your inheritance. €@6 @@Fodder and a stick and burdens for an ass; €@@@bread and discipline and work for a servant. @@Set your slave to work, and you will find rest; €@@@leave his hands idle, and he will seek liberty. @@Yoke and thong will bow the neck, €@@@and for a wicked servant there are racks and tortures. @@Put him to work, that he may not be idle, €@@@for idleness teaches much evil. @@Set him to work, as is fitting for him, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’Ø”˜œ‚@@@and if he does not obey, make his fetters heavy. @@Do not act immoderately toward anybody, €@@@and do nothing without discretion. €@6 @@If you have a servant, let him be as yourself, €@@@because you have bought him with blood. @@If you have a servant, treat him as a brother, €@@@for as your own soul you will need him. €@@If you ill-treat him, and he leaves and runs away, €@@@which way will you go to seek him? €@6  @@A man of no understanding has vain and false hopes, €@@@and dreams give wings to fools. @@As one who catches at a shadow and pursues the wind, €@@@so is he who gives heed to dreams. @@The vision of dreams is this against that, €@@@the likeness of a face confronting a face. @@From an unclean thing what will be made clean? €@@@And from something false what will be true? @@Divinations and omens and dreams are folly, €@@@and like a woman in travail the mind has fancies. @@Unless they are sent from the Most High as a visitation, €@@@do not give your mind to them. @@For dreams have deceived many, €@@@and those who put their hope in them have failed. @@Without such deceptions the law will be fulfilled, €@@@and wisdom is made perfect in truthful lips. €@6 @@An educated man knows many things, €@@@and one with much experience will speak with understanding. @@He that is inexperienced knows few things, €@@@but he that has traveled acquires much cleverness. @@I have seen many things in my travels, €@@@and I understand more than I can express. @@I have often been in danger of death, €@@@but have escaped because of these experiences. €@6 @@The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live, €@@@for their hope is in him who saves them. @@He who fears the Lord will not be timid, €@@@nor play the coward, for he is his hope. @@Blessed is the soul of the man who fears the Lord! €@@@To whom does he look? And who is his support? @@The eyes of the Lord are upon those who love him, €@@@a mighty protection and strong support, €@@a shelter from the hot wind and a shade from noonday sun, €@@@a guard against stumbling and a defense against falling. @@He lifts up the soul and gives light to the eyes; €@@@he grants healing, life, and blessing. €@6 @@If one sacrifices from what has been wrongfully obtained, the €offering is blemished; €@@@the gifts of the lawless are not acceptable. @@The Most High is not pleased with the offerings of the ungodly; €@@@and he is not propitiated for sins by a multitude €@@@@of sacrifices. @@Like one who kills a son before his father's eyes €@@@is the man who offers a sacrifice from the €@@@@property of the poor. @@The bread of the needy is the life of the poor; €@@@whoever deprives them of it is a man of blood. @@To take away a neighbor's living is to murder him; €@@@to deprive an employee of his wages is to shed blood. €@6 @@When one builds and another tears down, €@@@what do they gain but toil? @@When one prays and another curses, €@@@to whose voice will the Lord listen? @@If a man washes after touching a dead body, €@@@@and touches it again, €@@@what has he gained by his washing? @@So if a man fasts for his sins, €@@@and goes again and does the same things, €@@who will listen to his prayer? €@@@And what has he gained by humbling himself? €@6  @@He who keeps the law makes many offerings; €@@@he who heeds the commandments sacrifices a peace offering. @@He who returns a kindness offers fine flour, €@@@and he who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering. @@To keep from wickedness is pleasing to the Lord, €@@@and to forsake unrighteousness is atonement. @@Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed, @@@for all these things are to be done because €@@@@of the commandment. @@The offering of a righteous man anoints the altar, €@@@and its pleasing odor rises before the Most High. @@The sacrifice of a righteous man is acceptable, €@@@and the memory of it will not be forgotten. @@Glorify the Lord generously, €@@@and do not stint the first fruits of your hands. @@With every gift show a cheerful face, €@@@and dedicate your tithe with gladness. @@Give to the Most High as he has given, €@@@and as generously as your hand has found. @@For the Lord is the one who repays, €@@@and he will repay you sevenfold. @@Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it; €@@@and do not trust to an unrighteous sacrifice; €@@for the Lord is the judge, €@@@and with him is no partiality. @@He will not show partiality in the case of a poor man; €@@@and he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged. @@He will not ignore the supplication of the fatherless, €@@@nor the widow when she pours out her story. @@Do not the tears of the widow run down her cheek €@@@as she cries out against him who has caused them to fall? @@He whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted, €@@@and his prayer will reach to the clouds. @@The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, €@@@and he will not be consoled until it reaches the Lord; €@@he will not desist until the Most High visits him, €@@@and does justice for the righteous, and executes judgment. @@And the Lord will not delay, €@@@neither will he be patient with them, €@@till he crushes the loins of the unmerciful €@@@and repays vengeance on the nations; €@@till he takes away the multitude of the insolent, €@@@and breaks the scepters of the unrighteous; @@till he repays the man according to his deeds, €@@@and the works of men according to their devices; €@@till he judges the case of his people €@@@and makes them rejoice in his mercy. @@Mercy is as welcome when he afflicts them €@@@as clouds of rain in the time of drought. €@6  @@Have mercy upon us, O Lord, the God of all, and look upon us, @@@and cause the fear of thee to fall upon all the nations. @@Lift up thy hand against foreign nations €@@@and let them see thy might. @@As in us thou hast been sanctified before them, €@@@so in them be thou magnified before us; @@and let them know thee, as we have known €@@@that there is not God but thee, O Lord. @@Show signs anew, and work further wonders; €@@@make thy hand and thy right arm glorious. @@Rouse thy anger and pour out thy wrath; €@@@destroy the adversary and wipe out the enemy. @@Hasten the day, and remember the appointed time, €@@@and let people recount thy mighty deeds. @@Let him who survives be consumed in the fiery wrath, €@@@and may those who harm thy people meet destruction. @@Crush the heads of the rulers of the enemy, €@@@who say, "There is no one but ourselves." @@Gather all the tribes of Jacob, €@@@and give them their inheritance, as at the beginning. @@Have mercy, O Lord, upon the people called by thy name, €@@@upon Israel, whom thou hast likened to a first-born son. @@Have pity on the city of thy sanctuary, €@@@Jerusalem, the place of thy rest. @@Fill Zion with the celebration of thy wondrous deeds, €@@@and thy temple with thy glory. @@Bear witness to those whom thou didst create in the beginning, €@@@and fulfil the prophecies spoken in thy name. @@Reward those who wait for thee, €@@@and let thy prophets be found trustworthy. @@Hearken, O Lord, to the prayer of thy servants, €@@@according to the blessing of Aaron for thy people, €@@and all who are on the earth will know €@@@that thou art the Lord, the God of the ages. €@6 @@The stomach will take any food, €@@@yet one food is better than another. @@As the palate tastes the kinds of game, €@@@so an intelligent mind detects false words. @@A perverse mind will cause grief, €@@@but a man of experience will pay him back. @@A woman will accept any man, €@@@but one daughter is better than another. @@A woman's beauty gladdens the countenance, €@@@and surpasses every human desire. @@If kindness and humility mark her speech, €@@@her husband is not like other men. @@He who acquires a wife gets his best possession, €@@@a helper fit for him and a pillar of support. @@Where there is no fence, the property will be plundered; €@@@and where there is no wife, a man will wander about and sigh. @@For who will trust a nimble robber €@@@that skips from city to city? €@@So who will trust a man that has no home, €@@@and lodges wherever night finds him? €@6 žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’Ø„@@Every friend will say, "I too am a friend"; €@@@but some friends are friends only in name. @@Is it not a grief to the death €@@@when a companion and friend turns to enmity? @@O evil imagination, why were you formed €@@@to cover the land with deceit? @@Some companions rejoice in the happiness of a friend, €@@@but in time of trouble are against him. @@Some companions help a friend for their stomach's sake, €@@@and in the face of battle take up the shield. @@Do not forget a friend in your heart, €@@@and be not unmindful of him in your wealth. €@6 @@Every counselor praises counsel, €@@@but some give counsel in their own interest. @@Be wary of a counselor, €@@@and learn first what is his interest --€@@@for he will take thought for himself --€@@lest he cast the lot against you @@@and tell you, "Your way is good," €@@@and then stand aloof to see what will happen to you. @@Do not consult the one who looks at you suspiciously; €@@@hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you. @@Do not consult with a woman about her rival €@@@or with a coward about war, €@@with a merchant about barter €@@@or with a buyer about selling, €@@with a grudging man about gratitude €@@@or with a merciless man about kindness, €@@with an idler about any work €@@or with a man hired for a year about completing his work, €@@with a lazy servant about a big task --€@@@pay no attention to these in any matter of counsel. @@But stay constantly with a godly man €@@@whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments, €@@whose soul is in accord with your soul, €@@@and who will sorrow with you if you fail. @@And establish the counsel of your own heart, €@@@for no one is more faithful to you than it is. @@For a man's soul sometimes keeps him better informed €@@@than seven watchmen sitting high on a watchtower. @@And besides all this pray to the Most High €@@@that he may direct your way in truth. €@6 @@Reason is the beginning of every work, €@@@and counsel precedes every undertaking. @@As a clue to changes of heart @@@four turns of fortune appear, €@@good and evil, life and death; €@@@and it is the tongue that continually rules them. @@A man may be shrewd and the teacher of many, €@@@and yet be unprofitable to himself. @@A man skilled in words may be hated; €@@@he will be destitute of all food, @@for grace was not given him by the Lord, €@@@since he is lacking in all wisdom. @@A man may be wise to his own advantage, €@@@and the fruits of his understanding may be €@@@@trustworthy on his lips. @@A wise man will instruct his own people, €@@@and the fruits of his understanding will be trustworthy. @@A wise man will have praise heaped upon him, €@@@and all who see him will call him happy. @@The life of a man is numbered by days, €@@@but the days of Israel are without number. @@He who is wise among his people will inherit confidence, €@@@and his name will live for ever. €@6 @@My son, test your soul while you live; €@@@see what is bad for it and do not give it that. @@For not everything is good for every one, €@@@and not every person enjoys everything. @@Do not have an insatiable appetite for any luxury, €@@@and do not give yourself up to food; @@for overeating brings sickness, €@@@and gluttony leads to nausea. @@Many have died of gluttony, €@@@but he who is careful to avoid it prolongs his life. €@6  @@Honor the physician with the honor due him, €@@@@according to your need of €him, €@@@for the Lord created him; @@for healing comes from the Most High, €@@@and he will receive a gift from the king. @@The skill of the physician lifts up his head, €@@@and in the presence of great men he is admired. @@The Lord created medicines from the earth, €@@@and a sensible man will not despise them. @@Was not water made sweet with a tree €@@@in order that his power might be known? @@And he gave skill to men €@@@that he might be glorified in his marvelous works. @@By them he heals and takes away pain; @@@the pharmacist makes of them a compound. €@@His works will never be finished; €@@@and from him health is upon the face of the earth. €@6 @@My son, when you are sick do not be negligent, €@@@but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you. @@Give up your faults and direct your hands aright, €@@@and cleanse your heart from all sin. @@Offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice, and a memorial €@@@@portion of fine flour, €@@@and pour oil on your offering, as much as you can afford. @@And give the physician his place, for the Lord created him; €@@@let him not leave you, for there is need of him. @@There is a time when success lies in the hands of physicians, @@@for they too will pray to the Lord €@@that he should grant them success in diagnosis €@@@and in healing, for the sake of preserving life. @@He who sins before his Maker, €@@@may he fall into the care of a physician. €@6 @@My son, let your tears fall for the dead, €@@@and as one who is suffering grievously begin the lament. €@@Lay out his body with the honor due him, €@@@and do not neglect his burial. @@Let your weeping be bitter and your wailing fervent; €@@@observe the mourning according to his merit, €@@for one day, or two, to avoid criticism; €@@@then be comforted for your sorrow. @@For sorrow results in death, €@@@and sorrow of heart saps one's strength. @@In calamity sorrow continues, €@@@and the life of the poor man weighs down his heart. @@Do not give your heart to sorrow; €@@@drive it away, remembering the end of life. @@Do not forget, there is no coming back; €@@@you do the dead no good, and you injure yourself. @@"Remember my doom, for yours is like it: €@@@yesterday it was mine, and today it is yours." @@When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance cease, €@@@and be comforted for him when his spirit is departed. €@6 @@The wisdom of the scribe depends on the opportunity of leisure; €@@@and he who has little business may become wise. @@How can he become wise who handles the plow, €@@@and who glories in the shaft of a goad, €@@who drives oxen and is occupied with their work, €@@@and whose talk is about bulls? @@He sets his heart on plowing furrows, €@@@and he is careful about fodder for the heifers. @@So too is every craftsman and master workman €@@@who labors by night as well as by day; €@@those who cut the signets of seals, €@@@each is diligent in making a great variety; €@@he sets his heart on painting a lifelike image, €@@@and he is careful to finish his work. @@So too is the smith sitting by the anvil, €@@@intent upon his handiwork in iron; €@@the breath of the fire melts his flesh, €@@@and he wastes away in the heat of the furnace; €@@he inclines his ear to the sound of the hammer, €@@@and his eyes are on the pattern of the object. €@@He sets his heart on finishing his handiwork, €@@@and he is careful to complete its decoration. @@So too is the potter sitting at his work €@@@and turning the wheel with his feet; €@@he is always deeply concerned over his work, €@@@and all his output is by number. @@He moulds the clay with his arm €@@@and makes it pliable with his feet; €@@he sets his heart to finish the glazing, €@@@and he is careful to clean the furnace. €@6 @@All these rely upon their hands, €@@@and each is skilful in his own work. @@Without them a city cannot be established, €@@@and men can neither sojourn nor live there. @@Yet they are not sought out for the council of the people, €@@@nor do they attain eminence in the public assembly. €@@They do not sit in the judge's seat, €@@@nor do they understand the sentence of judgment; €@@they cannot expound discipline or judgment, €@@@and they are not found using proverbs. @@But they keep stable the fabric of the world, €@@@and their prayer is in the practice of their trade. €@6  @@On the other hand he who devotes himself €@@@to the study of the law of the Most High €@@will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, €@@@and will be concerned with prophecies; @@he will preserve the discourse of notable men €@@@and penetrate the subtleties of parables; @@he will seek out the hidden meanings of proverbs €@@@and be at home with the obscurities of parables. @@He will serve among great men €@@@and appear before rulers; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’ا”ƒ@@he will travel through the lands of foreign nations, €@@@for he tests the good and the evil among men. @@He will set his heart to rise early €@@@to seek the Lord who made him, €@@@and will make supplication before the Most High; €@@he will open his mouth in prayer €@@@and make supplication for his sins. €@6 @@If the great Lord is willing, €@@@he will be filled with the spirit of understanding; €@@he will pour forth words of wisdom €@@@and give thanks to the Lord in prayer. @@He will direct his counsel and knowledge aright, €@@@and meditate on his secrets. @@He will reveal instruction in his teaching, €@@@and will glory in the law of the Lord's covenant. @@Many will praise his understanding, €@@@and it will never be blotted out; €@@his memory will not disappear, €@@@and his name will live through all generations. @@Nations will declare his wisdom, €@@@and the congregation will proclaim his praise; @@if he lives long, he will leave a name greater than a thousand, €@@@and if he goes to rest, it is enough for him. @@I have yet more to say, which I have thought upon, €@@@and I am filled, like the moon at the full. @@Listen to me, O you holy sons, €@@@and bud like a rose growing by a stream of water; @@send forth fragrance like frankincense, €@@@and put forth blossoms like a lily. €@@Scatter the fragrance, and sing a hymn of praise; €@@@bless the Lord for all his works; @@ascribe majesty to his name €@@@and give thanks to him with praise, €@@with songs on your lips, and with lyres; €@@@and this you shall say in thanksgiving: @@"All things are the works of the Lord, for they are very good, €@@@and whatever he commands will be done in his time." €@6 @@No one can say, "What is this?" "Why is that?" €@@@for in God's time all things will be sought after. €@@At his word the waters stood in a heap, €@@@and the reservoirs of water at the word of his mouth. @@At his command whatever pleases him is done, €@@@and none can limit his saving power. @@The works of all flesh are before him, €@@@and nothing can be hid from his eyes. @@From everlasting to everlasting he beholds them, €@@@and nothing is marvelous to him. @@No one can say, "What is this?" "Why is that?" €@@@for everything has been created for its use. @@His blessing covers the dry land like a river, €@@@and drenches it like a flood. @@The nations will incur his wrath, €@@@just as he turns fresh water into salt. @@To the holy his ways are straight, €@@@just as they are obstacles to the wicked. @@From the beginning good things were created for good people, €@@@just as evil things for sinners. @@Basic to all the needs of man's life €@@@are water and fire and iron and salt €@@and wheat flour and milk and honey, €@@@the blood of the grape, and oil and clothing. @@All these are for good to the godly, €@@@just as they turn into evils for sinners. €@6 @@There are winds that have been created for vengeance, €@@@and in their anger they scourge heavily; €@@in the time of consummation they will pour out their strength €@@@and calm the anger of their Maker. @@Fire and hail and famine and pestilence, €@@@all these have been created for vengeance; @@the teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions and vipers, €@@@and the sword that punishes the ungodly with destruction; @@they will rejoice in his commands, €@@@and be made ready on earth for their service, €@@@and when their times come they will not transgress his word. @@Therefore from the beginning I have been convinced, €@@@and have thought this out and left it in writing: @@The works of the Lord are all good, €@@@and he will supply every need in its hour. @@And no one can say, "This is worse than that," €@@@for all things will prove good in their season. @@So now sing praise with all your heart and voice, €@@@and bless the name of the Lord. €@6  @@Much labor was created for every man, €@@@and a heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, €@@from the day they come forth from their mother's womb €@@@till the day they return to the mother of all. @@Their perplexities and fear of heart --€@@@their anxious thought is the day of death, @@from the man who sits on a splendid throne €@@@to the one who is humbled in dust and ashes, @@from the man who wears purple and a crown €@@@to the one who is clothed in burlap; @@there is anger and envy and trouble and unrest, €@@@and fear of death, and fury and strife. €@@And when one rests upon his bed, €@@@his sleep at night confuses his mind. @@He gets little or no rest, €@@@and afterward in his sleep, as though he were on watch, €@@he is troubled by the visions of his mind €@@@like one who has escaped from the battle-front; @@at the moment of his rescue he wakes up, €@@@and wonders that his fear came to nothing. @@With all flesh, both man and beast, €@@@and upon sinners seven times more, @@are death and bloodshed and strife and sword, €@@@calamities, famine and affliction and plague. @@All these were created for the wicked, €@@@and on their account the flood came. @@All things that are from the earth turn back to the earth, €@@@and what is from the waters returns to the sea. €@6 @@All bribery and injustice will be blotted out, €@@@but good faith will stand for ever. @@The wealth of the unjust will dry up like a torrent, €@@@and crash like a loud clap of thunder in a rain. @@A generous man will be made glad; €@@@likewise transgressors will utterly fail. @@The children of the ungodly will not put forth many branches; €@@@they are unhealthy roots upon sheer rock. @@The reeds by any water or river bank €@@@will be plucked up before any grass. @@Kindness is like a garden of blessings, €@@@and almsgiving endures for ever. @@Life is sweet for the self-reliant and the worker, €@@@but he who finds treasure is better off than both. @@Children and the building of a city establish a man's name, €@@@but a blameless wife is accounted better than both. @@Wine and music gladden the heart, €@@@but the love of wisdom is better than both. @@The flute and the harp make pleasant melody, €@@@but a pleasant voice is better than both. @@The eye desires grace and beauty, €@@@but the green shoots of grain more than both. @@A friend or a companion never meets one amiss, €@@@but a wife with her husband is better than both. @@Brothers and help are for a time of trouble, €@@@but almsgiving rescues better than both. @@Gold and silver make the foot stand sure, €@@@but good counsel is esteemed more than both. @@Riches and strength lift up the heart, €@@@but the fear of the Lord is better than both. €@@There is no loss in the fear of the Lord, €@@@and with it there is no need to seek for help. @@The fear of the Lord is like a garden of blessing, €@@@and covers a man better than any glory. €@6 @@My son, do not lead the life of a beggar; €@@@it is better to die than to beg. @@When a man looks to the table of another, €@@@his existence cannot be considered as life. €@@He pollutes himself with another man's food, €@@@but a man who is intelligent and well instructed €@@@@guards against that. @@In the mouth of the shameless begging is sweet, €@@@but in his stomach a fire is kindled. €@6  @@O death, how bitter is the reminder of you €@@@to one who lives at peace among his possessions, €@@to a man without distractions, who is prosperous in everything, €@@@and who still has the vigor to enjoy his food! @@O death, how welcome is your sentence €@@@to one who is in need and is failing in strength, €@@very old and distracted over everything; €@@@to one who is contrary, and has lost his patience! @@Do not fear the sentence of death; €@@@remember your former days and the end of life; €@@this is the decree from the Lord for all flesh, @@@and how can you reject the good pleasure of the Most High? €@@Whether life is for ten or a hundred or a thousand years, €@@@there is no inquiry about it in Hades. @@The children of sinners are abominable children, €@@@and they frequent the haunts of the ungodly. @@The inheritance of the children of sinners will perish, €@@@and on their posterity will be a perpetual reproach. @@Children will blame an ungodly father, €@@@for they suffer reproach because of him. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’Ø©˜ˆ@@Woe to you, ungodly men, €@@@who have forsaken the law of the Most High God! @@When you are born, you are born to a curse; €@@@and when you die, a curse is your lot. @@Whatever is from the dust returns to dust; €@@@so the ungodly go from curse to destruction. €@6 @@The mourning of men is about their bodies, €@@@but the evil name of sinners will be blotted out. @@Have regard for your name, since it will remain for €@@@you longer than a thousand great stores of gold. @@The days of a good life are numbered, €@@@but a good name endures for ever. €@6 @@My children, observe instruction and be at peace; €@@hidden wisdom and unseen treasure, €@@@what advantage is there in either of them? @@Better is the man who hides his folly €@@@than the man who hides his wisdom. @@Therefore show respect for my words: €@@For it is good to retain every kind of shame, €@@@and not everything is confidently esteemed by every one. €@6 @@Be ashamed of immorality, before your father or mother; €@@@and of a lie, before a prince or a ruler; @@of a transgression, before a judge or magistrate; €@@@and of iniquity, before a congregation or the people; €@@of unjust dealing, before your partner or friend; @@@and of theft, in the place where you live. €@@Be ashamed before the truth of God and his covenant. €@@@Be ashamed of selfish behavior at meals, €@@of surliness in receiving and giving, @@@and of silence, before those who greet you; €@@of looking at a woman who is a harlot, @@@and of rejecting the appeal of a kinsman; €@@of taking away some one's portion or gift, €@@@and of gazing at another man's wife; @@of meddling with his maidservant --€@@@and do not approach her bed; €@@of abusive words, before friends --€@@@and do not upbraid after making a gift; @@of repeating and telling what you hear, €@@@and of revealing secrets. €@@Then you will show proper shame, €@@@and will find favor with every man. €@6  @@Of the following things do not be ashamed, €@@@and do not let partiality lead you to sin: @@of the law of the Most High and his covenant, €@@@and of rendering judgment to acquit the ungodly; @@of keeping accounts with a partner or with €@@@@traveling companions, €@@@and of dividing the inheritance of friends; @@of accuracy with scales and weights, €@@@and of acquiring much or little; @@of profit from dealing with merchants, €@@@and of much discipline of children, €@@@and of whipping a wicked servant severely. @@Where there is an evil wife, a seal is a good thing; €@@@and where there are many hands, lock things up. @@Whatever you deal out, let it be by number and weight, €@@@and make a record of all that you give out or take in. @@Do not be ashamed to instruct the stupid or foolish €@@@or the aged man who quarrels with the young. €@@Then you will be truly instructed, €@@@and will be approved before all men. €@6 @@A daughter keeps her father secretly wakeful, €@@@and worry over her robs him of sleep; €@@when she is young, lest she do not marry, €@@@or if married, lest she be hated; @@while a virgin, lest she be defiled €@@@or become pregnant in her father's house; €@@or having a husband, lest she prove unfaithful, €@@@or, though married, lest she be barren. @@Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter, €@@@lest she make you a laughingstock to your enemies, €@@a byword in the city and notorious among the people, €@@@and put you to shame before the great multitude. €@6 @@Do not look upon any one for beauty, €@@@and do not sit in the midst of women; @@for from garments comes the moth, €@@@and from a woman comes woman's wickedness. @@Better is the wickedness of a man than a woman who does good; €@@@and it is a woman who brings shame and disgrace. €@6 @@I will now call to mind the works of the Lord, €@@@and will declare what I have seen. €@@By the words of the Lord his works are done. @@The sun looks down on everything with its light, €@@@and the work of the Lord is full of his glory. @@The Lord has not enabled his holy ones €@@@to recount all his marvelous works, €@@which the Lord the Almighty has established €@@@that the universe may stand firm in his glory. @@He searches out the abyss, and the hearts of men, €@@@and considers their crafty devices. €@@For the Most High knows all that may be known, €@@@and he looks into the signs of the age. @@He declares what has been and what is to be, €@@@and he reveals the tracks of hidden things. @@No thought escapes him, €@@@and not one word is hidden from him. @@He has ordained the splendors of his wisdom, €@@@and he is from everlasting and to everlasting. €@@Nothing can be added or taken away, €@@@and he needs no one to be his counselor. @@How greatly to be desired are all his works, €@@@and how sparkling they are to see! @@All these things live and remain for ever €@@@for every need, and are all obedient. @@All things are twofold, one opposite the other, €@@@and he has made nothing incomplete. @@One confirms the good things of the other, €@@@and who can have enough of beholding his glory? €@6  @@The pride of the heavenly heights is the clear firmament, €@@@the appearance of heaven in a spectacle of glory. @@The sun, when it appears, making proclamation as it goes forth, €@@@is a marvelous instrument, the work of the Most High. @@At noon it parches the land; €@@@and who can withstand its burning heat? @@A man tending a furnace works in burning heat, €@@@but the sun burns the mountains three times as much; €@@it breathes out fiery vapors, €@@@and with bright beams it blinds the eyes. @@Great is the Lord who made it; €@@@and at his command it hastens on its course. €@6 @@He made the moon also, to serve in its season €@@@to mark the times and to be an everlasting sign. @@From the moon comes the sign for feast days, €@@@a light that wanes when it has reached the full. @@The month is named for the moon, €@@@increasing marvelously in its phases, €@@an instrument of the hosts on high €@@@shining forth in the firmament of heaven. €@6 @@The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven, €@@@a gleaming array in the heights of the Lord. @@At the command of the Holy One they stand as ordered, €@@@they never relax in their watches. @@Look upon the rainbow, and praise him who made it, €@@@exceedingly beautiful in its brightness. @@It encircles the heaven with its glorious arc; €@@@the hands of the Most High have stretched it out. @@By his command he sends the driving snow €@@@and speeds the lightnings of his judgment. @@Therefore the storehouses are opened, €@@@and the clouds fly forth like birds. @@In his majesty he amasses the clouds, €@@@and the hailstones are broken in pieces. @@At his appearing the mountains are shaken; €@@@at his will the south wind blows. @@The voice of his thunder rebukes the earth; €@@@so do the tempest from the north and the whirlwind. €@@He scatters the snow like birds flying down, €@@@and its descent is like locusts alighting. @@The eye marvels at the beauty of its whiteness, €@@@and the mind is amazed at its falling. @@He pours the hoarfrost upon the earth like salt, €@@@and when it freezes, it becomes pointed thorns. @@The cold north wind blows, €@@@and ice freezes over the water; €@@it rests upon every pool of water, €@@@and the water puts it on like a breastplate. @@He consumes the mountains and burns up the wilderness, €@@@and withers the tender grass like fire. @@A mist quickly heals all things; €@@@when the dew appears, it refreshes from the heat. €@6 @@By his counsel he stilled the great deep €@@@and planted islands in it. @@Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers, €@@@and we marvel at what we hear. @@for in it are strange and marvelous works, €@@@all kinds of living things, and huge creatures of the sea. @@Because of him his messenger finds the way, €@@@and by his word all things hold together. €@6 @@Though we speak much we cannot reach the end, €@@@and the sum of our words is: "He is the all." @@Where shall we find strength to praise him? €@@@For he is greater than all his works. @@Terrible is the Lord and very great, €@@@and marvelous is his power. @@When you praise the Lord, exalt him as much as you can; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’Ø«˜ž‚@@@for he will surpass even that. €@@When you exalt him, put forth all your strength, €@@@and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough. @@Who has seen him and can describe him? €@@@Or who can extol him as he is? @@Many things greater than these lie hidden, €@@@for we have seen but few of his works. @@For the Lord has made all things, €@@@and to the godly he has granted wisdom. €@6  @@Let us now praise famous men, €@@@and our fathers in their generations. @@The Lord apportioned to them great glory, €@@@his majesty from the beginning. @@There were those who ruled in their kingdoms, €@@@and were men renowned for their power, €@@giving counsel by their understanding, €@@@and proclaiming prophecies; @@leaders of the people in their deliberations €@@@and in understanding of learning for the people, €@@@wise in their words of instruction; @@those who composed musical tunes, €@@@and set forth verses in writing; @@rich men furnished with resources, €@@@living peaceably in their habitations --@@all these were honored in their generations, €@@@and were the glory of their times. @@There are some of them who have left a name, €@@@so that men declare their praise. @@And there are some who have no memorial, €@@@who have perished as though they had not lived; €@@they have become as though they had not been born, €@@@and so have their children after them. @@But these were men of mercy, €@@@whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten; @@their prosperity will remain with their descendants, €@@@and their inheritance to their children's children. @@Their descendants stand by the covenants; €@@@their children also, for their sake. @@Their posterity will continue for ever, €@@@and their glory will not be blotted out. @@Their bodies were buried in peace, €@@@and their name lives to all generations. @@Peoples will declare their wisdom, €@@@and the congregation proclaims their praise. €@6 @@Enoch pleased the Lord, and was taken up; €@@@he was an example of repentance to all generations. €@6 @@Noah was found perfect and righteous; €@@@in the time of wrath he was taken in exchange; €@@therefore a remnant was left to the earth €@@@when the flood came. @@Everlasting covenants were made with him €@@@that all flesh should not be blotted out by a flood. €@6 @@Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, €@@@and no one has been found like him in glory; @@he kept the law of the Most High, €@@@and was taken into covenant with him; €@@he established the covenant in his flesh, €@@@and when he was tested he was found faithful. @@Therefore the Lord assured him by an oath €@@@that the nations would be blessed through his posterity; €@@that he would multiply him like the dust of the earth, €@@@and exalt his posterity like the stars, €@@and cause them to inherit from sea to sea €@@@and from the River to the ends of the earth. @@To Isaac also he gave the same assurance €@@@for the sake of Abraham his father. €@6 @@The blessing of all men and the covenant €@@@he made to rest upon the head of Jacob; €@@he acknowledged him with his blessings, €@@@and gave him his inheritance; €@@he determined his portions, €@@@and distributed them among twelve tribes. €@6  @@From his descendants the Lord brought forth a man of mercy, €@@@who found favor in the sight of all flesh €@@and was beloved by God and man, €@@@Moses, whose memory is blessed. @@He made him equal in glory to the holy ones, €@@@and made him great in the fears of his enemies. @@By his words he caused signs to cease; €@@@the Lord glorified him in the presence of kings. €@@He gave him commands for his people, €@@@and showed him part of his glory. @@He sanctified him through faithfulness and meekness; €@@@he chose him out of all mankind. @@He made him hear his voice, €@@@and led him into the thick darkness, €@@and gave him the commandments face to face, €@@@the law of life and knowledge, €@@to teach Jacob the covenant, €@@@and Israel his judgments. €@6 @@He exalted Aaron, the brother of Moses, €@@@a holy man like him, of the tribe of Levi. @@He made an everlasting covenant with him, €@@@and gave him the priesthood of the people. €@@He blessed him with splendid vestments, €@@@and put a glorious robe upon him. @@He clothed him with superb perfection, €@@@and strengthened him with the symbols of authority, €@@@the linen breeches, the long robe, and the ephod. @@And he encircled him with pomegranates, €@@@with very many golden bells round about, €@@to send forth a sound as he walked, €@@@to make their ringing heard in the temple €@@@as a reminder to the sons of his people; @@with a holy garment, of gold and blue €@@@and purple, the work of an embroiderer; €@@with the oracle of judgment, Urim and Thummim; @@@with twisted scarlet, the work of a craftsman; €@@with precious stones engraved like signets, €@@@in a setting of gold, the work of a jeweler, €@@for a reminder, in engraved letters, €@@@according to the number of the tribes of Israel; @@with a gold crown upon his turban, €@@@inscribed like a signet with "Holiness," €@@a distinction to be prized, the work of an expert, €@@@the delight of the eyes, richly adorned. @@Before his time there never were such beautiful things. €@@@No outsider ever put them on, €@@but only his sons €@@@and his descendants perpetually. @@His sacrifices shall be wholly burned €@@@twice every day continually. @@Moses ordained him, €@@@and anointed him with holy oil; €@@it was an everlasting covenant for him €@@@and for his descendants all the days of heaven, €@@to minister to the Lord and serve as priest €@@@and bless his people in his name. @@He chose him out of all the living €@@@to offer sacrifice to the Lord, €@@incense and a pleasing odor as a memorial portion, €@@@to make atonement for the people. @@In his commandments he gave him €@@@authority and statutes and judgments, €@@to teach Jacob the testimonies, €@@@and to enlighten Israel with his law. @@Outsiders conspired against him, €@@@and envied him in the wilderness, €@@Dathan and Abiram and their men €@@@and the company of Korah, in wrath and anger. @@The Lord saw it and was not pleased, €@@@and in the wrath of his anger they were destroyed; €@@he wrought wonders against them €@@@to consume them in flaming fire. @@He added glory to Aaron €@@@and gave him a heritage; €@@he allotted to him the first of the first fruits, €@@@he prepared bread of first fruits in abundance; @@for they eat the sacrifices to the Lord, €@@@which he gave to him and his descendants. @@But in the land of the people he has no inheritance, €@@@and he has no portion among the people; €@@@for the Lord himself is his portion and inheritance. €@6 @@Phinehas the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, €@@@for he was zealous in the fear of the Lord, €@@and stood fast, when the people turned away, €@@@in the ready goodness of his soul, €@@@and made atonement for Israel. @@Therefore a covenant of peace was established with him, €@@@that he should be leader of the sanctuary and of his people, €@@that he and his descendants should have €@@@the dignity of the priesthood for ever. @@A covenant was also established with David, €@@@the son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah: €@@the heritage of the king is from son to son only; €@@@so the heritage of Aaron is for his descendants. @@May the Lord grant you wisdom in your heart €@@@to judge his people in righteousness, €@@so that their prosperity may not vanish, €@@@and that their glory may endure throughout their generations. €@6  @@Joshua the son of Nun was mighty in war, €@@@and was the successor of Moses in prophesying. €@@He became, in accordance with his name, €@@@a great savior of God's elect, €@@to take vengeance on the enemies that rose against them, €@@@so that he might give Israel its inheritance. @@How glorious he was when he lifted his hands €@@@and stretched out his sword against the cities! @@Who before him ever stood so firm? €@@@For he waged the wars of the Lord. @@Was not the sun held back by his hand? €@@@And did not one day become as long as two? @@He called upon the Most High, the Mighty One, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’Ø®•‚@@@when enemies pressed him on every side, @@and the great Lord answered him €@@@with hailstones of mighty power. €@@He hurled down war upon that nation, €@@@and at the descent of Beth-horon he destroyed €@@@@those who resisted, €@@so that the nations might know his armament, €@@@that he was fighting in the sight of the Lord; €@@@for he wholly followed the Mighty One. @@And in the days of Moses he did a loyal deed, €@@@he and Caleb the son of Jephunneh: €@@they withstood the congregation, €@@@restrained the people from sin, €@@@and stilled their wicked murmuring. @@And these two alone were preserved €@@@out of six hundred thousand people on foot, €@@to bring them into their inheritance, €@@@into a land flowing with milk and honey. @@And the Lord gave Caleb strength, €@@@which remained with him to old age, €@@so that he went up to the hill country, €@@@and his children obtained it for an inheritance; @@so that all the sons of Israel might see €@@@that it is good to follow the Lord. €@6 @@The judges also, with their respective names, €@@@those whose hearts did not fall into idolatry €@@and who did not turn away from the Lord --€@@@may their memory be blessed! @@May their bones revive from where they lie, €@@@and may the name of those who have been honored €@@@live again in their sons! €@6 @@Samuel, beloved by his Lord, €@@@a prophet of the Lord, established the kingdom €@@@and anointed rulers over his people. @@By the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, €@@@and the Lord watched over Jacob. @@By his faithfulness he was proved to be a prophet, €@@@and by his words he became known as a trustworthy seer. @@He called upon the Lord, the Mighty One, €@@@when his enemies pressed him on every side, €@@@and he offered in sacrifice a sucking lamb. @@Then the Lord thundered from heaven, €@@@and made his voice heard with a mighty sound; @@and he wiped out the leaders of the people of Tyre €@@@and all the rulers of the Philistines. @@Before the time of his eternal sleep, €@@@Samuel called men to witness before the Lord and his anointed: €@@"I have not taken any one's property, €@@@not so much as a pair of shoes." €@@@And no man accused him. @@Even after he had fallen asleep he prophesied €@@@and revealed to the king his death, €@@and lifted up his voice out of the earth in prophecy, €@@@to blot out the wickedness of the people. €@6  @@And after him Nathan rose up €@@@to prophesy in the days of David. @@As the fat is selected from the peace offering, €@@@so David was selected from the sons of Israel. @@He played with lions as with young goats, €@@@and with bears as with lambs of the flock. @@In his youth did he not kill a giant, €@@@and take away reproach from the people, €@@when he lifted his hand with a stone in the sling €@@@and struck down the boasting of Goliath? @@For he appealed to the Lord, the Most High, €@@@and he gave him strength in his right hand €@@to slay a man mighty in war, €@@@to exalt the power of his people. @@So they glorified him for his ten thousands, €@@@and praised him for the blessings of the Lord, €@@@when the glorious diadem was bestowed upon him. @@For he wiped out his enemies on every side, €@@@and annihilated his adversaries the Philistines; €@@@he crushed their power even to this day. @@In all that he did he gave thanks €@@@to the Holy One, the Most High, with ascriptions of glory; €@@he sang praise with all his heart, €@@@and he loved his Maker. @@He placed singers before the altar, €@@@to make sweet melody with their voices. @@He gave beauty to the feasts, €@@@and arranged their times throughout the year, €@@while they praised God's holy name, €@@@and the sanctuary resounded from early morning. @@The Lord took away his sins, €@@@and exalted his power for ever; €@@he gave him the covenant of kings €@@@and a throne of glory in Israel. €@6 @@After him rose up a wise son €@@@who fared amply because of him; @@Solomon reigned in days of peace, €@@@and God gave him rest on every side, €@@that he might build a house for his name €@@@and prepare a sanctuary to stand for ever. @@How wise you became in your youth! €@@@You overflowed like a river with understanding. @@Your soul covered the earth, €@@@and you filled it with parables and riddles. @@Your name reached to far-off islands, €@@@and you were loved for your peace. @@For your songs and proverbs and parables, €@@@and for your interpretations, the countries marveled at you. @@In the name of the Lord God, €@@@who is called the God of Israel, €@@you gathered gold like tin €@@@and amassed silver like lead. @@But you laid your loins beside women, €@@@and through your body you were brought into subjection. @@You put stain upon your honor, €@@@and defiled your posterity, €@@so that you brought wrath upon your children €@@@and they were grieved at your folly, @@so that the sovereignty was divided €@@@and a disobedient kingdom arose out of Ephraim. @@But the Lord will never give up his mercy, €@@@nor cause any of his works to perish; €@@he will never blot out the descendants of his chosen one, €@@@nor destroy the posterity of him who loved him; €@@so he gave a remnant to Jacob, €@@@and to David a root of his stock. €@6 @@Solomon rested with his fathers, €@@@and left behind him one of his sons, €@@ample in folly and lacking in understanding, €@@@Rehoboam, whose policy caused the people to revolt. €@@Also Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin €@@@and gave to Ephraim a sinful way. @@Their sins became exceedingly many, €@@@so as to remove them from their land. @@For they sought out every sort of wickedness, €@@@till vengeance came upon them. €@6  @@Then the prophet Elijah arose like a fire, €@@@and his word burned like a torch. @@He brought a famine upon them, €@@@and by his zeal he made them few in number. @@By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens, €@@@and also three times brought down fire. @@How glorious you were, O Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! €@@@And who has the right to boast which you have? @@You who raised a corpse from death €@@@and from Hades, by the word of the Most High; @@who brought kings down to destruction, €@@@and famous men from their beds; @@who heard rebuke at Sinai €@@@and judgments of vengeance at Horeb; @@who anointed kings to inflict retribution, €@@@and prophets to succeed you. @@You who were taken up by a whirlwind of fire, €@@@in a chariot with horses of fire; @@you who are ready at the appointed time, it is written, €@@@to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury, €@@to turn the heart of the father to the son, €@@@and to restore the tribes of Jacob. @@Blessed are those who saw you, €@@@and those who have been adorned in love; €@@@for we also shall surely live. €@6 @@It was Elijah who was covered by the whirlwind, €@@@and Elisha was filled with his spirit; €@@in all his days he did not tremble before any ruler, €@@@and no one brought him into subjection. @@Nothing was too hard for him, €@@@and when he was dead his body prophesied. @@As in his life he did wonders, €@@@so in death his deeds were marvelous. €@6 @@For all this the people did not repent, €@@@and they did not forsake their sins, €@@till they were carried away captive from their land €@@@and were scattered over all the earth; €@@the people were left very few in number, €@@@but with rulers from the house of David. @@Some of them did what was pleasing to God, €@@@but others multiplied sins. €@6 @@Hezekiah fortified his city, €@@@and brought water into the midst of it; €@@he tunneled the sheer rock with iron €@@@and built pools for water. @@In his days Sennacherib came up, €@@@and sent the Rabshakeh; €@@he lifted up his hand against Zion €@@@and made great boasts in his arrogance. @@Then their hearts were shaken and their hands trembled, €@@@and they were in anguish, like women in travail. @@But they called upon the Lord who is merciful, €@@@spreading forth their hands toward him; €@@and the Holy One quickly heard them from heaven, €@@@and delivered them by the hand of Isaiah. @@The Lord smote the camp of the Assyrians, €@@@and his angel wiped them out. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’Ø°˜–@@For Hezekiah did what was pleasing to the Lord, €@@@and he held strongly to the ways of David his father, €@@which Isaiah the prophet commanded, €@@@who was great and faithful in his vision. @@In his days the sun went backward, €@@@and he lengthened the life of the king. @@By the spirit of might he saw the last things, €@@@and comforted those who mourned in Zion. @@He revealed what was to occur to the end of time, €@@@and the hidden things before they came to pass. €@6  @@The memory of Josiah is like a blending of incense €@@@prepared by the art of the perfumer; €@@it is sweet as honey to every mouth, €@@@and like music at a banquet of wine. @@He was led aright in converting the people, €@@@and took away the abominations of iniquity. @@He set his heart upon the Lord; €@@@in the days of wicked men he strengthened godliness. €@6 @@Except David and Hezekiah and Josiah €@@@they all sinned greatly, €@@for they forsook the law of the Most High; €@@@the kings of Judah came to an end; @@for they gave their power to others, €@@@and their glory to a foreign nation, @@who set fire to the chosen city of the sanctuary, €@@@and made her streets desolate, €@@@according to the word of Jeremiah. @@For they had afflicted him; €@@@yet he had been consecrated in the womb as prophet, €@@to pluck up and afflict and destroy, €@@@and likewise to build and to plant. €@6 @@It was Ezekiel who saw the vision of glory €@@@which God showed him above the chariot of the cherubim. @@For God remembered his enemies with storm, €@@@and did good to those who directed their ways aright. €@6 @@May the bones of the twelve prophets €@@@revive from where they lie, €@@for they comforted the people of Jacob €@@@and delivered them with confident hope. €@6 @@How shall we magnify Zerubbabel? €@@@He was like a signet on the right hand, @@@and so was Jeshua the son of Jozadak; €@@in their days they built the house €@@@and raised a temple holy to the Lord, €@@@prepared for everlasting glory. @@The memory of Nehemiah also is lasting; €@@@he raised for us the walls that had fallen, €@@and set up the gates and bars €@@@and rebuilt our ruined houses. €@6 @@No one like Enoch has been created on earth, €@@@for he was taken up from the earth. @@And no man like Joseph has been born, €@@@and his bones are cared for. @@Shem and Seth were honored among men, €@@@and Adam above every living being in the creation. €@6  @@The leader of his brethren and the pride of his people €@@@was Simon the high priest, son of Onias, €@@who in his life repaired the house, €@@@and in his time fortified the temple. @@He laid the foundations for the high double walls, €@@@the high retaining walls for the temple enclosure. @@In his days a cistern for water was quarried out, €@@@a reservoir like the sea in circumference. @@He considered how to save his people from ruin, €@@@and fortified the city to withstand a seige. @@How glorious he was when the people gathered round him €@@@as he came out of the inner sanctuary! @@Like the morning star among the clouds, €@@@like the moon when it is full; @@like the sun shining upon the temple of the Most High, €@@@and like the rainbow gleaming in glorious clouds; @@like roses in the days of the first fruits, €@@@like lilies by a spring of water, €@@@like a green shoot on Lebanon on a summer day; @@like fire and incense in the censer, €@@@like a vessel of hammered gold €@@@adorned with all kinds of precious stones; @@like an olive tree putting forth its fruit, €@@@and like a cypress towering in the clouds. @@When he put on his glorious robe €@@@and clothed himself with superb perfection €@@and went up to the holy altar, €@@@he made the court of the sanctuary glorious. @@And when he received the portions from the €@@@@hands of the priests, €@@@as he stood by the hearth of the altar €@@with a garland of brethren around him, €@@@he was like a young cedar on Lebanon; €@@and they surrounded him like the trunks of palm trees, @@@all the sons of Aaron in their splendor €@@with the Lord's offering in their hands, €@@@before the whole congregation of Israel. @@Finishing the service at the altars, €@@@and arranging the offering to the Most High, the Almighty, @@he reached out his hand to the cup €@@@and poured a libation of the blood of the grape; €@@he poured it out at the foot of the altar, €@@@a pleasing odor to the Most High, the King of all. @@Then the sons of Aaron shouted, €@@@they sounded the trumpets of hammered work, €@@they made a great noise to be heard €@@@for remembrance before the Most High. @@Then all the people together made haste €@@@and fell to the ground upon their faces €@@to worship their Lord, €@@@the Almighty, God Most High. @@And the singers praised him with their voices €@@@in sweet and full-toned melody. @@And the people besought the Lord Most High €@@@in prayer before him who is merciful, €@@till the order of worship of the Lord was ended; €@@@so they completed his service. @@Then Simon came down, and lifted up his hands €@@@over the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, €@@to pronounce the blessing of the Lord with his lips, €@@@and to glory in his name; @@and they bowed down in worship a second time, €@@@to receive the blessing from the Most High. €@6 @@And now bless the God of all, €@@@who in every way does great things; €@@who exalts our days from birth, €@@@and deals with us according to his mercy. @@May he give us gladness of heart, €@@@and grant that peace may be in our days in Israel, €@@@as in the days of old. @@May he entrust to us his mercy! €@@@And let him deliver us in our days! €@6 @@With two nations my soul is vexed, €@@@and the third is no nation: @@Those who live on Mount Seir, and the Philistines, €@@@and the foolish people that dwell in Shechem. €@6 @@Instruction in understanding and knowledge €@@@I have written in this book, €@@Jesus the son of Sirach, son of Eleazar, of Jerusalem, €@@@who out of his heart poured forth wisdom. @@Blessed is he who concerns himself with these things, €@@@and he who lays them to heart will become wise. @@For if he does them, he will be strong for all things, €@@@for the light of the Lord is his path. €@6  @@I will give thanks to thee, O Lord and King, €@@@and will praise thee as God my Savior. €@@I give thanks to thy name, @@@for thou hast been my protector and helper €@@and hast delivered my body from destruction €@@@and from the snare of a slanderous tongue, €@@@from lips that utter lies. €@@Before those who stood by €@@@thou wast my helper, @@and didst deliver me, €@@@in the greatness of thy mercy and of thy name, €@@from the gnashings of teeth about to devour me, €@@@from the hand of those who sought my life, €@@@from the many afflictions that I endured, @@from choking fire on every side €@@@and from the midst of fire which I did not kindle, @@from the depths of the belly of Hades, €@@@from an unclean tongue and lying words --@@@the slander of an unrighteous tongue to the king. €@@My soul drew near to death, €@@@and my life was very near to Hades beneath. @@They surrounded me on every side, €@@@and there was no one to help me; €@@I looked for the assistance of men, €@@@and there was none. @@Then I remembered thy mercy, O Lord, €@@@and thy work from of old, €@@that thou dost deliver those who wait for thee €@@@and dost save them from the hand of their enemies. @@And I sent up my supplication from the earth, €@@@and prayed for deliverance from death. @@I appealed to the Lord, the Father of my lord, €@@@not to forsake me in the days of affliction, €@@@at the time when there is no help against the proud. @@I will praise thy name continually, €@@@and will sing praise with thanksgiving. €@@My prayer was heard, @@@for thou didst save me from destruction €@@@and rescue me from an evil plight. €@@Therefore I will give thanks to thee and praise thee, €@@@and I will bless the name of the Lord. €@6 @@While I was still young, before I went on my travels, €@@@I sought wisdom openly in my prayer. @@Before the temple I asked for her, €@@@and I will search for her to the last. @@From blossom to ripening grape €@@@my heart delighted in her; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¶’ļ‚Óéņ’س˜ƒ@@my foot entered upon the straight path; €@@@from my youth I followed her steps. @@I inclined my ear a little and received her, €@@@and I found for myself much instruction. @@I made progress therein; €@@@to him who gives wisdom I will give glory. @@For I resolved to live according to wisdom, €@@@and I was zealous for the good; €@@@and I shall never be put to shame. @@My soul grappled with wisdom, €@@@and in my conduct I was strict; €@@I spread out my hands to the heavens, €@@@and lamented my ignorance of her. @@I directed my soul to her, €@@@and through purification I found her. €@@I gained understanding with her from the first, €@@@therefore I will not be forsaken. @@My heart was stirred to seek her, €@@@therefore I have gained a good possession. @@The Lord gave me a tongue as my reward, €@@@and I will praise him with it. €@6 @@Draw near to me, you who are untaught, €@@@and lodge in my school. @@Why do you say you are lacking in these things, €@@@and why are your souls very thirsty? @@I opened my mouth and said, €@@@Get these things for yourselves without money. @@Put your neck under the yoke, €@@@and let your souls receive instruction; €@@@it is to be found close by. @@See with your eyes that I have labored little €@@@and found myself much rest. @@Get instruction with a large sum of silver, €@@@and you will gain by it much gold. @@May your soul rejoice in his mercy, €@@@and may you not be put to shame when you praise him. @@Do your work before the appointed time, €@@@and in God's time he will give you your reward. ąļ‚Āįņ’”These are the words of the book which Baruch the son of Neraiah, son of €Mahseiah, son of Zedekiah, son of Hasadiah, son of Hilkiah, wrote in €Babylon, in the fifth year, on the seventh day of the month, at the time when €the Chaldeans took Jerusalem and burned it with fire. And Baruch read the words of this book in the hearing of Jeconiah the €son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and in the hearing of all the people €who came to hear the book, and in the hearing of the mighty men and the princes, and in the €hearing of the elders, and in the hearing of all the people, small and €great, all who dwelt in Babylon by the river Sud. @Then they wept, and fasted, and prayed before the Lord; and they collected money, each giving what he could; and they sent it to Jerusalem to Jehoiakim the high priest, the son of €Hilkiah, son of Shallum, and to the priests, and to all the people who €were present with him in Jerusalem. At the same time, on the tenth day of Sivan, Baruch took the vessels of €the house of the Lord, which had been carried away from the temple, to €return them to the land of Judah -- the silver vessels which Zedekiah the €son of Josiah, king of Judah, had made, after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away from Jerusalem €Jeconiah and the princes and the prisoners and the mighty men and the €people of the land, and brought them to Babylon. @And they said: "Herewith we send you money; so buy with the money €burnt offerings and sin offerings and incense, and prepare a cereal €offering, and offer them upon the altar of the Lord our God; and pray for the life of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and for the €life of Belshazzar his son, that their days on earth may be like the €days of heaven. And the Lord will give us strength, and he will give light to our eyes, €and we shall live under the protection of Nebuchadnezzar king of €Babylon, and under the protection of Belshazzar his son, and we shall €serve them many days and find favor in their sight. And pray for us to the Lord our God, for we have sinned against the €Lord our God, and to this day the anger of the Lord and his wrath have €not turned away from us. And you shall read this book which we are sending you, to make your €confession in the house of the Lord on the days of the feasts and at €appointed seasons. @"And you shall say: `Righteousness belongs to the Lord our God, but €confusion of face, as at this day, to us, to the men of Judah, to the €inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to our kings and our princes and our priests and our prophets and €our fathers, because we have sinned before the Lord, and have disobeyed him, and have not heeded the voice of the Lord our €God, to walk in the statutes of the Lord which he set before us. From the day when the Lord brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt €until today, we have been disobedient to the Lord our God, and we have €been negligent, in not heeding his voice. So to this day there have clung to us the calamities and the curse €which the Lord declared through Moses his servant at the time when he €brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt to give to us a land €flowing with milk and honey. We did not heed the voice of the Lord our God in all the words of the €prophets whom he sent to us, but we each followed the intent of his own €wicked heart by serving other gods and doing what is evil in the sight €of the Lord our God.  @"`So the Lord confirmed his word, which he spoke against us, and €against our judges who judged Israel, and against our kings and against €our princes and against the men of Israel and Judah. Under the whole heaven there has not been done the like of what he has €done in Jerusalem, in accordance with what is written in the law of €Moses, that we should eat, one the flesh of his son and another the flesh of €his daughter. And he gave them into subjection to all the kingdoms around us, to be a €reproach and a desolation among all the surrounding peoples, where the €Lord has scattered them. They were brought low and not raised up, because we sinned against the €Lord our God, in not heeding his voice. @"`Righteousness belongs to the Lord our God, but confusion of face to €us and our fathers, as at this day. All those calamities with which the Lord threatened us have come upon €us. Yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord by turning away, each €of us, from the thoughts of his wicked heart. And the Lord has kept the calamities ready, and the Lord has brought €them upon us, for the Lord is righteous in all his works which he has €commanded us to do. Yet we have not obeyed his voice, to walk in the statutes of the Lord €which he set before us. @"`And now, O Lord God of Israel, who didst bring thy people out of €the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and with signs and wonders and €with great power and outstretched arm, and hast made thee a name, as at €this day, we have sinned, we have been ungodly, we have done wrong, O Lord our €God, against all thy ordinances. Let thy anger turn away from us, for we are left, few in number, among €the nations where thou hast scattered us. Hear, O Lord, our prayer and our supplication, and for thy own sake €deliver us, and grant us favor in the sight of those who have carried €us into exile; that all the earth may know that thou art the Lord our God, for Israel €and his descendants are called by thy name. O Lord, look down from thy holy habitation, and consider us. Incline €thy ear, O Lord, and hear; open thy eyes, O Lord, and see; for the dead who are in Hades, whose €spirit has been taken from their bodies, will not ascribe glory or €justice to the Lord, but the person that is greatly distressed, that goes about bent over €and feeble, and the eyes that are failing, and the person that hungers, €will ascribe to thee glory and righteousness, O Lord. For it is not because of any righteous deeds of our fathers or our €kings that we bring before thee our prayer for mercy, O Lord our God. For thou hast sent thy anger and thy wrath upon us, as thou didst €declare by thy servants the prophets, saying: "Thus says the Lord: Bend your shoulders and serve the king of Babylon, €and you will remain in the land which I gave to your fathers. But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord and will not serve the €king of Babylon, I will make to cease from the cities of Judah and from the region about €Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of €the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, and the whole land will be a €desolation without inhabitants." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“·’ļ‚Āįņ’¢˜˜@"`But we did not obey thy voice, to serve the king of Babylon; and €thou hast confirmed thy words, which thou didst speak by thy servants €the prophets, that the bones of our kings and the bones of our fathers €would be brought out of their graves; and behold, they have been cast out to the heat of day and the frost of €night. They perished in great misery, by famine and sword and €pestilence. And the house which is called by thy name thou hast made as it is €today, because of the wickedness of the house of Israel and the house €of Judah. @"`Yet thou hast dealt with us, O Lord our God, in all thy kindness €and in all thy great compassion, as thou didst speak by thy servant Moses on the day when thou didst €command him to write thy law in the presence of the people of Israel, €saying, "If you will not obey my voice, this very great multitude will surely €turn into a small number among the nations, where I will scatter them. For I know that they will not obey me, for they are a stiff-necked €people. But in the land of their exile they will come to themselves, and they will know that I am the Lord their God. I will give them a €heart that obeys and ears that hear; and they will praise me in the land of their exile, and will remember €my name, and will turn from their stubbornness and their wicked deeds; for they €will remember the ways of their fathers, who sinned before the Lord. I will bring them again into the land which I swore to give to their €fathers, to Abraham and to Isaac and to Jacob, and they will rule over €it; and I will increase them, and they will not be diminished. I will make an everlasting covenant with them to be their God and they €shall be my people; and I will never again remove my people Israel from €the land which I have given them."  @"`O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, the soul in anguish and the wearied €spirit cry out to thee. Hear, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned before thee. For thou art enthroned for ever, and we are perishing for ever. O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, hear now the prayer of the dead of €Israel and of the sons of those who sinned before thee, who did not €heed the voice of the Lord their God, so that calamities have clung to €us. Remember not the iniquities of our fathers, but in this crisis remember €thy power and thy name. For thou art the Lord our God, and thee, O Lord, will we praise. For thou hast put the fear of thee in our hearts in order that we €should call upon thy name; and we will praise thee in our exile, for we €have put away from our hearts all the iniquity of our fathers who €sinned before thee. Behold, we are today in our exile where thou hast scattered us, to be €reproached and cursed and punished for all the iniquities of our €fathers who forsook the Lord our God.'" €@6 @@Hear the commandments of life, O Israel; €@@@give ear, and learn wisdom! @@Why is it, O Israel, why is it that you are €@@@@in the land of your enemies, €@@@that you are growing old in a foreign country, €@@that you are defiled with the dead, @@@that you are counted among those in Hades? @@You have forsaken the fountain of wisdom. @@If you had walked in the way of God, €@@@you would be dwelling in peace for ever. @@Learn where there is wisdom, €@@@where there is strength, €@@@where there is understanding, €@@that you may at the same time discern €@@@where there is length of days, and life, €@@@where there is light for the eyes, and peace. €@6 @@Who has found her place? €@@@And who has entered her storehouses? @@Where are the princes of the nations, €@@@and those who rule over the beasts on earth; @@those who have sport with the birds of the air, €@@@and who hoard up silver and gold, €@@in which men trust, €@@@and there is no end to their getting; @@those who scheme to get silver, and are anxious, €@@@whose labors are beyond measure? @@They have vanished and gone down to Hades, €@@@and others have arisen in their place. €@6 @@Young men have seen the light of day, €@@@and have dwelt upon the earth; €@@but they have not learned the way to knowledge, €@@@nor understood her paths, €@@@nor laid hold of her. @@Their sons have strayed far from her way. @@She has not been heard of in Canaan, €@@@nor seen in Teman; @@the sons of Hagar, who seek for understanding on the earth, €@@@the merchants of Merran and Teman, €@@@the story-tellers and the seekers for understanding, €@@have not learned the way to wisdom, €@@@nor given thought to her paths. €@6 @@O Israel, how great is the house of God! €@@@And how vast the territory that he possesses! @@It is great and has no bounds; €@@@it is high and immeasurable. @@The giants were born there, who were famous of old, €@@@great in stature, expert in war. @@God did not choose them, €@@@nor give them the way to knowledge; @@so they perished because they had no wisdom, €@@@they perished through their folly. €@6 @@Who has gone up into heaven, and taken her, €@@@and brought her down from the clouds? @@Who has gone over the sea, and found her, €@@@and will buy her for pure gold? @@No one knows the way to her, €@@@or is concerned about the path to her. @@But he who knows all things knows her, €@@@he found her by his understanding. €@@He who prepared the earth for all time €@@@filled it with four-footed creatures; @@he who sends forth the light, and it goes, €@@@called it, and it obeyed him in fear; @@the stars shone in their watches, and were glad; €@@@he called them, and they said, "Here we are!" €@@@They shone with gladness for him who made them. @@This is our God; €@@@no other can be compared to him! @@He found the whole way to knowledge, €@@@and gave her to Jacob his servant €@@@and to Israel whom he loved. @@Afterward she appeared upon earth €@@@and lived among men. €@6  @@She is the book of the commandments of God, €@@@and the law that endures for ever. €@@All who hold her fast will live, €@@@and those who forsake her will die. @@Turn, O Jacob, and take her; €@@@walk toward the shining of her light. @@Do not give your glory to another, €@@@or your advantages to an alien people. @@Happy are we, O Israel, €@@@for we know what is pleasing to God. €@6 @@Take courage, my people, €@@@O memorial of Israel! @@It was not for destruction €@@@that you were sold to the nations, €@@but you were handed over to your enemies €@@@because you angered God. @@For you provoked him who made you, €@@@by sacrificing to demons and not to God. @@You forgot the everlasting God, who brought you up, €@@@and you grieved Jerusalem, who reared you. @@For she saw the wrath that came upon you from God, €@@@and she said: €@@"Hearken, you neighbors of Zion, €@@@God has brought great sorrow upon me; @@for I have seen the captivity of my sons and daughters, €@@@which the Everlasting brought upon them. @@With joy I nurtured them, €@@@but I sent them away with weeping and sorrow. @@Let no one rejoice over me, a widow €@@@and bereaved of many; €@@I was left desolate because of the sins of my children, €@@@because they turned away from the law of God. @@They had no regard for his statutes; €@@@they did not walk in the ways of God's commandments, €@@@nor tread the paths of discipline in his righteousness. @@Let the neighbors of Zion come; €@@@remember the capture of my sons and daughters, €@@@which the Everlasting brought upon them. @@For he brought against them a nation from afar, €@@@a shameless nation, of a strange language, €@@who had no respect for an old man, €@@@and had no pity for a child. @@They led away the widow's beloved sons, €@@@and bereaved the lonely woman of her daughters. @@"But I, how can I help you? @@For he who brought these calamities upon you €@@@will deliver you from the hand of your enemies. @@Go, my children, go; €@@@for I have been left desolate. @@I have taken off the robe of peace €@@@and put on the sackcloth of my supplication; €@@@I will cry to the Everlasting all my days. €@6 @@"Take courage, my children, cry to God, €@@@and he will deliver you from the power and hand of the enemy. @@For I have put my hope in the Everlasting to save you, €@@@and joy has come to me from the Holy One, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“·’ļ‚Āįņ’¤˜–ƒ@@because of the mercy which soon will come to you €@@@from your everlasting Savior. @@For I sent you out with sorrow and weeping, €@@@but God will give you back to me with joy €@@@@and gladness for ever. @@For as the neighbors of Zion have now seen your capture, €@@@so they soon will see your salvation by God, €@@which will come to you with great glory €@@@and with the splendor of the Everlasting. @@My children, endure with patience the wrath €@@@@that has come upon you from God. €@@Your enemy has overtaken you, €@@@but you will soon see their destruction €@@@and will tread upon their necks. @@My tender sons have traveled rough roads; €@@@they were taken away like a flock carried off by the enemy. €@6 @@"Take courage, my children, and cry to God, €@@@for you will be remembered by him who brought this upon you. @@For just as you purposed to go astray from God, €@@@return with tenfold zeal to seek him. @@For he who brought these calamities upon you €@@@will bring you everlasting joy with your salvation." €@6 @@Take courage, O Jerusalem, €@@@for he who named you will comfort you. @@Wretched will be those who afflicted you €@@@and rejoiced at your fall. @@Wretched will be the cities which your children €@@@@served as slaves; €@@@wretched will be the city which received your sons. @@For just as she rejoiced at your fall €@@@and was glad for your ruin, €@@@so she will be grieved at her own desolation. @@And I will take away her pride in her great population, €@@@and her insolence will be turned to grief. @@For fire will come upon her from the Everlasting for many days, €@@@and for a long time she will be inhabited by demons. €@6 @@Look toward the east, O Jerusalem, €@@@and see the joy that is coming to you from God! @@Behold, your sons are coming, whom you sent away; €@@@they are coming, gathered from east and west, €@@at the word of the Holy One, €@@@rejoicing in the glory of God. €@6  @@Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, €@@@@O Jerusalem, €@@@and put on for ever the beauty of the glory from God. @@Put on the robe of the righteousness from God; €@@@put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting. @@For God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven. @@For your name will for ever be called by God, €@@@"Peace of righteousness and glory of godliness." €@6 @@Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height €@@@and look toward the east, €@@and see your children gathered from west and east, €@@@at the word of the Holy One, €@@@rejoicing that God has remembered them. @@For they went forth from you on foot, €@@@led away by their enemies; €@@but God will bring them back to you, €@@@carried in glory, as on a royal throne. @@For God has ordered that every high mountain €@@@@and the everlasting hills be made low €@@@and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, €@@@so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God. @@The woods and every fragrant tree €@@@have shaded Israel at God's command. @@For God will lead Israel with joy, €@@@in the light of his glory, €@@@with the mercy and righteousness that come from him. ąļ‚ÅšŹåņ’¦A copy of a letter which Jeremiah sent to those who were to be taken to €Babylon as captives by the king of the Babylonians, to give them the €message which God had commanded him. @Because of the sins which you have committed before God, you will be €taken to Babylon as captives by Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonians. Therefore when you have come to Babylon you will remain there for many €years, for a long time, up to seven generations; after that I will €bring you away from there in peace. Now in Babylon you will see gods made of silver and gold and wood, €which are carried on men's shoulders and inspire fear in the heathen. So take care not to become at all like the foreigners or to let fear €for these gods possess you, when you see the multitude before and €behind them worshiping them. But say in your heart, "It is thou, O Lord, whom we must worship." For my angel is with you, and he is watching your lives. @Their tongues are smoothed by the craftsman, and they themselves are €overlaid with gold and silver; but they are false and cannot speak. People take gold and make crowns for the heads of their gods, as they €would for a girl who loves ornaments; and sometimes the priests secretly take gold and silver from their gods €and spend it upon themselves, and even give some of it to the harlots in the brothel. They deck their €gods out with garments like men -- these gods of silver and gold and wood, which cannot save themselves from rust and corrosion. When they have €been dressed in purple robes, their faces are wiped because of the dust from the temple, which is €thick upon them. Like a local ruler the god holds a scepter, though unable to destroy €any one who offends it. It has a dagger in its right hand, and has an axe; but it cannot save €itself from war and robbers. Therefore they evidently are not gods; so do not fear them. @For just as one's dish is useless when it is broken, so are the gods €of the heathen, when they have been set up in the temples. Their eyes €are full of the dust raised by the feet of those who enter. And just as the gates are shut on every side upon a man who has €offended a king, as though he were sentenced to death, so the priests €make their temples secure with doors and locks and bars, in order that €they may not be plundered by robbers. They light lamps, even more than they light for themselves, though €their gods can see none of them. They are just like a beam of the temple, but men say their hearts have €melted, when worms from the earth devour them and their robes. They do €not notice when their faces have been blackened by the smoke of the temple. Bats, swallows, and birds light on their bodies and heads; and so do €cats. From this you will know that they are not gods; so do not fear them. @As for the gold which they wear for beauty -- they will not shine €unless some one wipes off the rust; for even when they were being cast, €they had no feeling. They are bought at any cost, but there is no breath in them. Having no feet, they are carried on men's shoulders, revealing to €mankind their worthlessness. And those who serve them are ashamed because through them these gods €are made to stand, lest they fall to the ground. If any one sets one of €them upright, it cannot move itself; and if it is tipped over, it €cannot straighten itself; but gifts are placed before them just as €before the dead. The priests sell the sacrifices that are offered to these gods and use €the money; and likewise their wives preserve some with salt, but give €none to the poor or helpless. Sacrifices to them may be touched by women in menstruation or at €childbirth. Since you know by these things that they are not gods, do €not fear them. @For why should they be called gods? Women serve meals for gods of €silver and gold and wood; and in their temples the priests sit with their clothes rent, their €heads and beards shaved, and their heads uncovered. They howl and shout before their gods as some do at a funeral feast for €a man who has died. The priests take some of the clothing of their gods to clothe their €wives and children. Whether one does evil to them or good, they will not be able to repay €it. They cannot set up a king or depose one. Likewise they are not able to give either wealth or money; if one makes €a vow to them and does not keep it, they will not require it. They cannot save a man from death or rescue the weak from the strong. They cannot restore sight to a blind man; they cannot rescue a man who €is in distress. They cannot take pity on a widow or do good to an orphan. These things that are made of wood and overlaid with gold and silver €are like stones from the mountain, and those who serve them will be put €to shame. Why then must any one think that they are gods, or call them gods? €@Besides, even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them; for when they see a dumb man, who cannot speak, they bring him and pray €Bel that the man may speak, as though Bel were able to understand. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“ø’ļ‚ÅšŹåņ’¦˜ŖYet they themselves cannot perceive this and abandon them, for they €have no sense. And the women, with cords about them, sit along the passageways, €burning bran for incense; and when one of them is led off by one of the €passers-by and is lain with, she derides the woman next to her, because €she was not as attractive as herself and her cord was not broken. Whatever is done for them is false. Why then must any one think that €they are gods, or call them gods? @They are made by carpenters and goldsmiths; they can be nothing but €what the craftsmen wish them to be. The men that make them will certainly not live very long themselves; €how then can the things that are made by them be gods? They have left only lies and reproach for those who come after. For when war or calamity comes upon them, the priests consult together €as to where they can hide themselves and their gods. How then can one fail to see that these are not gods, for they cannot €save themselves from war or calamity? Since they are made of wood and overlaid with gold and silver, it will €afterward be known that they are false. It will be manifest to all the nations and kings that they are not gods €but the work of men's hands, and that there is no work of God in them. Who then can fail to know that they are not gods? @For they cannot set up a king over a country or give rain to men. They cannot judge their own cause or deliver one who is wronged, for €they have no power; they are like crows between heaven and earth. When fire breaks out in a temple of wooden gods overlaid with gold or €silver, their priests will flee and escape, but the gods will be burnt €in two like beams. Besides, they can offer no resistance to a king or any enemies. Why €then must any one admit or think that they are gods? @Gods made of wood and overlaid with silver and gold are not able to €save themselves from thieves and robbers. Strong men will strip them of their gold and silver and of the robes €they wear, and go off with this booty, and they will not be able to €help themselves. So it is better to be a king who shows his courage, or a household €utensil that serves its owner's need, than to be these false gods; €better even the door of a house that protects its contents, than these €false gods; better also a wooden pillar in a palace, than these false €gods. @For sun and moon and stars, shining and sent forth for service, are €obedient. So also the lightning, when it flashes, is widely seen; and the wind €likewise blows in every land. When God commands the clouds to go over the whole world, they carry out €his command. And the fire sent from above to consume mountains and woods does what €it is ordered. But these idols are not to be compared with them in €appearance or power. Therefore one must not think that they are gods nor call them gods, for €they are not able either to decide a case or to do good to men. Since you know then that they are not gods, do not fear them. For they can neither curse nor bless kings; they cannot show signs in the heavens and among the nations, or shine €like the sun or give light like the moon. The wild beasts are better than they are, for they can flee to cover €and help themselves. So we have no evidence whatever that they are gods; therefore do not €fear them. @Like a scarecrow in a cucumber bed, that guards nothing, so are their €gods of wood, overlaid with gold and silver. In the same way, their gods of wood, overlaid with gold and silver, and €like a thorn bush in a garden, on which every bird sits; or like a dead €body cast out in the darkness. By the purple and linen that rot upon them you will know that they are €not gods; and they will finally themselves be consumed, and be a €reproach in the land. Better therefore is a just man who has no idols, for he will be far €from reproach. ąļ‚ŠņĮśįņ’‘And they walked about in the midst of the flames, singing hymns to God €and blessing the Lord. Then Azariah stood and offered this prayer; in the midst of the fire he €opened his mouth and said: @@"Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, €@@@@and worthy of praise; €@@@and thy name is glorified for ever. @@For thou art just in all that thou hast done to us, €@@@and all thy works are true and thy ways right, €@@@and all thy judgments are truth. @@Thou hast executed true judgments in all that €@@@@thou hast brought upon us €@@@and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers, €@@@for in truth and justice thou hast brought €@@@@all this upon us because of our sins. @@For we have sinfully and lawlessly departed from thee, €@@@and have sinned in all things and have not €@@@@obeyed thy commandments; @@we have not observed them or done them, €@@@as thou hast commanded us that it might go well with us. @@So all that thou hast brought upon us, €@@@and all that thou hast done to us, €@@thou hast done in true judgment. @@Thou hast given us into the hands of lawless €@@@@enemies, most hateful rebels, €@@@and to an unjust king, the most wicked in all the world. @@And now we cannot open our mouths; €@@@shame and disgrace have befallen thy servants and worshipers. @@For thy name's sake do not give us up utterly, €@@@and do not break thy covenant, @@@and do not withdraw thy mercy from us, €@@for the sake of Abraham thy beloved €@@@and for the sake of Isaac thy servant €@@@and Israel thy holy one, @@to whom thou didst promise €@@@to make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven €@@@and as the sand on the shore of the sea. @@For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any nation, €@@@and are brought low this day in all the world €@@@@because of our sins. @@And at this time there is no prince, or prophet, or leader, €@@@no burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, €@@@no place to make an offering before thee or to find mercy. @@Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit €@@@@may we be accepted, €@@@as though it were with burnt offerings of rams and bulls, €@@@and with tens of thousands of fat lambs; @@@such may our sacrifice be in thy sight this day, €@@@and may we wholly follow thee, €@@@for there will be no shame for those who trust in thee. @@And now with all our heart we follow thee, €@@@we fear thee and seek thy face. @@Do not put us to shame, €@@@but deal with us in thy forbearance €@@@and in thy abundant mercy. @@Deliver us in accordance with thy marvelous works, €@@@and give glory to thy name, O Lord! €@@Let all who do harm to thy servants be put to shame; @@@let them be disgraced and deprived of all power and dominion, €@@@and let their strength be broken. @@Let them know that thou art the Lord, the only God, €@@@glorious over the whole world." €@6 @Now the king's servants who threw them in did not cease feeding €the furnace fires with naphtha, pitch, tow, and brush. And the flame streamed out above the furnace forty-nine cubits, and it broke through and burned those of the Chaldeans whom it caught €about the furnace. But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah €and his companions, and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace, and made the midst of the furnace like a moist whistling wind, so that €the fire did not touch them at all or hurt or trouble them. @Then the three, as with one mouth, praised and glorified and blessed €God in the furnace, saying: @@"Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, €@@@and to be praised and highly exalted for ever; @@And blessed is thy glorious, holy name €@@@and to be highly praised and highly exalted for ever; @@Blessed art thou in the temple of thy holy glory €@@@and to be extolled and highly glorified for ever. @@Blessed art thou, who sittest upon cherubim €@@@@and lookest upon the deeps, €@@@and to be praised and highly exalted for ever. @@Blessed art thou upon the throne of thy kingdom €@@@and to be extolled and highly exalted for ever. @@Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven €@@@and to be sung and glorified for ever. €@6 @@"Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, you heavens, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°“¹’ļ‚ŠņĮśįņ’˜¤‚@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, all waters above the heaven, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, all powers, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, sun and moon, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, stars of heaven, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, all rain and dew, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, all winds, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, fire and heat, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, dews and snows, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, nights and days, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, light and darkness, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, ice and cold, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, frosts and snows, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Let the earth bless the Lord; €@@@let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, mountains and hills, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, all things that grow on the earth, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, you springs, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, seas and rivers, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, you whales and all creatures €@@@@that move in the waters, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, all birds of the air, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, all beasts and cattle, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, you sons of men, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, O Israel, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, you servants of the Lord, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. @@Bless the Lord, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, €@@@sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever; €@@for he has rescued us from Hades and saved €@@@@us from the hand of death, €@@@and delivered us from the midst of the burning fiery furnace; €@@@from the midst of the fire he has delivered us. @@Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, €@@@for his mercy endures for ever. @@Bless him, all who worship the Lord, the God of gods, €@@@sing praise to him and give thanks to him, €@@@for his mercy endures for ever." ļ°µ°’ļ‚Óõó’‘There was a man living in Babylon whose name was Joakim. And he took a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, a very €beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord. Her parents were righteous, and had taught their daughter according to €the law of Moses. Joakim was very rich, and had a spacious garden adjoining his house; €and the Jews used to come to him because he was the most honored of €them all. @In that year two elders from the people were appointed as judges. €Concerning them the Lord had said: "Iniquity came forth from Babylon, €from elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people." These men were frequently at Joakim's house, and all who had suits at €law came to them. @When the people departed at noon, Susanna would go into her husband's €garden to walk. The two elders used to see her every day, going in and walking about, €and they began to desire her. And they perverted their minds and turned away their eyes from looking €to Heaven or remembering righteous judgments. Both were overwhelmed with passion for her, but they did not tell each €other of their distress, for they were ashamed to disclose their lustful desire to possess her. And they watched eagerly, day after day, to see her. @They said to each other, "Let us go home, for it is mealtime." And when they went out, they parted from each other. But turning back, €they met again; and when each pressed the other for the reason, they €confessed their lust. And then together they arranged for a time when €they could find her alone. @Once, while they were watching for an opportune day, she went in as €before with only two maids, and wished to bathe in the garden, for it €was very hot. And no one was there except the two elders, who had hid themselves and €were watching her. She said to her maids, "Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the garden €doors so that I may bathe." They did as she said, shut the garden doors, and went out by the side €doors to bring what they had been commanded; and they did not see the €elders, because they were hidden. @When the maids had gone out, the two elders rose and ran to her, and €said: "Look, the garden doors are shut, no one sees us, and we are in love €with you; so give your consent, and lie with us. If you refuse, we will testify against you that a young man was with €you, and this was why you sent your maids away." @Susanna sighed deeply, and said, "I am hemmed in on every side. For €if I do this thing, it is death for me; and if I do not, I shall not €escape your hands. I choose not to do it and to fall into your hands, rather than to sin €in the sight of the Lord." @Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders shouted €against her. And one of them ran and opened the garden doors. When the household servants heard the shouting in the garden, they €rushed in at the side door to see what had happened to her. And when the elders told their tale, the servants were greatly ashamed, €for nothing like this had ever been said about Susanna. @The next day, when the people gathered at the house of her husband €Joakim, the two elders came, full of their wicked plot to have Susanna €put to death. They said before the people, "Send for Susanna, the daughter of €Hilkiah, who is the wife of Joakim." So they sent for her. And she came, with her parents, her children, and €all her kindred. @Now Susanna was a woman of great refinement, and beautiful in €appearance. As she was veiled, the wicked men ordered her to be unveiled, that they €might feed upon her beauty. But her family and friends and all who saw her wept. @Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid €their hands upon her head. And she, weeping, looked up toward heaven, for her heart trusted in the €Lord. The elders said, "As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman €came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and dismissed the maids. Then a young man, who had been hidden, came to her and lay with her. We were in a corner of the garden, and when we saw this wickedness we €ran to them. We saw them embracing, but we could not hold the man, for he was too €strong for us, and he opened the doors and dashed out. So we seized this woman and asked her who the young man was, but she €would not tell us. These things we testify." @The assembly believed them, because they were elders of the people €and judges; and they condemned her to death. @Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, "O eternal God, €who dost discern what is secret, who art aware of all things before €they come to be, thou knowest that these men have borne false witness against me. And €now I am to die! Yet I have done none of the things that they have €wickedly invented against me!" @The Lord heard her cry. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ°’ļ‚Óõ󒘭And as she was being led away to be put to death, God aroused the holy €spirit of a young lad named Daniel; and he cried with a loud voice, "I am innocent of the blood of this €woman." @All the people turned to him, and said, "What is this that you have €said?" Taking his stand in the midst of them, he said, "Are you such fools, €you sons of Israel? Have you condemned a daughter of Israel without €examination and without learning the facts? Return to the place of judgment. For these men have borne false witness €against her." @Then all the people returned in haste. And the elders said to him, €"Come, sit among us and inform us, for God has given you that right." And Daniel said to them, "Separate them far from each other, and I will €examine them." @When they were separated from each other, he summoned one of them and €said to him, "You old relic of wicked days, your sins have now come €home, which you have committed in the past, pronouncing unjust judgments, condemning the innocent and letting the €guilty go free, though the Lord said, `Do not put to death an innocent €and righteous person.' Now then, if you really saw her, tell me this: Under what tree did you €see them being intimate with each other?" He answered, "Under a mastic €tree." And Daniel said, "Very well! You have lied against your own head, for €the angel of God has received the sentence from God and will €immediately cut you in two." @Then he put him aside, and commanded them to bring the other. And he €said to him, "You offspring of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty has €deceived you and lust has perverted your heart. This is how you both have been dealing with the daughters of Israel, €and they were intimate with you through fear; but a daughter of Judah €would not endure your wickedness. Now then, tell me: Under what tree did you catch them being intimate €with each other?" He answered, "Under an evergreen oak." And Daniel said to him, "Very well! You also have lied against your own €head, for the angel of God is waiting with his sword to saw you in two, €that he may destroy you both." @Then all the assembly shouted loudly and blessed God, who saves those €who hope in him. And they rose against the two elders, for out of their own mouths €Daniel had convicted them of bearing false witness; and they did to them as they had wickedly planned to do to their €neighbor; acting in accordance with the law of Moses, they put them to €death. Thus innocent blood was saved that day. @And Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, and €so did Joakim her husband and all her kindred, because nothing shameful €was found in her. And from that day onward Daniel had a great reputation among the people. ąļ‚Āåģ’‘When King Astyages was laid with his fathers, Cyrus the Persian €received his kingdom. And Daniel was a companion of the king, and was the most honored of his €friends. @Now the Babylonians had an idol called Bel, and every day they spent €on it twelve bushels of fine flour and forty sheep and fifty gallons of €wine. The king revered it and went every day to worship it. But Daniel €worshiped his own God. @And the king said to him, "Why do you not worship Bel?" He answered, €"Because I do not revere man-made idols, but the living God, who €created heaven and earth and has dominion over all flesh." @The king said to him, "Do you not think that Bel is a living God? Do €you not see how much he eats and drinks every day?" Then Daniel laughed, and said, "Do not be deceived, O king; for this is €but clay inside and brass outside, and it never ate or drank anything." @Then the king was angry, and he called his priests and said to them, €"If you do not tell me who is eating these provisions, you shall die. But if you prove that Bel is eating them, Daniel shall die, because he €blasphemed against Bel." And Daniel said to the king, "Let it be done €as you have said." @Now there were seventy priests of Bel, besides their wives and €children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel. And the priests of Bel said, "Behold, we are going outside; you €yourself, O king, shall set forth the food and mix and place the wine, €and shut the door and seal it with your signet. And when you return in the morning, if you do not find that Bel has €eaten it all, we will die; or else Daniel will, who is telling lies €about us." They were unconcerned, for beneath the table they had made a hidden €entrance, through which they used to go in regularly and consume the €provisions. When they had gone out, the king set forth the food for Bel. Then €Daniel ordered his servants to bring ashes and they sifted them €throughout the whole temple in the presence of the king alone. Then €they went out, shut the door and sealed it with the king's signet, and €departed. In the night the priests came with their wives and children, as they €were accustomed to do, and ate and drank everything. @Early in the morning the king rose and came, and Daniel with him. And the king said, "Are the seals unbroken, Daniel?" He answered, "They €are unbroken, O king." As soon as the doors were opened, the king looked at the table, and €shouted in a loud voice, "You are great, O Bel; and with you there is €no deceit, none at all." @Then Daniel laughed, and restrained the king from going in, and said, €"Look at the floor, and notice whose footsteps these are." The king said, "I see the footsteps of men and women and children." @Then the king was enraged, and he seized the priests and their wives €and children; and they showed him the secret doors through which they €were accustomed to enter and devour what was on the table. Therefore the king put them to death, and gave Bel over to Daniel, who €destroyed it and its temple. @There was also a great dragon, which the Babylonians revered. And the king said to Daniel, "You cannot deny that this is a living €god; so worship him." Daniel said, "I will worship the Lord my God, for he is the living God. But if you, O king, will give me permission, I will slay the dragon €without sword or club." The king said, "I give you permission." @Then Daniel took pitch, fat, and hair, and boiled them together and €made cakes, which he fed to the dragon. The dragon ate them, and burst €open. And Daniel said, "See what you have been worshiping!" @When the Babylonians heard it, they were very indignant and conspired €against the king, saying, "The king has become a Jew; he has destroyed €Bel, and slain the dragon, and slaughtered the priests." Going to the king, they said, "Hand Daniel over to us, or else we will €kill you and your household." The king saw that they were pressing him hard, and under compulsion he €handed Daniel over to them. @They threw Daniel into the lions' den, and he was there for six days. There were seven lions in the den, and every day they had been given €two human bodies and two sheep; but these were not given to them now, €so that they might devour Daniel. @Now the prophet Habakkuk was in Judea. He had boiled pottage and had €broken bread into a bowl, and was going into the field to take it to €the reapers. But the angel of the Lord said to Habakkuk, "Take the dinner which you €have to Babylon, to Daniel, in the lions' den." Habakkuk said, "Sir, I have never seen Babylon, and I know nothing €about the den." Then the angel of the Lord took him by the crown of his head, and €lifted him by his hair and set him down in Babylon, right over the den, €with the rushing sound of the wind itself. @Then Habakkuk shouted, "Daniel, Daniel! Take the dinner which God has €sent you." And Daniel said, "Thou hast remembered me, O God, and hast not forsaken €those who love thee." So Daniel arose and ate. And the angel of God immediately returned €Habakkuk to his own place. @On the seventh day the king came to mourn for Daniel. When he came to €the den he looked in, and there sat Daniel. And the king shouted with a loud voice, "Thou art great, O Lord God of €Daniel, and there is no other besides thee." And he pulled Daniel out, and threw into the den the men who had žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ±’ļ‚Āåģ’˜Ŗ‚attempted his destruction, and they were devoured immediately before €his eyes. ąļ‚ŠņĶįī’‘@@O Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, €@@of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob €@@@and of their righteous posterity; @@thou who hast made heaven and earth €@@@with all their order; @@who hast shackled the sea by thy word of command, €@@@who hast confined the deep €@@@and sealed it with thy terrible and glorious name; @@at whom all things shudder, €@@@and tremble before thy power, @@for thy glorious splendor cannot be borne, €@@@and the wrath of thy threat to sinners is irresistible; @@yet immeasurable and unsearchable is thy promised mercy, @@@for thou art the Lord Most High, €@@of great compassion, long-suffering, and very merciful, €@@@and repentest over the evils of men. €@@Thou, O Lord, according to thy great goodness €@@@hast promised repentance and forgiveness €@@@to those who have sinned against thee; €@@and in the multitude of thy mercies €@@thou hast appointed repentance for sinners, €@@that they may be saved. @@Therefore thou, O Lord, God of the righteous, €@@@hast not appointed repentance for the righteous, €@@for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who did not sin against thee, €@@@but thou hast appointed repentance for me, who am a sinner. @@For the sins I have committed are more in number €@@@@than the sand of the sea; €@@@my transgressions are multiplied, O Lord, they are multiplied! €@@I am unworthy to look up and see the height of heaven €@@@because of the multitude of my iniquities. @@I am weighted down with many an iron fetter, €@@@so that I am rejected because of my sins, €@@@and I have no relief; €@@for I have provoked thy wrath €@@@and have done what is evil in thy sight, €@@@setting up abominations and multiplying offenses. @@And now I bend the knee of my heart, €@@@beseeching thee for thy kindness. @@I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, €@@@and I know my transgressions. @@I earnestly beseech thee, €@@@forgive me, O Lord, forgive me! €@@@Do not destroy me with my transgressions! €@@Do not be angry with me for ever or lay up evil for me; €@@@do not condemn me to the depths of the earth. €@@For thou, O Lord, art the God of those who repent, @@@and in me thou wilt manifest thy goodness; €@@for, unworthy as I am, thou wilt save me in thy great mercy, @@@and I will praise thee continually all the days of my life. €@@For all the host of heaven sings thy praise, €@@@and thine is the glory for ever. Amen. ąļ‚±Ķįć’”After Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came from the land €of Kittim, had defeated Darius, king of the Persians and the Medes, he €succeeded him as king. (He had previously become king of Greece.) He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the €kings of the earth. He advanced to the ends of the earth, and plundered many nations. When €the earth became quiet before him, he was exalted, and his heart was €lifted up. He gathered a very strong army and ruled over countries, nations, and €princes, and they became tributary to him. @After this he fell sick and perceived that he was dying. So he summoned his most honored officers, who had been brought up with €him from youth, and divided his kingdom among them while he was still €alive. And after Alexander had reigned twelve years, he died. @Then his officers began to rule, each in his own place. They all put on crowns after his death, and so did their sons after €them for many years; and they caused many evils on the earth. @From them came forth a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of €Antiochus the king; he had been a hostage in Rome. He began to reign in €the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks. @In those days lawless men came forth from Israel, and misled many, €saying, "Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles round about €us, for since we separated from them many evils have come upon us." This proposal pleased them, and some of the people eagerly went to the king. He authorized them to €observe the ordinances of the Gentiles. So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom, and removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. €They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil. @When Antiochus saw that his kingdom was established, he determined to €become king of the land of Egypt, that he might reign over both €kingdoms. So he invaded Egypt with a strong force, with chariots and elephants €and cavalry and with a large fleet. He engaged Ptolemy king of Egypt in battle, and Ptolemy turned and fled €before him, and many were wounded and fell. And they captured the fortified cities in the land of Egypt, and he €plundered the land of Egypt. @After subduing Egypt, Antiochus returned in the one hundred and €forty-third year. He went up against Israel and came to Jerusalem with €a strong force. He arrogantly entered the sanctuary and took the golden altar, the €lampstand for the light, and all its utensils. He took also the table for the bread of the Presence, the cups for €drink offerings, the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the €crowns, and the gold decoration on the front of the temple; he stripped €it all off. He took the silver and the gold, and the costly vessels; he took also €the hidden treasures which he found. Taking them all, he departed to his own land. €@@He committed deeds of murder, €@@@and spoke with great arrogance. @@Israel mourned deeply in every community, @@@rulers and elders groaned, €@@maidens and young men became faint, €@@@the beauty of women faded. @@Every bridegroom took up the lament; €@@@she who sat in the bridal chamber was mourning. @@Even the land shook for its inhabitants, €@@@and all the house of Jacob was clothed with shame. @Two years later the king sent to the cities of Judah a chief €collector of tribute, and he came to Jerusalem with a large force. Deceitfully he spoke peaceable words to them, and they believed him; €but he suddenly fell upon the city, dealt it a severe blow, and €destroyed many people of Israel. He plundered the city, burned it with fire, and tore down its houses €and its surrounding walls. And they took captive the women and children, and seized the cattle. Then they fortified the city of David with a great strong wall and €strong towers, and it became their citadel. And they stationed there a sinful people, lawless men. These €strengthened their position; they stored up arms and food, and collecting the spoils of Jerusalem €they stored them there, and became a great snare. @@It became an ambush against the sanctuary, €@@@an evil adversary of Israel continually. @@On every side of the sanctuary they shed innocent blood; €@@@they even defiled the sanctuary. @@Because of them the residents of Jerusalem fled; €@@@she became a dwelling of strangers; €@@she became strange to her offspring, €@@@and her children forsook her. @@Her sanctuary became desolate as a desert; €@@@her feasts were turned into mourning, €@@her sabbaths into a reproach, €@@@her honor into contempt. @@Her dishonor now grew as great as her glory; €@@@her exaltation was turned into mourning. @Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one €people, and that each should give up his customs. All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many even from €Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and €profaned the sabbath. And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of €Judah; he directed them to follow customs strange to the land, to forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings in the €sanctuary, to profane sabbaths and feasts, to defile the sanctuary and the priests, to build altars and sacred precincts and shrines for idols, to €sacrifice swine and unclean animals, and to leave their sons uncircumcised. They were to make themselves €abominable by everything unclean and profane, so that they should forget the law and change all the ordinances. "And whoever does not obey the command of the king shall die." @In such words he wrote to his whole kingdom. And he appointed žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ³’ļ‚±Ķįć’”˜³‚inspectors over all the people and commanded the cities of Judah to €offer sacrifice, city by city. Many of the people, every one who forsook the law, joined them, and €they did evil in the land; they drove Israel into hiding in every place of refuge they had. @Now on the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred and €forty-fifth year, they erected a desolating sacrilege upon the altar of €burnt offering. They also built altars in the surrounding cities of €Judah, and burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets. The books of the law which they found they tore to pieces and burned €with fire. Where the book of the covenant was found in the possession of any one, €or if any one adhered to the law, the decree of the king condemned him €to death. They kept using violence against Israel, against those found month €after month in the cities. And on the twenty-fifth day of the month they offered sacrifice on the €altar which was upon the altar of burnt offering. According to the decree, they put to death the women who had their €children circumcised, and their families and those who circumcised them; and they hung the €infants from their mothers' necks. @But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not €to eat unclean food. They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the €holy covenant; and they did die. And very great wrath came upon Israel.  @In those days Mattathias the son of John, son of Simeon, a priest of €the sons of Joarib, moved from Jerusalem and settled in Modein. He had five sons, John surnamed Gaddi, Simon called Thassi, Judas called Maccabeus, Eleazar called Avaran, and Jonathan called Apphus. He saw the blasphemies being committed in Judah and Jerusalem, and said, €@@"Alas! Why was I born to see this, €@@@the ruin of my people, the ruin of the holy city, €@@and to dwell there when it was given over to the enemy, €@@@the sanctuary given over to aliens? @@Her temple has become like a man without honor; @@@her glorious vessels have been carried into captivity. €@@Her babes have been killed in her streets, €@@@her youths by the sword of the foe. @@What nation has not inherited her palaces €@@@and has not seized her spoils? @@All her adornment has been taken away; €@@@no longer free, she has become a slave. @@And behold, our holy place, our beauty, €@@@and our glory have been laid waste; €@@the Gentiles have profaned it. @@@Why should we live any longer?" And Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, put on sackcloth, and €mourned greatly. @Then the king's officers who were enforcing the apostasy came to the €city of Modein to make them offer sacrifice. Many from Israel came to them; and Mattathias and his sons were €assembled. Then the king's officers spoke to Mattathias as follows: "You are a €leader, honored and great in this city, and supported by sons and €brothers. Now be the first to come and do what the king commands, as all the €Gentiles and the men of Judah and those that are left in Jerusalem have €done. Then you and your sons will be numbered among the friends of the €king, and you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and €many gifts." @But Mattathias answered and said in a loud voice: "Even if all the €nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen €to do his commandments, departing each one from the religion of his €fathers, yet I and my sons and my brothers will live by the covenant of our €fathers. Far be it from us to desert the law and the ordinances. We will not obey the king's words by turning aside from our religion to €the right hand or to the left." @When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the €sight of all to offer sacrifice upon the altar in Modein, according to €the king's command. When Mattathias saw it, be burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. €He gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and killed him upon the altar. At the same time he killed the king's officer who was forcing them to €sacrifice, and he tore down the altar. Thus he burned with zeal for the law, as Phinehas did against Zimri the €son of Salu. @Then Mattathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: "Let €every one who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out €with me!" And he and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the €city. @Then many who were seeking righteousness and justice went down to the €wilderness to dwell there, they, their sons, their wives, and their cattle, because evils pressed €heavily upon them. And it was reported to the king's officers, and to the troops in €Jerusalem the city of David, that men who had rejected the king's €command had gone down to the hiding places in the wilderness. Many pursued them, and overtook them; they encamped opposite them and €prepared for battle against them on the sabbath day. And they said to them, "Enough of this! Come out and do what the king €commands, and you will live." But they said, "We will not come out, nor will we do what the king €commands and so profane the sabbath day." Then the enemy hastened to attack them. But they did not answer them or hurl a stone at them or block up their €hiding places, for they said, "Let us all die in our innocence; heaven and earth €testify for us that you are killing us unjustly." So they attacked them on the sabbath, and they died, with their wives €and children and cattle, to the number of a thousand persons. @When Mattathias and his friends learned of it, they mourned for them €deeply. And each said to his neighbor: "If we all do as our brethren have done €and refuse to fight with the Gentiles for our lives and for our €ordinances, they will quickly destroy us from the earth." So they made this decision that day: "Let us fight against every man €who comes to attack us on the sabbath day; let us not all die as our €brethren died in their hiding places." @Then there united with them a company of Hasideans, mighty warriors €of Israel, every one who offered himself willingly for the law. And all who became fugitives to escape their troubles joined them and €reinforced them. They organized an army, and struck down sinners in their anger and €lawless men in their wrath; the survivors fled to the Gentiles for €safety. And Mattathias and his friends went about and tore down the altars; they forcibly circumcised all the uncircumcised boys that they found €within the borders of Israel. They hunted down the arrogant men, and the work prospered in their €hands. They rescued the law out of the hands of the Gentiles and kings, and €they never let the sinner gain the upper hand. @Now the days drew near for Mattathias to die, and he said to his €sons: "Arrogance and reproach have now become strong; it is a time of €ruin and furious anger. Now, my children, show zeal for the law, and give your lives for the €covenant of our fathers. @"Remember the deeds of the fathers, which they did in their €generations; and receive great honor and an everlasting name. Was not Abraham found faithful when tested, and it was reckoned to him €as righteousness? Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, and became €lord of Egypt. Phinehas our father, because he was deeply zealous, received the €covenant of everlasting priesthood. Joshua, because he fulfilled the command, became a judge in Israel. Caleb, because he testified in the assembly, received an inheritance in €the land. David, because he was merciful, inherited the throne of the kingdom for €ever. Elijah because of great zeal for the law was taken up into heaven. Hannaniah, Azariah, and Mishael believed and were saved from the flame. Daniel because of his innocence was delivered from the mouth of the €lions. @"And so observe, from generation to generation, that none who put €their trust in him will lack strength. Do not fear the words of a sinner, for his splendor will turn into dung €and worms. Today he will be exalted, but tomorrow he will not be found, because he €has returned to the dust, and his plans will perish. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ³’ļ‚±Ķįć’¢˜ĄMy children, be courageous and grow strong in the law, for by it you €will gain honor. @"Now behold, I know that Simeon your brother is wise in counsel; €always listen to him; he shall be your father. Judas Maccabeus has been a mighty warrior from his youth; he shall €command the army for you and fight the battle against the peoples. You shall rally about you all who observe the law, and avenge the wrong €done to your people. Pay back the Gentiles in full, and heed what the law commands." @Then he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers. He died in the one hundred and forty-sixth year and was buried in the €tomb of his fathers at Modein. And all Israel mourned for him with €great lamentation.  @Then Judas his son, who was called Maccabeus, took command in his €place. All his brothers and all who had joined his father helped him; they €gladly fought for Israel. @@He extended the glory of his people. €@@@Like a giant he put on his breastplate; €@@he girded on his armor of war and waged battles, €@@@protecting the host by his sword. @@He was like a lion in his deeds, €@@@like a lion's cub roaring for prey. @@He searched out and pursued the lawless; €@@@he burned those who troubled his people. @@Lawless men shrank back for fear of him; €@@@all the evildoers were confounded; €@@@and deliverance prospered by his hand. @@He embittered many kings, €@@@but he made Jacob glad by his deeds, €@@@and his memory is blessed for ever. @@He went through the cities of Judah; €@@@he destroyed the ungodly out of the land; €@@@thus he turned away wrath from Israel. @@He was renowned to the ends of the earth; €@@@he gathered in those who were perishing. @But Apollonius gathered together Gentiles and a large force from €Samaria to fight against Israel. When Judas learned of it, he went out to meet him, and he defeated and €killed him. Many were wounded and fell, and the rest fled. Then they seized their spoils; and Judas took the sword of Apollonius, €and used it in battle the rest of his life. @Now when Seron, the commander of the Syrian army, heard that Judas €had gathered a large company, including a body of faithful men who €stayed with him and went out to battle, he said, "I will make a name for myself and win honor in the kingdom. I €will make war on Judas and his companions, who scorn the king's €command." And again a strong army of ungodly men went up with him to help him, to €take vengeance on the sons of Israel. @When he approached the ascent of Beth-horon, Judas went out to meet €him with a small company. But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Judas, €"How can we, few as we are, fight against so great and strong a €multitude? And we are faint, for we have eaten nothing today." Judas replied, "It is easy for many to be hemmed in by few, for in the €sight of Heaven there is no difference between saving by many or by few. It is not on the size of the army that victory in battle depends, but €strength comes from Heaven. They come against us in great pride and lawlessness to destroy us and €our wives and our children, and to despoil us; but we fight for our lives and our laws. He himself will crush them before us; as for you, do not be afraid of €them." @When he finished speaking, he rushed suddenly against Seron and his €army, and they were crushed before him. They pursued them down the descent of Beth-horon to the plain; eight €hundred of them fell, and the rest fled into the land of the €Philistines. Then Judas and his brothers began to be feared, and terror fell upon €the Gentiles round about them. His fame reached the king, and the Gentiles talked of the battles of €Judas. @When king Antiochus heard these reports, he was greatly angered; and €he sent and gathered all the forces of his kingdom, a very strong army. And he opened his coffers and gave a year's pay to his forces, and €ordered them to be ready for any need. Then he saw that the money in the treasury was exhausted, and that the €revenues from the country were small because of the dissension and €disaster which he had caused in the land by abolishing the laws that €had existed from the earliest days. He feared that he might not have such funds as he had before for his €expenses and for the gifts which he used to give more lavishly than €preceding kings. He was greatly perplexed in mind, and determined to go to Persia and €collect the revenues from those regions and raise a large fund. @He left Lysias, a distinguished man of royal lineage, in charge of €the king's affairs from the river Euphrates to the borders of Egypt. Lysias was also to take care of Antiochus his son until he returned. And he turned over to Lysias half of his troops and the elephants, and €gave him orders about all that he wanted done. As for the residents of €Judea and Jerusalem, Lysias was to send a force against them to wipe out and destroy the €strength of Israel and the remnant of Jerusalem; he was to banish the €memory of them from the place, settle aliens in all their territory, and distribute their land. Then the king took the remaining half of his troops and departed from €Antioch his capital in the one hundred and forty-seventh year. He €crossed the Euphrates river and went through the upper provinces. @Lysias chose Ptolemy the son of Dorymenes, and Nicanor and Gorgias, €mighty men among the friends of the king, and sent with them forty thousand infantry and seven thousand cavalry €to go into the land of Judah and destroy it, as the king had commanded. so they departed with their entire force, and when they arrived they €encamped near Emmaus in the plain. When the traders of the region heard what was said to them, they took €silver and gold in immense amounts, and fetters, and went to the camp €to get the sons of Israel for slaves. And forces from Syria and the €land of the Philistines joined with them. @Now Judas and his brothers saw that misfortunes had increased and €that the forces were encamped in their territory. They also learned €what the king had commanded to do to the people to cause their final €destruction. But they said to one another, "Let us repair the destruction of our €people, and fight for our people and the sanctuary." And the congregation assembled to be ready for battle, and to pray and €ask for mercy and compassion. @@Jerusalem was uninhabited like a wilderness; €@@@not one of her children went in or out. €@@The sanctuary was trampled down, €@@@and the sons of aliens held the citadel; €@@@it was a lodging place for the Gentiles. €@@Joy was taken from Jacob; €@@@the flute and the harp ceased to play. @So they assembled and went to Mizpah, opposite Jerusalem, because €Israel formerly had a place of prayer in Mizpah. They fasted that day, put on sackcloth and sprinkled ashes on their €heads, and rent their clothes. And they opened the book of the law to inquire into those matters about €which the Gentiles were consulting the images of their idols. They also brought the garments of the priesthood and the first fruits €and the tithes, and they stirred up the Nazirites who had completed €their days; and they cried aloud to Heaven, saying, €@@"What shall we do with these? €@@@Where shall we take them? @@Thy sanctuary is trampled down and profaned, €@@@and thy priests mourn in humiliation. @@And behold, the Gentiles are assembled against us to destroy us; €@@@thou knowest what they plot against us. @@How will we be able to withstand them, €@@@if thou dost not help us?" @Then they sounded the trumpets and gave a loud shout. After this Judas appointed leaders of the people, in charge of €thousands and hundreds and fifties and tens. And he said to those who were building houses, or were betrothed, or €were planting vineyards, or were fainthearted, that each should return €to his home, according to the law. Then the army marched out and encamped to the south of Emmaus. @And Judas said, "Gird yourselves and be valiant. Be ready early in €the morning to fight with these Gentiles who have assembled against us €to destroy us and our sanctuary. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ³’ļ‚±Ķįć’£˜»It is better for us to die in battle than to see the misfortunes of our €nation and of the sanctuary. But as his will in heaven may be, so he will do."  @Now Gorgias took five thousand infantry and a thousand picked €cavalry, and this division moved out by night to fall upon the camp of the Jews and attack them suddenly. Men from €the citadel were his guides. But Judas heard of it, and he and his mighty men moved out to attack €the king's force in Emmaus while the division was still absent from the camp. When Gorgias entered the camp of Judas by night, he found no one there, €so he looked for them in the hills, because he said, "These men are €fleeing from us." @At daybreak Judas appeared in the plain with three thousand men, but €they did not have armor and swords such as they desired. And they saw the camp of the Gentiles, strong and fortified, with €cavalry round about it; and these men were trained in war. But Judas said to the men who were with him, "Do not fear their numbers €or be afraid when they charge. Remember how our fathers were saved at the Red Sea, when Pharaoh with €his forces pursued them. And now let us cry to Heaven, to see whether he will favor us and €remember his covenant with our fathers and crush this army before us €today. Then all the Gentiles will know that there is one who redeems and saves €Israel." @When the foreigners looked up and saw them coming against them, they went forth from their camp to battle. Then the men with Judas blew €their trumpets and engaged in battle. The Gentiles were crushed and fled into the €plain, and all those in the rear fell by the sword. They pursued them to €Gazara, and to the plains of Idumea, and to Azotus and Jamnia; and €three thousand of them fell. Then Judas and his force turned back from pursuing them, and he said to the people, "Do not be greedy for plunder, for there is €a battle before us; Gorgias and his force are near us in the hills. But stand now against €our enemies and fight them, and afterward seize the plunder boldly." @Just as Judas was finishing this speech, a detachment appeared, €coming out of the hills. They saw that their army had been put to flight, and that the Jews were €burning the camp, for the smoke that was seen showed what had happened. When they perceived this they were greatly frightened, and when they €also saw the army of Judas drawn up in the plain for battle, they all fled into the land of the Philistines. Then Judas returned to plunder the camp, and they seized much gold and €silver, and cloth dyed blue and sea purple, and great riches. On their return they sang hymns and praises to Heaven, for he is good, €for his mercy endures for ever. Thus Israel had a great deliverance that day. @Those of the foreigners who escaped went and reported to Lysias all €that had happened. When he heard it, he was perplexed and discouraged, for things had not €happened to Israel as he had intended, nor had they turned out as the €king had commanded him. But the next year he mustered sixty thousand picked infantrymen and €five thousand cavalry to subdue them. They came into Idumea and encamped at Beth-zur, and Judas met them with €ten thousand men. @When he saw that the army was strong, he prayed, saying, "Blessed art €thou, O Savior of Israel, who didst crush the attack of the mighty €warrior by the hand of thy servant David, and didst give the camp of €the Philistines into the hands of Jonathan, the son of Saul, and of the €man who carried his armor. So do thou hem in this army by the hand of thy people Israel, and let €them be ashamed of their troops and their cavalry. Fill them with cowardice; melt the boldness of their strength; let them €tremble in their destruction. Strike them down with the sword of those who love thee, and let all who €know thy name praise thee with hymns." @Then both sides attacked, and there fell of the army of Lysias five €thousand men; they fell in action. And when Lysias saw the rout of his troops and observed the boldness €which inspired those of Judas, and how ready they were either to live €or to die nobly, he departed to Antioch and enlisted mercenaries, to €invade Judea again with an even larger army. @Then said Judas and his brothers, "Behold, our enemies are crushed; €let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it." So all the army assembled and they went up to Mount Zion. And they saw the sanctuary desolate, the altar profaned, and the gates €burned. In the courts they saw bushes sprung up as in a thicket, or as €on one of the mountains. They saw also the chambers of the priests in €ruins. Then they rent their clothes, and mourned with great lamentation, and €sprinkled themselves with ashes. They fell face down on the ground, and sounded the signal on the €trumpets, and cried out to Heaven. Then Judas detailed men to fight against those in the citadel until he €had cleansed the sanctuary. @He chose blameless priests devoted to the law, and they cleansed the sanctuary and removed the defiled stones to an €unclean place. They deliberated what to do about the altar of burnt offering, which €had been profaned. And they thought it best to tear it down, lest it bring reproach upon €them, for the Gentiles had defiled it. So they tore down the altar, and stored the stones in a convenient place on the temple hill until €there should come a prophet to tell what to do with them. Then they took unhewn stones, as the law directs, and built a new altar €like the former one. They also rebuilt the sanctuary and the interior of the temple, and €consecrated the courts. They made new holy vessels, and brought the lampstand, the altar of €incense, and the table into the temple. Then they burned incense on the altar and lighted the lamps on the €lampstand, and these gave light in the temple. They placed the bread on the table and hung up the curtains. Thus they €finished all the work they had undertaken. @Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, €which is the month of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-eighth year, they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar €of burnt offering which they had built. At the very season and on the very day that the Gentiles had profaned €it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals. All the people fell on their faces and worshiped and blessed Heaven, €who had prospered them. So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and €offered burnt offerings with gladness; they offered a sacrifice of €deliverance and praise. They decorated the front of the temple with golden crowns and small €shields; they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests, and €furnished them with doors. There was very great gladness among the people, and the reproach of the €Gentiles was removed. @Then Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel determined €that every year at that season the days of dedication of the altar €should be observed with gladness and joy for eight days, beginning with €the twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev. @At that time they fortified Mount Zion with high walls and strong €towers round about, to keep the Gentiles from coming and trampling them €down as they had done before. And he stationed a garrison there to hold it. He also fortified €Beth-zur, so that the people might have a stronghold that faced Idumea.  @When the Gentiles round about heard that the altar had been built and €the sanctuary dedicated as it was before, they became very angry, and they determined to destroy the descendants of Jacob who lived among €them. So they began to kill and destroy among the people. But Judas made war on the sons of Esau in Idumea, at Akrabattene, €because they kept lying in wait for Israel. He dealt them a heavy blow €and humbled them and despoiled them. He also remembered the wickedness of the sons of Baean, who were a trap €and a snare to the people and ambushed them on the highways. They were shut up by him in their towers; and he encamped against them, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ³’ļ‚±Ķįć’„•‚vowed their complete destruction, and burned with fire their towers and €all who were in them. Then he crossed over to attack the Ammonites, where he found a strong €band and many people with Timothy as their leader. He engaged in many battles with them and they were crushed before him; €he struck them down. He also took Jazer and its villages; then he returned to Judea. @Now the Gentiles in Gilead gathered together against the Israelites €who lived in their territory, and planned to destroy them. But they €fled to the stronghold of Dathema, and sent to Judas and his brothers a letter which said, "The Gentiles €around us have gathered together against us to destroy us. They are preparing to come and capture the stronghold to which we have €fled, and Timothy is leading their forces. Now then come and rescue us from their hands, for many of us have €fallen, and all our brethren who were in the land of Tob have been killed; the €enemy have captured their wives and children and goods, and have €destroyed about a thousand men there." @While the letter was still being read, behold, other messengers, with €their garments rent, came from Galilee and made a similar report; they said that against them had gathered together men of Ptolemais and €Tyre and Sidon, and all Galilee of the Gentiles, "to annihilate us." When Judas and the people heard these messages, a great assembly was €called to determine what they should do for their brethren who were in €distress and were being attacked by enemies. Then Judas said to Simon his brother, "Choose your men and go and €rescue your brethren in Galilee; I and Jonathan my brother will go to €Gilead." But he left Joseph, the son of Zechariah, and Azariah, a leader of the €people, with the rest of the forces, in Judea to guard it; and he gave them this command, "Take charge of this people, but do not €engage in battle with the Gentiles until we return." Then three thousand men were assigned to Simon to go to Galilee, and €eight thousand to Judas for Gilead. @so Simon went to Galilee and fought many battles against the €Gentiles, and the Gentiles were crushed before him. He pursued them to the gate of Ptolemais, and as many as three thousand €of the Gentiles fell, and he despoiled them. Then he took the Jews of Galilee and Arbatta, with their wives and €children, and all they possessed, and led them to Judea with great €rejoicing. @Judas Maccabeus and Jonathan his brother crossed the Jordan and went €three days' journey into the wilderness. They encountered the Nabateans, who met them peaceably and told them €all that had happened to their brethren in Gilead: "Many of them have been shut up in Bozrah and Bosor, in Alema and €Chaspho, Maked and Carnaim" -- all these cities were strong and large--"and some have been shut up in the other cities of Gilead; the enemy €are getting ready to attack the strongholds tomorrow and take and €destroy all these men in one day." @Then Judas and his army quickly turned back by the wilderness road to €Bozrah; and he took the city, and killed every male by the edge of the €sword; then he seized all its spoils and burned it with fire. He departed from there at night, and they went all the way to the €stronghold of Dathema. At dawn they looked up, and behold, a large company, that could not be €counted, carrying ladders and engines of war to capture the stronghold, €and attacking the Jews within. So Judas saw that the battle had begun and that the cry of the city €went up to Heaven with trumpets and loud shouts, and he said to the men of his forces, "Fight today for your brethren!" Then he came up behind them in three companies, who sounded their €trumpets and cried aloud in prayer. And when the army of Timothy realized that it was Maccabeus, they fled €before him, and he dealt them a heavy blow. As many as eight thousand €of them fell that day. @Next he turned aside to Alema, and fought against it and took it; and €he killed every male in it, plundered it, and burned it with fire. From there he marched on and took Chaspho, Maked, and Bosor, and the €other cities of Gilead. @After these things Timothy gathered another army and encamped €opposite Raphon, on the other side of the stream. Judas sent men to spy out the camp, and they reported to him, "All the €Gentiles around us have gathered to him; it is a very large force. They also have hired Arabs to help them, and they are encamped across €the stream, ready to come and fight against you." And Judas went to €meet them. @Now as Judas and his army drew near to the stream of water, Timothy €said to the officers of his forces, "If he crosses over to us first, we €will not be able to resist him, for he will surely defeat us. But if he shows fear and camps on the other side of the river, we will €cross over to him and defeat him." When Judas approached the stream of water, he stationed the scribes of €the people at the stream and gave them this command, "Permit no man to €encamp, but make them all enter the battle." Then he crossed over against them first, and the whole army followed €him. All the Gentiles were defeated before him, and they threw away €their arms and fled into the sacred precincts at Carnaim. But he took the city and burned the sacred precincts with fire, €together with all who were in them. Thus Carnaim was conquered; they €could stand before Judas no longer. @Then Judas gathered together all the Israelites in Gilead, the small €and the great, with their wives and children and goods, a very large €company, to go to the land of Judah. So they came to Ephron. This was a large and very strong city on the €road, and they could not go round it to the right or to the left; they €had to go through it. But the men of the city shut them out and blocked up the gates with €stones. And Judas sent them this friendly message, "Let us pass through your €land to get to our land. No one will do you harm; we will simply pass €by on foot." But they refused to open to him. Then Judas ordered proclamation to be made to the army that each should €encamp where he was. So the men of the forces encamped, and he fought against the city all €that day and all the night, and the city was delivered into his hands. He destroyed every male by the edge of the sword, and razed and €plundered the city. Then he passed through the city over the slain. @And they crossed the Jordan into the large plain before Beth-shan. And Judas kept rallying the laggards and encouraging the people all the €way till he came to the land of Judah. So they went up to Mount Zion with gladness and joy, and offered burnt €offerings, because not one of them had fallen before they returned in €safety. @Now while Judas and Jonathan were in Gilead and Simon his brother was €in Galilee before Ptolemais, Joseph, the son of Zechariah, and Azariah, the commanders of the €forces, heard of their brave deeds and of the heroic war they had €fought. So they said, "Let us also make a name for ourselves; let us go and €make war on the Gentiles around us." And they issued orders to the men of the forces that were with them, €and they marched against Jamnia. And Gorgias and his men came out of the city to meet them in battle. Then Joseph and Azariah were routed, and were pursued to the borders of €Judea; as many as two thousand of the people of Israel fell that day. Thus the people suffered a great rout because, thinking to do a brave €deed, they did not listen to Judas and his brothers. But they did not belong to the family of those men through whom €deliverance was given to Israel. @The man Judas and his brothers were greatly honored in all Israel and €among all the Gentiles, wherever their name was heard. Men gathered to them and praised them. @Then Judas and his brothers went forth and fought the sons of Esau in €the land to the south. He struck Hebron and its villages and tore down €its strongholds and burned its towers round about. Then he marched off to go into the land of the Philistines, and passed €through Marisa. On that day some priests, who wished to do a brave deed, fell in žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ³’ļ‚±Ķįć’„˜Ć‚battle, for they went out to battle unwisely. But Judas turned aside to Azotus in the land of the Philistines; he €tore down their altars, and the graven images of their gods he burned €with fire; he plundered the cities and returned to the land of Judah.  @King Antiochus was going through the upper provinces when he heard €that Elymais in Persia was a city famed for its wealth in silver and €gold. Its temple was very rich, containing golden shields, breastplates, and €weapons left there by Alexander, the son of Philip, the Macedonian king €who first reigned over the Greeks. So he came and tried to take the city and plunder it, but he could not, €because his plan became known to the men of the city and they withstood him in battle. So he fled and in great grief €departed from there to return to Babylon. @Then some one came to him in Persia and reported that the armies €which had gone into the land of Judah had been routed; that Lysias had gone first with a strong force, but had turned and fled €before the Jews; that the Jews had grown strong from the arms, €supplies, and abundant spoils which they had taken from the armies they €had cut down; that they had torn down the abomination which he had erected upon the €altar in Jerusalem; and that they had surrounded the sanctuary with €high walls as before, and also Beth-zur, his city. @When the king heard this news, he was astounded and badly shaken. He €took to his bed and became sick from grief, because things had not €turned out for him as he had planned. He lay there for many days, because deep grief continually gripped him, €and he concluded that he was dying. So he called all his friends and said to them, "Sleep departs from my €eyes and I am downhearted with worry. I said to myself, `To what distress I have come! And into what a great €flood I now am plunged! For I was kind and beloved in my power.' But now I remember the evils I did in Jerusalem. I seized all her €vessels of silver and gold; and I sent to destroy the inhabitants of €Judah without good reason. I know that it is because of this that these evils have come upon me; €and behold, I am perishing of deep grief in a strange land." @Then he called for Philip, one of his friends, and made him ruler €over all his kingdom. He gave him the crown and his robe and the signet, that he might guide €Antiochus his son and bring him up to be king. Thus Antiochus the king died there in the one hundred and forty-ninth €year. And when Lysias learned that the king was dead, he set up Antiochus the €king's son to reign. Lysias had brought him up as a boy, and he named €him Eupator. @Now the men in the citadel kept hemming Israel in around the €sanctuary. They were trying in every way to harm them and strengthen €the Gentiles. So Judas decided to destroy them, and assembled all the people to €besiege them. They gathered together and besieged the citadel in the one hundred and €fiftieth year; and he built siege towers and other engines of war. But some of the garrison escaped from the siege and some of the ungodly €Israelites joined them. They went to the king and said, "How long will you fail to do justice €and to avenge our brethren? We were happy to serve your father, to live by what he said and to €follow his commands. For this reason the sons of our people besieged the citadel and became €hostile to us; moreover, they have put to death as many of us as they €have caught, and they have seized our inheritances. And not against us alone have they stretched out their hands, but also €against all the lands on their borders. And behold, today they have encamped against the citadel in Jerusalem €to take it; they have fortified both the sanctuary and Beth-zur; and unless you quickly prevent them, they will do still greater things, €and you will not be able to stop them." @The king was enraged when he heard this. He assembled all his €friends, the commanders of his forces and those in authority. And mercenary forces came to him from other kingdoms and from islands €of the seas. The number of his forces was a hundred thousand foot soldiers, twenty €thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants accustomed to war. They came through Idumea and encamped against Beth-zur, and for many €days they fought and built engines of war; but the Jews sallied out and €burned these with fire, and fought manfully. @Then Judas marched away from the citadel and encamped at €Beth-zechariah, opposite the camp of the king. Early in the morning the king rose and took his army by a forced march €along the road to Beth-zechariah, and his troops made ready for battle €and sounded their trumpets. They showed the elephants the juice of grapes and mulberries, to arouse €them for battle. And they distributed the beasts among the phalanxes; with each elephant €they stationed a thousand men armed with coats of mail, and with brass €helmets on their heads; and five hundred picked horsemen were assigned €to each beast. These took their position beforehand wherever the beast was; wherever €it went they went with it, and they never left it. And upon the elephants were wooden towers, strong and covered; they €were fastened upon each beast by special harness, and upon each were €four armed men who fought from there, and also its Indian driver. The rest of the horsemen were stationed on either side, on the two €flanks of the army, to harass the enemy while being themselves €protected by the phalanxes. When the sun shone upon the shields of gold and brass, the hills were €ablaze with them and gleamed like flaming torches. @Now a part of the king's army was spread out on the high hills, and €some troops were on the plain, and they advanced steadily and in good €order. All who heard the noise made by their multitude, by the marching of the €multitude and the clanking of their arms, trembled, for the army was €very large and strong. But Judas and his army advanced to the battle, and six hundred men of €the king's army fell. And Eleazar, called Avaran, saw that one of the beasts was equipped €with royal armor. It was taller than all the others, and he supposed €that the king was upon it. So he gave his life to save his people and to win for himself an €everlasting name. He courageously ran into the midst of the phalanx to reach it; he €killed men right and left, and they parted before him on both sides. He got under the elephant, stabbed it from beneath, and killed it; but €it fell to the ground upon him and he died. And when the Jews saw the royal might and the fierce attack of the €forces, they turned away in flight. @The soldiers of the king's army went up to Jerusalem against them, €and the king encamped in Judea and at Mount Zion. He made peace with the men of Beth-zur, and they evacuated the city, €because they had no provisions there to withstand a siege, since it was €a sabbatical year for the land. So the king took Beth-zur and stationed a guard there to hold it. Then he encamped before the sanctuary for many days. He set up siege €towers, engines of war to throw fire and stones, machines to shoot €arrows, and catapults. The Jews also made engines of war to match theirs, and fought for many €days. But they had no food in storage, because it was the seventh year; those €who found safety in Judea from the Gentiles had consumed the last of €the stores. Few men were left in the sanctuary, because famine had prevailed over €the rest and they had been scattered, each to his own place. @Then Lysias heard that Philip, whom King Antiochus while still living €had appointed to bring up Antiochus his son to be king, had returned from Persia and Media with the forces that had gone with €the king, and that he was trying to seize control of the government. So he quickly gave orders to depart, and said to the king, to the €commanders of the forces, and to the men, "We daily grow weaker, our €food supply is scant, the place against which we are fighting is €strong, and the affairs of the kingdom press urgently upon us. Now then let us come to terms with these men, and make peace with them €and with all their nation, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ³’ļ‚±Ķįć’¦˜»and agree to let them live by their laws as they did before; for it was €on account of their laws which we abolished that they became angry and €did all these things." @The speech pleased the king and the commanders, and he sent to the €Jews an offer of peace, and they accepted it. So the king and the commanders gave them their oath. On these €conditions the Jews evacuated the stronghold. But when the king entered Mount Zion and saw what a strong fortress the €place was, he broke the oath he had sworn and gave orders to tear down €the wall all around. Then he departed with haste and returned to Antioch. He found Philip in €control of the city, but he fought against him, and took the city by €force.  @In the one hundred and fifty-first year Demetrius the son of Seleucus €set forth from Rome, sailed with a few men to a city by the sea, and €there began to reign. As he was entering the royal palace of his fathers, the army seized €Antiochus and Lysias to bring them to him. But when this act became known to him, he said, "Do not let me see €their faces!" So the army killed them, and Demetrius took his seat upon the throne of €his kingdom. @Then there came to him all the lawless and ungodly men of Israel; €they were led by Alcimus, who wanted to be high priest. And they brought to the king this accusation against the people: "Judas €and his brothers have destroyed all your friends, and have driven us €out of our land. Now then send a man whom you trust; let him go and see all the ruin €which Judas has brought upon us and upon the land of the king, and let €him punish them and all who help them." @So the king chose Bacchides, one of the king's friends, governor of €the province Beyond the River; he was a great man in the kingdom and €was faithful to the king. And he sent him, and with him the ungodly Alcimus, whom he made high €priest; and he commanded him to take vengeance on the sons of Israel. So they marched away and came with a large force into the land of €Judah; and he sent messengers to Judas and his brothers with peaceable €but treacherous words. But they paid no attention to their words, for they saw that they had €come with a large force. @Then a group of scribes appeared in a body before Alcimus and €Bacchides to ask for just terms. The Hasideans were first among the sons of Israel to seek peace from €them, for they said, "A priest of the line of Aaron has come with the army, €and he will not harm us." And he spoke peaceable words to them and swore this oath to them, "We €will not seek to injure you or your friends." So they trusted him; but he seized sixty of them and killed them in one €day, in accordance with the word which was written, @@"The flesh of thy saints and their blood €@@@they poured out round about Jerusalem, €@@@and there was none to bury them." Then the fear and dread of them fell upon all the people, for they €said, "There is no truth or justice in them, for they have violated the €agreement and the oath which they swore." @Then Bacchides departed from Jerusalem and encamped in Beth-zaith. €And he sent and seized many of the men who had deserted to him, and €some of the people, and killed them and threw them into a great pit. He placed Alcimus in charge of the country and left with him a force to €help him; then Bacchides went back to the king. @Alcimus strove for the high priesthood, and all who were troubling their people joined him. They gained control €of the land of Judah and did great damage in Israel. And Judas saw all the evil that Alcimus and those with him had done €among the sons of Israel; it was more than the Gentiles had done. So Judas went out into all the surrounding parts of Judea, and took €vengeance on the men who had deserted, and he prevented those in the €city from going out into the country. When Alcimus saw that Judas and those with him had grown strong, and €realized that he could not withstand them, he returned to the king and €brought wicked charges against them. @Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his honored princes, who hated and €detested Israel, and he commanded him to destroy the people. So Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a large force, and treacherously sent €to Judas and his brothers this peaceable message, "Let there be no fighting between me and you; I shall come with a few €men to see you face to face in peace." So he came to Judas, and they greeted one another peaceably. But the €enemy were ready to seize Judas. It became known to Judas that Nicanor had come to him with treacherous €intent, and he was afraid of him and would not meet him again. When Nicanor learned that his plan had been disclosed, he went out to €meet Judas in battle near Caphar-salama. About five hundred men of the army of Nicanor fell, and the rest fled €into the city of David. @After these events Nicanor went up to Mount Zion. Some of the priests €came out of the sanctuary, and some of the elders of the people, to €greet him peaceably and to show him the burnt offering that was being €offered for the king. But he mocked them and derided them and defiled them and spoke €arrogantly, and in anger he swore this oath, "Unless Judas and his army are €delivered into my hands this time, then if I return safely I will burn €up this house." And he went out in great anger. Then the priests went in and stood before the altar and the temple, and €they wept and said, @@"Thou didst choose this house to be called by thy name, €@@@and to be for thy people a house of prayer and supplication. @@Take vengeance on this man and on his army, €@@@and let them fall by the sword; €@@remember their blasphemies, €@@@and let them live no longer." @Now Nicanor went out from Jerusalem and encamped in Beth-horon, and €the Syrian army joined him. And Judas encamped in Adasa with three thousand men. Then Judas prayed €and said, "When the messengers from the king spoke blasphemy, thy angel went €forth and struck down one hundred and eighty-five thousand of the €Assyrians. So also crush this army before us today; let the rest learn that €Nicanor has spoken wickedly against the sanctuary, and judge him €according to this wickedness." So the armies met in battle on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. €The army of Nicanor was crushed, and he himself was the first to fall €in the battle. When his army saw that Nicanor had fallen, they threw down their arms €and fled. The Jews pursued them a day's journey, from Adasa as far as Gazara, and €as they followed kept sounding the battle call on the trumpets. And men came out of all the villages of Judea round about, and they €out-flanked the enemy and drove them back to their pursuers, so that €they all fell by the sword; not even one of them was left. Then the Jews seized the spoils and the plunder, and they cut off €Nicanor's head and the right hand which he so arrogantly stretched out, €and brought them and displayed them just outside Jerusalem. The people rejoiced greatly and celebrated that day as a day of great €gladness. And they decreed that this day should be celebrated each year on the €thirteenth day of Adar. So the land of Judah had rest for a few days.  @Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were very strong €and were well-disposed toward all who made an alliance with them, that €they pledged friendship to those who came to them, and that they were very strong. Men told him of their wars and of the €brave deeds which they were doing among the Gauls, how they had €defeated them and forced them to pay tribute, and what they had done in the land of Spain to get control of the €silver and gold mines there, and how they had gained control of the whole region by their planning €and patience, even though the place was far distant from them. They €also subdued the kings who came against them from the ends of the €earth, until they crushed them and inflicted great disaster upon them; €the rest paid them tribute every year. Philip, and Perseus king of the Macedonians, and the others who rose up €against them, they crushed in battle and conquered. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ³’ļ‚±Ķįć’؈–They also defeated Antiochus the Great, king of Asia, who went to fight €against them with a hundred and twenty elephants and with cavalry and €chariots and a very large army. He was crushed by them; they took him alive and decreed that he and those who should reign €after him should pay a heavy tribute and give hostages and surrender €some of their best provinces, the country of India and Media and Lydia. These they took from him and €gave to Eumenes the king. The Greeks planned to come and destroy them, but this became known to them, and they sent a general against the €Greeks and attacked them. Many of them were wounded and fell, and the €Romans took captive their wives and children; they plundered them, €conquered the land, tore down their strongholds, and enslaved them to €this day. The remaining kingdoms and islands, as many as ever opposed them, they €destroyed and enslaved; but with their friends and those who rely on them they have kept €friendship. They have subdued kings far and near, and as many as have €heard of their fame have feared them. Those whom they wish to help and to make kings, they make kings, and €those whom they wish they depose; and they have been greatly exalted. Yet for all this not one of them has put on a crown or worn purple as a €mark of pride, but they have built for themselves a senate chamber, and every day €three hundred and twenty senators constantly deliberate concerning the €people, to govern them well. They trust one man each year to rule over them and to control all their €land; they all heed the one man, and there is no envy or jealousy among €them. @So Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, son of Accos, and Jason the €son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome to establish friendship and €alliance, and to free themselves from the yoke; for they saw that the kingdom of €the Greeks was completely enslaving Israel. They went to Rome, a very long journey; and they entered the senate €chamber and spoke as follows: "Judas, who is also called Maccabeus, and his brothers and the people €of the Jews have sent us to you to establish alliance and peace with €you, that we may be enrolled as your allies and friends." The proposal pleased them, and this is a copy of the letter which they wrote in reply, on bronze €tablets, and sent to Jerusalem to remain with them there as a memorial €of peace and alliance: @"May all go well with the Romans and with the nation of the Jews at €sea and on land for ever, and may sword and enemy be far from them. If war comes first to Rome or to any of their allies in all their €dominion, the nation of the Jews shall act as their allies wholeheartedly, as the €occasion may indicate to them. And to the enemy who makes war they shall not give or supply grain, €arms, money, or ships, as Rome has decided; and they shall keep their €obligations without receiving any return. In the same way, if war comes first to the nation of the Jews, the €Romans shall willingly act as their allies, as the occasion may €indicate to them. And to the enemy allies shall be given no grain, arms, money, or ships, €as Rome has decided; and they shall keep these obligations and do so €without deceit. Thus on these terms the Romans make a treaty with the Jewish people. If after these terms are in effect both parties shall determine to add €or delete anything, they shall do so at their discretion, and any €addition or deletion that they may make shall be valid. @"And concerning the wrongs which King Demetrius is doing to them we €have written to him as follows, `Why have you made your yoke heavy upon €our friends and allies the Jews? If now they appeal again for help against you, we will defend their €rights and fight you on sea and on land.'"  @When Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army had fallen in battle, €he sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judah a second time, and €with them the right wing of the army. They went by the road which leads to Gilgal and encamped against €Mesaloth in Arbela, and they took it and killed many people. In the first month of the one hundred and fifty-second year they €encamped against Jerusalem; then they marched off and went to Berea with twenty thousand foot €soldiers and two thousand cavalry. @Now Judas was encamped in Elasa, and with him were three thousand €picked men. When they saw the huge number of the enemy forces, they were greatly €frightened, and many slipped away from the camp, until no more than €eight hundred of them were left. @When Judas saw that his army had slipped away and the battle was €imminent, he was crushed in spirit, for he had no time to assemble them. He became faint, but he said to those who were left, "Let us rise and €go up against our enemies. We may be able to fight them." But they tried to dissuade him, saying, "We are not able. Let us rather €save our own lives now, and let us come back with our brethren and €fight them; we are too few." But Judas said, "Far be it from us to do such a thing as to flee from €them. If our time has come, let us die bravely for our brethren, and €leave no cause to question our honor." @Then the army of Bacchides marched out from the camp and took its €stand for the encounter. The cavalry was divided into two companies, €and the slingers and the archers went ahead of the army, as did all the €chief warriors. Bacchides was on the right wing. Flanked by the two companies, the €phalanx advanced to the sound of the trumpets; and the men with Judas €also blew their trumpets. The earth was shaken by the noise of the armies, and the battle raged €from morning till evening. @Judas saw that Bacchides and the strength of his army were on the €right; then all the stouthearted men went with him, and they crushed the right wing, and he pursued them as far as Mount €Azotus. When those on the left wing saw that the right wing was crushed, they €turned and followed close behind Judas and his men. The battle became desperate, and many on both sides were wounded and €fell. Judas also fell, and the rest fled. @Then Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother and buried him in €the tomb of their fathers at Modein, and wept for him. And all Israel made great lamentation for him; they €mourned many days and said, @@"How is the mighty fallen, €@@@the savior of Israel!" Now the rest of the acts of Judas, and his wars and the brave deeds €that he did, and his greatness, have not been recorded, for they were €very many. @After the death of Judas, the lawless emerged in all parts of Israel; €all the doers of injustice appeared. In those days a very great famine occurred, and the country deserted €with them to the enemy. And Bacchides chose the ungodly and put them in charge of the country. They sought and searched for the friends of Judas, and brought them to €Bacchides, and he took vengeance on them and made sport of them. Thus there was great distress in Israel, such as had not been since the €time that prophets ceased to appear among them. @Then all the friends of Judas assembled and said to Jonathan, "Since the death of your brother Judas there has been no one like him €to go against our enemies and Bacchides, and to deal with those of our €nation who hate us. So now we have chosen you today to take his place as our ruler and €leader, to fight our battle." And Jonathan at that time accepted the leadership and took the place of €Judas his brother. @When Bacchides learned of this, he tried to kill him. But Jonathan and Simon his brother and all who were with him heard of €it, and they fled into the wilderness of Tekoa and camped by the water €of the pool of Asphar. Bacchides found this out on the sabbath day, and he with all his army €crossed the Jordan. @And Jonathan sent his brother as leader of the multitude and begged €the Nabateans, who were his friends, for permission to store with them €the great amount of baggage which they had. But the sons of Jambri from Medeba came out and seized John and all €that he had, and departed with it. @After these things it was reported to Jonathan and Simon his brother, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ³’ļ‚±Ķįć’؉˜„‚"The sons of Jambri are celebrating a great wedding, and are conducting €the bride, a daughter of one of the great nobles of Canaan, from €Nadabath with a large escort." And they remembered the blood of John their brother, and went up and €hid under cover of the mountain. They raised their eyes and looked, and saw a tumultuous procession with €much baggage; and the bridegroom came out with his friends and his €brothers to meet them with tambourines and musicians and many weapons. Then they rushed upon them from the ambush and began killing them. Many €were wounded and fell, and the rest fled to the mountain; and they took €all their goods. Thus the wedding was turned into mourning and the voice of their €musicians into a funeral dirge. And when they had fully avenged the blood of their brother, they €returned to the marshes of the Jordan. @When Bacchides heard of this, he came with a large force on the €sabbath day to the banks of the Jordan. And Jonathan said to those with him, "Let us rise up now and fight for €our lives, for today things are not as they were before. For look! the battle is in front of us and behind us; the water of the €Jordan is on this side and on that, with marsh and thicket; there is no €place to turn. Cry out now to Heaven that you may be delivered from the hands of our €enemies." So the battle began, and Jonathan stretched out his hand to strike €Bacchides, but he eluded him and went to the rear. Then Jonathan and the men with him leaped into the Jordan and swam €across to the other side, and the enemy did not cross the Jordan to €attack them. And about one thousand of Bacchides' men fell that day. @Bacchides then returned to Jerusalem and built strong cities in €Judea: the fortress in Jericho, and Emmaus, and Beth-horon, and Bethel, €and Timnath, and Pharathon, and Tephon, with high walls and gates and €bars. @And he placed garrisons in them to harass Israel. He also fortified the city of Beth-zur, and Gazara, and the citadel, €and in them he put troops and stores of food. And he took the sons of the leading men of the land as hostages and put €them under guard in the citadel at Jerusalem. @In the one hundred and fifty-third year, in the second month, Alcimus €gave orders to tear down the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary. €He tore down the work of the prophets! But he only began to tear it down, for at that time Alcimus was €stricken and his work was hindered; his mouth was stopped and he was €paralyzed, so that he could no longer say a word or give commands €concerning his house. And Alcimus died at that time in great agony. When Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king, and €the land of Judah had rest for two years. @Then all the lawless plotted and said, "See! Jonathan and his men are €living in quiet and confidence. So now let us bring Bacchides back, and €he will capture them all in one night." And they went and consulted with him. He started to come with a large force, and secretly sent letters to all €his allies in Judea, telling them to seize Jonathan and his men; but €they were unable to do it, because their plan became known. And Jonathan's men seized about fifty of the men of the country who €were leaders in this treachery, and killed them. @Then Jonathan with his men, and Simon, withdrew to Bethbasi in the €wilderness; he rebuilt the parts of it that had been demolished, and €they fortified it. When Bacchides learned of this, he assembled all his forces, and sent €orders to the men of Judea. Then he came and encamped against Bethbasi; he fought against it for €many days and made machines of war. @But Jonathan left Simon his brother in the city, while he went out €into the country; and he went with only a few men. He struck down Odomera and his brothers and the sons of Phasiron in €their tents. Then he began to attack and went into battle with his forces; and Simon €and his men sallied out from the city and set fire to the machines of €war. They fought with Bacchides, and he was crushed by them. They distressed €him greatly, for his plan and his expedition had been in vain. So he was greatly enraged at the lawless men who had counseled him to €come into the country, and he killed many of them. Then he decided to €depart to his own land. @When Jonathan learned of this, he sent ambassadors to him to make €peace with him and obtain release of the captives. He agreed, and did as he said; and he swore to Jonathan that he would €not try to harm him as long as he lived. He restored to him the captives whom he had formerly taken from the €land of Judah; then he turned and departed to his own land, and came no €more into their territory. Thus the sword ceased from Israel. And Jonathan dwelt in Michmash. And €Jonathan began to judge the people, and he destroyed the ungodly out of €Israel.  @In the one hundred and sixtieth year Alexander Epiphanes, the son of €Antiochus, landed and occupied Ptolemais. They welcomed him, and there €he began to reign. When Demetrius the king heard of it, he assembled a very large army and €marched out to meet him in battle. And Demetrius sent Jonathan a letter in peaceable words to honor him; for he said, "Let us act first to make peace with him before he makes €peace with Alexander against us, for he will remember all the wrongs which we did to him and to his €brothers and his nation." So Demetrius gave him authority to recruit troops, to equip them with €arms, and to become his ally; and he commanded that the hostages in the €citadel should be released to him. @Then Jonathan came to Jerusalem and read the letter in the hearing of €all the people and of the men in the citadel. They were greatly alarmed when they heard that the king had given him €authority to recruit troops. But the men in the citadel released the hostages to Jonathan, and he €returned them to their parents. @And Jonathan dwelt in Jerusalem and began to rebuild and restore the €city. He directed those who were doing the work to build the walls and €encircle Mount Zion with squared stones, for better fortification; and €they did so. @Then the foreigners who were in the strongholds that Bacchides had €built fled; each left his place and departed to his own land. Only in Beth-zur did some remain who had forsaken the law and the €commandments, for it served as a place of refuge. @Now Alexander the king heard of all the promises which Demetrius had €sent to Jonathan, and men told him of the battles that Jonathan and his €brothers had fought, of the brave deeds that they had done, and of the €troubles that they had endured. So he said, "Shall we find another such man? Come now, we will make him €our friend and ally." And he wrote a letter and sent it to him, in the following words: @"King Alexander to his brother Jonathan, greeting. We have heard about you, that you are a mighty warrior and worthy to be €our friend. And so we have appointed you today to be the high priest of your €nation; you are to be called the king's friend" (and he sent him a €purple robe and a golden crown) "and you are to take our side and keep €friendship with us." @So Jonathan put on the holy garments in the seventh month of the one €hundred and sixtieth year, at the feast of tabernacles, and he €recruited troops and equipped them with arms in abundance. When Demetrius heard of these things he was grieved and said, "What is this that we have done? Alexander has gotten ahead of us in €forming a friendship with the Jews to strengthen himself. I also will write them words of encouragement and promise them honor €and gifts, that I may have their help." So he sent a message to them in the following words: €@"King Demetrius to the nation of the Jews, greeting. Since you have kept your agreement with us and have continued your €friendship with us, and have not sided with our enemies, we have heard €of it and rejoiced. And now continue still to keep faith with us, and we will repay you €with good for what you do for us. We will grant you many immunities and give you gifts. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ³’ļ‚±Ķįć’؊˜@"And now I free you and exempt all the Jews from payment of tribute €and salt tax and crown levies, and instead of collecting the third of the grain and the half of the €fruit of the trees that I should receive, I release them from this day €and henceforth. I will not collect them from the land of Judah or from €the three districts added to it from Samaria and Galilee, from this day €and for all time. And let Jerusalem and her environs, her tithes and her revenues, be €holy and free from tax. I release also my control of the citadel in Jerusalem and give it to €the high priest, that he may station in it men of his own choice to €guard it. And every one of the Jews taken as a captive from the land of Judah €into any part of my kingdom, I set free without payment; and let all €officials cancel also the taxes on their cattle. @"And all the feasts and sabbaths and new moons and appointed days, €and the three days before a feast and the three after a feast -- let €them all be days of immunity and release for all the Jews who are in my €kingdom. No one shall have authority to exact anything from them or annoy any of €them about any matter. @"Let Jews be enrolled in the king's forces to the number of thirty €thousand men, and let the maintenance be given them that is due to all €the forces of the king. Let some of them be stationed in the great strongholds of the king, and €let some of them be put in positions of trust in the kingdom. Let their €officers and leaders be of their own number, and let them live by their €own laws, just as the king has commanded in the land of Judah. @"As for the three districts that have been added to Judea from the €country of Samaria, let them be so annexed to Judea that they are €considered to be under one ruler and obey no other authority but the €high priest. Ptolemais and the land adjoining it I have given as a gift to the €sanctuary in Jerusalem, to meet the necessary expenses of the sanctuary. I also grant fifteen thousand shekels of silver yearly out of the €king's revenues from appropriate places. And all the additional funds which the government officials have not €paid as they did in the first years, they shall give from now on for €the service of the temple. Moreover, the five thousand shekels of silver which my officials have €received every year from the income of the services of the temple, this €too is canceled, because it belongs to the priests who minister there. And whoever takes refuge at the temple in Jerusalem, or in any of its €precincts, because he owes money to the king or has any debt, let him €be released and receive back all his property in my kingdom. @"Let the cost of rebuilding and restoring the structures of the €sanctuary be paid from the revenues of the king. And let the cost of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and fortifying it €round about, and the cost of rebuilding the walls in Judea, also be €paid from the revenues of the king." @When Jonathan and the people heard these words, they did not believe €or accept them, because they remembered the great wrongs which €Demetrius had done in Israel and how he had greatly oppressed them. They favored Alexander, because he had been the first to speak €peaceable words to them, and they remained his allies all his days. @Now Alexander the king assembled large forces and encamped opposite €Demetrius. The two kings met in battle, and the army of Demetrius fled, and €Alexander pursued him and defeated them. He pressed the battle strongly until the sun set, and Demetrius fell on €that day. @Then Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemy king of Egypt with the €following message: "Since I have returned to my kingdom and have taken my seat on the €throne of my fathers, and established my rule -- for I crushed €Demetrius and gained control of our country; I met him in battle, and he and his army were crushed by us, and we €have taken our seat on the throne of his kingdom --now therefore let us establish friendship with one another; give me now €your daughter as my wife, and I will become your son-in-law, and will €make gifts to you and to her in keeping with your position." @Ptolemy the king replied and said, "Happy was the day on which you €returned to the land of your fathers and took your seat on the throne €of their kingdom. And now I will do for you as you wrote, but meet me at Ptolemais, so €that we may see one another, and I will become your father-in-law, as €you have said." @So Ptolemy set out from Egypt, he and Cleopatra his daughter, and €came to Ptolemais in the one hundred and sixty-second year. Alexander the king met him, and Ptolemy gave him Cleopatra his daughter €in marriage, and celebrated her wedding at Ptolemais with great pomp, €as kings do. @Then Alexander the king wrote to Jonathan to come to meet him. So he went with pomp to Ptolemais and met the two kings; he gave them €and their friends silver and gold and many gifts, and found favor with €them. A group of pestilent men from Israel, lawless men, gathered together €against him to accuse him; but the king paid no attention to them. The king gave orders to take off Jonathan's garments and to clothe him €in purple, and they did so. The king also seated him at his side; and he said to his officers, "Go €forth with him into the middle of the city and proclaim that no one is €to bring charges against him about any matter, and let no one annoy him €for any reason." And when his accusers saw the honor that was paid him, in accordance €with the proclamation, and saw him clothed in purple, they all fled. Thus the king honored him and enrolled him among his chief friends, and €made him general and governor of the province. And Jonathan returned to Jerusalem in peace and gladness. @In the one hundred and sixty-fifth year Demetrius the son of €Demetrius came from Crete to the land of his fathers. When Alexander the king heard of it, he was greatly grieved and €returned to Antioch. And Demetrius appointed Apollonius the governor of Coelesyria, and he €assembled a large force and encamped against Jamnia. Then he sent the €following message to Jonathan the high priest: @"You are the only one to rise up against us, and I have become a €laughingstock and reproach because of you. Why do you assume authority €against us in the hill country? If you now have confidence in your forces, come down to the plain to €meet us, and let us match strength with each other there, for I have €with me the power of the cities. Ask and learn who I am and who the others are that are helping us. Men €will tell you that you cannot stand before us, for your fathers were €twice put to flight in their own land. And now you will not be able to withstand my cavalry and such an army €in the plain, where there is no stone or pebble, or place to flee." @When Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, his spirit was aroused. €He chose ten thousand men and set out from Jerusalem, and Simon his €brother met him to help him. He encamped before Joppa, but the men of the city closed its gates, for €Apollonius had a garrison in Joppa. So they fought against it, and the men of the city became afraid and €opened the gates, and Jonathan gained possession of Joppa. @When Apollonius heard of it, he mustered three thousand cavalry and a €large army, and went to Azotus as though he were going farther. At the €same time he advanced into the plain, for he had a large troop of €cavalry and put confidence in it. Jonathan pursued him to Azotus, and the armies engaged in battle. Now Apollonius had secretly left a thousand cavalry behind them. Jonathan learned that there was an ambush behind him, for they €surrounded his army and shot arrows at his men from early morning till €late afternoon. But his men stood fast, as Jonathan commanded, and the enemy's horses €grew tired. @Then Simon brought forward his force and engaged the phalanx in €battle (for the cavalry was exhausted); they were overwhelmed by him €and fled, and the cavalry was dispersed in the plain. They fled to Azotus and €entered Beth-dagon, the temple of their idol, for safety. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ³’ļ‚±Ķįć’؊˜ŌBut Jonathan burned Azotus and the surrounding towns and plundered €them; and the temple of Dagon, and those who had taken refuge in it he €burned with fire. The number of those who fell by the sword, with those burned alive, €came to eight thousand men. @Then Jonathan departed from there and encamped against Askalon, and €the men of the city came out to meet him with great pomp. And Jonathan and those with him returned to Jerusalem with much booty. When Alexander the king heard of these things, he honored Jonathan €still more; and he sent to him a golden buckle, such as it is the custom to give to €the kinsmen of kings. He also gave him Ekron and all its environs as €his possession.  @Then the king of Egypt gathered great forces, like the sand by the €seashore, and many ships; and he tried to get possession of Alexander's €kingdom by trickery and add it to his own kingdom. He set out for Syria with peaceable words, and the people of the cities €opened their gates to him and went to meet him, for Alexander the king €had commanded them to meet him, since he was Alexander's father-in-law. But when Ptolemy entered the cities he stationed forces as a garrison €in each city. @When he approached Azotus, they showed him the temple of Dagon burned €down, and Azotus and its suburbs destroyed, and the corpses lying €about, and the charred bodies of those whom Jonathan had burned in the €war, for they had piled them in heaps along his route. They also told the king what Jonathan had done, to throw blame on him; €but the king kept silent. Jonathan met the king at Joppa with pomp, and they greeted one another €and spent the night there. And Jonathan went with the king as far as the river called Eleutherus; €then he returned to Jerusalem. @So King Ptolemy gained control of the coastal cities as far as €Seleucia by the sea, and he kept devising evil designs against €Alexander. He sent envoys to Demetrius the king, saying, "Come, let us make a €covenant with each other, and I will give you in marriage my daughter €who was Alexander's wife, and you shall reign over your father's €kingdom. For I now regret that I gave him my daughter, for he has tried to kill €me." He threw blame on Alexander because he coveted his kingdom. So he took his daughter away from him and gave her to Demetrius. He was €estranged from Alexander, and their enmity became manifest. @Then Ptolemy entered Antioch and put on the crown of Asia. Thus he €put two crowns upon his head, the crown of Egypt and that of Asia. Now Alexander the king was in Cilicia at that time, because the people €of that region were in revolt. And Alexander heard of it and came against him in battle. Ptolemy €marched out and met him with a strong force, and put him to flight. So Alexander fled into Arabia to find protection there, and King €Ptolemy was exalted. And Zabdiel the Arab cut off the head of Alexander and sent it to €Ptolemy. But King Ptolemy died three days later, and his troops in the €strongholds were killed by the inhabitants of the strongholds. So Demetrius became king in the one hundred and sixty-seventh year. @In those days Jonathan assembled the men of Judea to attack the €citadel in Jerusalem, and he built many engines of war to use against €it. But certain lawless men who hated their nation went to the king and €reported to him that Jonathan was besieging the citadel. When he heard this he was angry, and as soon as he heard it he set out €and came to Ptolemais; and he wrote Jonathan not to continue the siege, €but to meet him for a conference at Ptolemais as quickly as possible. @When Jonathan heard this, he gave orders to continue the siege; and €he chose some of the elders of Israel and some of the priests, and put €himself in danger, for he went to the king at Ptolemais, taking silver and gold and €clothing and numerous other gifts. And he won his favor. Although certain lawless men of his nation kept making complaints €against him, the king treated him as his predecessors had treated him; he exalted €him in the presence of all his friends. He confirmed him in the high priesthood and in as many other honors as €he had formerly had, and made him to be regarded as one of his chief €friends. Then Jonathan asked the king to free Judea and the three districts of €Samaria from tribute, and promised him three hundred talents. The king consented, and wrote a letter to Jonathan about all these €things; its contents were as follows: @"King Demetrius to Jonathan his brother and to the nation of the €Jews, greeting. This copy of the letter which we wrote concerning you to Lasthenes our €kinsman we have written to you also, so that you may know what it says. `King Demetrius to Lasthenes his father, greeting. To the nation of the Jews, who are our friends and fulfil their €obligations to us, we have determined to do good, because of the good €will they show toward us. We have confirmed as their possession both the territory of Judea and €the three districts of Aphairema and Lydda and Rathamin; the latter, €with all the region bordering them, were added to Judea from Samaria. €To all those who offer sacrifice in Jerusalem, we have granted release €from the royal taxes which the king formerly received from them each €year, from the crops of the land and the fruit of the trees. And the other payments henceforth due to us of the tithes, and the €taxes due to us, and the salt pits and the crown taxes due to us --€from all these we shall grant them release. And not one of these grants shall be canceled from this time forth for €ever. Now therefore take care to make a copy of this, and let it be given to €Jonathan and put up in a conspicuous place on the holy mountain.'" @Now when Demetrius the king saw that the land was quiet before him €and that there was no opposition to him, he dismissed all his troops, €each man to his own place, except the foreign troops which he had €recruited from the islands of the nations. So all the troops who had €served his fathers hated him. Now Trypho had formerly been one of Alexander's supporters. He saw that €all the troops were murmuring against Demetrius. So he went to Imalkue €the Arab, who was bringing up Antiochus, the young son of Alexander, and insistently urged him to hand Antiochus over to him, to become king €in place of his father. He also reported to Imalkue what Demetrius had €done and told of the hatred which the troops of Demetrius had for him; €and he stayed there many days. @Now Jonathan sent to Demetrius the king the request that he remove €the troops of the citadel from Jerusalem, and the troops in the €strongholds; for they kept fighting against Israel. And Demetrius sent this message to Jonathan, "Not only will I do these €things for you and your nation, but I will confer great honor on you €and your nation, if I find an opportunity. Now then you will do well to send me men who will help me, for all my €troops have revolted." So Jonathan sent three thousand stalwart men to him at Antioch, and €when they came to the king, the king rejoiced at their arrival. @Then the men of the city assembled within the city, to the number of €a hundred and twenty thousand, and they wanted to kill the king. But the king fled into the palace. Then the men of the city seized the €main streets of the city and began to fight. So the king called the Jews to his aid, and they all rallied about him €and then spread out through the city; and they killed on that day as €many as a hundred thousand men. They set fire to the city and seized much spoil on that day, and they €saved the king. When the men of the city saw that the Jews had gained control of the €city as they pleased, their courage failed and they cried out to the €king with this entreaty, "Grant us peace, and make the Jews stop fighting against us and our €city." And they threw down their arms and made peace. So the Jews gained glory €in the eyes of the king and of all the people in his kingdom, and they €returned to Jerusalem with much spoil. @So Demetrius the king sat on the throne of his kingdom, and the land €was quiet before him. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ³’ļ‚±Ķįć’؋˜µBut he broke his word about all that he had promised; and he became €estranged from Jonathan and did not repay the favors which Jonathan had €done him, but oppressed him greatly. @After this Trypho returned, and with him the young boy Antiochus who €began to reign and put on the crown. All the troops that Demetrius had cast off gathered around him, and €they fought against Demetrius, and he fled and was routed. And Trypho captured the elephants and gained control of Antioch. Then the young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan, saying, "I confirm you in €the high priesthood and set you over the four districts and make you €one of the friends of the king." And he sent him gold plate and a table service, and granted him the €right to drink from gold cups and dress in purple and wear a gold €buckle. Simon his brother he made governor from the Ladder of Tyre to the €borders of Egypt. @Then Jonathan set forth and traveled beyond the river and among the €cities, and all the army of Syria gathered to him as allies. When he €came to Askalon, the people of the city met him and paid him honor. From there he departed to Gaza, but the men of Gaza shut him out. So he €beseiged it and burned its suburbs with fire and plundered them. Then the people of Gaza pleaded with Jonathan, and he made peace with €them, and took the sons of their rulers as hostages and sent them to €Jerusalem. And he passed through the country as far as Damascus. @Then Jonathan heard that the officers of Demetrius had come to Kadesh €in Galilee with a large army, intending to remove him from office. He went to meet them, but left his brother Simon in the country. Simon encamped before Beth-zur and fought against it for many days and €hemmed it in. Then they asked him to grant them terms of peace, and he did so. He €removed them from there, took possession of the city, and set a €garrison over it. @Jonathan and his army encamped by the waters of Gennesaret. Early in €the morning they marched to the plain of Hazor, and behold, the army of the foreigners met him in the plain; they had €set an ambush against him in the mountains, but they themselves met him €face to face. Then the men in ambush emerged from their places and joined battle. All the men with Jonathan fled; not one of them was left except €Mattathias the son of Absalom and Judas the son of Chalphi, commanders €of the forces of the army. Jonathan rent his garments and put dust on his head, and prayed. Then he turned back to the battle against the enemy and routed them, €and they fled. When his men who were fleeing saw this, they returned to him and joined €him in the pursuit as far as Kadesh, to their camp, and there they €encamped. As many as three thousand of the foreigners fell that day. And Jonathan €returned to Jerusalem.  @Now when Jonathan saw that the time was favorable for him, he chose €men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew the friendship with them. He also sent letters to the same effect to the Spartans and to other €places. So they went to Rome and entered the senate chamber and said, "Jonathan €the high priest and the Jewish nation have sent us to renew the former €friendship and alliance with them." And the Romans gave them letters to the people in every place, asking €them to provide for the envoys safe conduct to the land of Judah. @This is a copy of the letter which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: "Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests, and €the rest of the Jewish people to their brethren the Spartans, greeting. Already in time past a letter was sent to Onias the high priest from €Arius, who was king among you, stating that you are our brethren, as €the appended copy shows. Onias welcomed the envoy with honor, and received the letter, which €contained a clear declaration of alliance and friendship. Therefore, though we have no need of these things, since we have as €encouragement the holy books which are in our hands, we have undertaken to send to renew our brotherhood and friendship with €you, so that we may not become estranged from you, for considerable €time has passed since you sent your letter to us. We therefore remember you constantly on every occasion, both in our €feasts and on other appropriate days, at the sacrifices which we offer €and in our prayers, as it is right and proper to remember brethren. And we rejoice in your glory. But as for ourselves, many afflictions and many wars have encircled us; €the kings round about us have waged war against us. We were unwilling to annoy you and our other allies and friends with €these wars, for we have the help which comes from Heaven for our aid; and we were €delivered from our enemies and our enemies were humbled. We therefore have chosen Numenius the son of Antiochus and Antipater €the son of Jason, and have sent them to Rome to renew our former €friendship and alliance with them. We have commanded them to go also to you and greet you and deliver to €you this letter from us concerning the renewal of our brotherhood. And now please send us a reply to this." @This is a copy of the letter which they sent to Onias: "Arius, king of the Spartans, to Onias the high priest, greeting. It has been found in writing concerning the Spartans and the Jews that €they are brethren and are of the family of Abraham. And now that we have learned this, please write us concerning your €welfare; we on our part write to you that your cattle and your property belong €to us, and ours belong to you. We therefore command that our envoys €report to you accordingly." @Now Jonathan heard that the commanders of Demetrius had returned, €with a larger force than before, to wage war against him. So he marched away from Jerusalem and met them in the region of Hamath, €for he gave them no opportunity to invade his own country. He sent spies to their camp, and they returned and reported to him that €the enemy were being drawn up in formation to fall upon the Jews by €night. So when the sun set, Jonathan commanded his men to be alert and to keep €their arms at hand so as to be ready all night for battle, and he €stationed outposts around the camp. When the enemy heard that Jonathan and his men were prepared for €battle, they were afraid and were terrified at heart; so they kindled €fires in their camp and withdrew. But Jonathan and his men did not know it until morning, for they saw €the fires burning. Then Jonathan pursued them, but he did not overtake them, for they had €crossed the Eleutherus river. So Jonathan turned aside against the Arabs who are called Zabadeans, €and he crushed them and plundered them. Then he broke camp and went to Damascus, and marched through all that €region. @Simon also went forth and marched through the country as far as €Askalon and the neighboring strongholds. He turned aside to Joppa and €took it by surprise, for he had heard that they were ready to hand over the stronghold to €the men whom Demetrius had sent. And he stationed a garrison there to €guard it. @When Jonathan returned he convened the elders of the people and €planned with them to build strongholds in Judea, to build the walls of Jerusalem still higher, and to erect a high €barrier between the citadel and the city to separate it from the city, €in order to isolate it so that its garrison could neither buy nor sell. So they gathered together to build up the city; part of the wall on the €valley to the east had fallen, and he repaired the section called €Chaphenatha. And Simon built Adida in the Shephelah; he fortified it and installed €gates with bolts. @Then Trypho attempted to become king in Asia and put on the crown, €and to raise his hand against Antiochus the king. He feared that Jonathan might not permit him to do so, but might make €war on him, so he kept seeking to seize and kill him, and he marched €forth and came to Beth-shan. Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand picked fighting men, €and he came to Beth-shan. When Trypho saw that he had come with a large army, he was afraid to €raise his hand against him. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ³’ļ‚±Ķįć’،˜«So he received him with honor and commended him to all his friends, and €he gave him gifts and commanded his friends and his troops to obey him €as they would himself. Then he said to Jonathan, "Why have you wearied all these people when €we are not at war? Dismiss them now to their homes and choose for yourself a few men to €stay with you, and come with me to Ptolemais. I will hand it over to €you as well as the other strongholds and the remaining troops and all €the officials, and will turn round and go home. For that is why I am €here." @Jonathan trusted him and did as he said; he sent away the troops, and €they returned to the land of Judah. He kept with himself three thousand men, two thousand of whom he left €in Galilee, while a thousand accompanied him. But when Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the men of Ptolemais closed the €gates and seized him, and all who had entered with him they killed with €the sword. @Then Trypho sent troops and cavalry into Galilee and the Great Plain €to destroy all Jonathan's soldiers. But they realized that Jonathan had been seized and had perished along €with his men, and they encouraged one another and kept marching in €close formation, ready for battle. When their pursuers saw that they would fight for their lives, they €turned back. So they all reached the land of Judah safely, and they mourned for €Jonathan and his companions and were in great fear; and all Israel €mourned deeply. And all the nations round about them tried to destroy them, for they €said, "They have no leader or helper. Now therefore let us make war on €them and blot out the memory of them from among men."  @Simon heard that Trypho had assembled a large army to invade the land €of Judah and destroy it, and he saw that the people were trembling and fearful. So he went up to €Jerusalem, and gathering the people together he encouraged them, saying to them, "You yourselves know what great €things I and my brothers and the house of my father have done for the €laws and the sanctuary; you know also the wars and the difficulties €which we have seen. By reason of this all my brothers have perished for the sake of Israel, €and I alone am left. And now, far be it from me to spare my life in any time of distress, €for I am not better than my brothers. But I will avenge my nation and the sanctuary and your wives and €children, for all the nations have gathered together out of hatred to €destroy us." @The spirit of the people was rekindled when they heard these words, and they answered in a loud voice, "You are our leader in place of €Judas and Jonathan your brother. Fight our battles, and all that you say to us we will do." So he assembled all the warriors and hastened to complete the walls of €Jerusalem, and he fortified it on every side. He sent Jonathan the son of Absalom to Joppa, and with him a €considerable army; he drove out its occupants and remained there. @Then Trypho departed from Ptolemais with a large army to invade the €land of Judah, and Jonathan was with him under guard. And Simon encamped in Adida, facing the plain. Trypho learned that Simon had risen up in place of Jonathan his €brother, and that he was about to join battle with him, so he sent €envoys to him and said, "It is for the money that Jonathan your brother owed the royal €treasury, in connection with the offices he held, that we are detaining €him. Send now a hundred talents of silver and two of his sons as hostages, €so that when released he will not revolt against us, and we will €release him." @Simon knew that they were speaking deceitfully to him, but he sent to €get the money and the sons, lest he arouse great hostility among the €people, who might say, "Because Simon did not send him the money and the sons, he perished." So he sent the sons and the hundred talents, but Trypho broke his word €and did not release Jonathan. @After this Trypho came to invade the country and destroy it, and he €circled around by the way to Adora. But Simon and his army kept €marching along opposite him to every place he went. Now the men in the citadel kept sending envoys to Trypho urging him to €come to them by way of the wilderness and to send them food. So Trypho got all his cavalry ready to go, but that night a very heavy €snow fell, and he did not go because of the snow. He marched off and €went into the land of Gilead. When he approached Baskama, he killed Jonathan, and he was buried there. Then Trypho turned back and departed to his own land. @And Simon sent and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried €him in Modein, the city of his fathers. All Israel bewailed him with great lamentation, and mourned for him €many days. And Simon built a monument over the tomb of his father and his €brothers; he made it high that it might be seen, with polished stone at €the front and back. He also erected seven pyramids, opposite one another, for his father €and mother and four brothers. And for the pyramids he devised an elaborate setting, erecting about €them great columns, and upon the columns he put suits of armor for a €permanent memorial, and beside the suits of armor carved ships, so that €they could be seen by all who sail the sea. This is the tomb which he built in Modein; it remains to this day. @Trypho dealt treacherously with the young king Antiochus; he killed €him and became king in his place, putting on the crown of Asia; and he €brought great calamity upon the land. But Simon built up the strongholds of Judea and walled them all around, €with high towers and great walls and gates and bolts, and he stored €food in the strongholds. Simon also chose men and sent them to Demetrius the king with a request €to grant relief to the country, for all that Trypho did was to plunder. Demetrius the king sent him a favorable reply to this request, and €wrote him a letter as follows, "King Demetrius to Simon, the high priest and friend of kings, and to €the elders and nation of the Jews, greeting. We have received the gold crown and the palm branch which you sent, and €we are ready to make a general peace with you and to write to our €officials to grant you release from tribute. All the grants that we have made to you remain valid, and let the €strongholds that you have built be your possession. We pardon any errors and offenses committed to this day, and cancel the €crown tax which you owe; and whatever other tax has been collected in €Jerusalem shall be collected no longer. And if any of you are qualified to be enrolled in our bodyguard, let €them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us." @In the one hundred and seventieth year the yoke of the Gentiles was €removed from Israel, and the people began to write in their documents and contracts, "In the €first year of Simon the great high priest and commander and leader of €the Jews." @In those days Simon encamped against Gazara and surrounded it with €troops. He made a siege engine, brought it up to the city, and battered €and captured one tower. The men in the siege engine leaped out into the city, and a great €tumult arose in the city. The men in the city, with their wives and children, went up on the wall €with their clothes rent, and they cried out with a loud voice, asking €Simon to make peace with them; they said, "Do not treat us according to our wicked acts but according €to your mercy." So Simon reached an agreement with them and stopped fighting against €them. But he expelled them from the city and cleansed the houses in €which the idols were, and then entered it with hymns and praise. He cast out of it all uncleanness, and settled in it men who observed €the law. He also strengthened its fortifications and built in it a €house for himself. @The men in the citadel at Jerusalem were prevented from going out to €the country and back to buy and sell. So they were very hungry, and €many of them perished from famine. Then they cried to Simon to make peace with them, and he did so. But he €expelled them from there and cleansed the citadel from its pollutions. On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the one hundred and žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ³’ļ‚±Ķįć’؍˜³‚seventy-first year, the Jews entered it with praise and palm branches, €and with harps and cymbals and stringed instruments, and with hymns and €songs, because a great enemy had been crushed and removed from Israel. And Simon decreed that every year they should celebrate this day with €rejoicing. He strengthened the fortifications of the temple hill €alongside the citadel, and he and his men dwelt there. And Simon saw that John his son had reached manhood, so he made him €commander of all the forces, and he dwelt in Gazara.  @In the one hundred and seventy-second year Demetrius the king €assembled his forces and marched into Media to secure help, so that he €could make war against Trypho. When Arsaces the king of Persia and Media heard that Demetrius had €invaded his territory, he sent one of his commanders to take him alive. And he went and defeated the army of Demetrius, and seized him and took €him to Arsaces, who put him under guard. @@The land had rest all the days of Simon. €@@@He sought the good of his nation; €@@his rule was pleasing to them, €@@@as was the honor shown him, all his days. @@To crown all his honors he took Joppa for a harbor, €@@@and opened a way to the isles of the sea. @@He extended the borders of his nation, €@@@and gained full control of the country. @@He gathered a host of captives; €@@@he ruled over Gazara and Beth-zur and the citadel, €@@and he removed its uncleanness from it; €@@@and there was none to oppose him. @@They tilled their land in peace; €@@@the ground gave its increase, €@@@and the trees of the plains their fruit. @@Old men sat in the streets; €@@@they all talked together of good things; €@@@and the youths donned the glories and garments of war. @@He supplied the cities with food, €@@@and furnished them with the means of defense, €@@@till his renown spread to the ends of the earth. @@He established peace in the land, €@@@and Israel rejoiced with great joy. @@Each man sat under his vine and his fig tree, €@@@and there was none to make them afraid. @@No one was left in the land to fight them, €@@@and the kings were crushed in those days. @@He strengthened all the humble of his people; €@@@he sought out the law, €@@@and did away with every lawless and wicked man. @@He made the sanctuary glorious, €@@@and added to the vessels of the sanctuary. @It was heard in Rome, and as far away as Sparta, that Jonathan had €died, and they were deeply grieved. When they heard that Simon his brother had become high priest in his €place, and that he was ruling over the country and the cities in it, they wrote to him on bronze tablets to renew with him the friendship €and alliance which they had established with Judas and Jonathan his €brothers. And these were read before the assembly in Jerusalem. @This is a copy of the letter which the Spartans sent: "The rulers and €the city of the Spartans to Simon the high priest and to the elders and €the priests and the rest of the Jewish people, our brethren, greeting. The envoys who were sent to our people have told us about your glory €and honor, and we rejoiced at their coming. And what they said we have recorded in our public decrees, as follows, €`Numenius the son of Antiochus and Antipater the son of Jason, envoys €of the Jews, have come to us to renew their friendship with us. It has pleased our people to receive these men with honor and to put a €copy of their words in the public archives, so that the people of the €Spartans may have a record of them. And they have sent a copy of this €to Simon the high priest.'" @After this Simon sent Numenius to Rome with a large gold shield €weighing a thousand minas, to confirm the alliance with the Romans. @When the people heard these things they said, "How shall we thank €Simon and his sons? For he and his brothers and the house of his father have stood firm; €they have fought and repulsed Israel's enemies and established its €freedom." So they made a record on bronze tablets and put it upon pillars on €Mount Zion. €@This is a copy of what they wrote: "On the eighteenth day of Elul, in €the one hundred and seventy-second year, which is the third year of €Simon the great high priest, in Asaramel, in the great assembly of the priests and the people and €the rulers of the nation and the elders of the country, the following €was proclaimed to us: @"Since wars often occurred in the country, Simon the son of €Mattathias, a priest of the sons of Joarib, and his brothers, exposed €themselves to danger and resisted the enemies of their nation, in order €that their sanctuary and the law might be perserved; and they brought €great glory to their nation. Jonathan rallied the nation, and became their high priest, and was €gathered to his people. And when their enemies decided to invade their country and lay hands on €their sanctuary, then Simon rose up and fought for his nation. He spent great sums of €his own money; he armed the men of his nation's forces and paid them €wages. He fortified the cities of Judea, and Beth-zur on the borders of Judea, €where formerly the arms of the enemy had been stored, and he placed €there a garrison of Jews. He also fortified Joppa, which is by the sea, and Gazara, which is on €the borders of Azotus, where the enemy formerly dwelt. He settled Jews €there, and provided in those cities whatever was necessary for their €restoration. @"The people saw Simon's faithfulness and the glory which he had €resolved to win for his nation, and they made him their leader and high €priest, because he had done all these things and because of the justice €and loyalty which he had maintained toward his nation. He sought in €every way to exalt his people. And in his days things prospered in his hands, so that the Gentiles €were put out of the country, as were also the men in the city of David €in Jerusalem, who had built themselves a citadel from which they used €to sally forth and defile the environs of the sanctuary and do great €damage to its purity. He settled Jews in it, and fortified it for the safety of the country €and of the city, and built the walls of Jerusalem higher. @"In view of these things King Demetrius confirmed him in the high €priesthood, and he made him one of the king's friends and paid him high honors. For he had heard that the Jews were addressed by the Romans as friends €and allies and brethren, and that the Romans had received the envoys of €Simon with honor. @"And the Jews and their priests decided that Simon should be their €leader and high priest for ever, until a trustworthy prophet should €arise, and that he should be governor over them and that he should take charge €of the sanctuary and appoint men over its tasks and over the country €and the weapons and the strongholds, and that he should take charge of €the sanctuary, and that he should be obeyed by all, and that all contracts in the €country should be written in his name, and that he should be clothed in €purple and wear gold. @"And none of the people or priests shall be permitted to nullify any €of these decisions or to oppose what he says, or to convene an assembly €in the country without his permission, or to be clothed in purple or €put on a gold buckle. Whoever acts contrary to these decisions or nullifies any of them shall €be liable to punishment." @And all the people agreed to grant Simon the right to act in accord €with these decisions. So Simon accepted and agreed to be high priest, to be commander and €ethnarch of the Jews and priests, and to be protector of them all. And they gave orders to inscribe this decree upon bronze tablets, to €put them up in a conspicuous place in the precincts of the sanctuary, and to deposit copies of them in the treasury, so that Simon and his €sons might have them.  @Antiochus, the son of Demetrius the king, sent a letter from the €islands of the sea to Simon, the priest and ethnarch of the Jews, and €to all the nation; its contents were as follows: "King Antiochus to Simon the high priest €and ethnarch and to the nation of the Jews, greeting. Whereas certain pestilent men have gained control of the kingdom of our žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ³’ļ‚±Ķįć’؏“‚fathers, and I intend to lay claim to the kingdom so that I may restore €it as it formerly was, and have recruited a host of mercenary troops €and have equipped warships, and intend to make a landing in the country so that I may proceed €against those who have destroyed our country and those who have €devastated many cities in my kingdom, now therefore I confirm to you all the tax remissions that the kings €before me have granted you, and release from all the other payments €from which they have released you. I permit you to mint your own coinage as money for your country, and I grant freedom to Jerusalem and the sanctuary. All the weapons €which you have prepared and the strongholds which you have built and €now hold shall remain yours. Every debt you owe to the royal treasury and any such future debts €shall be canceled for you from henceforth and for all time. When we gain control of our kingdom, we will bestow great honor upon €you and your nation and the temple, so that your glory will become €manifest in all the earth." @In the one hundred and seventy-fourth year Antiochus set out and €invaded the land of his fathers. All the troops rallied to him, so that €there were few with Trypho. Antiochus pursued him, and he came in his flight to Dor, which is by €the sea; for he knew that troubles had converged upon him, and his troops had €deserted him. So Antiochus encamped against Dor, and with him were a hundred and €twenty thousand warriors and eight thousand cavalry. He surrounded the city, and the ships joined battle from the sea; he €pressed the city hard from land and sea, and permitted no one to leave €or enter it. @Then Numenius and his companions arrived from Rome, with letters to €the kings and countries, in which the following was written: "Lucius, consul of the Romans, to King Ptolemy, greeting. The envoys of the Jews have come to us as our friends and allies to €renew our ancient friendship and alliance. They had been sent by Simon €the high priest and by the people of the Jews, and have brought a gold shield weighing a thousand minas. We therefore have decided to write to the kings and countries that they €should not seek their harm or make war against them and their cities €and their country, or make alliance with those who war against them. And it has seemed good to us to accept the shield from them. Therefore if any pestilent men have fled to you from their country, €hand them over to Simon the high priest, that he may punish them €according to their law." @The consul wrote the same thing to Demetrius the king and to Attalus €and Ariarathes and Arsaces, and to all the countries, and to Sampsames, and to the Spartans, and to €Delos, and to Myndos, and to Sicyon, and to Caria, and to Samos, and to €Pamphylia, and to Lycia, and to Halicarnassus, and to Rhodes, and to €Phaselis, and to Cos, and to Side, and to Aradus and Gortyna and Cnidus €and Cyprus and Cyrene. They also sent a copy of these things to Simon the high priest. @Antiochus the king besieged Dor anew, continually throwing his forces €against it and making engines of war; and he shut Trypho up and kept €him from going out or in. And Simon sent to Antiochus two thousand picked men, to fight for him, €and silver and gold and much military equipment. But he refused to receive them, and he broke all the agreements he €formerly had made with Simon, and became estranged from him. He sent to him Athenobius, one of his friends, to confer with him, €saying, "You hold control of Joppa and Gazara and the citadel in €Jerusalem; they are cities of my kingdom. You have devastated their territory, you have done great damage in the €land, and you have taken possession of many places in my kingdom. Now then, hand over the cities which you have seized and the tribute €money of the places which you have conquered outside the borders of €Judea; or else give me for them five hundred talents of silver, and for the €destruction that you have caused and the tribute money of the cities, €five hundred talents more. Otherwise we will come and conquer you." @So Athenobius the friend of the king came to Jerusalem, and when he €saw the splendor of Simon, and the sideboard with its gold and silver €plate, and his great magnificence, he was amazed. He reported to him €the words of the king, but Simon gave him this reply: "We have neither taken foreign land nor €seized foreign property, but only the inheritance of our fathers, which €at one time had been unjustly taken by our enemies. Now that we have the opportunity, we are firmly holding the inheritance €of our fathers. As for Joppa and Gazara, which you demand, they were causing great €damage among the people and to our land; for them we will give you a €hundred talents." Athenobius did not answer him a word, but returned in wrath to the king and reported to him these words and €the splendor of Simon and all that he had seen. And the king was €greatly angered. @Now Trypho embarked on a ship and escaped to Orthosia. Then the king made Cendebeus commander-in-chief of the coastal country, €and gave him troops of infantry and cavalry. He commanded him to encamp against Judea, and commanded him to build up €Kedron and fortify its gates, and to make war on the people; but the €king pursued Trypho. So Cendebeus came to Jamnia and began to provoke the people and invade €Judea and take the people captive and kill them. He built up Kedron and stationed there horsemen and troops, so that €they might go out and make raids along the highways of Judea, as the €king had ordered him.  @John went up from Gazara and reported to Simon his father what €Cendebeus had done. And Simon called in his two older sons Judas and John, and said to €them: "I and my brothers and the house of my father have fought the €wars of Israel from our youth until this day, and things have prospered €in our hands so that we have delivered Israel many times. But now I have grown old, and you by His mercy are mature in years. €Take my place and my brother's, and go out and fight for our nation, €and may the help which comes from Heaven be with you." @So John chose out of the country twenty thousand warriors and €horsemen, and they marched against Cendebeus and camped for the night €in Modein. Early in the morning they arose and marched into the plain, and behold, €a large force of infantry and horsemen was coming to meet them; and a €stream lay between them. Then he and his army lined up against them. And he saw that the €soldiers were afraid to cross the stream, so he crossed over first; and €when his men saw him, they crossed over after him. Then he divided the army and placed the horsemen in the midst of the €infantry, for the cavalry of the enemy were very numerous. And they sounded the trumpets, and Cendebeus and his army were put to €flight, and many of them were wounded and fell; the rest fled into the €stronghold. At that time Judas the brother of John was wounded, but John pursued €them until Cendebeus reached Kedron, which he had built. They also fled into the towers that were in the fields of Azotus, and €John burned it with fire, and about two thousand of them fell. And he €returned to Judea safely. @Now Ptolemy the son of Abubus had been appointed governor over the €plain of Jericho, and he had much silver and gold, for he was son-in-law of the high priest. His heart was lifted up; he determined to get control of the country, €and made treacherous plans against Simon and his sons, to do away with €them. Now Simon was visiting the cities of the country and attending to their €needs, and he went down to Jericho with Mattathias and Judas his sons, €in the one hundred and seventy-seventh year, in the eleventh month, €which is the month of Shebat. The son of Abubus received them treacherously in the little stronghold €called Dok, which he had built; he gave them a great banquet, and hid €men there. When Simon and his sons were drunk, Ptolemy and his men rose up, took €their weapons, and rushed in against Simon in the banquet hall, and €they killed him and his two sons and some of his servants. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ³’ļ‚±Ķįć’ؐ˜‘So he committed an act of great treachery and returned evil for good. @Then Ptolemy wrote a report about these things and sent it to the €king, asking him to send troops to aid him and to turn over to him the €cities and the country. He sent other men to Gazara to do away with John; he sent letters to €the captains asking them to come to him so that he might give them €silver and gold and gifts; and he sent other men to take possession of Jerusalem and the temple €hill. But some one ran ahead and reported to John at Gazara that his father €and brothers had perished, and that "he has sent men to kill you also." When he heard this, he was greatly shocked; and he seized the men who €came to destroy him and killed them, for he had found out that they €were seeking to destroy him. @The rest of the acts of John and his wars and the brave deeds which €he did, and the building of the walls which he built, and his €achievements, behold, they are written in the chronicles of his high priesthood, from €the time that he became high priest after his father. ąļ‚²Ķįć’”The Jewish brethren in Jerusalem and those in the land of Judea, To €their Jewish brethren in Egypt, Greeting, and good peace. @May God do good to you, and may he remember his covenant with Abraham €and Isaac and Jacob, his faithful servants. May he give you all a heart to worship him and to do his will with a €strong heart and a willing spirit. May he open your heart to his law and his commandments, and may he €bring peace. May he hear your prayers and be reconciled to you, and may he not €forsake you in time of evil. We are now praying for you here. @In the reign of Demetrius, in the one hundred and sixty-ninth year, €we Jews wrote to you, in the critical distress which came upon us in €those years after Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and €the kingdom and burned the gate and shed innocent blood. We besought the Lord and €we were heard, and we offered sacrifice and cereal offering, and we €lighted the lamps and we set out the loaves. And now see that you keep the feast of booths in the month of Chislev, €in the one hundred and eighty-eighth year. @Those in Jerusalem and those in Judea and the senate and Judas, €@To Aristobulus, who is of the family of the anointed priests, teacher €of Ptolemy the king, and to the Jews in Egypt, €@Greeting, and good health. Having been saved by God out of grave dangers we thank him greatly for €taking our side against the king. For he drove out those who fought against the holy city. For when the leader reached Persia with a force that seemed €irresistible, they were cut to pieces in the temple of Nanea by a €deception employed by the priests of Nanea. For under pretext of intending to marry her, Antiochus came to the €place together with his friends, to secure most of its treasures as a €dowry. When the priests of the temple of Nanea had set out the treasures and €Antiochus had come with a few men inside the wall of the sacred €precinct, they closed the temple as soon as he entered it. Opening the secret door in the ceiling, they threw stones and struck €down the leader and his men, and dismembered them and cut off their €heads and threw them to the people outside. Blessed in every way be our God, who has brought judgment upon those €who have behaved impiously. @Since on the twenty-fifth day of Chislev we shall celebrate the €purification of the temple, we thought it necessary to notify you, in €order that you also may celebrate the feast of booths and the feast of €the fire given when Nehemiah, who built the temple and the altar, €offered sacrifices. @For when our fathers were being led captive to Persia, the pious €priests of that time took some of the fire of the altar and secretly €hid it in the hollow of a dry cistern, where they took such precautions €that the place was unknown to any one. But after many years had passed, when it pleased God, Nehemiah, having €been commissioned by the king of Persia, sent the descendants of the €priests who had hidden the fire to get it. And when they reported to us €that they had not found fire but thick liquid, he ordered them to dip €it out and bring it. And when the materials for the sacrifices were presented, Nehemiah €ordered the priests to sprinkle the liquid on the wood and what was €laid upon it. When this was done and some time had passed and the sun, which had been €clouded over, shone out, a great fire blazed up, so that all marveled. And while the sacrifice was being consumed, the priests offered prayer €-- the priests and every one. Jonathan led, and the rest responded, as €did Nehemiah. The prayer was to this effect: €@"O Lord, Lord God, Creator of all things, who art awe-inspiring and €strong and just and merciful, who alone art King and art kind, who alone art bountiful, who alone art just and almighty and eternal, €who dost rescue Israel from every evil, who didst choose the fathers €and consecrate them, accept this sacrifice on behalf of all thy people Israel and preserve €thy portion and make it holy. Gather together our scattered people, set free those who are slaves €among the Gentiles, look upon those who are rejected and despised, and €let the Gentiles know that thou art our God. Afflict those who oppress and are insolent with pride. Plant thy people in thy holy place, as Moses said." @Then the priests sang the hymns. And when the materials of the sacrifice were consumed, Nehemiah ordered €that the liquid that was left should be poured upon large stones. When this was done, a flame blazed up; but when the light from the €altar shone back, it went out. When this matter became known, and it was reported to the king of the €Persians that, in the place where the exiled priests had hidden the €fire, the liquid had appeared with which Nehemiah and his associates €had burned the materials of the sacrifice, the king investigated the matter, and enclosed the place and made it €sacred. And with those persons whom the king favored he exchanged many €excellent gifts. Nehemiah and his associates called this "nephthar," which means €purification, but by most people it is called naphtha.  One finds in the records that Jeremiah the prophet ordered those who €were being deported to take some of the fire, as has been told, and that the prophet after giving them the law instructed those who €were being deported not to forget the commandments of the Lord, nor to €be led astray in their thoughts upon seeing the gold and silver statues €and their adornment. And with other similar words he exhorted them that the law should not €depart from their hearts. @It was also in the writing that the prophet, having received an €oracle, ordered that the tent and the ark should follow with him, and €that he went out to the mountain where Moses had gone up and had seen €the inheritance of God. And Jeremiah came and found a cave, and he brought there the tent and €the ark and the altar of incense, and he sealed up the entrance. Some of those who followed him came up to mark the way, but could not €find it. When Jeremiah learned of it, he rebuked them and declared: "The place €shall be unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows €his mercy. And then the Lord will disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord €and the cloud will appear, as they were shown in the case of Moses, and €as Solomon asked that the place should be specially consecrated." @It was also made clear that being possessed of wisdom Solomon offered €sacrifice for the dedication and completion of the temple. Just as Moses prayed to the Lord, and fire came down from heaven and €devoured the sacrifices, so also Solomon prayed, and the fire came down €and consumed the whole burnt offerings. And Moses said, "They were consumed because the sin offering had not €been eaten." Likewise Solomon also kept the eight days. @The same things are reported in the records and in the memoirs of €Nehemiah, and also that he founded a library and collected the books €about the kings and prophets, and the writings of David, and letters of žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ“’ļ‚²Ķįć’¢˜„kings about votive offerings. In the same way Judas also collected all the books that had been lost €on account of the war which had come upon us, and they are in our €possession. So if you have need of them, send people to get them for you. @Since, therefore, we are about to celebrate the purification, we €write to you. Will you therefore please keep the days? It is God who has saved all his people, and has returned the €inheritance to all, and the kingship and priesthood and consecration, as he promised through the law. For we have hope in God that he will €soon have mercy upon us and will gather us from everywhere under heaven €into his holy place, for he has rescued us from great evils and has €purified the place. @The story of Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, and the purification €of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar, and further the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes and his son Eupator, and the appearances which came from heaven to those who strove €zealously on behalf of Judaism, so that though few in number they €seized the whole land and pursued the barbarian hordes, and recovered the temple famous throughout the world and freed the city €and restored the laws that were about to be abolished, while the Lord €with great kindness became gracious to them --all this, which has been set forth by Jason of Cyrene in five volumes, €we shall attempt to condense into a single book. For considering the flood of numbers involved and the difficulty there €is for those who wish to enter upon the narratives of history because €of the mass of material, we have aimed to please those who wish to read, to make it easy for €those who are inclined to memorize, and to profit all readers. For us who have undertaken the toil of abbreviating, it is no light €matter but calls for sweat and loss of sleep, just as it is not easy for one who prepares a banquet and seeks the €benefit of others. However, to secure the gratitude of many we will €gladly endure the uncomfortable toil, leaving the responsibility for exact details to the compiler, while €devoting our effort to arriving at the outlines of the condensation. For as the master builder of a new house must be concerned with the €whole construction, while the one who undertakes its painting and €decoration has to consider only what is suitable for its adornment, €such in my judgment is the case with us. It is the duty of the original historian to occupy the ground and to €discuss matters from every side and to take trouble with details, but the one who recasts the narrative should be allowed to strive for €brevity of expression and to forego exhaustive treatment. At this point therefore let us begin our narrative, adding only so much €to what has already been said; for it is foolish to lengthen the €preface while cutting short the history itself.  @While the holy city was inhabited in unbroken peace and the laws were €very well observed because of the piety of the high priest Onias and €his hatred of wickedness, it came about that the kings themselves honored the place and glorified €the temple with the finest presents, so that even Seleucus, the king of Asia, defrayed from his own revenues €all the expenses connected with the service of the sacrifices. But a man named Simon, of the tribe of Benjamin, who had been made €captain of the temple, had a disagreement with the high priest about €the administration of the city market; and when he could not prevail over Onias he went to Apollonius of €Tarsus, who at that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia. He reported to him that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of untold €sums of money, so that the amount of the funds could not be reckoned, €and that they did not belong to the account of the sacrifices, but that €it was possible for them to fall under the control of the king. When Apollonius met the king, he told him of the money about which he €had been informed. The king chose Heliodorus, who was in charge of his €affairs, and sent him with commands to effect the removal of the €aforesaid money. Heliodorus at once set out on his journey, ostensibly to make a tour of €inspection of the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but in fact to €carry out the king's purpose. @When he had arrived at Jerusalem and had been kindly welcomed by the €high priest of the city, he told about the disclosure that had been €made and stated why he had come, and he inquired whether this really €was the situation. The high priest explained that there were some deposits belonging to €widows and orphans, and also some money of Hyrcanus, son of Tobias, a man of very prominent €position, and that it totaled in all four hundred talents of silver and €two hundred of gold. To such an extent the impious Simon had €misrepresented the facts. And he said that it was utterly impossible that wrong should be done to €those people who had trusted in the holiness of the place and in the €sanctity and inviolability of the temple which is honored throughout €the whole world. But Heliodorus, because of the king's commands which he had, said that €this money must in any case be confiscated for the king's treasury. So he set a day and went in to direct the inspection of these funds. €@There was no little distress throughout the whole city. The priests prostrated themselves before the altar in their priestly €garments and called toward heaven upon him who had given the law about €deposits, that he should keep them safe for those who had deposited €them. To see the appearance of the high priest was to be wounded at heart, €for his face and the change in his color disclosed the anguish of his €soul. For terror and bodily trembling had come over the man, which plainly €showed to those who looked at him the pain lodged in his heart. People also hurried out of their houses in crowds to make a general €supplication because the holy place was about to be brought into €contempt. Women, girded with sackcloth under their breasts, thronged the streets. €Some of the maidens who were kept indoors ran together to the gates, €and some to the walls, while others peered out of the windows. And holding up their hands to heaven, they all made entreaty. There was something pitiable in the prostration of the whole populace €and the anxiety of the high priest in his great anguish. @While they were calling upon the Almighty Lord that he would keep €what had been entrusted safe and secure for those who had entrusted it, Heliodorus went on with what had been decided. But when he arrived at the treasury with his bodyguard, then and there €the Sovereign of spirits and of all authority caused so great a €manifestation that all who had been so bold as to accompany him were €astounded by the power of God, and became faint with terror. For there appeared to them a magnificently caparisoned horse, with a €rider of frightening mien, and it rushed furiously at Heliodorus and €struck at him with its front hoofs. Its rider was seen to have armor €and weapons of gold. Two young men also appeared to him, remarkably strong, gloriously €beautiful and splendidly dressed, who stood on each side of him and €scourged him continuously, inflicting many blows on him. When he suddenly fell to the ground and deep darkness came over him, €his men took him up and put him on a stretcher and carried him away, this man who had just entered the aforesaid €treasury with a great retinue and all his bodyguard but was now unable €to help himself; and they recognized clearly the sovereign power of God. While he lay prostrate, speechless because of the divine intervention €and deprived of any hope of recovery, they praised the Lord who had acted marvelously for his own place. And €the temple, which a little while before was full of fear and €disturbance, was filled with joy and gladness, now that the Almighty €Lord had appeared. @Quickly some of Heliodorus' friends asked Onias to call upon the Most €High and to grant life to one who was lying quite at his last breath. And the high priest, fearing that the king might get the notion that žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ“’ļ‚²Ķįć’£˜ ‚some foul play had been perpetrated by the Jews with regard to €Heliodorus, offered sacrifice for the man's recovery. While the high priest was making the offering of atonement, the same €young men appeared again to Heliodorus dressed in the same clothing, €and they stood and said, "Be very grateful to Onias the high priest, €since for his sake the Lord has granted you your life. And see that you, who have been scourged by heaven, report to all men €the majestic power of God." Having said this they vanished. @Then Heliodorus offered sacrifice to the Lord and made very great €vows to the Savior of his life, and having bidden Onias farewell, he €marched off with his forces to the king. And he bore testimony to all men of the deeds of the supreme God, which €he had seen with his own eyes. When the king asked Heliodorus what sort of person would be suitable to €send on another mission to Jerusalem, he replied, "If you have any enemy or plotter against your government, send him €there, for you will get him back thoroughly scourged, if he escapes at €all, for there certainly is about the place some power of God. For he who has his dwelling in heaven watches over that place himself €and brings it aid, and he strikes and destroys those who come to do it €injury." This was the outcome of the episode of Heliodorus and the protection of €the treasury.  @The previously mentioned Simon, who had informed about the money €against his own country, slandered Onias, saying that it was he who had €incited Heliodorus and had been the real cause of the misfortune. He dared to designate as a plotter against the government the man who €was the benefactor of the city, the protector of his fellow countrymen, €and a zealot for the laws. When his hatred progressed to such a degree that even murders were €committed by one of Simon's approved agents, Onias recognized that the rivalry was serious and that Apollonius, the €son of Menestheus and governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, was €intensifying the malice of Simon. So he betook himself to the king, not accusing his fellow citizens but €having in view the welfare, both public and private, of all the people. For he saw that without the king's attention public affairs could not €again reach a peaceful settlement, and that Simon would not stop his €folly. @When Seleucus died and Antiochus who was called Epiphanes succeeded €to the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias obtained the high priesthood €by corruption, promising the king at an interview three hundred and sixty talents of €silver and, from another source of revenue, eighty talents. In addition to this he promised to pay one hundred and fifty more if €permission were given to establish by his authority a gymnasium and a €body of youth for it, and to enrol the men of Jerusalem as citizens of €Antioch. When the king assented and Jason came to office, he at once shifted his €countrymen over to the Greek way of life. He set aside the existing royal concessions to the Jews, secured €through John the father of Eupolemus, who went on the mission to €establish friendship and alliance with the Romans; and he destroyed the €lawful ways of living and introduced new customs contrary to the law. For with alacrity he founded a gymnasium right under the citadel, and €he induced the noblest of the young men to wear the Greek hat. There was such an extreme of Hellenization and increase in the adoption €of foreign ways because of the surpassing wickedness of Jason, who was €ungodly and no high priest, that the priests were no longer intent upon their service at the altar. €Despising the sanctuary and neglecting the sacrifices, they hastened to €take part in the unlawful proceedings in the wrestling arena after the €call to the discus, disdaining the honors prized by their fathers and putting the highest €value upon Greek forms of prestige. For this reason heavy disaster overtook them, and those whose ways of €living they admired and wished to imitate completely became their €enemies and punished them. For it is no light thing to show irreverence to the divine laws -- a €fact which later events will make clear. @When the quadrennial games were being held at Tyre and the king was €present, the vile Jason sent envoys, chosen as being Antiochian citizens from €Jerusalem, to carry three hundred silver drachmas for the sacrifice to €Hercules. Those who carried the money, however, thought best not to use €it for sacrifice, because that was inappropriate, but to expend it for €another purpose. So this money was intended by the sender for the sacrifice to Hercules, €but by the decision of its carriers it was applied to the construction €of triremes. @When Apollonius the son of Menestheus was sent to Egypt for the €coronation of Philometor as king, Antiochus learned that Philometor had €become hostile to his government, and he took measures for his own €security. Therefore upon arriving at Joppa he proceeded to Jerusalem. He was welcomed magnificently by Jason and the city, and ushered in €with a blaze of torches and with shouts. Then he marched into Phoenicia. @After a period of three years Jason sent Menelaus, the brother of the €previously mentioned Simon, to carry the money to the king and to €complete the records of essential business. But he, when presented to the king, extolled him with an air of €authority, and secured the high priesthood for himself, outbidding €Jason by three hundred talents of silver. After receiving the king's orders he returned, possessing no €qualification for the high priesthood, but having the hot temper of a €cruel tyrant and the rage of a savage wild beast. So Jason, who after supplanting his own brother was supplanted by €another man, was driven as a fugitive into the land of Ammon. And Menelaus held the office, but he did not pay regularly any of the €money promised to the king. When Sostratus the captain of the citadel kept requesting payment, for €the collection of the revenue was his responsibility, the two of them €were summoned by the king on account of this issue. Menelaus left his own brother Lysimachus as deputy in the high €priesthood, while Sostratus left Crates, the commander of the Cyprian €troops. @While such was the state of affairs, it happened that the people of €Tarsus and of Mallus revolted because their cities had been given as a €present to Antiochis, the king's concubine. So the king went hastily to settle the trouble, leaving Andronicus, a €man of high rank, to act as his deputy. But Menelaus, thinking he had obtained a suitable opportunity, stole €some of the gold vessels of the temple and gave them to Andronicus; €other vessels, as it happened, he had sold to Tyre and the neighboring €cities. When Onias became fully aware of these acts he publicly exposed them, €having first withdrawn to a place of sanctuary at Daphne near Antioch. Therefore Menelaus, taking Andronicus aside, urged him to kill Onias. €Andronicus came to Onias, and resorting to treachery offered him sworn €pledges and gave him his right hand, and in spite of his suspicion €persuaded Onias to come out from the place of sanctuary; then, with no €regard for justice, he immediately put him out of the way. For this reason not only Jews, but many also of other nations, were €grieved and displeased at the unjust murder of the man. When the king returned from the region of Cilicia, the Jews in the city €appealed to him with regard to the unreasonable murder of Onias, and €the Greeks shared their hatred of the crime. Therefore Antiochus was grieved at heart and filled with pity, and wept €because of the moderation and good conduct of the deceased; and inflamed with anger, he immediately stripped off the purple robe €from Andronicus, tore off his garments, and led him about the whole €city to that very place where he had committed the outrage against €Onias, and there he dispatched the bloodthirsty fellow. The Lord thus €repaid him with the punishment he deserved. @When many acts of sacrilege had been committed in the city by €Lysimachus with the connivance of Menelaus, and when report of them had žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ“’ļ‚²Ķįć’¤˜§ƒspread abroad, the populace gathered against Lysimachus, because many €of the gold vessels had already been stolen. And since the crowds were becoming aroused and filled with anger, €Lysimachus armed about three thousand men and launched an unjust €attack, under the leadership of a certain Auranus, a man advanced in €years and no less advanced in folly. But when the Jews became aware of Lysimachus' attack, some picked up €stones, some blocks of wood, and others took handfuls of the ashes that €were lying about, and threw them in wild confusion at Lysimachus and €his men. As a result, they wounded many of them, and killed some, and put them €all to flight; and the temple robber himself they killed close by the €treasury. @Charges were brought against Menelaus about this incident. When the king came to Tyre, three men sent by the senate presented the €case before him. But Menelaus, already as good as beaten, promised a substantial bribe €to Ptolemy son of Dorymenes to win over the king. Therefore Ptolemy, taking the king aside into a colonnade as if for €refreshment, induced the king to change his mind. Menelaus, the cause of all the evil, he acquitted of the charges €against him, while he sentenced to death those unfortunate men, who €would have been freed uncondemned if they had pleaded even before €Scythians. And so those who had spoken for the city and the villages and the holy €vessels quickly suffered the unjust penalty. Therefore even the Tyrians, showing their hatred of the crime, provided €magnificently for their funeral. But Menelaus, because of the cupidity of those in power, remained in €office, growing in wickedness, having become the chief plotter against €his fellow citizens.  @About this time Antiochus made his second invasion of Egypt. And it happened that over all the city, for almost forty days, there €appeared golden-clad horsemen charging through the air, in companies €fully armed with lances and drawn swords --troops of horsemen drawn up, attacks and counterattacks made on this €side and on that, brandishing of shields, massing of spears, hurling of €missiles, the flash of golden trappings, and armor of all sorts. Therefore all men prayed that the apparition might prove to have been a €good omen. @When a false rumor arose that Antiochus was dead, Jason took no less €than a thousand men and suddenly made an assault upon the city. When €the troops upon the wall had been forced back and at last the city was €being taken, Menelaus took refuge in the citadel. But Jason kept relentlessly slaughtering his fellow citizens, not €realizing that success at the cost of one's kindred is the greatest €misfortune, but imagining that he was setting up trophies of victory €over enemies and not over fellow countrymen. He did not gain control of the government, however; and in the end got €only disgrace from his conspiracy, and fled again into the country of €the Ammonites. Finally he met a miserable end. Accused before Aretas the ruler of the €Arabs, fleeing from city to city, pursued by all men, hated as a rebel €against the laws, and abhorred as the executioner of his country and €his fellow citizens, he was cast ashore in Egypt; and he who had driven many from their own country into exile died in €exile, having embarked to go to the Lacedaemonians in hope of finding €protection because of their kinship. He who had cast out many to lie unburied had no one to mourn for him; €he had no funeral of any sort and no place in the tomb of his fathers. @When news of what had happened reached the king, he took it to mean €that Judea was in revolt. So, raging inwardly, he left Egypt and took €the city by storm. And he commanded his soldiers to cut down relentlessly every one they €met and to slay those who went into the houses. Then there was killing of young and old, destruction of boys, women, €and children, and slaughter of virgins and infants. Within the total of three days eighty thousand were destroyed, forty €thousand in hand-to-hand fighting; and as many were sold into slavery €as were slain. @Not content with this, Antiochus dared to enter the most holy temple €in all the world, guided by Menelaus, who had become a traitor both to €the laws and to his country. He took the holy vessels with his polluted hands, and swept away with €profane hands the votive offerings which other kings had made to €enhance the glory and honor of the place. Antiochus was elated in spirit, and did not perceive that the Lord was €angered for a little while because of the sins of those who dwelt in €the city, and that therefore he was disregarding the holy place. But if it had not happened that they were involved in many sins, this €man would have been scourged and turned back from his rash act as soon €as he came forward, just as Heliodorus was, whom Seleucus the king sent €to inspect the treasury. But the Lord did not choose the nation for the sake of the holy place, €but the place for the sake of the nation. Therefore the place itself shared in the misfortunes that befell the €nation and afterward participated in its benefits; and what was €forsaken in the wrath of the Almighty was restored again in all its €glory when the great Lord became reconciled. @So Antiochus carried off eighteen hundred talents from the temple, €and hurried away to Antioch, thinking in his arrogance that he could €sail on the land and walk on the sea, because his mind was elated. And he left governors to afflict the people: at Jerusalem, Philip, by €birth a Phrygian and in character more barbarous than the man who €appointed him; and at Gerizim, Andronicus; and besides these Menelaus, who lorded it €over his fellow citizens worse than the others did. In his malice €toward the Jewish citizens, Antiochus sent Apollonius, the captain of the Mysians, with an army of €twenty-two thousand, and commanded him to slay all the grown men and to €sell the women and boys as slaves. When this man arrived in Jerusalem, he pretended to be peaceably €disposed and waited until the holy sabbath day; then, finding the Jews €not at work, he ordered his men to parade under arms. He put to the sword all those who came out to see them, then rushed €into the city with his armed men and killed great numbers of people. @But Judas Maccabeus, with about nine others, got away to the €wilderness, and kept himself and his companions alive in the mountains €as wild animals do; they continued to live on what grew wild, so that €they might not share in the defilement.  @Not long after this, the king sent an Athenian senator to compel the €Jews to forsake the laws of their fathers and cease to live by the laws €of God, and also to pollute the temple in Jerusalem and call it the temple of €Olympian Zeus, and to call the one in Gerizim the temple of Zeus the €Friend of Strangers, as did the people who dwelt in that place. @Harsh and utterly grievous was the onslaught of evil. For the temple was filled with debauchery and reveling by the Gentiles, €who dallied with harlots and had intercourse with women within the €sacred precincts, and besides brought in things for sacrifice that were €unfit. The altar was covered with abominable offerings which were forbidden by €the laws. A man could neither keep the sabbath, nor observe the feasts of his €fathers, nor so much as confess himself to be a Jew. @On the monthly celebration of the king's birthday, the Jews were €taken, under bitter constraint, to partake of the sacrifices; and when €the feast of Dionysus came, they were compelled to walk in the €procession in honor of Dionysus, wearing wreaths of ivy. At the suggestion of Ptolemy a decree was issued to the neighboring €Greek cities, that they should adopt the same policy toward the Jews €and make them partake of the sacrifices, and should slay those who did not choose to change over to Greek €customs. One could see, therefore, the misery that had come upon them. For example, two women were brought in for having circumcised their €children. These women they publicly paraded about the city, with their žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ“’ļ‚²Ķįć’¦˜Šƒbabies hung at their breasts, then hurled them down headlong from the €wall. Others who had assembled in the caves near by, to observe the seventh €day secretly, were betrayed to Philip and were all burned together, €because their piety kept them from defending themselves, in view of €their regard for that most holy day. @Now I urge those who read this book not to be depressed by such €calamities, but to recognize that these punishments were designed not €to destroy but to discipline our people. In fact, not to let the impious alone for long, but to punish them €immediately, is a sign of great kindness. For in the case of the other nations the Lord waits patiently to punish €them until they have reached the full measure of their sins; but he €does not deal in this way with us, in order that he may not take vengeance on us afterward when our sins €have reached their height. Therefore he never withdraws his mercy from us. Though he disciplines €us with calamities, he does not forsake his own people. Let what we have said serve as a reminder; we must go on briefly with €the story. @Eleazar, one of the scribes in high position, a man now advanced in €age and of noble presence, was being forced to open his mouth to eat €swine's flesh. But he, welcoming death with honor rather than life with pollution, €went up to the the rack of his own accord, spitting out the flesh, as men ought to go who have the courage to refuse things that it is not €right to taste, even for the natural love of life. @Those who were in charge of that unlawful sacrifice took the man €aside, because of their long acquaintance with him, and privately urged €him to bring meat of his own providing, proper for him to use, and €pretend that he was eating the flesh of the sacrificial meal which had €been commanded by the king, so that by doing this he might be saved from death, and be treated €kindly on account of his old friendship with them. But making a high resolve, worthy of his years and the dignity of his €old age and the gray hairs which he had reached with distinction and €his excellent life even from childhood, and moreover according to the €holy God-given law, he declared himself quickly, telling them to send €him to Hades. @"Such pretense is not worthy of our time of life," he said, "lest €many of the young should suppose that Eleazar in his ninetieth year has €gone over to an alien religion, and through my pretense, for the sake of living a brief moment longer, €they should be led astray because of me, while I defile and disgrace my €old age. For even if for the present I should avoid the punishment of men, yet €whether I live or die I shall not escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now, I will show myself worthy €of my old age and leave to the young a noble example of how to die a good death €willingly and nobly for the revered and holy laws." €@When he had said this, he went at once to the rack. And those who a little before had acted toward him with good will now €changed to ill will, because the words he had uttered were in their €opinion sheer madness. When he was about to die under the blows, he groaned aloud and said: €"It is clear to the Lord in his holy knowledge that, though I might €have been saved from death, I am enduring terrible sufferings in my €body under this beating, but in my soul I am glad to suffer these €things because I fear him." @So in this way he died, leaving in his death an example of nobility €and a memorial of courage, not only to the young but to the great body €of his nation.  @It happened also that seven brothers and their mother were arrested €and were being compelled by the king, under torture with whips and €cords, to partake of unlawful swine's flesh. One of them, acting as their spokesman, said, "What do you intend to €ask and learn from us? For we are ready to die rather than transgress €the laws of our fathers." @The king fell into a rage, and gave orders that pans and caldrons be €heated. These were heated immediately, and he commanded that the tongue of €their spokesman be cut out and that they scalp him and cut off his €hands and feet, while the rest of the brothers and the mother looked on. When he was utterly helpless, the king ordered them to take him to the €fire, still breathing, and to fry him in a pan. The smoke from the pan €spread widely, but the brothers and their mother encouraged one another €to die nobly, saying, "The Lord God is watching over us and in truth has compassion on us, as €Moses declared in his song which bore witness against the people to €their faces, when he said, `And he will have compassion on his €servants.'" @After the first brother had died in this way, they brought forward €the second for their sport. They tore off the skin of his head with the €hair, and asked him, "Will you eat rather than have your body punished €limb by limb?" He replied in the language of his fathers, and said to them, "No." €Therefore he in turn underwent tortures as the first brother had done. And when he was at his last breath, he said, "You accursed wretch, you €dismiss us from this present life, but the King of the universe will €raise us up to an everlasting renewal of life, because we have died for €his laws." @After him, the third was the victim of their sport. When it was €demanded, he quickly put out his tongue and courageously stretched €forth his hands, and said nobly, "I got these from Heaven, and because of his laws I €disdain them, and from him I hope to get them back again." As a result the king himself and those with him were astonished at the €young man's spirit, for he regarded his sufferings as nothing. @When he too had died, they maltreated and tortured the fourth in the €same way. And when he was near death, he said, "One cannot but choose to die at €the hands of men and to cherish the hope that God gives of being raised €again by him. But for you there will be no resurrection to life!" @Next they brought forward the fifth and maltreated him. But he looked at the king, and said, "Because you have authority among €men, mortal though you are, you do what you please. But do not think €that God has forsaken our people. Keep on, and see how his mighty power will torture you and your €descendants!" @After him they brought forward the sixth. And when he was about to €die, he said, "Do not deceive yourself in vain. For we are suffering €these things on our own account, because of our sins against our own €God. Therefore astounding things have happened. But do not think that you will go unpunished for having tried to fight €against God!" @The mother was especially admirable and worthy of honorable memory. €Though she saw her seven sons perish within a single day, she bore it €with good courage because of her hope in the Lord. She encouraged each of them in the language of their fathers. Filled €with a noble spirit, she fired her woman's reasoning with a man's €courage, and said to them, "I do not know how you came into being in my womb. It was not I who €gave you life and breath, nor I who set in order the elements within €each of you. Therefore the Creator of the world, who shaped the beginning of man and €devised the origin of all things, will in his mercy give life and €breath back to you again, since you now forget yourselves for the sake €of his laws." @Antiochus felt that he was being treated with contempt, and he was €suspicious of her reproachful tone. The youngest brother being still €alive, Antiochus not only appealed to him in words, but promised with €oaths that he would make him rich and enviable if he would turn from €the ways of his fathers, and that he would take him for his friend and €entrust him with public affairs. Since the young man would not listen to him at all, the king called the €mother to him and urged her to advise the youth to save himself. After much urging on his part, she undertook to persuade her son. But, leaning close to him, she spoke in their native tongue as follows, €deriding the cruel tyrant: "My son, have pity on me. I carried you nine žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ“’ļ‚²Ķįć’§˜›ƒmonths in my womb, and nursed you for three years, and have reared you €and brought you up to this point in your life, and have taken care of €you. I beseech you, my child, to look at the heaven and the earth and see €everything that is in them, and recognize that God did not make them €out of things that existed. Thus also mankind comes into being. Do not fear this butcher, but prove worthy of your brothers. Accept €death, so that in God's mercy I may get you back again with your €brothers." @While she was still speaking, the young man said, "What are you €waiting for? I will not obey the king's command, but I obey the command €of the law that was given to our fathers through Moses. But you, who have contrived all sorts of evil against the Hebrews, will €certainly not escape the hands of God. For we are suffering because of our own sins. And if our living Lord is angry for a little while, to rebuke and €discipline us, he will again be reconciled with his own servants. But you, unholy wretch, you most defiled of all men, do not be elated €in vain and puffed up by uncertain hopes, when you raise your hand €against the children of heaven. You have not yet escaped the judgment of the almighty, all-seeing God. For our brothers after enduring a brief suffering have drunk of €everflowing life under God's covenant; but you, by the judgment of God, €will receive just punishment for your arrogance. I, like my brothers, give up body and life for the laws of our fathers, €appealing to God to show mercy soon to our nation and by afflictions €and plagues to make you confess that he alone is God, and through me and my brothers to bring to an end the wrath of the €Almighty which has justly fallen on our whole nation." @The king fell into a rage, and handled him worse than the others, €being exasperated at his scorn. So he died in his integrity, putting his whole trust in the Lord. @Last of all, the mother died, after her sons. @Let this be enough, then, about the eating of sacrifices and the €extreme tortures.  @But Judas, who was also called Maccabeus, and his companions secretly €entered the villages and summoned their kinsmen and enlisted those who €had continued in the Jewish faith, and so they gathered about six €thousand men. They besought the Lord to look upon the people who were oppressed by €all, and to have pity on the temple which had been profaned by ungodly €men, and to have mercy on the city which was being destroyed and about to be €leveled to the ground, and to hearken to the blood that cried out to €him, and to remember also the lawless destruction of the innocent babies and €the blasphemies committed against his name, and to show his hatred of €evil. @As soon as Maccabeus got his army organized, the Gentiles could not €withstand him, for the wrath of the Lord had turned to mercy. Coming without warning, he would set fire to towns and villages. He €captured strategic positions and put to flight not a few of the enemy. He found the nights most advantageous for such attacks. And talk of his €valor spread everywhere. @When Philip saw that the man was gaining ground little by little, and €that he was pushing ahead with more frequent successes, he wrote to €Ptolemy, the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, for aid to the €king's government. And Ptolemy promptly appointed Nicanor the son of Patroclus, one of the €king's chief friends, and sent him, in command of no fewer than twenty €thousand Gentiles of all nations, to wipe out the whole race of Judea. €He associated with him Gorgias, a general and a man of experience in €military service. Nicanor determined to make up for the king the tribute due to the €Romans, two thousand talents, by selling the captured Jews into slavery. And he immediately sent to the cities on the seacoast, inviting them to €buy Jewish slaves and promising to hand over ninety slaves for a €talent, not expecting the judgment from the Almighty that was about to €overtake him. @Word came to Judas concerning Nicanor's invasion; and when he told €his companions of the arrival of the army, those who were cowardly and distrustful of God's justice ran off and €got away. Others sold all their remaining property, and at the same time besought €the Lord to rescue those who had been sold by the ungodly Nicanor €before he ever met them, if not for their own sake, yet for the sake of the covenants made with €their fathers, and because he had called them by his holy and glorious €name. But Maccabeus gathered his men together, to the number six thousand, €and exhorted them not to be frightened by the enemy and not to fear the €great multitude of Gentiles who were wickedly coming against them, but €to fight nobly, keeping before their eyes the lawless outrage which the Gentiles had €committed against the holy place, and the torture of the derided city, €and besides, the overthrow of their ancestral way of life. "For they trust to arms and acts of daring," he said, "but we trust in €the Almighty God, who is able with a single nod to strike down those €who are coming against us and even the whole world." @Moreover, he told them of the times when help came to their €ancestors; both the time of Sennacherib, when one hundred and €eighty-five thousand perished, and the time of the battle with the Galatians that took place in €Babylonia, when eight thousand in all went into the affair, with four €thousand Macedonians; and when the Macedonians were hard pressed, the €eight thousand, by the help that came to them from heaven, destroyed €one hundred and twenty thousand and took much booty. @With these words he filled them with good courage and made them ready €to die for their laws and their country; then he divided his army into €four parts. He appointed his brothers also, Simon and Joseph and Jonathan, each to €command a division, putting fifteen hundred men under each. Besides, he appointed Eleazar to read aloud from the holy book, and €gave the watchword, "God's help"; then, leading the first division €himself, he joined battle with Nicanor. @With the Almighty as their ally, they slew more than nine thousand of €the enemy, and wounded and disabled most of Nicanor's army, and forced €them all to flee. They captured the money of those who had come to buy them as slaves. €After pursuing them for some distance, they were obliged to return €because the hour was late. For it was the day before the sabbath, and for that reason they did not €continue their pursuit. And when they had collected the arms of the enemy and stripped them of €their spoils, they kept the sabbath, giving great praise and thanks to €the Lord, who had preserved them for that day and allotted it to them €as the beginning of mercy. After the sabbath they gave some of the spoils to those who had been €tortured and to the widows and orphans, and distributed the rest among €themselves and their children. When they had done this, they made common supplication and besought the €merciful Lord to be wholly reconciled with his servants. @In encounters with the forces of Timothy and Bacchides they killed €more than twenty thousand of them and got possession of some €exceedingly high strongholds, and they divided very much plunder, €giving to those who had been tortured and to the orphans and widows, €and also to the aged, shares equal to their own. Collecting the arms of the enemy, they stored them all carefully in €strategic places, and carried the rest of the spoils to Jerusalem. They killed the commander of Timothy's forces, a most unholy man, and €one who had greatly troubled the Jews. While they were celebrating the victory in the city of their fathers, €they burned those who had set fire to the sacred gates, Callisthenes €and some others, who had fled into one little house; so these received €the proper recompense for their impiety. @The thrice-accursed Nicanor, who had brought the thousand merchants €to buy the Jews, having been humbled with the help of the Lord by opponents whom he €regarded as of the least account, took off his splendid uniform and žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ“’ļ‚²Ķįć’؈˜£ƒmade his way alone like a runaway slave across the country till he €reached Antioch, having succeeded chiefly in the destruction of his own €army! Thus he who had undertaken to secure tribute for the Romans by the €capture of the people of Jerusalem proclaimed that the Jews had a €Defender, and that therefore the Jews were invulnerable, because they €followed the laws ordained by him.  @About that time, as it happened, Antiochus had retreated in disorder €from the region of Persia. For he had entered the city called Persepolis, and attempted to rob the €temples and control the city. Therefore the people rushed to the rescue €with arms, and Antiochus and his men were defeated, with the result €that Antiochus was put to flight by the inhabitants and beat a shameful €retreat. While he was in Ecbatana, news came to him of what had happened to €Nicanor and the forces of Timothy. Transported with rage, he conceived the idea of turning upon the Jews €the injury done by those who had put him to flight; so he ordered his €charioteer to drive without stopping until he completed the journey. €But the judgment of heaven rode with him! For in his arrogance he said, €"When I get there I will make Jerusalem a cemetery of Jews." @But the all-seeing Lord, the God of Israel, struck him an incurable €and unseen blow. As soon as he ceased speaking he was seized with a €pain in his bowels for which there was no relief and with sharp €internal tortures --and that very justly, for he had tortured the bowels of others with €many and strange inflictions. Yet he did not in any way stop his insolence, but was even more filled €with arrogance, breathing fire in his rage against the Jews, and giving €orders to hasten the journey. And so it came about that he fell out of €his chariot as it was rushing along, and the fall was so hard as to €torture every limb of his body. Thus he who had just been thinking that he could command the waves of €the sea, in his superhuman arrogance, and imagining that he could weigh €the high mountains in a balance, was brought down to earth and carried €in a litter, making the power of God manifest to all. And so the ungodly man's body swarmed with worms, and while he was €still living in anguish and pain, his flesh rotted away, and because of €his stench the whole army felt revulsion at his decay. Because of his intolerable stench no one was able to carry the man who €a little while before had thought that he could touch the stars of €heaven. Then it was that, broken in spirit, he began to lose much of his €arrogance and to come to his senses under the scourge of God, for he €was tortured with pain every moment. And when he could not endure his own stench, he uttered these words: €"It is right to be subject to God, and no mortal should think that he €is equal to God." @Then the abominable fellow made a vow to the Lord, who would no €longer have mercy on him, stating that the holy city, which he was hastening to level to the ground and €to make a cemetery, he was now declaring to be free; and the Jews, whom he had not considered worth burying but had planned €to throw out with their children to the beasts, for the birds to pick, €he would make, all of them, equal to citizens of Athens; and the holy sanctuary, which he had formerly plundered, he would adorn €with the finest offerings; and the holy vessels he would give back, all €of them, many times over; and the expenses incurred for the sacrifices €he would provide from his own revenues; and in addition to all this he also would become a Jew and would visit €every inhabited place to proclaim the power of God. But when his sufferings did not in any way abate, for the judgment of €God had justly come upon him, he gave up all hope for himself and wrote €to the Jews the following letter, in the form of a supplication. This €was its content: @"To his worthy Jewish citizens, Antiochus their king and general €sends hearty greetings and good wishes for their health and prosperity. If you and your children are well and your affairs are as you wish, I €am glad. As my hope is in heaven, I remember with affection your esteem and good will. On my way back €from the region of Persia I suffered an annoying illness, and I have €deemed it necessary to take thought for the general security of all. I do not despair of my condition, for I have good hope of recovering €from my illness, but I observed that my father, on the occasions when he made €expeditions into the upper country, appointed his successor, so that, if anything unexpected happened or any unwelcome news came, €the people throughout the realm would not be troubled, for they would €know to whom the government was left. Moreover, I understand how the princes along the borders and the €neighbors to my kingdom keep watching for opportunities and waiting to €see what will happen. So I have appointed my son Antiochus to be king, €whom I have often entrusted and commended to most of you when I €hastened off to the upper provinces; and I have written to him what is €written here. I therefore urge and beseech you to remember the public and private €services rendered to you and to maintain your present good will, each €of you, toward me and my son. For I am sure that he will follow my policy and will treat you with €moderation and kindness." @So the murderer and blasphemer, having endured the more intense €suffering, such as he had inflicted on others, came to the end of his €life by a most pitiable fate, among the mountains in a strange land. And Philip, one of his courtiers, took his body home; then, fearing the €son of Antiochus, he betook himself to Ptolemy Philometor in Egypt.  @Now Maccabeus and his followers, the Lord leading them on, recovered €the temple and the city; and they tore down the altars which had been built in the public square €by the foreigners, and also destroyed the sacred precincts. They purified the sanctuary, and made another altar of sacrifice; then, €striking fire out of flint, they offered sacrifices, after a lapse of €two years, and they burned incense and lighted lamps and set out the €bread of the Presence. And when they had done this, they fell prostrate and besought the Lord €that they might never again fall into such misfortunes, but that, if €they should ever sin, they might be disciplined by him with forbearance €and not be handed over to blasphemous and barbarous nations. It happened that on the same day on which the sanctuary had been €profaned by the foreigners, the purification of the sanctuary took €place, that is, on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, which was €Chislev. And they celebrated it for eight days with rejoicing, in the manner of €the feast of booths, remembering how not long before, during the feast €of booths, they had been wandering in the mountains and caves like wild €animals. Therefore bearing ivy-wreathed wands and beautiful branches and also €fronds of palm, they offered hymns of thanksgiving to him who had given €success to the purifying of his own holy place. They decreed by public ordinance and vote that the whole nation of the €Jews should observe these days every year. @Such then was the end of Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes. @Now we will tell what took place under Antiochus Eupator, who was the €son of that ungodly man, and will give a brief summary of the principal €calamities of the wars. This man, when he succeeded to the kingdom, appointed one Lysias to €have charge of the government and to be chief governor of Coelesyria €and Phoenicia. Ptolemy, who was called Macron, took the lead in showing justice to the €Jews because of the wrong that had been done to them, and attempted to €maintain peaceful relations with them. As a result he was accused before Eupator by the king's friends. He €heard himself called a traitor at every turn, because he had abandoned €Cyprus, which Philometor had entrusted to him, and had gone over to €Antiochus Epiphanes. Unable to command the respect due his office, he €took poison and ended his life. @When Gorgias became governor of the region, he maintained a force of žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ“’ļ‚²Ķįć’؊˜Ž‚mercenaries, and at every turn kept on warring against the Jews. Besides this, the Idumeans, who had control of important strongholds, €were harassing the Jews; they received those who were banished from €Jerusalem, and endeavored to keep up the war. But Maccabeus and his men, after making solemn supplication and €beseeching God to fight on their side, rushed to the strongholds of the €Idumeans. Attacking them vigorously, they gained possession of the places, and €beat off all who fought upon the wall, and slew those whom they €encountered, killing no fewer than twenty thousand. @When no less than nine thousand took refuge in two very strong towers €well equipped to withstand a siege, Maccabeus left Simon and Joseph, and also Zacchaeus and his men, a €force sufficient to besiege them; and he himself set off for places €where he was more urgently needed. But the men with Simon, who were money-hungry, were bribed by some of €those who were in the towers, and on receiving seventy thousand €drachmas let some of them slip away. When word of what had happened came to Maccabeus, he gathered the €leaders of the people, and accused these men of having sold their €brethren for money by setting their enemies free to fight against them. Then he slew these men who had turned traitor, and immediately captured €the two towers. Having success at arms in everything he undertook, he destroyed more €than twenty thousand in the two strongholds. @Now Timothy, who had been defeated by the Jews before, gathered a €tremendous force of mercenaries and collected the cavalry from Asia in €no small number. He came on, intending to take Judea by storm. As he drew near, Maccabeus and his men sprinkled dust upon their heads €and girded their loins with sackcloth, in supplication to God. Falling upon the steps before the altar, they besought him to be €gracious to them and to be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary €to their adversaries, as the law declares. And rising from their prayer they took up their arms and advanced a €considerable distance from the city; and when they came near to the €enemy they halted. Just as dawn was breaking, the two armies joined battle, the one having €as pledge of success and victory not only their valor but their €reliance upon the Lord, while the other made rage their leader in the €fight. @When the battle became fierce, there appeared to the enemy from €heaven five resplendent men on horses with golden bridles, and they €were leading the Jews. Surrounding Maccabeus and protecting him with their own armor and €weapons, they kept him from being wounded. And they showered arrows and €thunderbolts upon the enemy, so that, confused and blinded, they were €thrown into disorder and cut to pieces. Twenty thousand five hundred were slaughtered, besides six hundred €horsemen. @Timothy himself fled to a stronghold called Gazara, especially well €garrisoned, where Chaereas was commander. Then Maccabeus and his men were glad, and they besieged the fort for €four days. The men within, relying on the strength of the place, blasphemed €terribly and hurled out wicked words. But at dawn of the fifth day, twenty young men in the army of €Maccabeus, fired with anger because of the blasphemies, bravely stormed €the wall and with savage fury cut down every one they met. Others who came up in the same way wheeled around against the defenders €and set fire to the towers; they kindled fires and burned the €blasphemers alive. Others broke open the gates and let in the rest of €the force, and they occupied the city. They killed Timothy, who was hidden in a cistern, and his brother €Chaereas, and Apollophanes. When they had accomplished these things, with hymns and thanksgivings €they blessed the Lord who shows great kindness to Israel and gives them €the victory.  @Very soon after this, Lysias, the king's guardian and kinsman, who €was in charge of the government, being vexed at what had happened, gathered about eighty thousand men and all his cavalry and came against €the Jews. He intended to make the city a home for Greeks, and to levy tribute on the temple as he did on the sacred places of the €other nations, and to put up the high priesthood for sale every year. He took no account whatever of the power of God, but was elated with €his ten thousands of infantry, and his thousands of cavalry, and his €eighty elephants. Invading Judea, he approached Beth-zur, which was a fortified place €about five leagues from Jerusalem, and pressed it hard. @When Maccabeus and his men got word that Lysias was besieging the €strongholds, they and all the people, with lamentations and tears, €besought the Lord to send a good angel to save Israel. Maccabeus himself was the first to take up arms, and he urged the €others to risk their lives with him to aid their brethren. Then they €eagerly rushed off together. And there, while they were still near Jerusalem, a horseman appeared at €their head, clothed in white and brandishing weapons of gold. And they all together praised the merciful God, and were strengthened €in heart, ready to assail not only men but the wildest beasts or walls €of iron. They advanced in battle order, having their heavenly ally, for the Lord €had mercy on them. They hurled themselves like lions against the enemy, and slew eleven €thousand of them and sixteen hundred horsemen, and forced all the rest €to flee. Most of them got away stripped and wounded, and Lysias himself escaped €by disgraceful flight. And as he was not without intelligence, he pondered over the defeat €which had befallen him, and realized that the Hebrews were invincible €because the mighty God fought on their side. So he sent to them and persuaded them to settle everything on just terms, promising that €he would persuade the king, constraining him to be their friend. Maccabeus, having regard for the common good, agreed to all that Lysias €urged. For the king granted every request in behalf of the Jews which €Maccabeus delivered to Lysias in writing. @The letter written to the Jews by Lysias was to this effect: €@"Lysias to the people of the Jews, greeting. John and Absalom, who were sent by you, have delivered your signed €communication and have asked about the matters indicated therein. I have informed the king of everything that needed to be brought before €him, and he has agreed to what was possible. If you will maintain your good will toward the government, I will €endeavor for the future to help promote your welfare. And concerning these matters and their details, I have ordered these €men and my representatives to confer with you. Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, Dioscorinthius €twenty-fourth." @The king's letter ran thus: €@"King Antiochus to his brother Lysias, greeting. Now that our father has gone on to the gods, we desire that the €subjects of the kingdom be undisturbed in caring for their own affairs. We have heard that the Jews do not consent to our father's change to €Greek customs but prefer their own way of living and ask that their own €customs be allowed them. Accordingly, since we choose that this nation also be free from €disturbance, our decision is that their temple be restored to them and €that they live according to the customs of their ancestors. You will do well, therefore, to send word to them and give them pledges €of friendship, so that they may know our policy and be of good cheer €and go on happily in the conduct of their own affairs." @To the nation the king's letter was as follows: €@"King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews and to the other Jews, €greeting. If you are well, it is as we desire. We also are in good health. Menelaus has informed us that you wish to return home and look after €your own affairs. Therefore those who go home by the thirtieth day of Xanthicus will have €our pledge of friendship and full permission for the Jews to enjoy their own food and laws, just as formerly, and €none of them shall be molested in any way for what he may have done in €ignorance. And I have also sent Menelaus to encourage you. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ“’ļ‚²Ķįć’؋˜”Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, Xanthicus fifteenth." @The Romans also sent them a letter, which read thus: €@"Quintus Memmius and Titus Manius, envoys of the Romans, to the €people of the Jews, greeting. With regard to what Lysias the kinsman of the king has granted you, we €also give consent. But as to the matters which he decided are to be referred to the king, €as soon as you have considered them, send some one promptly, so that we €may make proposals appropriate for you. For we are on our way to €Antioch. Therefore make haste and send some men, so that we may have your €judgment. Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, Xanthicus fifteenth."  @When this agreement had been reached, Lysias returned to the king, €and the Jews went about their farming. @But some of the governors in various places, Timothy and Apollonius €the son of Gennaeus, as well as Hieronymus and Demophon, and in €addition to these Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not let them €live quietly and in peace. And some men of Joppa did so ungodly a deed as this: they invited the €Jews who lived among them to embark, with their wives and children, on €boats which they had provided, as though there were no ill will to the €Jews; and this was done by public vote of the city. And when they accepted, €because they wished to live peaceably and suspected nothing, the men of €Joppa took them out to sea and drowned them, not less than two hundred. When Judas heard of the cruelty visited on his countrymen, he gave €orders to his men and, calling upon God the righteous Judge, attacked the murderers of €his brethren. He set fire to the harbor by night, and burned the boats, €and massacred those who had taken refuge there. Then, because the city's gates were closed, he withdrew, intending to €come again and root out the whole community of Joppa. But learning that the men in Jamnia meant in the same way to wipe out €the Jews who were living among them, he attacked the people of Jamnia by night and set fire to the harbor €and the fleet, so that the glow of the light was seen in Jerusalem, €thirty miles distant. @When they had gone more than a mile from there, on their march €against Timothy, not less than five thousand Arabs with five hundred €horsemen attacked them. After a hard fight Judas and his men won the victory, by the help of €God. The defeated nomads besought Judas to grant them pledges of €friendship, promising to give him cattle and to help his people in all €other ways. Judas, thinking that they might really be useful in many ways, agreed €to make peace with them; and after receiving his pledges they departed €to their tents. @He also attacked a certain city which was strongly fortified with €earthworks and walls, and inhabited by all sorts of Gentiles. Its name €was Caspin. And those who were within, relying on the strength of the walls and on €their supply of provisions, behaved most insolently toward Judas and €his men, railing at them and even blaspheming and saying unholy things. But Judas and his men, calling upon the great Sovereign of the world, €who without battering-rams or engines of war overthrew Jericho in the €days of Joshua, rushed furiously upon the walls. They took the city by the will of God, and slaughtered untold numbers, €so that the adjoining lake, a quarter of a mile wide, appeared to be €running over with blood. @When they had gone ninety-five miles from there, they came to Charax, €to the Jews who are called Toubiani. They did not find Timothy in that region, for he had by then departed €from the region without accomplishing anything, though in one place he €had left a very strong garrison. Dositheus and Sosipater, who were captains under Maccabeus, marched out €and destroyed those whom Timothy had left in the stronghold, more than €ten thousand men. But Maccabeus arranged his army in divisions, set men in command of the €divisions, and hastened after Timothy, who had with him a hundred and €twenty thousand infantry and two thousand five hundred cavalry. When Timothy learned of the approach of Judas, he sent off the women €and the children and also the baggage to a place called Carnaim; for €that place was hard to besiege and difficult of access because of the €narrowness of all the approaches. But when Judas' first division appeared, terror and fear came over the €enemy at the manifestation to them of him who sees all things; and they €rushed off in flight and were swept on, this way and that, so that €often they were injured by their own men and pierced by the points of €their swords. And Judas pressed the pursuit with the utmost vigor, putting the €sinners to the sword, and destroyed as many as thirty thousand men. @Timothy himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and Sosipater and €their men. With great guile he besought them to let him go in safety, €because he held the parents of most of them and the brothers of some €and no consideration would be shown them. And when with many words he had confirmed his solemn promise to restore €them unharmed, they let him go, for the sake of saving their brethren. @Then Judas marched against Carnaim and the temple of Atargatis, and €slaughtered twenty-five thousand people. After the rout and destruction of these, he marched also against €Ephron, a fortified city where Lysias dwelt with multitudes of people €of all nationalities. Stalwart young men took their stand before the €walls and made a vigorous defense; and great stores of war engines and €missiles were there. But the Jews called upon the Sovereign who with power shatters the €might of his enemies, and they got the city into their hands, and €killed as many as twenty-five thousand of those who were within it. @Setting out from there, they hastened to Scythopolis, which is €seventy-five miles from Jerusalem. But when the Jews who dwelt there bore witness to the good will which €the people of Scythopolis had shown them and their kind treatment of €them in times of misfortune, they thanked them and exhorted them to be well disposed to their race €in the future also. Then they went up to Jerusalem, as the feast of €weeks was close at hand. @After the feast called Pentecost, they hastened against Gorgias, the €governor of Idumea. And he came out with three thousand infantry and four hundred cavalry. When they joined battle, it happened that a few of the Jews fell. But a certain Dositheus, one of Bacenor's men, who was on horseback and €was a strong man, caught hold of Gorgias, and grasping his cloak was €dragging him off by main strength, wishing to take the accursed man €alive, when one of the Thracian horsemen bore down upon him and cut off €his arm; so Gorgias escaped and reached Marisa. @As Esdris and his men had been fighting for a long time and were €weary, Judas called upon the Lord to show himself their ally and leader €in the battle. In the language of their fathers he raised the battle cry, with hymns; €then he charged against Gorgias' men when they were not expecting it, €and put them to flight. @Then Judas assembled his army and went to the city of Adullam. As the €seventh day was coming on, they purified themselves according to the €custom, and they kept the sabbath there. @On the next day, as by that time it had become necessary, Judas and €his men went to take up the bodies of the fallen and to bring them back €to lie with their kinsmen in the sepulchres of their fathers. Then under the tunic of every one of the dead they found sacred tokens €of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. And it €became clear to all that this was why these men had fallen. So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who €reveals the things that are hidden; and they turned to prayer, beseeching that the sin which had been €committed might be wholly blotted out. And the noble Judas exhorted the €people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their €own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen. He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ“’ļ‚²Ķįć’،˜«‚drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin €offering. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking €account of the resurrection. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise €again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those €who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. €Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered €from their sin.  @In the one hundred and forty-ninth year word came to Judas and his €men that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a great army against Judea, and with him Lysias, his guardian, who had charge of the government. €Each of them had a Greek force of one hundred and ten thousand €infantry, five thousand three hundred cavalry, twenty-two elephants, €and three hundred chariots armed with scythes. @Menelaus also joined them and with utter hypocrisy urged Antiochus €on, not for the sake of his country's welfare, but because he thought €that he would be established in office. But the King of kings aroused the anger of Antiochus against the €scoundrel; and when Lysias informed him that this man was to blame for €all the trouble, he ordered them to take him to Beroea and to put him €to death by the method which is the custom in that place. For there is a tower in that place, fifty cubits high, full of ashes, €and it has a rim running around it which on all sides inclines €precipitously into the ashes. There they all push to destruction any man guilty of sacrilege or €notorious for other crimes. By such a fate it came about that Menelaus the lawbreaker died, without €even burial in the earth. And this was eminently just; because he had committed many sins against €the altar whose fire and ashes were holy, he met his death in ashes. @The king with barbarous arrogance was coming to show the Jews things €far worse than those that had been done in his father's time. But when Judas heard of this, he ordered the people to call upon the €Lord day and night, now if ever to help those who were on the point of €being deprived of the law and their country and the holy temple, and not to let the people who had just begun to revive fall into the €hands of the blasphemous Gentiles. When they had all joined in the same petition and had besought the €merciful Lord with weeping and fasting and lying prostrate for three €days without ceasing, Judas exhorted them and ordered them to stand €ready. @After consulting privately with the elders, he determined to march €out and decide the matter by the help of God before the king's army €could enter Judea and get possession of the city. So, committing the decision to the Creator of the world and exhorting €his men to fight nobly to the death for the laws, temple, city, €country, and commonwealth, he pitched his camp near Modein. He gave his men the watchword, "God's victory," and with a picked force €of the bravest young men, he attacked the king's pavilion at night and €slew as many as two thousand men in the camp. He stabbed the leading €elephant and its rider. In the end they filled the camp with terror and confusion and withdrew €in triumph. This happened, just as day was dawning, because the Lord's help €protected him. @The king, having had a taste of the daring of the Jews, tried €strategy in attacking their positions. He advanced against Beth-zur, a strong fortress of the Jews, was turned €back, attacked again, and was defeated. Judas sent in to the garrison whatever was necessary. But Rhodocus, a man from the ranks of the Jews, gave secret information €to the enemy; he was sought for, caught, and put in prison. The king negotiated a second time with the people in Beth-zur, gave €pledges, received theirs, withdrew, attacked Judas and his men, was €defeated; he got word that Philip, who had been left in charge of the government, €had revolted in Antioch; he was dismayed, called in the Jews, yielded €and swore to observe all their rights, settled with them and offered €sacrifice, honored the sanctuary and showed generosity to the holy €place. He received Maccabeus, left Hegemonides as governor from Ptolemais to €Gerar, and went to Ptolemais. The people of Ptolemais were indignant over the €treaty; in fact they were so angry that they wanted to annul its terms. Lysias took the public platform, made the best possible defense, €convinced them, appeased them, gained their good will, and set out for €Antioch. This is how the king's attack and withdrawal turned out.  @Three years later, word came to Judas and his men that Demetrius, the €son of Seleucus, had sailed into the harbor of Tripolis with a strong €army and a fleet, and had taken possession of the country, having made away with €Antiochus and his guardian Lysias. @Now a certain Alcimus, who had formerly been high priest but had €wilfully defiled himself in the times of separation, realized that €there was no way for him to be safe or to have access again to the holy €altar, and went to King Demetrius in about the one hundred and fifty-first €year, presenting to him a crown of gold and a palm, and besides these €some of the customary olive branches from the temple. During that day €he kept quiet. But he found an opportunity that furthered his mad purpose when he was €invited by Demetrius to a meeting of the council and was asked about €the disposition and intentions of the Jews. He answered: @"Those of the Jews who are called Hasideans, whose leader is Judas €Maccabeus, are keeping up war and stirring up sedition, and will not €let the kingdom attain tranquillity. Therefore I have laid aside my ancestral glory -- I mean the high €priesthood -- and have now come here, first because I am genuinely concerned for the interests of the king, €and second because I have regard also for my fellow citizens. For €through the folly of those whom I have mentioned our whole nation is €now in no small misfortune. Since you are acquainted, O king, with the details of this matter, €deign to take thought for our country and our hard-pressed nation with €the gracious kindness which you show to all. For as long as Judas lives, it is impossible for the government to find €peace." @When he had said this, the rest of the king's friends, who were €hostile to Judas, quickly inflamed Demetrius still more. And he immediately chose Nicanor, who had been in command of the €elephants, appointed him governor of Judea, and sent him off with orders to kill Judas and scatter his men, and to set up Alcimus as €high priest of the greatest temple. And the Gentiles throughout Judea, who had fled before Judas, flocked €to join Nicanor, thinking that the misfortunes and calamities of the €Jews would mean prosperity for themselves. @When the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming and the gathering of the €Gentiles, they sprinkled dust upon their heads and prayed to him who €established his own people for ever and always upholds his own heritage €by manifesting himself. At the command of the leader, they set out from there immediately and €engaged them in battle at a village called Dessau. Simon, the brother of Judas, had encountered Nicanor, but had been €temporarily checked because of the sudden consternation created by the €enemy. @Nevertheless Nicanor, hearing of the valor of Judas and his men and €their courage in battle for their country, shrank from deciding the €issue by bloodshed. Therefore he sent Posidonius and Theodotus and Mattathias to give and €receive pledges of friendship. When the terms had been fully considered, and the leader had informed €the people, and it had appeared that they were of one mind, they agreed €to the covenant. And the leaders set a day on which to meet by themselves. A chariot €came forward from each army; seats of honor were set in place; Judas posted armed men in readiness at key places to prevent sudden €treachery on the part of the enemy; they held the proper conference. @Nicanor stayed on in Jerusalem and did nothing out of the way, but €dismissed the flocks of people that had gathered. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ“’ļ‚²Ķįć’؎˜˜And he kept Judas always in his presence; he was warmly attached to the €man. And he urged him to marry and have children; so he married, settled €down, and shared the common life. @But when Alcimus noticed their good will for one another, he took the €covenant that had been made and went to Demetrius. He told him that €Nicanor was disloyal to the government, for he had appointed that €conspirator against the kingdom, Judas, to be his successor. The king became excited and, provoked by the false accusations of that €depraved man, wrote to Nicanor, stating that he was displeased with the €covenant and commanding him to send Maccabeus to Antioch as a prisoner €without delay. @When this message came to Nicanor, he was troubled and grieved that €he had to annul their agreement when the man had done no wrong. Since it was not possible to oppose the king, he watched for an €opportunity to accomplish this by a stratagem. But Maccabeus, noticing that Nicanor was more austere in his dealings €with him and was meeting him more rudely than had been his custom, €concluded that this austerity did not spring from the best motives. So €he gathered not a few of his men, and went into hiding from Nicanor. @When the latter became aware that he had been cleverly outwitted by €the man, he went to the great and holy temple while the priests were €offering the customary sacrifices, and commanded them to hand the man €over. And when they declared on oath that they did not know where the man was €whom he sought, he stretched out his right hand toward the sanctuary, and swore this €oath: "If you do not hand Judas over to me as a prisoner, I will level €this precinct of God to the ground and tear down the altar, and I will €build here a splendid temple to Dionysus." @Having said this, he went away. Then the priests stretched forth €their hands toward heaven and called upon the constant Defender of our €nation, in these words: "O Lord of all, who hast need of nothing, thou wast pleased that there €be a temple for thy habitation among us; so now, O holy One, Lord of all holiness, keep undefiled for ever this €house that has been so recently purified." @A certain Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, was denounced to €Nicanor as a man who loved his fellow citizens and was very well €thought of and for his good will was called father of the Jews. For in former times, when there was no mingling with the Gentiles, he €had been accused of Judaism, and for Judaism he had with all zeal €risked body and life. Nicanor, wishing to exhibit the enmity which he had for the Jews, sent €more than five hundred soldiers to arrest him; for he thought that by arresting him he would do them an injury. When the troops were about to capture the tower and were forcing the €door of the courtyard, they ordered that fire be brought and the doors €burned. Being surrounded, Razis fell upon his own sword, preferring to die nobly rather than to fall into the hands of sinners €and suffer outrages unworthy of his noble birth. But in the heat of the struggle he did not hit exactly, and the crowd €was now rushing in through the doors. He bravely ran up on the wall, €and manfully threw himself down into the crowd. But as they quickly drew back, a space opened and he fell in the middle €of the empty space. Still alive and aflame with anger, he rose, and though his blood gushed €forth and his wounds were severe he ran through the crowd; and standing €upon a steep rock, with his blood now completely drained from him, he tore out his €entrails, took them with both hands and hurled them at the crowd, €calling upon the Lord of life and spirit to give them back to him €again. This was the manner of his death.  @When Nicanor heard that Judas and his men were in the region of €Samaria, he made plans to attack them with complete safety on the day €of rest. And when the Jews who were compelled to follow him said, "Do not €destroy so savagely and barbarously, but show respect for the day which €he who sees all things has honored and hallowed above other days," the thrice-accursed wretch asked if there were a sovereign in heaven €who had commanded the keeping of the sabbath day. And when they declared, "It is the living Lord himself, the Sovereign €in heaven, who ordered us to observe the seventh day," he replied, "And I am a sovereign also, on earth, and I command you to €take up arms and finish the king's business." Nevertheless, he did not €succeed in carrying out his abominable design. @This Nicanor in his utter boastfulness and arrogance had determined €to erect a public monument of victory over Judas and his men. But Maccabeus did not cease to trust with all confidence that he would €get help from the Lord. And he exhorted his men not to fear the attack of the Gentiles, but to €keep in mind the former times when help had come to them from heaven, €and now to look for the victory which the Almighty would give them. Encouraging them from the law and the prophets, and reminding them also €of the struggles they had won, he made them the more eager. And when he had aroused their courage, he gave his orders, at the same €time pointing out the perfidy of the Gentiles and their violation of €oaths. He armed each of them not so much with confidence in shields and spears €as with the inspiration of brave words, and he cheered them all by €relating a dream, a sort of vision, which was worthy of belief. @What he saw was this: Onias, who had been high priest, a noble and €good man, of modest bearing and gentle manner, one who spoke fittingly €and had been trained from childhood in all that belongs to excellence, €was praying with outstretched hands for the whole body of the Jews. Then likewise a man appeared, distinguished by his gray hair and €dignity, and of marvelous majesty and authority. And Onias spoke, saying, "This is a man who loves the brethren and €prays much for the people and the holy city, Jeremiah, the prophet of €God." Jeremiah stretched out his right hand and gave to Judas a golden sword, €and as he gave it he addressed him thus: "Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with which you will strike down €your adversaries." @Encouraged by the words of Judas, so noble and so effective in €arousing valor and awaking manliness in the souls of the young, they €determined not to carry on a campaign but to attack bravely, and to €decide the matter, by fighting hand to hand with all courage, because €the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger. Their concern for wives and children, and also for brethren and €relatives, lay upon them less heavily; their greatest and first fear €was for the consecrated sanctuary. And those who had to remain in the city were in no little distress, €being anxious over the encounter in the open country. @When all were now looking forward to the coming decision, and the €enemy was already close at hand with their army drawn up for battle, €the elephants strategically stationed and the cavalry deployed on the €flanks, Maccabeus, perceiving the hosts that were before him and the varied €supply of arms and the savagery of the elephants, stretched out his €hands toward heaven and called upon the Lord who works wonders; for he €knew that it is not by arms, but as the Lord decides, that he gains the €victory for those who deserve it. And he called upon him in these words: "O Lord, thou didst send thy €angel in the time of Hezekiah king of Judea, and he slew fully a €hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of Sennacherib. So now, O Sovereign of the heavens, send a good angel to carry terror €and trembling before us. By the might of thy arm may these blasphemers who come against thy holy €people be struck down." With these words he ended his prayer. @Nicanor and his men advanced with trumpets and battle songs; and Judas and his men met the enemy in battle with invocation to God €and prayers. So, fighting with their hands and praying to God in their hearts, they €laid low no less than thirty-five thousand men, and were greatly €gladdened by God's manifestation. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ“’ļ‚²Ķįć’؏˜œ@When the action was over and they were returning with joy, they €recognized Nicanor, lying dead, in full armor. Then there was shouting and tumult, and they blessed the Sovereign Lord €in the language of their fathers. And the man who was ever in body and soul the defender of his fellow €citizens, the man who maintained his youthful good will toward his €countrymen, ordered them to cut off Nicanor's head and arm and carry €them to Jerusalem. And when he arrived there and had called his countrymen together and €stationed the priests before the altar, he sent for those who were in €the citadel. He showed them the vile Nicanor's head and that profane man's arm, €which had been boastfully stretched out against the holy house of the €Almighty; and he cut out the tongue of the ungodly Nicanor and said that he would €give it piecemeal to the birds and hang up these rewards of his folly €opposite the sanctuary. And they all, looking to heaven, blessed the Lord who had manifested €himself, saying, "Blessed is he who has kept his own place undefiled." And he hung Nicanor's head from the citadel, a clear and conspicuous €sign to every one of the help of the Lord. And they all decreed by public vote never to let this day go €unobserved, but to celebrate the thirteenth day of the twelfth month --€which is called Adar in the Syrian language -- the day before €Mordecai's day. @This, then, is how matters turned out with Nicanor. And from that €time the city has been in the possession of the Hebrews. So I too will €here end my story. If it is well told and to the point, that is what I myself desired; if €it is poorly done and mediocre, that was the best I could do. For just as it is harmful to drink wine alone, or, again, to drink €water alone, while wine mixed with water is sweet and delicious and €enhances one's enjoyment, so also the style of the story delights the €ears of those who read the work. And here will be the end. ąļ‚³Ķįć’”When Philopator learned from those who returned that the regions which €he had controlled had been seized by Antiochus, he gave orders to all €his forces, both infantry and cavalry, took with him his sister €Arsinoe, and marched out to the region near Raphia, where Antiochus's €supporters were encamped. But a certain Theodotus, determined to carry out the plot he had €devised, took with him the best of the Ptolemaic arms that had been €previously issued to him, and crossed over by night to the tent of €Ptolemy, intending single-handed to kill him and thereby end the war. But Dositheus, known as the son of Drimylus, a Jew by birth who later €changed his religion and apostatized from the ancestral traditions, had €led the king away and arranged that a certain insignificant man should €sleep in the tent; and so it turned out that this man incurred the €vengeance meant for the king. When a bitter fight resulted, and matters were turning out rather in €favor of Antiochus, Arsinoe went to the troops with wailing and tears, €her locks all disheveled, and exhorted them to defend themselves and €their children and wives bravely, promising to give them each two minas €of gold if they won the battle. And so it came about that the enemy was routed in the action, and many €captives also were taken. Now that he had foiled the plot, Ptolemy decided to visit the €neighboring cities and encourage them. By doing this, and by endowing their sacred enclosures with gifts, he €strengthened the morale of his subjects. @Since the Jews had sent some of their council and elders to greet €him, to bring him gifts of welcome, and to congratulate him on what had €happened, he was all the more eager to visit them as soon as possible. After he had arrived in Jerusalem, he offered sacrifice to the supreme €God and made thank-offerings and did what was fitting for the holy €place. Then, upon entering the place and being impressed by its €excellence and its beauty, he marveled at the good order of the temple, and conceived a desire to €enter the holy of holies. When they said that this was not permitted, because not even members of €their own nation were allowed to enter, nor even all of the priests, €but only the high priest who was pre-eminent over all, and he only once €a year, the king was by no means persuaded. Even after the law had been read to him, he did not cease to maintain €that he ought to enter, saying, "Even if those men are deprived of this €honor, I ought not to be." And he inquired why, when he entered every other temple, no one there €had stopped him. And someone heedlessly said that it was wrong to take this as a sign in €itself. "But since this has happened," the king said, "why should not I at €least enter, whether they wish it or not?" @Then the priests in all their vestments prostrated themselves and €entreated the supreme God to aid in the present situation and to avert €the violence of this evil design, and they filled the temple with cries €and tears; and those who remained behind in the city were agitated and hurried €out, supposing that something mysterious was occurring. The virgins who had been enclosed in their chambers rushed out with €their mothers, sprinkled their hair with dust, and filled the streets €with groans and lamentations. Those women who had recently been arrayed for marriage abandoned the €bridal chambers prepared for wedded union, and, neglecting proper €modesty, in a disorderly rush flocked together in the city. Mothers and nurses abandoned even newborn children here and there, some €in houses and some in the streets, and without a backward look they €crowded together at the most high temple. Various were the supplications of those gathered there because of what €the king was profanely plotting. In addition, the bolder of the citizens would not tolerate the €completion of his plans or the fulfillment of his intended purpose. They shouted to their fellows to take arms and die courageously for the €ancestral law, and created a considerable disturbance in the holy €place; and being barely restrained by the old men and the elders, they €resorted to the same posture of supplication as the others. Meanwhile the crowd, as before, was engaged in prayer, while the elders near the king tried in various ways to change his €arrogant mind from the plan that he had conceived. But he, in his arrogance, took heed of nothing, and began now to €approach, determined to bring the aforesaid plan to a conclusion. When those who were around him observed this, they turned, together €with our people, to call upon him who has all power to defend them in €the present trouble and not to overlook this unlawful and haughty deed. The continuous, vehement, and concerted cry of the crowds resulted in €an immense uproar; for it seemed that not only the men but also the walls and the whole €earth around echoed, because indeed all at that time preferred death to €the profanation of the place.  @Then the high priest Simon, facing the sanctuary, bending his knees €and extending his hands with calm dignity, prayed as follows: "Lord, Lord, king of the heavens, and sovereign of all creation, holy €among the holy ones, the only ruler, almighty, give attention to us who €are suffering grievously from an impious and profane man, puffed up in €his audacity and power. For you, the creator of all things and the governor of all, are a just €Ruler, and you judge those who have done anything in insolence and €arrogance. You destroyed those who in the past committed injustice, among whom €were even giants who trusted in their strength and boldness, whom you €destroyed by bringing upon them a boundless flood. You consumed with fire and sulphur the men of Sodom who acted €arrogantly, who were notorious for their vices; and you made them an €example to those who should come afterward. You made known your mighty power by inflicting many and varied €punishments on the audacious Pharaoh who had enslaved your holy people €Israel. And when he pursued them with chariots and a mass of troops, you €overwhelmed him in the depths of the sea, but carried through safely žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µµ’ļ‚³Ķįć’¢—ƒthose who had put their confidence in you, the Ruler over the whole €creation. And when they had seen works of your hands, they praised you, the €Almighty. You, O King, when you had created the boundless and immeasurable earth, €chose this city and sanctified this place for your name, though you €have no need of anything; and when you had glorified it by your €magnificent manifestation, you made it a firm foundation for the glory €of your great and honored name. And because you love the house of Israel, you promised that if we €should have reverses, and tribulation should overtake us, you would €listen to our petition when we come to this place and pray. And indeed you are faithful and true. And because oftentimes when our fathers were oppressed you helped them €in their humiliation, and rescued them from great evils, see now, O holy King, that because of our many and great sins we are €crushed with suffering, subjected to our enemies, and overtaken by €helplessness. In our downfall this audacious and profane man undertakes to violate €the holy place on earth dedicated to your glorious name. For your dwelling, the heaven of heavens, is unapproachable by man. But because you graciously bestowed your glory upon your people Israel, €you sanctified this place. Do not punish us for the defilement committed by these men, or call us €to account for this profanation, lest the transgressors boast in their €wrath or exult in the arrogance of their tongue, saying, `We have trampled down the house of the sanctuary as offensive houses €are trampled down.' Wipe away our sins and disperse our errors, and reveal your mercy at €this hour. Speedily let your mercies overtake us, and put praises in the mouth of €those who are downcast and broken in spirit, and give us peace." @Thereupon God, who oversees all things, the first Father of all, holy €among the holy ones, having heard the lawful supplication, scourged him €who had exalted himself in insolence and audacity. He shook him on this side and that as a reed is shaken by the wind, so €that he lay helpless on the ground and, besides being paralyzed in his €limbs, was unable even to speak, since he was smitten by a righteous €judgment. Then both friends and bodyguards, seeing the severe punishment that had €overtaken him, and fearing lest he should lose his life, quickly €dragged him out, panic-stricken in their exceedingly great fear. After a while he recovered, and though he had been punished, he by no €means repented, but went away uttering bitter threats. @When he arrived in Egypt, he increased in his deeds of malice, €abetted by the previously mentioned drinking companions and comrades, €who were strangers to everything just. He was not content with his uncounted licentious deeds, but he also €continued with such audacity that he framed evil reports in the various €localities; and many of his friends, intently observing the king's €purpose, themselves also followed his will. He proposed to inflict public disgrace upon the Jewish community, and €he set up a stone on the tower in the courtyard with this inscription: "None of those who do not sacrifice shall enter their sanctuaries, and €all Jews shall be subjected to a registration involving poll tax and to €the status of slaves. Those who object to this are to be taken by force €and put to death; those who are registered are also to be branded on their bodies by fire €with the ivy-leaf symbol of Dionysus, and they shall also be reduced to €their former limited status." In order that he might not appear to be an enemy to all, he inscribed €below: "But if any of them prefer to join those who have been initiated €into the mysteries, they shall have equal citizenship with the €Alexandrians." @Now some, however, with an obvious abhorrence of the price to be €exacted for maintaining the religion of their city, readily gave €themselves up, since they expected to enhance their reputation by their €future association with the king. But the majority acted firmly with a courageous spirit and did not €depart from their religion; and by paying money in exchange for life €they confidently attempted to save themselves from the registration. They remained resolutely hopeful of obtaining help, and they abhorred €those who separated themselves from them, considering them to be €enemies of the Jewish nation, and depriving them of common fellowship €and mutual help.  @When the impious king comprehended this situation, he became so €infuriated that not only was he enraged against those Jews who lived in €Alexandria, but was still more bitterly hostile toward those in the €countryside; and he ordered that all should promptly be gathered into €one place, and put to death by the most cruel means. While these matters were being arranged, a hostile rumor was circulated €against the Jewish nation by men who conspired to do them ill, a €pretext being given by a report that they hindered others from the €observance of their customs. The Jews, however, continued to maintain good will and unswerving €loyalty toward the dynasty; but because they worshiped God and conducted themselves by his law, €they kept their separateness with respect to foods. For this reason €they appeared hateful to some; but since they adorned their style of life with the good deeds of €upright people, they were established in good repute among all men. Nevertheless those of other races paid no heed to their good service to €their nation, which was common talk among all; instead they gossiped about the differences in worship and foods, €alleging that these people were loyal neither to the king nor to his €authorities, but were hostile and greatly opposed to his government. So €they attached no ordinary reproach to them. @The Greeks in the city, though wronged in no way, when they saw an €unexpected tumult around these people and the crowds that suddenly were €forming, were not strong enough to help them, for they lived under €tyranny. They did try to console them, being grieved at the situation, €and expected that matters would change; for such a great community ought not be left to its fate when it had €committed no offense. And already some of their neighbors and friends and business associates €had taken some of them aside privately and were pledging to protect €them and to exert more earnest efforts for their assistance. @Then the king, boastful of his present good fortune, and not €considering the might of the supreme God, but assuming that he would €persevere constantly in his same purpose, wrote this letter against €them: "King Ptolemy Philopator to his generals and soldiers in Egypt and all €its districts, greetings and good health. I myself and our government are faring well. When our expedition took place in Asia, as you yourselves know, it was €brought to conclusion, according to plan, by the gods' deliberate €alliance with us in battle, and we considered that we should not rule the nations inhabiting €Coele-Syria and Phoenicia by the power of the spear but should cherish €them with clemency and great benevolence, gladly treating them well. And when we had granted very great revenues to the temples in the €cities, we came on to Jerusalem also, and went up to honor the temple €of those wicked people, who never cease from their folly. They accepted our presence by word, but insincerely by deed, because €when we proposed to enter their inner temple and honor it with €magnificent and most beautiful offerings, they were carried away by their traditional conceit, and excluded us €from entering; but they were spared the exercise of our power because €of the benevolence which we have toward all. By maintaining their manifest ill-will toward us, they become the only €people among all nations who hold their heads high in defiance of kings €and their own benefactors, and are unwilling to regard any action as €sincere. @"But we, when we arrived in Egypt victorious, accommodated ourselves €to their folly and did as was proper, since we treat all nations with €benevolence. Among other things, we made known to all our amnesty toward their žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µµ’ļ‚³Ķįć’£˜•‚compatriots here, both because of their alliance with us and the myriad €affairs liberally entrusted to them from the beginning; and we ventured €to make a change, by deciding both to deem them worthy of Alexandrian €citizenship and to make them participants in our regular religious €rites. But in their innate malice they took this in a contrary spirit, and €disdained what is good. Since they incline constantly to evil, they not only spurn the priceless citizenship, but also both by speech €and by silence they abominate those few among them who are sincerely €disposed toward us; in every situation, in accordance with their €infamous way of life, they secretly suspect that we may soon alter our €policy. Therefore, fully convinced by these indications that they are €ill-disposed toward us in every way, we have taken precautions lest, if €a sudden disorder should later arise against us, we should have these €impious people behind our backs as traitors and barbarous enemies. Therefore we have given orders that, as soon as this letter shall €arrive, you are to send to us those who live among you, together with €their wives and children, with insulting and harsh treatment, and bound €securely with iron fetters, to suffer the sure and shameful death that €befits enemies. For when these all have been punished, we are sure that for the €remaining time the government will be established for ourselves in good €order and in the best state. But whoever shelters any of the Jews, old people or children or even €infants, will be tortured to death with the most hateful torments, €together with his family. Any one willing to give information will receive the property of the €one who incurs the punishment, and also two thousand drachmas from the €royal treasury, and will be awarded his freedom. Every place detected sheltering a Jew is to be made unapproachable and €burned with fire, and shall become useless for all time to any mortal €creature." The letter was written in the above form.  @In every place, then, where this decree arrived, a feast at public €expense was arranged for the Gentiles with shouts and gladness, for the €inveterate enmity which had long ago been in their minds was now made €evident and outspoken. But among the Jews there was incessant mourning, lamentation, and €tearful cries; everywhere their hearts were burning, and they groaned €because of the unexpected destruction that had suddenly been decreed €for them. What district or city, or what habitable place at all, or what streets €were not filled with mourning and wailing for them? For with such a harsh and ruthless spirit were they being sent off, all €together, by the generals in the several cities, that at the sight of €their unusual punishments, even some of their enemies, perceiving the €common object of pity before their eyes, reflected upon the uncertainty €of life and shed tears at the most miserable expulsion of these people. For a multitude of gray-headed old men, sluggish and bent with age, was €being led away, forced to march at a swift pace by the violence with €which they were driven in such a shameful manner. And young women who had just entered the bridal chamber to share €married life exchanged joy for wailing, their myrrh-perfumed hair €sprinkled with ashes, and were carried away unveiled, all together €raising a lament instead of a wedding song, as they were torn by the €harsh treatment of the heathen. In bonds and in public view they were violently dragged along as far as €the place of embarkation. Their husbands, in the prime of youth, their necks encircled with ropes €instead of garlands, spent the remaining days of their marriage €festival in lamentations instead of good cheer and youthful revelry, €seeing death immediately before them. They were brought on board like wild animals, driven under the €constraint of iron bonds; some were fastened by the neck to the benches €of the boats, others had their feet secured by unbreakable fetters, and in addition they were confined under a solid deck, so that with €their eyes in total darkness, they should undergo treatment befitting €traitors during the whole voyage. @When these men had been brought to the place called Schedia, and the €voyage was concluded as the king had decreed, he commanded that they €should be enclosed in the hippodrome which had been built with a €monstrous perimeter wall in front of the city, and which was well €suited to make them an obvious spectacle to all coming back into the €city and to those from the city going out into the country, so that €they could neither communicate with the king's forces nor in any way €claim to be inside the circuit of the city. And when this had happened, the king, hearing that the Jews' €compatriots from the city frequently went out in secret to lament €bitterly the ignoble misfortune of their brothers, ordered in his rage that these men be dealt with in precisely the same €fashion as the others, not omitting any detail of their punishment. The entire race was to be registered individually, not for the hard €labor that has been briefly mentioned before, but to be tortured with €the outrages that he had ordered, and at the end to be destroyed in the €space of a single day. The registration of these people was therefore conducted with bitter €haste and zealous intentness from the rising of the sun till its €setting, and though uncompleted it stopped after forty days. @The king was greatly and continually filled with joy, organizing €feasts in honor of all his idols, with a mind alienated from truth and €with a profane mouth, praising speechless things that are not able even €to communicate or to come to one's help, and uttering improper words €against the supreme God. But after the previously mentioned interval of time the scribes €declared to the king that they were no longer able to take the census €of the Jews because of their innumerable multitude, although most of them were still in the country, some still residing in €their homes, and some at the place; the task was impossible for all the €generals in Egypt. After he had threatened them severely, charging that they had been €bribed to contrive a means of escape, he was clearly convinced about €the matter when they said and proved that both the paper and the pens they used €for writing had already given out. But this was an act of the invincible providence of him who was aiding €the Jews from heaven.  @Then the king, completely inflexible, was filled with overpowering €anger and wrath; so he summoned Hermon, keeper of the elephants, and ordered him on the following day to drug all the elephants -- five €hundred in number -- with large handfuls of frankincense and plenty of €unmixed wine, and to drive them in, maddened by the lavish abundance of €liquor, so that the Jews might meet their doom. When he had given these orders he returned to his feasting, together €with those of his friends and of the army who were especially hostile €toward the Jews. And Hermon, keeper of the elephants, proceeded faithfully to carry out €the orders. The servants in charge of the Jews went out in the evening and bound €the hands of the wretched people and arranged for their continued €custody through the night, convinced that the whole nation would €experience its final destruction. For to the Gentiles it appeared that the Jews were left without any aid, because in their bonds they were forcibly confined on every side. But €with tears and a voice hard to silence they all called upon the €Almighty Lord and Ruler of all power, their merciful God and Father, €praying that he avert with vengeance the evil plot against them and in a €glorious manifestation rescue them from the fate now prepared for them. So their entreaty ascended fervently to heaven. @Hermon, however, when he had drugged the pitiless elephants until €they had been filled with a great abundance of wine and satiated with €frankincense, presented himself at the courtyard early in the morning €to report to the king about these preparations. But the Lord sent upon the king a portion of sleep, that beneficence žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µµ’ļ‚³Ķįć’„˜‹‚which from the beginning, night and day, is bestowed by him who grants €it to whomever he wishes. And by the action of the Lord he was overcome by so pleasant and deep a €sleep that he quite failed in his lawless purpose and was completely €frustrated in his inflexible plan. Then the Jews, since they had escaped the appointed hour, praised their €holy God and again begged him who is easily reconciled to show the €might of his all-powerful hand to the arrogant Gentiles. @But now, since it was nearly the middle of the tenth hour, the person €who was in charge of the invitations, seeing that the guests were €assembled, approached the king and nudged him. And when he had with difficulty roused him, he pointed out that the €hour of the banquet was already slipping by, and he gave him an account €of the situation. The king, after considering this, returned to his drinking, and ordered €those present for the banquet to recline opposite him. When this was done he urged them to give themselves over to revelry and €to make the present portion of the banquet joyful by celebrating all €the more. After the party had been going on for some time, the king summoned €Hermon and with sharp threats demanded to know why the Jews had been €allowed to remain alive through the present day. But when he, with the corroboration of his friends, pointed out that €while it was still night he had carried out completely the order given €him, the king, possessed by a savagery worse than that of Phalaris, said €that the Jews were benefited by today's sleep, "but," he added, €"tomorrow without delay prepare the elephants in the same way for the €destruction of the lawless Jews!" When the king had spoken, all those present readily and joyfully with €one accord gave their approval, and each departed to his own home. But they did not so much employ the duration of the night in sleep as €in devising all sorts of insults for those they thought to be doomed. @Then, as soon as the cock had crowed in the early morning, Hermon, €having equipped the beasts, began to move them along in the great €colonnade. The crowds of the city had been assembled for this most pitiful €spectacle and they were eagerly waiting for daybreak. But the Jews, at their last gasp, since the time had run out, stretched €their hands toward heaven and with most tearful supplication and €mournful dirges implored the supreme God to help them again at once. The rays of the sun were not yet shed abroad, and while the king was €receiving his friends, Hermon arrived and invited him to come out, €indicating that what the king desired was ready for action. But he, upon receiving the report and being struck by the unusual €invitation to come out -- since he had been completely overcome by €incomprehension -- inquired what the matter was for which this had been €so zealously completed for him. This was the act of God who rules over all things, for he had implanted €in the king's mind a forgetfulness of the things he had previously €devised. Then Hermon and all the king's friends pointed out that the beasts and €the armed forces were ready, "O king, according to your eager purpose." But at these words he was filled with an overpowering wrath, because by €the providence of God his whole mind had been deranged in regard to €these matters; and with a threatening look he said, "Were your parents or children present, I would have prepared them to €be a rich feast for the savage beasts instead of the Jews, who give me €no ground for complaint and have exhibited to an extraordinary degree a €full and firm loyalty to my ancestors. In fact you would have been deprived of life instead of these, were it €not for an affection arising from our nurture in common and your €usefulness." So Hermon suffered an unexpected and dangerous threat, and his eyes €wavered and his face fell. The king's friends one by one sullenly slipped away and dismissed the €assembled people, each to his own occupation. Then the Jews, upon hearing what the king had said, praised the €manifest Lord God, King of kings, since this also was his aid which €they had received. @The king, however, reconvened the party in the same manner and urged €the guests to return to their celebrating. After summoning Hermon he said in a threatening tone, "How many times, €you poor wretch, must I give you orders about these things? Equip the elephants now once more for the destruction of the Jews €tomorrow!" But the officials who were at table with him, wondering at his €instability of mind, remonstrated as follows: "O king, how long will you try us, as though we are idiots, ordering €now for a third time that they be destroyed, and again revoking your €decree in the matter? As a result the city is in a tumult because of its expectation; it is €crowded with masses of people, and also in constant danger of being €plundered." Upon this the king, a Phalaris in everything and filled with madness, €took no account of the changes of mind which had come about within him €for the protection of the Jews, and he firmly swore an irrevocable oath €that he would send them to death without delay, mangled by the knees €and feet of the beasts, and would also march against Judea and rapidly level it to the ground €with fire and spear, and by burning to the ground the temple €inaccessible to him would quickly render it forever empty of those who €offered sacrifices there. Then the friends and officers departed with great joy, and they €confidently posted the armed forces at the places in the city most €favorable for keeping guard. Now when the beasts had been brought virtually to a state of madness, €so to speak, by the very fragrant draughts of wine mixed with €frankincense and had been equipped with frightful devices, the elephant €keeper entered at about dawn into the courtyard -- the city now being filled €with countless masses of people crowding their way into the hippodrome €-- and urged the king on to the matter at hand. So he, when he had filled his impious mind with a deep rage, rushed out €in full force along with the beasts, wishing to witness, with €invulnerable heart and with his own eyes, the grievous and pitiful €destruction of the aforementioned people. And when the Jews saw the dust raised by the elephants going out at the €gate and by the following armed forces, as well as by the trampling of €the crowd, and heard the loud and tumultuous noise, they thought that this was their last moment of life, the end of their €most miserable suspense, and giving way to lamentation and groans they €kissed each other, embracing relatives and falling into one another's €arms -- parents and children, mothers and daughters, and others with €babies at their breasts who were drawing their last milk. Not only this, but when they considered the help which they had €received before from heaven they prostrated themselves with one accord €on the ground, removing the babies from their breasts, and cried out in a very loud voice, imploring the Ruler over every €power to manifest himself and be merciful to them, as they stood now at €the gates of death.  @Then a certain Eleazar, famous among the priests of the country, who €had attained a ripe old age and throughout his life had been adorned €with every virtue, directed the elders around him to cease calling upon €the holy God and prayed as follows: "King of great power, Almighty God Most High, governing all creation €with mercy, look upon the descendants of Abraham, O Father, upon the children of €the sainted Jacob, a people of your consecrated portion who are €perishing as foreigners in a foreign land. Pharaoh with his abundance of chariots, the former ruler of this Egypt, €exalted with lawless insolence and boastful tongue, you destroyed €together with his arrogant army by drowning them in the sea, €manifesting the light of your mercy upon the nation of Israel. Sennacherib exulting in his countless forces, oppressive king of the €Assyrians, who had already gained control of the whole world by the €spear and was lifted up against your holy city, speaking grievous words žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µµ’ļ‚³Ķįć’¦•„with boasting and insolence, you, O Lord, broke in pieces, showing your €power to many nations. The three companions in Babylon who had voluntarily surrendered their €lives to the flames so as not to serve vain things, you rescued €unharmed, even to a hair, moistening the fiery furnace with dew and €turning the flame against all their enemies. Daniel, who through envious slanders was cast down into the ground to €lions as food for wild beasts, you brought up to the light unharmed. And Jonah, wasting away in the belly of a huge, sea-born monster, you, €Father, watched over and restored unharmed to all his family. And now, you who hate insolence, all-merciful and protector of all, €reveal yourself quickly to those of the nation of Israel -- who are €being outrageously treated by the abominable and lawless Gentiles. Even if our lives have become entangled in impieties in our exile, €rescue us from the hand of the enemy, and destroy us, Lord, by whatever €fate you choose. Let not the vain-minded praise their vanities at the destruction of €your beloved people, saying, `Not even their god has rescued them.' But you, O Eternal One, who have all might and all power, watch over us €now and have mercy upon us who by the senseless insolence of the €lawless are being deprived of life in the manner of traitors. And let the Gentiles cower today in fear of your invincible might, O €honored One, who have power to save the nation of Jacob. The whole throng of infants and their parents entreat you with tears. Let it be shown to all the Gentiles that you are with us, O Lord, and €have not turned your face from us; but just as you have said, `Not even €when they were in the land of their enemies did I neglect them,' so €accomplish it, O Lord." @Just as Eleazar was ending his prayer, the king arrived at the €hippodrome with the beasts and all the arrogance of his forces. And when the Jews observed this they raised great cries to heaven so €that even the nearby valleys resounded with them and brought an €uncontrollable terror upon the army. Then the most glorious, almighty, and true God revealed his holy face €and opened the heavenly gates, from which two glorious angels of €fearful aspect descended, visible to all but the Jews. They opposed the forces of the enemy and filled them with confusion and €terror, binding them with immovable shackles. Even the king began to shudder bodily, and he forgot his sullen €insolence. The beasts turned back upon the armed forces following them and began €trampling and destroying them. Then the king's anger was turned to pity and tears because of the €things that he had devised beforehand. For when he heard the shouting and saw them all fallen headlong to €destruction, he wept and angrily threatened his friends, saying, "You are committing treason and surpassing tyrants in cruelty; and even €me, your benefactor, you are now attempting to deprive of dominion and €life by secretly devising acts of no advantage to the kingdom. Who is it that has taken each man from his home and senselessly €gathered here those who faithfully have held the fortresses of our €country? Who is it that has so lawlessly encompassed with outrageous treatment €those who from the beginning differed from all nations in their €goodwill toward us and often have accepted willingly the worst of human €dangers? Loose and untie their unjust bonds! Send them back to their homes in €peace, begging pardon for your former actions! Release the sons of the almighty and living God of heaven, who from the €time of our ancestors until now has granted an unimpeded and notable €stability to our government." These then were the things he said; and the Jews, immediately released, €praised their holy God and Savior, since they now had escaped death. @Then the king, when he had returned to the city, summoned the €official in charge of the revenues and ordered him to provide to the €Jews both wines and everything else needed for a festival of seven €days, deciding that they should celebrate their rescue with all €joyfulness in that same place in which they had expected to meet their €destruction. Accordingly those disgracefully treated and near to death, or rather, €who stood at its gates, arranged for a banquet of deliverance instead €of a bitter and lamentable death, and full of joy they apportioned to €celebrants the place which had been prepared for their destruction and €burial. They ceased their chanting of dirges and took up the song of their €fathers, praising God, their Savior and worker of wonders. Putting an €end to all mourning and wailing, they formed choruses as a sign of €peaceful joy. Likewise also the king, after convening a great banquet to celebrate €these events, gave thanks to heaven unceasingly and lavishly for the €unexpected rescue which he had experienced. And those who had previously believed that the Jews would be destroyed €and become food for birds, and had joyfully registered them, groaned as €they themselves were overcome by disgrace, and their fire-breathing €boldness was ignominiously quenched. But the Jews, when they had arranged the aforementioned choral group, €as we have said before, passed the time in feasting to the €accompaniment of joyous thanksgiving and psalms. And when they had ordained a public rite for these things in their €whole community and for their descendants, they instituted the €observance of the aforesaid days as a festival, not for drinking and €gluttony, but because of the deliverance that had come to them through €God. Then they petitioned the king, asking for dismissal to their homes. So their registration was carried out from the twenty-fifth of Pachon €to the fourth of Epeiph, for forty days; and their destruction was set €for the fifth to the seventh of Epeiph, the three days on which the Lord of all most gloriously revealed his mercy and rescued €them all together and unharmed. Then they feasted, provided with everything by the king, until the €fourteenth day, on which also they made the petition for their €dismissal. The king granted their request at once and wrote the following letter €for them to the generals in the cities, magnanimously expressing his €concern:  @"King Ptolemy Philopator to the generals in Egypt and all in €authority in his government, greetings and good health. We ourselves and our children are faring well, the great God guiding €our affairs according to our desire. Certain of our friends, frequently urging us with malicious intent, €persuaded us to gather together the Jews of the kingdom in a body and €to punish them with barbarous penalties as traitors; for they declared that our government would never be firmly established €until this was accomplished, because of the ill-will which these people €had toward all nations. They also led them out with harsh treatment as slaves, or rather as €traitors, and, girding themselves with a cruelty more savage than that €of Scythian custom, they tried without any inquiry or examination to €put them to death. But we very severely threatened them for these acts, and in accordance €with the clemency which we have toward all men we barely spared their €lives. Since we have come to realize that the God of heaven surely €defends the Jews, always taking their part as a father does for his €children, and since we have taken into account the friendly and firm goodwill €which they had toward us and our ancestors, we justly have acquitted €them of every charge of whatever kind. We also have ordered each and every one to return to his own home, with €no one in any place doing them harm at all or reproaching them for the €irrational things that have happened. For you should know that if we devise any evil against them or cause €them any grief at all, we always shall have not man but the Ruler over €every power, the Most High God, in everything and inescapably as an €antagonist to avenge such acts. Farewell." @Upon receiving this letter the Jews did not immediately hurry to make €their departure, but they requested of the king that at their own hands žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µµ’ļ‚³Ķįć’§˜Šƒthose of the Jewish nation who had willfully transgressed against the €holy God and the law of God should receive the punishment they deserved. For they declared that those who for the belly's sake had transgressed €the divine commandments would never be favorably disposed toward the €king's government. The king then, admitting and approving the truth of what they said, €granted them a general license so that freely and without royal €authority or supervision they might destroy those everywhere in his €kingdom who had transgressed the law of God. When they had applauded him in fitting manner, their priests and the €whole multitude shouted the Hallelujah and joyfully departed. And so on their way they punished and put to a public and shameful €death any whom they met of their fellow-countrymen who had become €defiled. In that day they put to death more than three hundred men; and they €kept the day as a joyful festival, since they had destroyed the €profaners. But those who had held fast to God even to death and had received the €full enjoyment of deliverance began their departure from the city, €crowned with all sorts of very fragrant flowers, joyfully and loudly €giving thanks to the one God of their fathers, the eternal Savior of €Israel, in words of praise and all kinds of melodious songs. @When they had arrived at Ptolemais, called "rose-bearing" because of €a characteristic of the place, the fleet waited for them, in accord €with the common desire, for seven days. There they celebrated their deliverance, for the king had generously €provided all things to them for their journey, to each as far as his €own house. And when they had landed in peace with appropriate thanksgiving, there €too in like manner they decided to observe these days as a joyous €festival during the time of their stay. Then, after inscribing them as holy on a pillar and dedicating a place €of prayer at the site of the festival, they departed unharmed, free, €and overjoyed, since at the king's command they had been brought safely €by land and sea and river each to his own place. They also possessed greater prestige among their enemies, being held in €honor and awe; and they were not subject at all to confiscation of €their belongings by any one. Besides they all recovered all of their property, in accordance with €the registration, so that those who held any restored it to them with €extreme fear. So the supreme God perfectly performed great deeds for €their deliverance. Blessed be the Deliverer of Israel through all times! Amen. ąļ‚“Ķįć’”The subject that I am about to discuss is most philosophical, that is, €whether devout reason is sovereign over the emotions. So it is right €for me to advise you to pay earnest attention to philosophy. For the subject is essential to everyone who is seeking knowledge, and €in addition it includes the praise of the highest virtue -- I mean, of €course, rational judgment. If, then, it is evident that reason rules over those emotions that €hinder self-control, namely, gluttony and lust, it is also clear that it masters the emotions that hinder one from €justice, such as malice, and those that stand in the way of courage, €namely anger, fear, and pain. Some might perhaps ask, "If reason rules the emotions, why is it not €sovereign over forgetfulness and ignorance?" Their attempt at argument €is ridiculous! For reason does not rule its own emotions, but those that are opposed €to justice, courage, and self-control; and it is not for the purpose of €destroying them, but so that one may not give way to them. @I could prove to you from many and various examples that reason is €dominant over the emotions, but I can demonstrate it best from the noble bravery of those who died €for the sake of virtue, Eleazar and the seven brothers and their mother. All of these, by despising sufferings that bring death, demonstrated €that reason controls the emotions. On this anniversary it is fitting for me to praise for their virtues €those who, with their mother, died for the sake of nobility and €goodness, but I would also call them blessed for the honor in which €they are held. For all people, even their torturers, marveled at their courage and €endurance, and they became the cause of the downfall of tyranny over €their nation. By their endurance they conquered the tyrant, and thus €their native land was purified through them. I shall shortly have an opportunity to speak of this; but, as my custom €is, I shall begin by stating my main principle, and then I shall turn €to their story, giving glory to the all-wise God. @Our inquiry, accordingly, is whether reason is sovereign over the €emotions. We shall decide just what reason is and what emotion is, how many kinds €of emotions there are, and whether reason rules over all these. Now reason is the mind that with sound logic prefers the life of wisdom. Wisdom, next, is the knowledge of divine and human matters and the €causes of these. This, in turn, is education in the law, by which we learn divine €matters reverently and human affairs to our advantage. Now the kinds of wisdom are rational judgment, justice, courage, and €self-control. Rational judgment is supreme over all of these, since by means of it €reason rules over the emotions. The two most comprehensive types of the emotions are pleasure and pain; €and each of these is by nature concerned with both body and soul. The emotions of both pleasure and pain have many consequences. Thus desire precedes pleasure and delight follows it. Fear precedes pain and sorrow comes after. Anger, as a man will see if he reflects on this experience, is an €emotion embracing pleasure and pain. In pleasure there exists even a malevolent tendency, which is the most €complex of all the emotions. In the soul it is boastfulness, covetousness, thirst for honor, €rivalry, and malice; in the body, indiscriminate eating, gluttony, and solitary gormandizing. @Just as pleasure and pain are two plants growing from the body and €the soul, so there are many offshoots of these plants, each of which the master cultivator, reason, weeds and prunes and ties €up and waters and thoroughly irrigates, and so tames the jungle of €habits and emotions. For reason is the guide of the virtues, but over the emotions it is €sovereign. €@Observe now first of all that rational judgment is sovereign over the €emotions by virtue of the restraining power of self-control. Self-control, then, is dominance over the desires. Some desires are mental, others are physical, and reason obviously €rules over both. Otherwise how is it that when we are attracted to forbidden foods we €abstain from the pleasure to be had from them? Is it not because reason €is able to rule over appetites? I for one think so. Therefore when we crave seafood and fowl and animals and all sorts of €foods that are forbidden to us by the law, we abstain because of €domination by reason. For the emotions of the appetites are restrained, checked by the €temperate mind, and all the impulses of the body are bridled by reason.  @And why is it amazing that the desires of the mind for the enjoyment €of beauty are rendered powerless? It is for this reason, certainly, that the temperate Joseph is praised, €because by mental effort he overcame sexual desire. For when he was young and in his prime for intercourse, by his reason €he nullified the frenzy of the passions. Not only is reason proved to rule over the frenzied urge of sexual €desire, but also over every desire. Thus the law says, "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife...or €anything that is your neighbor's." In fact, since the law has told us not to covet, I could prove to you €all the more that reason is able to control desires. €@Just so it is with the emotions that hinder one from justice. Otherwise how could it be that someone who is habitually a solitary €gormandizer, a glutton, or even a drunkard can learn a better way, €unless reason is clearly lord of the emotions? Thus, as soon as a man adopts a way of life in accordance with the law, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¶’ļ‚“Ķįć’¢˜ˆ‚even though he is a lover of money, he is forced to act contrary to his €natural ways and to lend without interest to the needy and to cancel €the debt when the seventh year arrives. If one is greedy, he is ruled by the law through his reason so that he €neither gleans his harvest nor gathers the last grapes from the €vineyard. €@In all other matters we can recognize that reason rules the emotions. For the law prevails even over affection for parents, so that virtue is €not abandoned for their sakes. It is superior to love for one's wife, so that one rebukes her when she €breaks the law. It takes precedence over love for children, so that one punishes them €for misdeeds. It is sovereign over the relationship of friends, so that one rebukes €friends when they act wickedly. Do not consider it paradoxical when reason, through the law, can €prevail even over enmity. The fruit trees of the enemy are not cut €down, but one preserves the property of enemies from the destroyers and €helps raise up what has fallen. @It is evident that reason rules even the more violent emotions: lust €for power, vainglory, boasting, arrogance, and malice. For the temperate mind repels all these malicious emotions, just as it €repels anger -- for it is sovereign over even this. When Moses was angry with Dathan and Abiram he did nothing against them €in anger, but controlled his anger by reason. For, as I have said, the temperate mind is able to get the better of €the emotions, to correct some, and to render others powerless. Why else did Jacob, our most wise father, censure the households of €Simeon and Levi for their irrational slaughter of the entire tribe of €the Shechemites, saying, "Cursed be their anger"? For if reason could not control anger, he would not have spoken thus. Now when God fashioned man, he planted in him emotions and inclinations, but at the same time he enthroned the mind among the senses as a sacred €governor over them all. To the mind he gave the law; and one who lives subject to this will €rule a kingdom that is temperate, just, good, and courageous. @How is it then, one might say, that if reason is master of the €emotions, it does not control forgetfulness and ignorance?  This notion is entirely ridiculous; for it is evident that reason rules €not over its own emotions, but over those of the body. No one of us can eradicate that kind of desire, but reason can provide €a way for us not to be enslaved by desire. No one of us can eradicate anger from the mind, but reason can help to €deal with anger. No one of us can eradicate malice, but reason can fight at our side so €that we are not overcome by malice. For reason does not uproot the emotions but is their antagonist. @Now this can be explained more clearly by the story of King David's €thirst. David had been attacking the Philistines all day long, and together €with the soldiers of his nation had slain many of them. Then when evening fell, he came, sweating and quite exhausted, to the €royal tent, around which the whole army of our ancestors had encamped. Now all the rest were at supper, but the king was extremely thirsty, and although springs were plentiful €there, he could not satisfy his thirst from them. But a certain irrational desire for the water in the enemy's territory €tormented and inflamed him, undid and consumed him. When his guards complained bitterly because of the king's craving, two €staunch young soldiers, respecting the king's desire, armed themselves €fully, and taking a pitcher climbed over the enemy's ramparts. Eluding the sentinels at the gates, they went searching throughout the €enemy camp and found the spring, and from it boldly brought the king a drink. But David, although he was burning with thirst, considered it an €altogether fearful danger to his soul to drink what was regarded as €equivalent to blood. Therefore, opposing reason to desire, he poured out the drink as an €offering to God. For the temperate mind can conquer the drives of the emotions and €quench the flames of frenzied desires; it can overthrow bodily agonies even when they are extreme, and by €nobility of reason spurn all domination by the emotions. @The present occasion now invites us to a narrative demonstration of €temperate reason. @At a time when our fathers were enjoying profound peace because of €their observance of the law and were prospering, so that even Seleucus €Nicanor, king of Asia, had both appropriated money to them for the €temple service and recognized their commonwealth --just at that time certain men attempted a revolution against the public €harmony and caused many and various disasters.  @Now there was a certain Simon, a political opponent of the noble and €good man, Onias, who then held the high priesthood for life. When €despite all manner of slander he was unable to injure Onias in the eyes €of the nation, he fled the country with the purpose of betraying it. So he came to Apollonius, governor of Syria, Phoenicia, and Cilicia, €and said, "I have come here because I am loyal to the king's government, to €report that in the Jerusalem treasuries there are deposited tens of €thousands in private funds, which are not the property of the temple €but belong to King Seleucus." When Apollonius learned the details of these things, he praised Simon €for his service to the king and went up to Seleucus to inform him of €the rich treasure. On receiving authority to deal with this matter, he proceeded quickly €to our country accompanied by the accursed Simon and a very strong €military force. He said that he had come with the king's authority to seize the private €funds in the treasury. The people indignantly protested his words, considering it outrageous €that those who had committed deposits to the sacred treasury should be €deprived of them, and did all that they could to prevent it. But, uttering threats, Apollonius went on to the temple. While the priests together with women and children were imploring God €in the temple to shield the holy place that was being treated so €contemptuously, and while Apollonius was going up with his armed forces to seize the €money, angels on horseback with lightning flashing from their weapons €appeared from heaven, instilling in them great fear and trembling. Then Apollonius fell down half dead in the temple area that was open to €all, stretched out his hands toward heaven, and with tears besought the €Hebrews to pray for him and propitiate the wrath of the heavenly army. For he said that he had committed a sin deserving of death, and that if €he were delivered he would praise the blessedness of the holy place €before all people. Moved by these words, Onias the high priest, although otherwise he had €scruples about doing so, prayed for him lest King Seleucus suppose that €Apollonius had been overcome by human treachery and not by divine €justice. So Apollonius, having been preserved beyond all expectations, went away €to report to the king what had happened to him. @When King Seleucus died, his son Antiochus Epiphanes succeeded to the €throne, an arrogant and terrible man, who removed Onias from the priesthood and appointed Onias's brother €Jason as high priest. Jason agreed that if the office were conferred upon him he would pay €the king three thousand six hundred and sixty talents annually. So the king appointed him high priest and ruler of the nation. Jason changed the nation's way of life and altered its form of €government in complete violation of the law, so that not only was a gymnasium constructed at the very citadel of our €native land, but also the temple service was abolished. The divine justice was angered by these acts and caused Antiochus €himself to make war on them. For when he was warring against Ptolemy in Egypt, he heard that a rumor €of his death had spread and that the people of Jerusalem had rejoiced €greatly. He speedily marched against them, and after he had plundered them he issued a decree that if any of them €should be found observing the ancestral law they should die. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¶’ļ‚“Ķįć’¤˜˜When, by means of his decrees, he had not been able in any way to put €an end to the people's observance of the law, but saw that all his €threats and punishments were being disregarded, even to the point that women, because they had circumcised their sons, €were thrown headlong from heights along with their infants, though they €had known beforehand that they would suffer this --when, then, his decrees were despised by the people, he himself, €through torture, tried to compel everyone in the nation to eat defiling €foods and to renounce Judaism.  @The tyrant Antiochus, sitting in state with his counselors on a €certain high place, and with his armed soldiers standing about him, ordered the guards to seize each and every Hebrew and to compel them to €eat pork and food sacrificed to idols. If any were not willing to eat defiling food, they were to be broken on €the wheel and killed. And when many persons had been rounded up, one man, Eleazar by name, €leader of the flock, was brought before the king. He was a man of €priestly family, learned in the law, advanced in age, and known to many €in the tyrant's court because of his philosophy. @When Antiochus saw him he said, "Before I begin to torture you, old man, I would advise you to save €yourself by eating pork, for I respect your age and your gray hairs. Although you have had them €for so long a time, it does not seem to me that you are a philosopher €when you observe the religion of the Jews. Why, when nature has granted it to us, should you abhor eating the very €excellent meat of this animal? It is senseless not to enjoy delicious things that are not shameful, €and wrong to spurn the gifts of nature. It seems to me that you will do something even more senseless if, by €holding a vain opinion concerning the truth, you continue to despise me €to your own hurt. Will you not awaken from your foolish philosophy, dispel your futile €reasonings, adopt a mind appropriate to your years, philosophize €according to the truth of what is beneficial, and have compassion on your old age by honoring my humane advice? For consider this, that if there is some power watching over this €religion of yours, it will excuse you from any transgression that €arises out of compulsion." @When the tyrant urged him in this fashion to eat meat unlawfully, €Eleazar asked to have a word. When he had received permission to speak, he began to address the €people as follows: "We, O Antiochus, who have been persuaded to govern our lives by the €divine law, think that there is no compulsion more powerful than our €obedience to the law. Therefore we consider that we should not transgress it in any respect. Even if, as you suppose, our law were not truly divine and we had €wrongly held it to be divine, not even so would it be right for us to €invalidate our reputation for piety. Therefore do not suppose that it would be a petty sin if we were to eat €defiling food; to transgress the law in matters either small or great is of equal €seriousness, for in either case the law is equally despised. You scoff at our philosophy as though living by it were irrational, but it teaches us self-control, so that we master all pleasures and €desires, and it also trains us in courage, so that we endure any €suffering willingly; it instructs us in justice, so that in all our dealings we act €impartially, and it teaches us piety, so that with proper reverence we €worship the only real God. @"Therefore we do not eat defiling food; for since we believe that the €law was established by God, we know that in the nature of things the €Creator of the world in giving us the law has shown sympathy toward us. He has permitted us to eat what will be most suitable for our lives, €but he has forbidden us to eat meats that would be contrary to this. It would be tyrannical for you to compel us not only to transgress the €law, but also to eat in such a way that you may deride us for eating €defiling foods, which are most hateful to us. But you shall have no such occasion to laugh at me, nor will I transgress the sacred oaths of my ancestors concerning the €keeping of the law, not even if you gouge out my eyes and burn my entrails. I am not so old and cowardly as not to be young in reason on behalf of €piety. Therefore get your torture wheels ready and fan the fire more €vehemently! I do not so pity my old age as to break the ancestral law by my own act. I will not play false to you, O law that trained me, nor will I €renounce you, beloved self-control. I will not put you to shame, philosophical reason, nor will I reject €you, honored priesthood and knowledge of the law. You, O king, shall not stain the honorable mouth of my old age, nor my €long life lived lawfully. The fathers will receive me as pure, as one who does not fear your €violence even to death. You may tyrannize the ungodly, but you shall not dominate my religious €principles either by word or by deed."  @When Eleazar in this manner had made eloquent response to the €exhortations of the tyrant, the guards who were standing by dragged him €violently to the instruments of torture. First they stripped the old man, who remained adorned with the €gracefulness of his piety. And after they had tied his arms on each side they scourged him, while a herald opposite him cried out, "Obey the king's commands!" But the courageous and noble man, as a true Eleazar, was unmoved, as €though being tortured in a dream; yet while the old man's eyes were raised to heaven, his flesh was being €torn by scourges, his blood flowing, and his sides were being cut to €pieces. And though he fell to the ground because his body could not endure the €agonies, he kept his reason upright and unswerving. One of the cruel guards rushed at him and began to kick him in the side €to make him get up again after he fell. But he bore the pains and scorned the punishment and endured the €tortures. And like a noble athlete the old man, while being beaten, was €victorious over his torturers; in fact, with his face bathed in sweat, and gasping heavily for breath, €he amazed even his torturers by his courageous spirit. @At that point, partly out of pity for his old age, partly out of sympathy from their acquaintance with him, partly out of €admiration for his endurance, some of the king's retinue came to him €and said, "Eleazar, why are you so irrationally destroying yourself through these €evil things? We will set before you some cooked meat; save yourself by pretending to €eat pork." @But Eleazar, as though more bitterly tormented by this counsel, cried €out: "May we, the children of Abraham, never think so basely that out of €cowardice we feign a role unbecoming to us! For it would be irrational if we, who have lived in accordance with €truth to old age and have maintained in accordance with law the €reputation of such a life, should now change our course become a pattern of impiety to the young, in becoming an example of the €eating of defiling food. It would be shameful if we should survive for a little while and during €that time be a laughing stock to all for our cowardice, and if we should be despised by the tyrant as unmanly, and not protect €our divine law even to death. Therefore, O children of Abraham, die nobly for your religion! And you, guards of the tyrant, why do you delay?" @When they saw that he was so courageous in the face of the €afflictions, and that he had not been changed by their compassion, the €guards brought him to the fire. There they burned him with maliciously contrived instruments, threw him €down, and poured stinking liquids into his nostrils. When he was now burned to his very bones and about to expire, he lifted €up his eyes to God and said, "You know, O God, that though I might have saved myself, I am dying in €burning torments for the sake of the law. Be merciful to your people, and let our punishment suffice for them. Make my blood their purification, and take my life in exchange for €theirs." And after he said this, the holy man died nobly in his tortures, and by žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¶’ļ‚“Ķįć’¦˜ž‚reason he resisted even to the very tortures of death for the sake of €the law. @Admittedly, then, devout reason is sovereign over the emotions. For if the emotions had prevailed over reason, we would have testified €to their domination. But now that reason has conquered the emotions, we properly attribute €to it the power to govern. And it is right for us to acknowledge the dominance of reason when it €masters even external agonies. It would be ridiculous to deny it. And I have proved not only that reason has mastered agonies, but also €that it masters pleasures and in no respect yields to them.  @For like a most skilful pilot, the reason of our father Eleazar €steered the ship of religion over the sea of the emotions, and though buffeted by the stormings of the tyrant and overwhelmed by €the mighty waves of tortures, in no way did he turn the rudder of religion until he sailed into the €haven of immortal victory. No city besieged with many ingenious war machines has ever held out as €did that most holy man. Although his sacred life was consumed by €tortures and racks, he conquered the besiegers with the shield of his €devout reason. For in setting his mind firm like a jutting cliff, our father Eleazar €broke the maddening waves of the emotions. O priest, worthy of the priesthood, you neither defiled your sacred €teeth nor profaned your stomach, which had room only for reverence and €purity, by eating defiling foods. O man in harmony with the law and philosopher of divine life! Such should be those who are administrators of the law, shielding it €with their own blood and noble sweat in sufferings even to death. You, father, strengthened our loyalty to the law through your glorious €endurance, and you did not abandon the holiness which you praised, but €by your deeds you made your words of divine philosophy credible. O aged man, more powerful than tortures; O elder, fiercer than fire; O €supreme king over the passions, Eleazar! For just as our father Aaron, armed with the censer, ran through the €multitude of the people and conquered the fiery angel, so the descendant of Aaron, Eleazar, though being consumed by the fire, €remained unmoved in his reason. Most amazing, indeed, though he was an old man, his body no longer €tense and firm, his muscles flabby, his sinews feeble, he became young €again in spirit through reason; and by reason like that of Isaac he rendered €the many-headed rack ineffective. O man of blessed age and of venerable gray hair and of law-abiding €life, whom the faithful seal of death has perfected! @If, therefore, because of piety an aged man despised tortures even to €death, most certainly devout reason is governor of the emotions. Some perhaps might say, "Not every one has full command of his €emotions, because not every one has prudent reason." But as many as attend to religion with a whole heart, these alone are €able to control the passions of the flesh, since they believe that they, like our patriarchs Abraham and Isaac and €Jacob, do not die to God, but live in God. No contradiction therefore arises when some persons appear to be €dominated by their emotions because of the weakness of their reason. What person who lives as a philosopher by the whole rule of philosophy, €and trusts in God, and knows that it is blessed to endure any suffering for the sake of €virtue, would not be able to overcome the emotions through godliness? For only the wise and courageous man is lord of his emotions.  @For this is why even the very young, by following a philosophy in €accordance with devout reason, have prevailed over the most painful €instruments of torture. For when the tyrant was conspicuously defeated in his first attempt, €being unable to compel an aged man to eat defiling foods, then in €violent rage he commanded that others of the Hebrew captives be €brought, and that any who ate defiling food should be freed after €eating, but if any were to refuse, these should be tortured even more €cruelly. @When the tyrant had given these orders, seven brothers -- handsome, €modest, noble, and accomplished in every way -- were brought before him €along with their aged mother. When the tyrant saw them, grouped about their mother as if in a chorus, €he was pleased with them. And struck by their appearance and nobility, €he smiled at them, and summoned them nearer and said, "Young men, I admire each and every one of you in a kindly manner, and €greatly respect the beauty and the number of such brothers. Not only do €I advise you not to display the same madness as that of the old man who €has just been tortured, but I also exhort you to yield to me and enjoy €my friendship. Just as I am able to punish those who disobey my orders, so I can be a €benefactor to those who obey me. Trust me, then, and you will have positions of authority in my €government if you will renounce the ancestral tradition of your €national life. And enjoy your youth by adopting the Greek way of life and by changing €your manner of living. But if by disobedience you rouse my anger, you will compel me to €destroy each and every one of you with dreadful punishments through €tortures. Therefore take pity on yourselves. Even I, your enemy, have compassion €for your youth and handsome appearance. Will you not consider this, that if you disobey, nothing remains for €you but to die on the rack?" @When he had said these things, he ordered the instruments of torture €to be brought forward so as to persuade them out of fear to eat the €defiling food. And when the guards had placed before them wheels and €joint-dislocators, rack and hooks and catapults and caldrons, braziers €and thumbscrews and iron claws and wedges and bellows, the tyrant €resumed speaking: "Be afraid, young fellows, and whatever justice you revere will be €merciful to you when you transgress under compulsion." @But when they had heard the inducements and saw the dreadful devices, €not only were they not afraid, but they also opposed the tyrant with €their own philosophy, and by their right reasoning nullified his €tyranny. Let us consider, on the other hand, what arguments might have been used €if some of them had been cowardly and unmanly. Would they not have been €these? "O wretches that we are and so senseless! Since the king has summoned €and exhorted us to accept kind treatment if we obey him, why do we take pleasure in vain resolves and venture upon a €disobedience that brings death? O men and brothers, should we not fear the instruments of torture and €consider the threats of torments, and give up this vain opinion and €this arrogance that threatens to destroy us? Let us take pity on our youth and have compassion on our mother's age; and let us seriously consider that if we disobey we are dead! Also, divine justice will excuse us for fearing the king when we are €under compulsion. Why do we banish ourselves from this most pleasant life and deprive €ourselves of this delightful world? Let us not struggle against compulsion nor take hollow pride in being €put to the rack. Not even the law itself would arbitrarily slay us for fearing the €instruments of torture. Why does such contentiousness excite us and such a fatal stubbornness €please us, when we can live in peace if we obey the king?" @But the youths, though about to be tortured, neither said any of €these things nor even seriously considered them. For they were contemptuous of the emotions and sovereign over agonies, so that as soon as the tyrant had ceased counseling them to eat €defiling food, all with one voice together, as from one mind, said:  @"Why do you delay, O tyrant? For we are ready to die rather than €transgress our ancestral commandments; we are obviously putting our forefathers to shame unless we should €practice ready obedience to the law and to Moses our counselor. Tyrant and counselor of lawlessness, in your hatred for us do not pity €us more than we pity ourselves. For we consider this pity of yours which insures our safety through €transgression of the law to be more grievous than death itself. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¶’ļ‚“Ķįć’؉•You are trying to terrify us by threatening us with death by torture, €as though a short time ago you learned nothing from Eleazar. And if the aged men of the Hebrews because of their religion lived €piously while enduring torture, it would be even more fitting that we €young men should die despising your coercive tortures, which our aged €instructor also overcame. Therefore, tyrant, put us to the test; and if you take our lives €because of our religion, do not suppose that you can injure us by €torturing us. For we, through this severe suffering and endurance, shall have the €prize of virtue and shall be with God, for whom we suffer; but you, because of your bloodthirstiness toward us, will deservedly €undergo from the divine justice eternal torment by fire." @When they had said these things the tyrant not only was angry, as at €those who are disobedient, but also was enraged, as at those who are €ungrateful. Then at his command the guards brought forward the eldest, and having €torn off his tunic, they bound his hands and arms with thongs on each €side. When they had worn themselves out beating him with scourges, without €accomplishing anything, they placed him upon the wheel. When the noble youth was stretched out around this, his limbs were €dislocated, and though broken in every member he denounced the tyrant, saying, "Most abominable tyrant, enemy of heavenly justice, savage of mind, you €are mangling me in this manner, not because I am a murderer, or as one €who acts impiously, but because I protect the divine law." And when the guards said, "Agree to eat so that you may be released €from the tortures," he replied, "You abominable lackeys, your wheel is not so powerful as €to strangle my reason. Cut my limbs, burn my flesh, and twist my joints. Through all these tortures I will convince you that sons of the Hebrews €alone are invincible where virtue is concerned." While he was saying these things, they spread fire under him, and while €fanning the flames they tightened the wheel further. The wheel was completely smeared with blood, and the heap of coals was €being quenched by the drippings of gore, and pieces of flesh were €falling off the axles of the machine. Although the ligaments joining his bones were already severed, the €courageous youth, worthy of Abraham, did not groan, but as though transformed by fire into immortality he nobly endured the €rackings. "Imitate me, brothers," he said. "Do not leave your post in my struggle €or renounce our courageous brotherhood. Fight the sacred and noble battle for religion. Thereby the just €Providence of our ancestors may become merciful to our nation and take €vengeance on the accursed tyrant." When he had said this, the saintly youth broke the thread of life. @While all were marveling at his courageous spirit, the guards brought €in the next eldest, and after fitting themselves with iron gauntlets €having sharp hooks, they bound him to the torture machine and catapult. Before torturing him, they inquired if he were willing to eat, and they €heard this noble decision. These leopard-like beasts tore out his sinews with the iron hands, €flayed all his flesh up to his chin, and tore away his scalp. But he €steadfastly endured this agony and said, "How sweet is any kind of death for the religion of our fathers!" To the tyrant he said, "Do you not think, you most savage tyrant, that €you are being tortured more than I, as you see the arrogant design of €your tyranny being defeated by our endurance for the sake of religion? I lighten my pain by the joys that come from virtue, but you suffer torture by the threats that come from impiety. You will €not escape, most abominable tyrant, the judgments of the divine wrath."  @When he too had endured a glorious death, the third was led in, and €many repeatedly urged him to save himself by tasting the meat. But he shouted, "Do you not know that the same father begot me and €those who died, and the same mother bore me, and that I was brought up €on the same teachings? I do not renounce the noble kinship that binds me to my brothers." •Enraged by the man's boldness, they disjointed his hands and feet with €their instruments, dismembering him by prying his limbs from their €sockets, and breaking his fingers and arms and legs and elbows. Since they were not able in any way to break his spirit, they abandoned €the instruments and scalped him with their fingernails in a Scythian €fashion. They immediately brought him to the wheel, and while his vertebrae were €being dislocated upon it he saw his own flesh torn all around and drops €of blood flowing from his entrails. When he was about to die, he said, "We, most abominable tyrant, are suffering because of our godly €training and virtue, but you, because of your impiety and bloodthirstiness, will undergo €unceasing torments." @When he also had died in a manner worthy of his brothers, they €dragged in the fourth, saying, "As for you, do not give way to the same insanity as your brothers, but €obey the king and save yourself." But he said to them, "You do not have a fire hot enough to make me play €the coward. No, by the blessed death of my brothers, by the eternal destruction of €the tyrant, and by the everlasting life of the pious, I will not €renounce our noble brotherhood. Contrive tortures, tyrant, so that you may learn from them that I am a €brother to those who have just been tortured." When he heard this, the bloodthirsty, murderous, and utterly abominable €Antiochus gave orders to cut out his tongue. But he said, "Even if you remove my organ of speech, God hears also €those who are mute. See, here is my tongue; cut it off, for in spite of this you will not €make our reason speechless. Gladly, for the sake of God, we let our bodily members be mutilated. God will visit you swiftly, for you are cutting out a tongue that has €been melodious with divine hymns."  @When this one died also, after being cruelly tortured, the fifth €leaped up, saying, "I will not refuse, tyrant, to be tortured for the sake of virtue. I have come of my own accord, so that by murdering me you will incur €punishment from the heavenly justice for even more crimes. Hater of virtue, hater of mankind, for what act of ours are you €destroying us in this way? Is it because we revere the Creator of all things and live according to €his virtuous law? But these deeds deserve honors, not tortures." ˜‰While he was saying these things, the guards bound him and dragged him €to the catapult; they tied him to it on his knees, and fitting iron clamps on them, they €twisted his back around the wedge on the wheel, so that he was €completely curled back like a scorpion, and all his members were €disjointed. In this condition, gasping for breath and in anguish of body, he said, "Tyrant, they are splendid favors that you grant us against €your will, because through these noble sufferings you give us an €opportunity to show our endurance for the law." @After he too had died, the sixth, a mere boy, was led in. When the €tyrant inquired whether he was willing to eat and be released, he said, "I am younger in age than my brothers, but I am their equal in mind. Since to this end we were born and bred, we ought likewise to die for €the same principles. So if you intend to torture me for not eating defiling foods, go on €torturing!" When he had said this, they led him to the wheel. He was carefully stretched tight upon it, his back was broken, and he €was roasted from underneath. To his back they applied sharp spits that had been heated in the fire, €and pierced his ribs so that his entrails were burned through. While being tortured he said, "O contest befitting holiness, in which €so many of us brothers have been summoned to an arena of sufferings for €religion, and in which we have not been defeated! For religious knowledge, O tyrant, is invincible. I also, equipped with nobility, will die with my brothers, and I myself will bring a great avenger upon you, you inventor of €tortures and enemy of those who are truly devout. We six boys have paralyzed your tyranny! žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¶’ļ‚“Ķįć’؋˜™Since you have not been able to persuade us to change our mind or to €force us to eat defiling foods, is not this your downfall? Your fire is cold to us, and the catapults painless, and your violence €powerless. For it is not the guards of the tyrant but those of the divine law that €are set over us; therefore, unconquered, we hold fast to reason."  @When he also, thrown into the caldron, had died a blessed death, the €seventh and youngest of all came forward. Even though the tyrant had been fearfully reproached by the brothers, €he felt strong compassion for this child when he saw that he was €already in fetters. He summoned him to come nearer and tried to console €him, saying, "You see the result of your brothers' stupidity, for they died in €torments because of their disobedience. You too, if you do not obey, will be miserably tortured and die before €your time, but if you yield to persuasion you will be my friend and a leader in €the government of the kingdom." When he had so pleaded, he sent for the boy's mother to show compassion €on her who had been bereaved of so many sons and to influence her to €persuade the surviving son to obey and save himself. But when his mother had exhorted him in the Hebrew language, as we €shall tell a little later, he said, "Let me loose, let me speak to the king and to all his friends €that are with him." Extremely pleased by the boy's declaration, they freed him at once. Running to the nearest of the braziers, he said, "You profane tyrant, most impious of all the wicked, since you €have received good things and also your kingdom from God, were you not €ashamed to murder his servants and torture on the wheel those who €practice religion? Because of this, justice has laid up for you intense and eternal fire €and tortures, and these throughout all time will never let you go. As a man, were you not ashamed, you most savage beast, to cut out the €tongues of men who have feelings like yours and are made of the same €elements as you, and to maltreat and torture them in this way? Surely they by dying nobly fulfilled their service to God, but you will €wail bitterly for having slain without cause the contestants for €virtue." Then because he too was about to die, he said, "I do not desert the excellent example of my brothers, and I call on the God of our fathers to be merciful to our nation; but on you he will take vengeance both in this present life and when €you are dead." After he had uttered these imprecations, he flung himself into the €braziers and so ended his life.  @Since, then, the seven brothers despised sufferings even unto death, €everyone must concede that devout reason is sovereign over the emotions. For if they had been slaves to their emotions and had eaten defiling €food, we would say that they had been conquered by these emotions. But in fact it was not so. Instead, by reason, which is praised before €God, they prevailed over their emotions. The supremacy of the mind over these cannot be overlooked, for the €brothers mastered both emotions and pains. How then can one fail to confess the sovereignty of right reason over €emotion in those who were not turned back by fiery agonies? For just as towers jutting out over harbors hold back the threatening €waves and make it calm for those who sail into the inner basin, so the seven-towered right reason of the youths, by fortifying the €harbor of religion, conquered the tempest of the emotions. For they constituted a holy chorus of religion and encouraged one €another, saying, "Brothers, let us die like brothers for the sake of the law; let us €imitate the three youths in Assyria who despised the same ordeal of the €furnace. Let us not be cowardly in the demonstration of our piety." While one said, "Courage, brother," another said, "Bear up nobly," and another reminded them, "Remember whence you came, and the father by €whose hand Isaac would have submitted to being slain for the sake of €religion." Each of them and all of them together looking at one another, cheerful €and undaunted, said, "Let us with all our hearts consecrate ourselves €to God, who gave us our lives, and let us use our bodies as a bulwark €for the law. Let us not fear him who thinks he is killing us, for great is the struggle of the soul and the danger of eternal torment €lying before those who transgress the commandment of God. Therefore let us put on the full armor of self-control, which is divine €reason. For if we so die, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob will welcome us, and all €the fathers will praise us." Those who were left behind said to each of the brothers who were being €dragged away, "Do not put us to shame, brother, or betray the brothers €who have died before us." @You are not ignorant of the affection of brotherhood, which the €divine and all-wise Providence has bequeathed through the fathers to €their descendants and which was implanted in the mother's womb. There each of the brothers dwelt the same length of time and was shaped €during the same period of time; and growing from the same blood and €through the same life, they were brought to the light of day. When they were born after an equal time of gestation, they drank milk €from the same fountains. For such embraces brotherly-loving souls are €nourished; and they grow stronger from this common nurture and daily €companionship, and from both general education and our discipline in €the law of God. @Therefore, when sympathy and brotherly affection had been so €established, the brothers were the more sympathetic to one another. Since they had been educated by the same law and trained in the same €virtues and brought up in right living, they loved one another all the €more. A common zeal for nobility expanded their goodwill and harmony toward €one another, because, with the aid of their religion, they rendered their brotherly €love more fervent. But although nature and companionship and virtuous habits had augmented €the affection of brotherhood, those who were left endured for the sake €of religion, while watching their brothers being maltreated and €tortured to death.  Furthermore, they encouraged them to face the torture, so that they not €only despised their agonies, but also mastered the emotions of €brotherly love. @O reason, more royal than kings and freer than the free! O sacred and harmonious concord of the seven brothers on behalf of €religion! None of the seven youths proved coward or shrank from death, but all of them, as though running the course toward immortality, €hastened to death by torture. Just as the hands and feet are moved in harmony with the guidance of €the mind, so those holy youths, as though moved by an immortal spirit €of devotion, agreed to go to death for its sake. O most holy seven, brothers in harmony! For just as the seven days of €creation move in choral dance around religion, so these youths, forming a chorus, encircled the sevenfold fear of €tortures and dissolved it. Even now, we ourselves shudder as we hear of the tribulations of these €young men; they not only saw what was happening, yes, not only heard €the direct word of threat, but also bore the sufferings patiently, and €in agonies of fire at that. What could be more excruciatingly painful than this? For the power of €fire is intense and swift, and it consumed their bodies quickly. @Do not consider it amazing that reason had full command over these €men in their tortures, since the mind of woman despised even more €diverse agonies, for the mother of the seven young men bore up under the rackings of €each one of her children. @Observe how complex is a mother's love for her children, which draws €everything toward an emotion felt in her inmost parts. Even unreasoning animals, like mankind, have a sympathy and parental €love for their offspring. For example, among birds, the ones that are tame protect their young by €building on the housetops, and the others, by building in precipitous chasms and in holes and tops €of trees, hatch the nestlings and ward off the intruder. If they are not able to keep him away, they do what they can to help žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¶’ļ‚“Ķįć’؎˜‘‚their young by flying in circles around them in the anguish of love, €warning them with their own calls. And why is it necessary to demonstrate sympathy for children by the €example of unreasoning animals, since even bees at the time for making honeycombs defend themselves €against intruders as though with an iron dart sting those who approach €their hive and defend it even to the death? But sympathy for her children did not sway the mother of the young men; €she was of the same mind as Abraham.  @O reason of the children, tyrant over the emotions! O religion, more €desirable to the mother than her children! Two courses were open to this mother, that of religion, and that of €preserving her seven sons for a time, as the tyrant had promised. She loved religion more, religion that preserves them for eternal life €according to God's promise. In what manner might I express the emotions of parents who love their €children? We impress upon the character of a small child a wondrous €likeness both of mind and of form. Especially is this true of mothers, €who because of their birthpangs have a deeper sympathy toward their €offspring than do the fathers. Considering that mothers are the weaker sex and give birth to many, €they are more devoted to their children. The mother of the seven boys, more than any other mother, loved her €children. In seven pregnancies she had implanted in herself tender love €toward them, and because of the many pains she suffered with each of them she had €sympathy for them; yet because of the fear of God she disdained the temporary safety of €her children. Not only so, but also because of the nobility of her sons and their €ready obedience to the law she felt a greater tenderness toward them. For they were righteous and self-controlled and brave and magnanimous, €and loved their brothers and their mother, so that they obeyed her even €to death in keeping the ordinances. Nevertheless, though so many factors influenced the mother to suffer €with them out of love for her children, in the case of none of them €were the various tortures strong enough to pervert her reason. Instead, the mother urged them on, each child singly and all together, €to death for the sake of religion. O sacred nature and affection of parental love, yearning of parents €toward offspring, nurture and indomitable suffering by mothers! This mother, who saw them tortured and burned one by one, because of €religion did not change her attitude. She watched the flesh of her children consumed by fire, their toes and €fingers scattered on the ground, and the flesh of the head to the chin €exposed like masks. O mother, tried now by more bitter pains than even the birth-pangs you €suffered for them! O woman, who alone gave birth to such complete devotion! When the first-born breathed his last it did not turn you aside, nor €when the second in torments looked at you piteously nor when the third €expired; nor did you weep when you looked at the eyes of each one in his €tortures gazing boldly at the same agonies, and saw in their nostrils €the signs of the approach of death. When you saw the flesh of children burned upon the flesh of other €children, severed hands upon hands, scalped heads upon heads, and €corpses fallen on other corpses and when you saw the place filled with €many spectators of the torturings, you did not shed tears. Neither the melodies of sirens nor the songs of swans attract the €attention of their hearers as did the voices of the children in torture €calling to their mother. How great and how many torments the mother then suffered as her sons €were tortured on the wheel and with the hot irons! But devout reason, giving her heart a man's courage in the very midst €of her emotions, strengthened her to disregard her temporal love for €her children. @Although she witnessed the destruction of seven children and the €ingenious and various rackings, this noble mother disregarded all these €because of faith in God. For as in the council chamber of her own soul she saw mighty advocates €-- nature, family, parental love, and the rackings of her children --this mother held two ballots, one bearing death and the other €deliverance for her children. She did not approve the deliverance which would preserve the seven sons €for a short time, but as the daughter of God-fearing Abraham she remembered his fortitude. @O mother of the nation, vindicator of the law and champion of €religion, who carried away the prize of the contest in your heart! O more noble than males in steadfastness, and more manly than men in €endurance! Just as Noah's ark, carrying the world in the universal flood, stoutly €endured the waves, so you, O guardian of the law, overwhelmed from every side by the flood €of your emotions and the violent winds, the torture of your sons, €endured nobly and withstood the wintry storms that assail religion.  @If, then, a woman, advanced in years and mother of seven sons, €endured seeing her children tortured to death, it must be admitted that €devout reason is sovereign over the emotions. Thus I have demonstrated not only that men have ruled over the €emotions, but also that a woman has despised the fiercest tortures. The lions surrounding Daniel were not so savage, nor was the raging €fiery furnace of Mishael so intensely hot, as was her innate parental €love, inflamed as she saw her seven sons tortured in such varied ways. But the mother quenched so many and such great emotions by devout €reason. @Consider this also. If this woman, though a mother, had been €fainthearted, she would have mourned over them and perhaps spoken as €follows: "O how wretched am I and many times unhappy! After bearing seven €children, I am now the mother of none! O seven childbirths all in vain, seven profitless pregnancies, €fruitless nurturings and wretched nursings! In vain, my sons, I endured many birth-pangs for you, and the more €grievous anxieties of your upbringing. Alas for my children, some unmarried, others married and without €offspring. I shall not see your children or have the happiness of being €called grandmother. Alas, I who had so many and beautiful children am a widow and alone, €with many sorrows. Nor when I die, shall I have any of my sons to bury me." @Yet the sacred and God-fearing mother did not wail with such a lament €for any of them, nor did she dissuade any of them from dying, nor did €she grieve as they were dying, but, as though having a mind like adamant and giving rebirth for €immortality to the whole number of her sons, she implored them and €urged them on to death for the sake of religion. O mother, soldier of God in the cause of religion, elder and woman! By €steadfastness you have conquered even a tyrant, and in word and deed €you have proved more powerful than a man. For when you and your sons were arrested together, you stood and €watched Eleazar being tortured, and said to your sons in the Hebrew €language, "My sons, noble is the contest to which you are called to bear witness €for the nation. Fight zealously for our ancestral law. For it would be shameful if, while an aged man endures such agonies for €the sake of religion, you young men were to be terrified by tortures. Remember that it is through God that you have had a share in the world €and have enjoyed life, and therefore you ought to endure any suffering for the sake of God. For his sake also our father Abraham was zealous to sacrifice his son €Isaac, the ancestor of our nation; and when Isaac saw his father's hand €wielding a sword and descending upon him, he did not cower. And Daniel the righteous was thrown to the lions, and Hananiah, €Azariah, and Mishael were hurled into the fiery furnace and endured it €for the sake of God. You too must have the same faith in God and not be grieved. It is unreasonable for people who have religious knowledge not to €withstand pain." @By these words the mother of the seven encouraged and persuaded each €of her sons to die rather than violate God's commandment. They knew also that those who die for the sake of God live in God, as žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¶’ļ‚“Ķįć’ؐ˜™‚do Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the patriarchs.  @Some of the guards said that when she also was about to be seized and €put to death she threw herself into the flames so that no one might €touch her body. @O mother, who with your seven sons nullified the violence of the €tyrant, frustrated his evil designs, and showed the courage of your €faith! Nobly set like a roof on the pillars of your sons, you held firm and €unswerving against the earthquake of the tortures. Take courage, therefore, O holy-minded mother, maintaining firm an €enduring hope in God. The moon in heaven, with the stars, does not stand so august as you, €who, after lighting the way of your star-like seven sons to piety, €stand in honor before God and are firmly set in heaven with them. For your children were true descendants of father Abraham. @If it were possible for us to paint the history of your piety as an €artist might, would not those who first beheld it have shuddered as €they saw the mother of the seven children enduring their varied €tortures to death for the sake of religion? Indeed it would be proper to inscribe upon their tomb these words as a €reminder to the people of our nation: @"Here lie buried an aged priest and an aged woman and seven sons, €because of the violence of the tyrant who wished to destroy the way of €life of the Hebrews. They vindicated their nation, looking to God and enduring torture even €to death." @Truly the contest in which they were engaged was divine, for on that day virtue gave the awards and tested them for their €endurance. The prize was immortality in endless life. Eleazar was the first contestant, the mother of the seven sons entered €the competition, and the brothers contended. The tyrant was the antagonist, and the world and the human race were €the spectators. Reverence for God was victor and gave the crown to its own athletes. Who did not admire the athletes of the divine legislation? Who were not €amazed? @The tyrant himself and all his council marveled at their endurance, because of which they now stand before the divine throne and live €through blessed eternity. For Moses says, "All who are consecrated are under your hands." These, then, who have been consecrated for the sake of God, are €honored, not only with this honor, but also by the fact that because of €them our enemies did not rule over our nation, the tyrant was punished, and the homeland purified -- they having €become, as it were, a ransom for the sin of our nation. And through the blood of those devout ones and their death as an €expiation, divine Providence preserved Israel that previously had been €afflicted. @For the tyrant Antiochus, when he saw the courage of their virtue and €their endurance under the tortures, proclaimed them to his soldiers as €an example for their own endurance, and this made them brave and courageous for infantry battle and siege, €and he ravaged and conquered all his enemies.  @O Israelite children, offspring of the seed of Abraham, obey this law €and exercise piety in every way, knowing that devout reason is master of all emotions, not only of €sufferings from within, but also of those from without. @Therefore those who gave over their bodies in suffering for the sake €of religion were not only admired by men, but also were deemed worthy €to share in a divine inheritance. Because of them the nation gained peace, and by reviving observance of €the law in the homeland they ravaged the enemy. The tyrant Antiochus was both punished on earth and is being chastised €after his death. Since in no way whatever was he able to compel the €Israelites to become pagans and to abandon their ancestral customs, he €left Jerusalem and marched against the Persians. @The mother of seven sons expressed also these principles to her €children: "I was a pure virgin and did not go outside my father's house; but I €guarded the rib from which woman was made. No seducer corrupted me on a desert plain, nor did the destroyer, the €deceitful serpent, defile the purity of my virginity. In the time of my maturity I remained with my husband, and when these €sons had grown up their father died. A happy man was he, who lived out €his life with good children, and did not have the grief of bereavement. While he was still with you, he taught you the law and the prophets. He read to you about Abel slain by Cain, and Isaac who was offered as a €burnt offering, and of Joseph in prison. He told you of the zeal of Phineas, and he taught you about Hananiah, €Azariah, and Mishael in the fire. He praised Daniel in the den of the lions and blessed him. He reminded you of the scripture of Isaiah, which says, `Even though €you go through the fire, the flame shall not consume you.' He sang to you songs of the psalmist David, who said, `Many are the €afflictions of the righteous.' He recounted to you Solomon's proverb, `There is a tree of life for €those who do his will.' He confirmed the saying of Ezekiel, `Shall these dry bones live?' For he did not forget to teach you the song that Moses taught, which €says, `I kill and I make alive: this is your life and the length of your €days.'" @O bitter was that day -- and yet not bitter -- when that bitter €tyrant of the Greeks quenched fire with fire in his cruel caldrons, and €in his burning rage brought those seven sons of the daughter of Abraham €to the catapult and back again to more tortures, pierced the pupils of their eyes and cut out their tongues, and put €them to death with various tortures. For these crimes divine justice pursued and will pursue the accursed €tyrant. But the sons of Abraham with their victorious mother are gathered €together into the chorus of the fathers, and have received pure and €immortal souls from God, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. ąļ‚Šó±µ±’‘@@I was small among my brothers, €@@@and youngest in my father's house; €@@@I tended my father's sheep. €@6 @@My hands made a harp, €@@@my fingers fashioned a lyre. €@6 @@And who will declare it to my Lord? €@@@The Lord himself; it is he who hears. €@6 @@It was he who sent his messenger €@@@and took me from my father's sheep, €@@@and anointed me with his anointing oil. €@6 @@My brothers were handsome and tall, €@@@but the Lord was not pleased with them. €@6 @@I went out to meet the Philistine, €@@@and he cursed me by his idols. €@6 @@But I drew his own sword; €@@@I beheaded him, and removed reproach from €@@@@the people of Israel. ąļ‚Ķįōō’”The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of €Abraham. @Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and €Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father €of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Ammin'adab, and Ammin'adab the father of Nahshon, €and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Bo'az by Rahab, and Bo'az the father of Obed €by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. €@And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uri'ah, and Solomon the father of Rehobo'am, and Rehobo'am the father of €Abi'jah, and Abi'jah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehosh'aphat, and Jehosh'aphat the father of €Joram, and Joram the father of Uzzi'ah, and Uzzi'ah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and €Ahaz the father of Hezeki'ah, and Hezeki'ah the father of Manas'seh, and Manas'seh the father of €Amos, and Amos the father of Josi'ah, and Josi'ah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of €the deportation to Babylon. @And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoni'ah was the father of €She-al'ti-el, and She-al'ti-el the father of Zerub'babel, and Zerub'babel the father of Abi'ud, and Abi'ud the father of €Eli'akim, and Eli'akim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim €the father of Eli'ud, and Eli'ud the father of Elea'zar, and Elea'zar the father of Matthan, €and Matthan the father of Jacob, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µø’ļ‚Ķįōō’”˜and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was €born, who is called Christ. @So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen €generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen €generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen €generations. @Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother €Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was €found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to €shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him €in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary €your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will €save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: @@"Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, €@@and his name shall be called Emmanuel" €(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded €him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name €Jesus.  @Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod €the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his €star in the East, and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with €him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he €inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the €prophet: @@`And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, €@@are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; €@@for from you shall come a ruler €@@who will govern my people Israel.'" @Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them €what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for €the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may €come and worship him." When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star €which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest €over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and €they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they €offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to €their own country by another way. @Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to €Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and €flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to €search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to €Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what €the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son." @Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was €in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in €Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, €according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: @@"A voice was heard in Ramah, €@@wailing and loud lamentation, €@@Rachel weeping for her children; €@@she refused to be consoled, €@@because they were no more." @But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream €to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for €those who sought the child's life are dead." And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of €Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his €father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he €withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken €by the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."  @In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of €Judea, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, €@@"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: €@@Prepare the way of the Lord, €@@make his paths straight." Now John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle around €his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about €the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their €sins. @But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sad'ducees coming for €baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee €from the wrath to come? Bear fruit that befits repentance, and do not presume to say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our €father'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up €children to Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore €that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. @"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after €me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will €baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing €floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn €with unquenchable fire." @Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by €him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, €and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for €us to fulfil all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and €behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending €like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom €I am well pleased."  @Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted €by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, €command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, €@@`Man shall not live by bread alone, €@@but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle €of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; €for it is written, €@@`He will give his angels charge of you,' €and €@@`On their hands they will bear you up, €@@lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, `You shall not tempt the Lord €your God.'" Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all €the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down €and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Begone, Satan! for it is written, €@@`You shall worship the Lord your God €@@and him only shall you serve.'" Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him. @Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into €Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Caper'na-um by the sea, in €the territory of Zeb'ulun and Naph'tali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: @@"The land of Zeb'ulun and the land of Naph'tali, €@@toward the sea, across the Jordan, €@@Galilee of the Gentiles --@@the people who sat in darkness €@@have seen a great light, €@@and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death €@@light has dawned." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µø’ļ‚Ķįōō’¤˜‘From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom €of heaven is at hand." @As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is €called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for €they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of €Zeb'edee and John his brother, in the boat with Zeb'edee their father, €mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. @And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and €preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every €infirmity among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the €sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, €epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decap'olis and €Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.  @Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down €his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they €shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for €theirs is the kingdom of heaven. @"Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all €kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men €persecuted the prophets who were before you. @"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how €shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything €except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. @"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and €it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works €and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. @"Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I €have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, €not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches €men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does €them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes €and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. @"You have heard that it was said to the men of old, `You shall not €kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be €liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the €council, and whoever says, `You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of €fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that €your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to €your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to €court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to €the guard, and you be put in prison; truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last €penny. @"You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has €already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it €is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body €be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; €it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole €body go into hell. @"It was also said, `Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a €certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except on the €ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a €divorced woman commits adultery. @"Again you have heard that it was said to the men of old, `You shall €not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the €throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is €the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or €black. Let what you say be simply `Yes' or `No'; anything more than this comes €from evil. @"You have heard that it was said, `An eye for an eye and a tooth for €a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes €you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your €cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow €from you. @"You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and €hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute €you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes €his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just €and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even €the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than €others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.  @"Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by €them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in €heaven. @"Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the €hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be €praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right €hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret €will reward you. @"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they €love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, €that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received €their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your €Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward €you. @"And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for €they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask €him. Pray then like this: €@@Our Father who art in heaven, €@@Hallowed be thy name. @@Thy kingdom come. €@@Thy will be done, €@@@On earth as it is in heaven. @@Give us this day our daily bread; @@And forgive us our debts, €@@@As we also have forgiven our debtors; @@And lead us not into temptation, €@@@But deliver us from evil. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will €forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your €Father forgive your trespasses. @"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they €disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I €say to you, they have received their reward. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µø’ļ‚Ķįōō’¦˜‘But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in €secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. @"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust €consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor €rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. @"The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your €whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. €If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! @"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and €love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. €You cannot serve God and mammon. @"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you €shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall €put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into €barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more €value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the €field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one €of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and €tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O €men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What €shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows €that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things €shall be yours as well. @"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be €anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.  @"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure €you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not €notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your €eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you €will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. @"Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before €swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you. @"Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and €it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who €knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a €stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your €children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good €things to those who ask him! So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this €is the law and the prophets. @"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, €that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and €those who find it are few. @"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but €inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or €figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil €fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into €the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. @"Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom €of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in €your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works €in your name?' And then will I declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from me, you €evildoers.' @"Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be €like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat €upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on €the rock. And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will €be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat €against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it." @And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at €his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.  @When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if €you will, you can make me clean." And he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be €clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to any one; but go, €show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, €for a proof to the people." @As he entered Caper'na-um, a centurion came forward to him, €beseeching him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible €distress." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come €under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to €one, `Go,' and he goes, and to another, `Come,' and he comes, and to my €slave, `Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, €"Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with €Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; €there men will weep and gnash their teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have €believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment. @And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying €sick with a fever; he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and served €him. That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; €and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, "He took our €infirmities and bore our diseases." @Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over €to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you €wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have €nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head." Another of the disciples said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury €my father." But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own €dead." @And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was €being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save, Lord; we are perishing." And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?" Then €he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even €winds and sea obey him?" @And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µø’ļ‚Ķįōō’؈˜œ‚two demoniacs met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one €could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? €Have you come here to torment us before the time?" Now a herd of many swine was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, "If you cast us out, send us away into the €herd of swine." And he said to them, "Go." So they came out and went into the swine; €and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and €perished in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, and €what had happened to the demoniacs. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, €they begged him to leave their neighborhood.  @And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when €Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; €your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is €blaspheming." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your €hearts? For which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise €and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to €forgive sins" -- he then said to the paralytic -- "Rise, take up your bed €and go home." And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who €had given such authority to men. @As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at €the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and €followed him. @And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and €sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does €your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a €physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, `I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For €I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." @Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the €Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the €bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is €taken away from them, and then they will fast. And no one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the €patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; if it is, the skins burst, €and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is €put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved." @While he was thus speaking to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt €before him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your €hand on her, and she will live." And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years €came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment; for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I shall be made €well." Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith €has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. And when Jesus came to the ruler's house, and saw the flute players, €and the crowd making a tumult, he said, "Depart; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they €laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the €hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district. @And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying €aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to €them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, €"Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done €to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that €no one knows it." But they went away and spread his fame through all that district. @As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the €crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons." @And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their €synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every €disease and every infirmity. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were €harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the €laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his €harvest."  @And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority €over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and €every infirmity. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called €Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zeb'edee, and John his €brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the €son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. @These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the €Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You €received without paying, give without pay. Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for €the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, €and stay with him until you depart. As you enter the house, salute it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is €not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off €the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment €for the land of Sodom and Gomor'rah than for that town. @"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise €as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you €in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear €testimony before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or €what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in €that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking €through you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and €children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to €the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say €to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before €the Son of man comes. @"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master; it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant €like his master. If they have called the master of the house €Be-el'zebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. @"So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be €revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear €whispered, proclaim upon the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; €rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µø’ļ‚Ķįōō’؊˜‚the ground without your Father's will. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge €before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who €is in heaven. @"Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not €come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against €her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's foes will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he €who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my €sake will find it. @"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him €who sent me. He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a €prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a €righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water €because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his €reward."  @And when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went €on from there to teach and preach in their cities. @Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent €word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for €another?" And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed €and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good €news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me." @As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning €John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken €by the wind? Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, €those who wear soft raiment are in kings' houses. Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more €than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, €@@`Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, €@@who shall prepare thy way before thee.' Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one €greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of €heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has €suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Eli'jah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. @"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children €sitting in the market places and calling to their playmates, @@`We piped to you, and you did not dance; €@@we wailed, and you did not mourn.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, `He has a €demon'; the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, `Behold, a €glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet €wisdom is justified by her deeds." @Then he began to upbraid the cities where most of his mighty works €had been done, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Chora'zin! woe to you, Beth-sa'ida! for if the mighty €works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have €repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for €Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Caper'na-um, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be €brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been €done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment €for the land of Sodom than for you." @At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven €and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and €understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the €Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and €any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in €heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  @At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his €disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to €eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples €are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath." He said to them, "Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, €and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, €which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, €but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law how on the sabbath the priests in the €temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, `I desire mercy, and not €sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath." @And he went on from there, and entered their synagogue. And behold, there was a man with a withered hand. And they asked him, €"Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?" so that they might accuse him. He said to them, "What man of you, if he has one sheep and it falls €into a pit on the sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do €good on the sabbath." Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And the man stretched €it out, and it was restored, whole like the other. But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, how to destroy €him. @Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and €he healed them all, and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: @@"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, €@@@my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. €@@I will put my Spirit upon him, €@@@and he shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. @@He will not wrangle or cry aloud, €@@@nor will any one hear his voice in the streets; @@he will not break a bruised reed €@@@or quench a smoldering wick, €@@till he brings justice to victory; @@@and in his name will the Gentiles hope." @Then a blind and dumb demoniac was brought to him, and he healed him, €so that the dumb man spoke and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, "Can this be the Son of €David?" But when the Pharisees heard it they said, "It is only by Be-el'zebul, €the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons." Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against €itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will €stand; and if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then €will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul, by whom do your sons cast them €out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the €kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless €he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me €scatters. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but €the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but €whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in €this age or in the age to come. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µø’ļ‚Ķįōō’،˜”@"Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, €and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! how can you speak good, when you are evil? For out €of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil €man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every €careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be €condemned." @Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish €to see a sign from you." But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a €sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet €Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, €so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of €the earth. The men of Nin'eveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and €condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, €something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with this generation €and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the €wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. @"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through €waterless places seeking rest, but he finds none. Then he says, `I will return to my house from which I came.' And when €he comes he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and brings with him seven other spirits more evil than €himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man €becomes worse than the first. So shall it be also with this evil €generation." @While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his €brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. ˜°But he replied to the man who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are €my brothers?" And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my €mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and €sister, and mother."  @That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat €there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to €sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and €devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and €immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root €they withered away. Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a €hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear." @Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in €parables?" And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of €the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but €from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not €see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: €@@`You shall indeed hear but never understand, €@@@and you shall indeed see but never perceive. @@For this people's heart has grown dull, €@@@and their ears are heavy of hearing, €@@@and their eyes they have closed, €@@lest they should perceive with their eyes, €@@@and hear with their ears, €@@and understand with their heart, €@@@and turn for me to heal them.' But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what €you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not €hear it. @"Hear then the parable of the sower. When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, €the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is €what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and €immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when €tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately €he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but €the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it €proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and €understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a €hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty." @Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven €may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the €wheat, and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the householder came and said to him, `Sir, did you €not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?' He said to them, `An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, €`Then do you want us to go and gather them?' But he said, `No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat €along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will €tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be €burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'" @Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is €like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the €greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air €come and make nests in its branches." @He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven €which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all €leavened." @All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing €to them without a parable. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet: €@@"I will open my mouth in parables, €@@I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the €@@@@world." @Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples €came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the €field." He answered, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the €kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the close of €the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at €the close of the age. The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his €kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash €their teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their €Father. He who has ears, let him hear. @"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a €man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he €has and buys that field. @"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine €pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had €and bought it. @"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the €sea and gathered fish of every kind; when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good €into vessels but threw away the bad. So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and €separate the evil from the righteous, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash €their teeth. @"Have you understood all this?" They said to him, "Yes." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µø’ļ‚Ķįōō’؍˜“And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for €the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his €treasure what is new and what is old." @And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, and coming to his own country he taught them in their synagogue, so €that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this €wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are €not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all €this?" And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not €without honor except in his own country and in his own house." And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.  @At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus; and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist, he has been €raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him." For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for the €sake of Hero'di-as, his brother Philip's wife; because John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because €they held him to be a prophet. But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Hero'di-as danced €before the company, and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist €here on a platter." And the king was sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he €commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she €brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went €and told Jesus. @Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a €lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on €foot from the towns. As he went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, €and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a €lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into €the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the €five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and €broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them €to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets €full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and €children. @Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the €other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by €himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, €beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the €sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, €saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no €fear." @And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on €the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water €and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried €out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, €"O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of €God." @And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent round to all €that region and brought to him all that were sick, and besought him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; €and as many as touched it were made well.  @Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they €do not wash their hands when they eat." He answered them, "And why do you transgress the commandment of God for €the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, `Honor your father and your mother,' and, `He who €speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die.' But you say, `If any one tells his father or his mother, What you would €have gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father.' So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: @@`This people honors me with their lips, €@@but their heart is far from me; @@in vain do they worship me, €@@teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'" @And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and €understand: not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the €mouth, this defiles a man." Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the €Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" He answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will €be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if a blind man leads a blind €man, both will fall into a pit." But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us." And he said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the €stomach, and so passes on? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this €defiles a man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, €theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not €defile a man." @And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre €and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, €"Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely €possessed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged €him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw €it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from €their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for €you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly. @And Jesus went on from there and passed along the Sea of Galilee. And €he went up on the mountain, and sat down there. And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, €the blind, the dumb, and many others, and they put them at his feet, €and he healed them, so that the throng wondered, when they saw the dumb speaking, the €maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they €glorified the God of Israel. @Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion €on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days, and have €nothing to eat; and I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they €faint on the way." And the disciples said to him, "Where are we to get bread enough in the €desert to feed so great a crowd?" And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven, €and a few small fish." And commanding the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke €them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the €crowds. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µø’ļ‚Ķįōō’؏˜„And they all ate and were satisfied; and they took up seven baskets €full of the broken pieces left over. Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. And sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the €region of Mag'adan.  @And the Pharisees and Sad'ducees came, and to test him they asked him €to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, `It will be fair €weather; for the sky is red.' And in the morning, `It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and €threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but €you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign shall €be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed. @When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to €bring any bread. Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the €Pharisees and Sad'ducees." And they discussed it among themselves, saying, "We brought no bread." But Jesus, aware of this, said, "O men of little faith, why do you €discuss among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves of the €five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets you €gathered? How is it that you fail to perceive that I did not speak about bread? €Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sad'ducees." Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven €of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sad'ducees. @Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he €asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and €others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and €blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, €and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you €bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth €shall be loosed in heaven." Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the €Christ. @From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to €Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and €scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid, Lord! €This shall never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a €hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men." @Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let €him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his €life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits €his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his €Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste €death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."  @And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his €brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, €and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Eli'jah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is well that we are here; if you €wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and €one for Eli'jah." He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a €voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well €pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were €filled with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. @And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, €"Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead." And the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first €Eli'jah must come?" He replied, "Eli'jah does come, and he is to restore all things; but I tell you that Eli'jah has already come, and they did not know €him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of man will €suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the €Baptist. @And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and kneeling €before him said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers €terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." And Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I €to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was €cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not €cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to €you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this €mountain, `Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will €be impossible to you." ˜–@As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of €man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And €they were greatly distressed. @When they came to Caper'na-um, the collectors of the half-shekel tax €went up to Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the tax?" He said, "Yes." And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, €saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take €toll or tribute? From their sons or from others?" And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are €free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, €and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you €will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for €yourself."  @At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the €greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like €children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the €kingdom of heaven. @"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, €it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his €neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. @"Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that €temptations come, but woe to the man by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw €it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than with €two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it €is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be €thrown into the hell of fire. @"See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you €that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is €in heaven. ˜ŒWhat do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has €gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go €in search of the one that went astray? žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µø’ļ‚Ķįōō’ؒ˜And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than €over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these €little ones should perish. @"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between €you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that €every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he €refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile €and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in €heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they €ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst €of them." @Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother €sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times €seven. @"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished €to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten €thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife €and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience €with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and €forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow €servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat €he said, `Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with €me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly €distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken €place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I €forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had €mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay €all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not €forgive your brother from your heart."  @Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee €and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan; and large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. @And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful €to divorce one's wife for any cause?" He answered, "Have you not read that he who made them from the €beginning made them male and female, and said, `For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and €be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined €together, let not man put asunder." They said to him, "Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate €of divorce, and to put her away?" He said to them, "For your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to €divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and €marries another, commits adultery." @The disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his €wife, it is not expedient to marry." But he said to them, "Not all men can receive this saying, but only €those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are €eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who €have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He €who is able to receive this, let him receive it." @Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them €and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; €for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." And he laid his hands on them and went away. @And behold, one came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must €I do, to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is €who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall €not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false €witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as €yourself." The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still €lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess €and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, €follow me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great €possessions. @And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be €hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a €needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, €"Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is €impossible, but with God all things are possible." Then Peter said in reply, "Lo, we have left everything and followed €you. What then shall we have?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the €Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me €will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or €mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a €hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first.  @"For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early €in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them €into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the €market place; and to them he said, `You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is €right I will give you.' So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the €same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and €he said to them, `Why do you stand here idle all day?' They said to him, `Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, `You €go into the vineyard too.' And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, €`Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, €up to the first.' And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them €received a denarius. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each €of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, saying, `These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal €to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied to one of them, `Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did €you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I €give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you €begrudge my generosity?' So the last will be first, and the first last." @And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples €aside, and on the way he said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be €delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him €to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and €crucified, and he will be raised on the third day." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µø’ļ‚Ķįōō’ؔ˜”@Then the mother of the sons of Zeb'edee came up to him, with her €sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Command that €these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your €left, in your kingdom." But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able €to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand €and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it €has been prepared by my Father." And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the €Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over €them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must €be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give €his life as a ransom for many." @And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the roadside, when they heard that €Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent; but they cried out €the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" And Jesus stopped and called them, saying, "What do you want me to do €for you?" They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they received €their sight and followed him.  @And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Beth'phage, to the €Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you €will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them €to me. If any one says anything to you, you shall say, `The Lord has need of €them,' and he will send them immediately." This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying, @@"Tell the daughter of Zion, €@@Behold, your king is coming to you, €@@humble, and mounted on an ass, €@@and on a colt, the foal of an ass." The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the ass and the colt, and put their garments on them, and €he sat thereon. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut €branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, €"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of €the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who €is this?" And the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of €Galilee." @And Jesus entered the temple of God and drove out all who sold and €bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the €money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, "It is written, `My house shall be called a house of €prayer'; but you make it a den of robbers." @And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed €them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things €that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the €Son of David!" they were indignant; and they said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus €said to them, "Yes; have you never read, €@@`Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings €@@thou hast brought perfect praise'?" And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there. @In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside he went to it, and found nothing €on it but leaves only. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from €you again!" And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree €wither at once?" And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and €never doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, €but even if you say to this mountain, `Be taken up and cast into the €sea,' it will be done. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." @And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of €the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what €authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you a question; and if you tell €me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these €things. The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men?" And they €argued with one another, "If we say, `From heaven,' he will say to us, €`Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, `From men,' we are afraid of the multitude; for all hold €that John was a prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither €will I tell you by what authority I do these things. @"What do you think? A man had two sons; and he went to the first and €said, `Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' And he answered, `I will not'; but afterward he repented and went. And he went to the second and said the same; and he answered, `I go, €sir,' but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." €Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the €harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not €believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him; and €even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe him. @"Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a €vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and €built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the €tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and €stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the €same to them. Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, `They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, `This is the €heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to €those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and €let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in €their seasons." @Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: €@@`The very stone which the builders rejected €@@has become the head of the corner; €@@this was the Lord's doing, €@@and it is marvelous in our eyes'? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you €and given to a nation producing the fruits of it." ˜­@When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they €perceived that he was speaking about them. But when they tried to arrest him, they feared the multitudes, because €they held him to be a prophet.  @And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage €feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage €feast; but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, `Tell those who are invited, €Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are €killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.' But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his €business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed €them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those €murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, `The wedding is ready, but those invited €were not worthy. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µø’ļ‚Ķįōō’ؖ˜‰Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as €many as you find.' And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they €found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. @"But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man €who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, `Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding €garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, `Bind him hand and foot, and cast €him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen." @Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him in his €talk. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Hero'di-ans, €saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God €truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of €men. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or €not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you €hypocrites? Show me the money for the tax." And they brought him a coin. And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Render therefore to €Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are €God's." When they heard it, they marveled; and they left him and went away. @The same day Sad'ducees came to him, who say that there is no €resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses said, `If a man dies, having no children, his €brother must marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.' Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died, €and having no children left his wife to his brother. So too the second and third, down to the seventh. After them all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, to which of the seven will she be wife? €For they all had her." @But Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the €scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, €but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was €said to you by God, `I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? €He is not God of the dead, but of the living." And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching. @But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sad'ducees, €they came together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your €heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." @Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a €question, saying, "What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?" They said €to him, "The son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, €calls him Lord, saying, @@`The Lord said to my Lord, €@@Sit at my right hand, €@@till I put thy enemies under thy feet'? If David thus calls him Lord, how is he his son?" And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did any one €dare to ask him any more questions.  @Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; €for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; €but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their €phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the €synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you €are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is €in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself €will be exalted. @"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut €the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither enter yourselves, €nor allow those who would enter to go in. ˜Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you traverse sea and €land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you €make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. @"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, `If any one swears by the temple, €it is nothing; but if any one swears by the gold of the temple, he is €bound by his oath.' You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has €made the gold sacred? And you say, `If any one swears by the altar, it is nothing; but if any €one swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.' You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes €the gift sacred? So he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; and he who swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells in €it; and he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by him who €sits upon it. @"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint €and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the €law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without €neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! @"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you cleanse the €outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of €extortion and rapacity. You blind Pharisee! first cleanse the inside of the cup and of the €plate, that the outside also may be clean. @"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like €whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they €are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full €of hypocrisy and iniquity. @"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you build the €tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, saying, `If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have €taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' Thus you witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who €murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being €sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom €you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues €and persecute from town to town, that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the €blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechari'ah the son of €Barachi'ah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all this will come upon this generation. @"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who €are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together €as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, `Blessed is €he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"  @Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to €point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to €you, there will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not €be thrown down." @As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µø’ļ‚Ķįōō’ؘ“‚privately, saying, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the €sign of your coming and of the close of the age?" And Jesus answered them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, `I am the Christ,' and they will €lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not €alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and €there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs. @"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; €and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one €another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because wickedness is multiplied, most men's love will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole €world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come. @"So when you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet €Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let him who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house; and let him who is in the field not turn back to take his mantle. And alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in €those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the €beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be €saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. Then if any one says to you, `Lo, here is the Christ!' or `There he €is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs €and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Lo, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, `Lo, he is in the wilderness,' do not go out; €if they say, `Lo, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, €so will be the coming of the Son of man. Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together. @"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be €darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall €from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the €tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming €on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will €gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the €other. @"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes €tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at €the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all these €things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. @"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of €heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, €marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the €ark, and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so €will be the coming of the Son of man. Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left. Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the €night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have €let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an €hour you do not expect. @"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set €over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so €doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, `My master is delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the €drunken, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect €him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the hypocrites; there men will €weep and gnash their teeth.  @"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took €their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, `Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to €meet him.' Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil, for our €lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, `Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for €you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were €ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, `Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. @"For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants €and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each €according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; €and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and €hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled €accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five €talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I €have made five talents more.' His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have €been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the €joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you €delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have €been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the €joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, €I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and €gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you €have what is yours.' But his master answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew €that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not €winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my €coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have €abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken €away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will €weep and gnash their teeth.' @"When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, €then he will sit on his glorious throne. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µø’ļ‚Ķįōō’ؙ˜ Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them €one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the €left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of €my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of €the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me €drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in €prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry €and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and €clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to €one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you €cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me €no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not €clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or €thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not €minister to thee?' Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to €one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into €eternal life."  @When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of €man will be delivered up to be crucified." @Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the €palace of the high priest, who was called Ca'iaphas, and took counsel together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill €him. But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be a tumult among the €people." @Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive €ointment, and she poured it on his head, as he sat at table. But when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this €waste? For this ointment might have been sold for a large sum, and given to €the poor." But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? €For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body she has done it to prepare me for €burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole €world, what she has done will be told in memory of her." @Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the €chief priests and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him to you?" And they €paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. @Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, €saying, "Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain one, and say to him, `The €Teacher says, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at your €house with my disciples.'" And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the €passover. @When it was evening, he sat at table with the twelve disciples; and as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will €betray me." And they were very sorrowful, and began to say to him one after €another, "Is it I, Lord?" He answered, "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me, will €betray me. The Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by €whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man €if he had not been born." Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Is it I, Master?" He said to him, "You €have said so." @Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, €and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, €saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for €the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that €day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." @And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this €night; for it is written, `I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of €the flock will be scattered.' But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee." Peter declared to him, "Though they all fall away because of you, I €will never fall away." Jesus said to him, "Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the €cock crows, you will deny me three times." Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you." €And so said all the disciples. @Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsem'ane, and he said €to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go yonder and pray." And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zeb'edee, he began to be €sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain €here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, "My Father, €if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I €will, but as thou wilt." And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to €Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit €indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if €this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done." And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, €saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping €and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man €is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand." @While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with €him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the €elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I shall kiss €is the man; seize him." And he came up to Jesus at once and said, "Hail, Master!" And he kissed €him. Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then they came up and €laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and €drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off €his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all €who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once €send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?" At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out as against a €robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the €temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place, that the scriptures of the prophets might €be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled. @Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Ca'iaphas the high priest, €where the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter followed him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the €high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony €against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last €two came forward žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µø’ļ‚Ķįōō’ؚ˜½and said, "This fellow said, `I am able to destroy the temple of God, €and to build it in three days.'" And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? €What is it that these men testify against you?" But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by €the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, hereafter you €will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming €on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his robes, and said, "He has uttered €blasphemy. Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his €blasphemy. What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death." Then they spat in his face, and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?" @Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a maid came up to €him, and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean." And when he went out to the porch, another maid saw him, and she said €to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man." After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, €"Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you." Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know €the man." And immediately the cock crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the cock crows, you €will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.  @When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people €took counsel against Jesus to put him to death; and they bound him and led him away and delivered him to Pilate the €governor. @When Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned, he repented and €brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the €elders, saying, "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." They said, "What €is that to us? See to it yourself." And throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and €he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, "It is not €lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money." So they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury €strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, €saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on €whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me." @Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are €you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so." But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no €answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify €against you?" But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge; so that the €governor wondered greatly. @Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd €any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner, called Barab'bas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to €release for you, Barab'bas or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word €to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have €suffered much over him today in a dream." Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the people to ask for €Barab'bas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to €release for you?" And they said, "Barab'bas." Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called €Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified." And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the €more, "Let him be crucified." @So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a €riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the €crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it €yourselves." And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" Then he released for them Barab'bas, and having scourged Jesus, €delivered him to be crucified. @Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and €they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed €in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, €"Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put €his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. @As they went out, they came upon a man of Cyre'ne, Simon by name; €this man they compelled to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Gol'gotha (which means the place €of a skull), they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted €it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them €by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is €Jesus the King of the Jews." Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on €the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three €days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the €cross." So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, €saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let €him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for he €said, `I am the Son of God.'" And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the €same way. @Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until €the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, €la'ma sabach-tha'ni?" that is, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken €me?" And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "This man is calling €Eli'jah." And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, €and put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Eli'jah will come to €save him." And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. @And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to €bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had €fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the €holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over €Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with €awe, and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" @There were also many women there, looking on from afar, who had €followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him; among whom were Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James and €Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zeb'edee. @When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathe'a, named €Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered €it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he €rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. Mary Mag'dalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the €sepulchre. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µø’ļ‚Ķįōō’؛˜¾@Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests €and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still €alive, `After three days I will rise again.' Therefore order the sepulchre to be made secure until the third day, €lest his disciples go and steal him away, and tell the people, `He has €risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as €secure as you can." So they went and made the sepulchre secure by sealing the stone and €setting a guard.  @Now after the sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, €Mary Mag'dalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord €descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon €it. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you €seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where €he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, €and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. €Lo, I have told you." So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran €to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Hail!" And they came up and took €hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to €go to Galilee, and there they will see me." @While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city €and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they €gave a sum of money to the soldiers and said, "Tell people, `His disciples came by night and stole him away €while we were asleep.' And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep €you out of trouble." So they took the money and did as they were directed; and this story €has been spread among the Jews to this day. @Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which €Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth €has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the €name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am €with you always, to the close of the age." ąļ‚Ķįņė’”The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, €@@"Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, €@@who shall prepare thy way; @@the voice of one crying in the wilderness: €@@Prepare the way of the Lord, €@@make his paths straight -- " John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of €repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people €of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, €confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around €his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the €thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy €Spirit." @In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by €John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens €opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am €well pleased." @The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was €with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him. @Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the €gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; €repent, and believe in the gospel." @And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the €brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers €of men." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zeb'edee and €John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zeb'edee in €the boat with the hired servants, and followed him. @And they went into Caper'na-um; and immediately on the sabbath he €entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who €had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean €spirit; and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have €you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, €came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, €saying, "What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even €the unclean spirits, and they obey him." And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding €region of Galilee. @And immediately he left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon €and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they €told him of her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever €left her; and she served them. @That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or €possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered together about the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out €many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they €knew him. @And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to €a lonely place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him pursued him, and they found him and said to him, "Every one is searching for you." And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach €there also; for that is why I came out." And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and €casting out demons. @And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, "If €you will, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to €him, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show €yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses €commanded, for a proof to the people." But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the €news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in €the country; and people came to him from every quarter.  @And when he returned to Caper'na-um after some days, it was reported €that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for €them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed €the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down €the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your €sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¹’ļ‚Ķįņė’¢—"Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins €but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus €questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus €in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven,' or €to say, `Rise, take up your pallet and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to €forgive sins" -- he said to the paralytic --"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before €them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We €never saw anything like this!" @He went out again beside the sea; and all the crowd gathered about €him, and he taught them. And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax €office, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. @And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners €were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who €followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with €sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat €with tax collectors and sinners?" And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no €need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the €righteous, but sinners." @Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came €and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the €Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests fast while the €bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, €they cannot fast. The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and €then they will fast in that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; if he does, €the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is €made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will €burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but new €wine is for fresh skins." @One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made €their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not €lawful on the sabbath?" And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was €in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, when Abi'athar was high priest, and €ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the €priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" And he said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the €sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath."  @Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a €withered hand. And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, €so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come here." And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do €harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of €heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it €out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out, and immediately held counsel with the €Hero'di-ans against him, how to destroy him. @Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude €from Galilee followed; also from Judea and Jerusalem and Idume'a and from beyond the Jordan and from about €Tyre and Sidon a great multitude, hearing all that he did, came to him. And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the €crowd, lest they should crush him; for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him €to touch him. And whenever the unclean spirits beheld him, they fell down before him €and cried out, "You are the Son of God." And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. @And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those whom he €desired; and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach and have authority to cast out demons: Simon whom he surnamed Peter; James the son of Zeb'edee and John the brother of James, whom he €surnamed Bo-aner'ges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James €the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. €@Then he went home; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for people €were saying, "He is beside himself." And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by €Be-el'zebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons." And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, "How can Satan €cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able €to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot €stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless €he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may plunder his house. @"Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and €whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, €but is guilty of an eternal sin" --for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." @And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent €to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, "Your mother €and your brothers are outside, asking for you." And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, "Here are my €mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother."  @Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd €gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the €sea; and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. And he taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said €to them: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and €devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and €immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil; and when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root it €withered away. Other seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it, and €it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up €and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." And he said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." @And when he was alone, those who were about him with the twelve asked €him concerning the parables. And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom €of God, but for those outside everything is in parables; so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but €not understand; lest they should turn again, and be forgiven." And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will €you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown; when €they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word which is €sown in them. And these in like manner are the ones sown upon rocky ground, who, when €they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when €tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately €they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns; they are those who hear the €word, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¹’ļ‚Ķįņė’¤˜“but the cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire €for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown upon the good soil are the ones who hear the €word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a €hundredfold." @And he said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel, €or under a bed, and not on a stand? For there is nothing hid, except to be made manifest; nor is anything €secret, except to come to light. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear." And he said to them, "Take heed what you hear; the measure you give €will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has not, even €what he has will be taken away." @And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed €upon the ground, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and €grow, he knows not how. The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the €full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the €harvest has come." @And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what €parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, €is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, €and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make €nests in its shade." @With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able €to hear it; he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own €disciples he explained everything. @On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go €across to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he €was. And other boats were with him. And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so €that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and €said to him, "Teacher, do you not care if we perish?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be €still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?" And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, "Who then is €this, that even wind and sea obey him?"  @They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the €Ger'asenes. And when he had come out of the boat, there met him out of the tombs a €man with an unclean spirit, who lived among the tombs; and no one could bind him any more, even €with a chain; for he had often been bound with fetters and chains, but the chains he €wrenched apart, and the fetters he broke in pieces; and no one had the €strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying €out, and bruising himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped him; and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with €me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not €torment me." For he had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is €Legion; for we are many." And he begged him eagerly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him, "Send us to the swine, let us enter them." So he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered €the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the €steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea. @The herdsmen fled, and told it in the city and in the country. And €people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus, and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and €in his right mind, the man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told what had happened to the demoniac and to €the swine. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their neighborhood. And as he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed €with demons begged him that he might be with him. But he refused, and said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell €them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on €you." And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decap'olis how much Jesus €had done for him; and all men marveled. @And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a €great crowd gathered about him; and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Ja'irus by name; and €seeing him, he fell at his feet, and besought him, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. €Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live." And he went with him. €@And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that €she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the €crowd and touched his garment. For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well." And immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that €she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, €immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, "Who touched my €garments?" And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing around you, €and yet you say, `Who touched me?'" And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and €trembling and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in €peace, and be healed of your disease." @While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some €who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, €"Do not fear, only believe." And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the €brother of James. When they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, he saw a €tumult, and people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a tumult and €weep? The child is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside, and took the €child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in €where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Tal'itha cu'mi"; which means, €"Little girl, I say to you, arise." And immediately the girl got up and walked (she was twelve years of €age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told €them to give her something to eat.  @He went away from there and came to his own country; and his €disciples followed him. And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who €heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get all this? €What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his €hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and €Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And €they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his €own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands €upon a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. €@And he went about among the villages teaching. @And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by €two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no €bread, no bag, no money in their belts; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¹’ļ‚Ķįņė’¦˜‰but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, "Where you enter a house, stay there until you €leave the place. And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when €you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony €against them." So they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were €sick and healed them. @King Herod heard of it; for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, €"John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; that is why these €powers are at work in him." But others said, "It is Eli'jah." And others said, "It is a prophet, €like one of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been €raised." For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the €sake of Hero'di-as, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married €her. For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your €brother's wife." And Hero'di-as had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But €she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, €and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he €heard him gladly. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for €his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee. For when Hero'di-as' daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and €his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you €wish, and I will grant it." And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half €of my kingdom." And she went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she €said, "The head of John the baptizer." And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, €"I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a €platter." And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his €guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to €bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the €girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid €it in a tomb. @The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done €and taught. And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and €rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure €even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from €all the towns, and got there ahead of them. As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, €because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach €them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a €lonely place, and the hour is now late; send them away, to go into the country and villages round about and buy €themselves something to eat." But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." And they said €to him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and €give it to them to eat?" And he said to them, "How many loaves have you? Go and see." And when €they had found out, they said, "Five, and two fish." Then he commanded them all to sit down by companies upon the green €grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and €blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to set €before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. @Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him €to the other side, to Beth-sa'ida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to €pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on €the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was €against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, €walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, €and cried out; for they all saw him, and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to €them and said, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." And he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were €utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were €hardened. @And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennes'aret, and €moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized €him, and ran about the whole neighborhood and began to bring sick people on €their pallets to any place where they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the €sick in the market places, and besought him that they might touch even €the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well.  @Now when the Pharisees gathered together to him, with some of the €scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, €unwashed. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their €hands, observing the tradition of the elders; and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they €purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they €observe, the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not €live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands €defiled?" And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as €it is written, €@@`This people honors me with their lips, €@@but their heart is far from me; @@in vain do they worship me, €@@teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.' You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men." @And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the €commandment of God, in order to keep your tradition! For Moses said, `Honor your father and your mother'; and, `He who €speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die'; but you say, `If a man tells his father or his mother, What you would €have gained from me is Corban' (that is, given to God) --then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God through your tradition which you hand €on. And many such things you do." @And he called the people to him again, and said to them, "Hear me, €all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; €but the things which come out of a man are what defile him." ˜‘And when he had entered the house, and left the people, his disciples €asked him about the parable. And he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you €not see that whatever goes into a man from outside cannot defile him, since it enters, not his heart but his stomach, and so passes on?" €(Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, "What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, €fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, €foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man." @And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and €Sidon. And he entered a house, and would not have any one know it; yet €he could not be hid. But immediately a woman, whose little daughter was possessed by an €unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoeni'cian by birth. And she begged €him to cast the demon out of her daughter. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¹’ļ‚Ķįņė’§˜›And he said to her, "Let the children first be fed, for it is not right €to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat €the children's crumbs." And he said to her, "For this saying you may go your way; the demon has €left your daughter." And she went home, and found the child lying in bed, and the demon gone. @Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to €the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decap'olis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his €speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him. And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers €into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Eph'phatha," €that is, "Be opened." And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the €more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all €things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak."  @In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had €nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him, and said to them, "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now €three days, and have nothing to eat; and if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the €way; and some of them have come a long way." And his disciples answered him, "How can one feed these men with bread €here in the desert?" And he asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven." And he commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the €seven loaves, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to €his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the €crowd. And they had a few small fish; and having blessed them, he commanded €that these also should be set before them. And they ate, and were satisfied; and they took up the broken pieces €left over, seven baskets full. And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away; and immediately he got into the boat with his €disciples, and went to the district of Dalmanu'tha. @The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a €sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, "Why does this generation €seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this €generation." And he left them, and getting into the boat again he departed to the €other side. @Now they had forgotten to bring bread; and they had only one loaf €with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the €Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." And they discussed it with one another, saying, "We have no bread." And being aware of it, Jesus said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact €that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your €hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you €not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets €full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve." "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken €pieces did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven." And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?" @And they came to Beth-sa'ida. And some people brought to him a blind €man, and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the village; €and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked €him, "Do you see anything?" And he looked up and said, "I see men; but they look like trees, €walking." Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and €was restored, and saw everything clearly. And he sent him away to his home, saying, "Do not even enter the €village." @And Jesus went on with his disciples, to the villages of Caesare'a €Philip'pi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that €I am?" And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Eli'jah; and €others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, €"You are the Christ." And he charged them to tell no one about him. @And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many €things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the €scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, "Get €behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men." @And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to €them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up €his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his €life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his €life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and €sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he €comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."  And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here €who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has €come with power." @And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and €led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was €transfigured before them, and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on €earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Eli'jah with Moses; and they were talking to €Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us €make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli'jah." For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This €is my beloved Son; listen to him." And suddenly looking around they no longer saw any one with them but €Jesus only. @And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no €one what they had seen, until the Son of man should have risen from the €dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what the rising from €the dead meant. And they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that first Eli'jah must €come?" And he said to them, "Eli'jah does come first to restore all things; €and how is it written of the Son of man, that he should suffer many €things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Eli'jah has come, and they did to him whatever they €pleased, as it is written of him." @And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd about €them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, €and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, "What are you discussing with them?" And one of the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, €for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds €his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, €and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with €you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, €immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled €about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, €"From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy €him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who €believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¹’ļ‚Ķįņė’؉˜˜‚help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the €unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, €come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the €boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, €"Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but €prayer." @They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not €have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will €be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he €is killed, after three days he will rise." But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him. @And they came to Caper'na-um; and when he was in the house he asked €them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one €another who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any one €would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him €in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever €receives me, receives not me but him who sent me." @John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your €name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work €in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink €because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward. @"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it €would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck €and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to €enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the €unquenchable fire. ˜­And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to €enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. ˜ÆAnd if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you €to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be €thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. For every one will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltness, how will you €season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."  @And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the €Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again; and again, as his custom was, €he taught them. @And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful €for a man to divorce his wife?" He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and €to put her away." But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart he wrote you this €commandment. But from the beginning of creation, `God made them male and female.' `For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined €to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one €flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder." @And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, €commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits €adultery." @And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and €the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the €children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the €kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a €child shall not enter it." And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon €them. @And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt €before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit €eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God €alone. You know the commandments: `Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not €steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and €mother.'" And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one €thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have €treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he €had great possessions. @And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will €be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them €again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a €rich man to enter the kingdom of God." And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be €saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with €God; for all things are possible with God." Peter began to say to him, "Lo, we have left everything and followed €you." Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or €brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my €sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and €brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with €persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first." @And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was €walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed €were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what €was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will €be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will €condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill €him; and after three days he will rise." @And James and John, the sons of Zeb'edee, came forward to him, and €said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one €at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you €able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism €with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup €that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am €baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it €is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who €are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their €great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you €must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give €his life as a ransom for many." @And they came to Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his €disciples and a great multitude, Bartimae'us, a blind beggar, the son €of Timae'us, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¹’ļ‚Ķįņė’؊˜Æ‚and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all €the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, €saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the €blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight." And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And €immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.  @And when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Beth'phage and Bethany, at €the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as €you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat; €untie it and bring it. If any one says to you, `Why are you doing this?' say, `The Lord has €need of it and will send it back here immediately.'" And they went away, and found a colt tied at the door out in the open €street; and they untied it. And those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, untying €the colt?" And they told them what Jesus had said; and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and threw their garments on it; and €he sat upon it. And many spread their garments on the road, and others spread leafy €branches which they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed cried out, "Hosanna! €Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in €the highest!" @And he entered Jerusalem, and went into the temple; and when he had €looked round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to €Bethany with the twelve. @On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he €could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but €leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his €disciples heard it. @And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to €drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he €overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who €sold pigeons; and he would not allow any one to carry anything through the temple. And he taught, and said to them, "Is it not written, `My house shall be €called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a €den of robbers." And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and sought a way to €destroy him; for they feared him, because all the multitude was €astonished at his teaching. And when evening came they went out of the city. @As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away €to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, "Master, look! The fig tree which €you cursed has withered." And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, `Be taken up and €cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that €what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have €received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against €any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your €trespasses." ˜›@And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the €temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things, or €who gave you this authority to do them?" Jesus said to them, "I will ask you a question; answer me, and I will €tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Answer me." And they argued with one another, "If we say, `From heaven,' he will €say, `Why then did you not believe him?' But shall we say, `From men'?" -- they were afraid of the people, for all €held that John was a real prophet. So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, €"Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."  @And he began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, €and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built €a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them €some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the €head, and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some €they beat and some they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son; finally he sent him to them, €saying, `They will respect my son.' But those tenants said to one another, `This is the heir; come, let us €kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the €tenants, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this scripture: €@@`The very stone which the builders rejected €@@has become the head of the corner; @@this was the Lord's doing, €@@and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" @And they tried to arrest him, but feared the multitude, for they €perceived that he had told the parable against them; so they left him €and went away. @And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the €Hero'di-ans, to entrap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and €care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly €teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he €said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin, and let me look €at it." And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and €inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and €to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him. @And Sad'ducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection; €and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a €wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the wife, and raise up €children for his brother. There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left €no children; and the second took her, and died, leaving no children; and the third €likewise; and the seven left no children. Last of all the woman also died. In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as €wife." @Jesus said to them, "Is not this why you are wrong, that you know €neither the scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in €marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of €Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, `I am the €God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong." @And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one €another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which €commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The first is, `Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the €Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all €your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There €is no other commandment greater than these." And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly €said that he is one, and there is no other but he; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¹’ļ‚Ķįņė’،˜”and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and €with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much €more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are €not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask €him any question. @And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, "How can the scribes say €that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared, €@@`The Lord said to my Lord, €@@Sit at my right hand, €@@till I put thy enemies under thy feet.' David himself calls him Lord; so how is he his son?" And the great €throng heard him gladly. @And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go €about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They €will receive the greater condemnation." @And he sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude €putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him, and said to them, "Truly, I say to €you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are €contributing to the treasury. For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her €poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living."  @And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, €"Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will €not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down." @And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and €James and John and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign when these €things are all to be accomplished?" And Jesus began to say to them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, `I am he!' and they will lead many €astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this €must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there €will be earthquakes in various places, there will be famines; this is €but the beginning of the birth-pangs. @"But take heed to yourselves; for they will deliver you up to €councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand €before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you up, do not be anxious €beforehand what you are to say; but say whatever is given you in that €hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, €and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to €the end will be saved. @"But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not €to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee €to the mountains; let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to €take anything away; and let him who is in the field not turn back to take his mantle. And alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in €those days! Pray that it may not happen in winter. For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from €the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never €will be. And if the Lord had not shortened the days, no human being would be €saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the €days. And then if any one says to you, `Look, here is the Christ!' or `Look, €there he is!' do not believe it. False Christs and false prophets will arise and show signs and wonders, €to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But take heed; I have told you all things beforehand. @"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, €and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the €heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power €and glory. And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the €four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. @"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes €tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is €near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all €these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. @"But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in €heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his €servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to €be on the watch. Watch therefore -- for you do not know when the master of the house will €come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the €morning --lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Watch."  @It was now two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened €Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest €him by stealth, and kill him; for they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be a tumult of the €people." @And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he €sat at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure €nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. But there were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the €ointment thus wasted? For this ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred €denarii, and given to the poor." And they reproached her. But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has done a €beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you will, you can €do good to them; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for €burying. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole €world, what she has done will be told in memory of her." @Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief €priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it they were glad, and promised to give him money. €And he sought an opportunity to betray him. @And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the €passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where will you have us go €and prepare for you to eat the passover?" And he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, "Go into the city, €and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the householder, `The Teacher says, €Where is my guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my €disciples?' And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there €prepare for us." And the disciples set out and went to the city, and found it as he had €told them; and they prepared the passover. @And when it was evening he came with the twelve. And as they were at table eating, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, one €of you will betray me, one who is eating with me." They began to be sorrowful, and to say to him one after another, "Is it €I?" He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread €into the dish with me. For the Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by €whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man €if he had not been born." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¹’ļ‚Ķįņė’؎˜–@And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, €and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and €they all drank of it. And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured €out for many. Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine €until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." @And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away; for it is written, `I €will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee." Peter said to him, "Even though they all fall away, I will not." And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I say to you, this very night, before €the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." But he said vehemently, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." €And they all said the same. @And they went to a place which was called Gethsem'ane; and he said to €his disciples, "Sit here, while I pray." And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly €distressed and troubled. And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain €here, and watch." And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if €it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove €this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt." And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are €you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit €indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very €heavy; and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time, and said to them, "Are you still sleeping €and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come; the Son of man €is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand." @And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the €twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief €priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I shall kiss €is the man; seize him and lead him away under guard." And when he came, he went up to him at once, and said, "Master!" And he €kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of €the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus said to them, "Have you come out as against a robber, with €swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not €seize me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled." And they all forsook him, and fled. @And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about €his body; and they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked. @And they led Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests and €the elders and the scribes were assembled. And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of €the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, and warming €himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought testimony against €Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many bore false witness against him, and their witness did not €agree. And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, "We heard him say, `I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, €and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.'" Yet not even so did their testimony agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, "Have you €no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But he was silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, €"Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" And Jesus said, "I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the €right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." And the high priest tore his garments, and said, "Why do we still need €witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?" And they all €condemned him as deserving death. And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to strike €him, saying to him, "Prophesy!" And the guards received him with blows. @And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the maids of the high €priest came; and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, "You €also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you €mean." And he went out into the gateway. And the maid saw him, and began again to say to the bystanders, "This €man is one of them." But again he denied it. And after a little while again the bystanders €said to Peter, "Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean." But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know €this man of whom you speak." And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how €Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me €three times." And he broke down and wept.  @And as soon as it was morning the chief priests, with the elders and €scribes, and the whole council held a consultation; and they bound €Jesus and led him away and delivered him to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered €him, "You have said so." And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, "Have you no answer to make? See how many €charges they bring against you." But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate wondered. @Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom €they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the €insurrection, there was a man called Barab'bas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he was wont to €do for them. And he answered them, "Do you want me to release for you the King of €the Jews?" For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had €delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them €Barab'bas instead. And Pilate again said to them, "Then what shall I do with the man whom €you call the King of the Jews?" And they cried out again, "Crucify him." And Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted €all the more, "Crucify him." So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barab'bas; €and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. @And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the €praetorium); and they called together the whole battalion. And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and plaiting a crown of thorns €they put it on him. And they began to salute him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck his head with a reed, and spat upon him, and they knelt €down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, €and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. @And they compelled a passer-by, Simon of Cyre'ne, who was coming in €from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place called Gol'gotha (which means the €place of a skull). And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his garments among them, casting €lots for them, to decide what each should take. And it was the third hour, when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the €Jews." And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on €his left. ˜And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads, and saying, €"Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!" žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°µ¹’ļ‚Ķįņė’؏˜ŸSo also the chief priests mocked him to one another with the scribes, €saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that €we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also reviled €him. @And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole €land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "E'lo-i, E'lo-i, €la'ma sabach-tha'ni?" which means, "My God, my God, why hast thou €forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "Behold, he is calling €Eli'jah." And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and €gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Eli'jah will €come to take him down." And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he thus breathed €his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" @There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary €Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and €Salo'me, who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered to him; and €also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem. @And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that €is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathe'a, a respected member of the council, who was also €himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to €Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the €centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the €body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the €linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the €rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Mag'dalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.  @And when the sabbath was past, Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother €of James, and Salo'me, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint €him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when €the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for €us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; -- it was very €large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, €dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who €was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they €laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to €Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and €astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for €they were afraid. @Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared €first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they €would not believe it. @After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were €walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. @Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; €and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because €they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to €the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not €believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will €cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will €not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will €recover." @So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up €into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with €them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen. ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’”Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things €which have been accomplished among us, just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were €eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some €time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent €The-oph'ilus, that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have €been informed. @In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named €Zechari'ah, of the division of Abi'jah; and he had a wife of the €daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the €commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were €advanced in years. @Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was €on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to €enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour €of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right €side of the altar of incense. And Zechari'ah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechari'ah, for your €prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you €shall call his name John. @@And you will have joy and gladness, €@@and many will rejoice at his birth; @@for he will be great before the Lord, €@@and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, €@@and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, €@@even from his mother's womb. @@And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, @@and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Eli'jah, €@@to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, €@@and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, €@@to make ready for the Lord a people prepared." And Zechari'ah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an €old man, and my wife is advanced in years." And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of €God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that €these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which €will be fulfilled in their time." And the people were waiting for Zechari'ah, and they wondered at his €delay in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived €that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and €remained dumb. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. @After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months €she hid herself, saying, "Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take €away my reproach among men." @In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of €Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of €David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with €you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind €what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found €favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you €shall call his name Jesus. @@He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; €@@and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, @@and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’”˜”‚@@and of his kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no €husband?" And the angel said to her, €@@"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, €@@and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; €@@therefore the child to be born will be called holy, €@@the Son of God. @And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also €conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called €barren. For with God nothing will be impossible." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me €according to your word." And the angel departed from her. @In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, €to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her €womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and €blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to €me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe €in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of €what was spoken to her from the Lord." And Mary said, €@@"My soul magnifies the Lord, @@and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, @@for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. €@@For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; @@for he who is mighty has done great things for me, €@@and holy is his name. @@And his mercy is on those who fear him €@@from generation to generation. @@He has shown strength with his arm, €@@he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, @@he has put down the mighty from their thrones, €@@and exalted those of low degree; @@he has filled the hungry with good things, €@@and the rich he has sent empty away. @@He has helped his servant Israel, €@@in remembrance of his mercy, @@as he spoke to our fathers, €@@to Abraham and to his posterity for ever." And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. @Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth €to a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great €mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would €have named him Zechari'ah after his father, but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John." And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name." And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him €called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And €they all marveled. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he €spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked €about through all the hill country of Judea; and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then €will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him. @And his father Zechari'ah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and €prophesied, saying, @@"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, €@@for he has visited and redeemed his people, @@and has raised up a horn of salvation for us €@@in the house of his servant David, @@as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, @@that we should be saved from our enemies, €@@and from the hand of all who hate us; @@to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, €@@and to remember his holy covenant, @@the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us €@@that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, €@@might serve him without fear, @@in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. @@And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; €@@for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, @@to give knowledge of salvation to his people €@@in the forgiveness of their sins, @@through the tender mercy of our God, €@@when the day shall dawn upon us from on high @@to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of €@@@@death, €@@to guide our feet into the way of peace." And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the €wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel.  @In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the €world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin'i-us was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to €Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was €of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling €cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them €in the inn. @And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping €watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord €shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you €good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is €Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in €swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host €praising God and saying, @@"Glory to God in the highest, €@@and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!" @When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said €to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that €has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying €in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told €them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they €had heard and seen, as it had been told them. @And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called €Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. @And when the time came for their purification according to the law of €Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the €womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the €Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man €was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and €the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not €see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the €parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the €custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, @@"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, €@@according to thy word; @@for mine eyes have seen thy salvation @@which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, @@a light for revelation to the Gentiles, €@@and for glory to thy people Israel." @And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, €@@"Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in €@@@@Israel, €@@and for a sign that is spoken against @@(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), €@@that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." @And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’¢˜¤‚tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband €seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the €temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of €him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. @And when they had performed everything according to the law of the €Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor €of God was upon him. @Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the €Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus €stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and €they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the €teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, €"Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been €looking for you anxiously." And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know €that I must be in my Father's house?" And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to €them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. @And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God €and man.  @In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiber'i-us Caesar, Pontius €Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, €and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturae'a and €Trachoni'tis, and Lysa'ni-as tetrarch of Abile'ne, in the high-priesthood of Annas and Ca'iaphas, the word of God came to €John the son of Zechari'ah in the wilderness; and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism €of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, €@@"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: €@@Prepare the way of the Lord, €@@make his paths straight. @@Every valley shall be filled, €@@and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, €@@and the crooked shall be made straight, €@@and the rough ways shall be made smooth; @@and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." @He said therefore to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by €him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to €come? Bear fruits that befit repentance, and do not begin to say to €yourselves, `We have Abraham as our father'; for I tell you, God is €able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore €that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." @And the multitudes asked him, "What then shall we do?" And he answered them, "He who has two coats, let him share with him who €has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, €what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Collect no more than is appointed you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to €them, "Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content €with your wages." @As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their €hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ, John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who is €mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy €to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to €gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with €unquenchable fire." @So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people. But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Hero'di-as, €his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, added this to them all, that he shut up John in prison. @Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been €baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a €voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well €pleased." @Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, €being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of €Jan'na-i, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathi'as, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of €Esli, the son of Nag'ga-i, the son of Ma'ath, the son of Mattathi'as, the son of Sem'e-in, the son €of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Jo-an'an, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerub'babel, the son €of She-al'ti-el, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of €Elma'dam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Elie'zer, the son of Jorim, the son of €Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of €Jonam, the son of Eli'akim, the son of Me'le-a, the son of Menna, the son of Mat'tatha, the son of €Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Bo'az, the son of Sala, €the son of Nahshon, the son of Ammin'adab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of €Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of €Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Re'u, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, €the son of Shelah, the son of Ca-i'nan, the son of Arphax'ad, the son of Shem, the son of €Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of €Maha'lale-el, the son of Ca-i'nan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.  @And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was €led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil. And he ate €nothing in those days; and when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone €to become bread." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, `Man shall not live by bread €alone.'" And the devil took him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world €in a moment of time, and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their €glory; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it shall all be yours." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, €@@`You shall worship the Lord your God, €@@and him only shall you serve.'" And he took him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the €temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself €down from here; for it is written, €@@`He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you,' and €@@`On their hands they will bear you up, €@@lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" And Jesus answered him, "It is said, `You shall not tempt the Lord your €God.'" And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him €until an opportune time. @And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a €report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. @And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to €the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up €to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened €the book and found the place where it was written, @@"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’¤˜’‚@@because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. €@@He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives €@@and recovering of sight to the blind, €@@to set at liberty those who are oppressed, @@to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat €down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled €in your hearing." And all spoke well of him, and wondered at the gracious words which €proceeded out of his mouth; and they said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" And he said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, €`Physician, heal yourself; what we have heard you did at Caper'na-um, €do here also in your own country.'" And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his own €country. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days €of Eli'jah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, €when there came a great famine over all the land; and Eli'jah was sent to none of them but only to Zar'ephath, in the €land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet €Eli'sha; and none of them was cleansed, but only Na'aman the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and put him out of the city, and led him to the brow €of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him €down headlong. But passing through the midst of them he went away. @And he went down to Caper'na-um, a city of Galilee. And he was €teaching them on the sabbath; and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with €authority. And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean €demon; and he cried out with a loud voice, "Ah! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to €destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And €when the demon had thrown him down in the midst, he came out of him, €having done him no harm. And they were all amazed and said to one another, "What is this word? €For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they €come out." And reports of him went out into every place in the surrounding region. @And he arose and left the synagogue, and entered Simon's house. Now €Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they besought him €for her. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her; and €immediately she rose and served them. @Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick €with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on €every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying, "You are the Son of God!" But €he rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew €that he was the Christ. @And when it was day he departed and went into a lonely place. And the €people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving €them; but he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God €to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose." And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.  @While the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he was €standing by the lake of Gennes'aret. And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of €them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put €out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from €the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the €deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But €at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and €as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help €them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to €sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, €"Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish €which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zeb'edee, who were partners €with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you €will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and €followed him. @While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy; €and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and besought him, "Lord, if €you will, you can make me clean." And he stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, "I will; be €clean." And immediately the leprosy left him. And he charged him to tell no one; but "go and show yourself to the €priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, €for a proof to the people." But so much the more the report went abroad concerning him; and great €multitudes gathered to hear and to be healed of their infirmities. But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed. @On one of those days, as he was teaching, there were Pharisees and €teachers of the law sitting by, who had come from every village of €Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was €with him to heal. And behold, men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and €they sought to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up €on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the €midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is €this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?" When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, "Why do you €question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, `Rise €and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to €forgive sins" -- he said to the man who was paralyzed -- "I say to you, €rise, take up your bed and go home." And immediately he rose before them, and took up that on which he lay, €and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled €with awe, saying, "We have seen strange things today." @After this he went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting €at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he left everything, and rose and followed him. @And Levi made him a great feast in his house; and there was a large €company of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, €saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a €physician, but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." @And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and offer €prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and €drink." And Jesus said to them, "Can you make wedding guests fast while the €bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and €then they will fast in those days." He told them a parable also: "No one tears a piece from a new garment €and puts it upon an old garment; if he does, he will tear the new, and €the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the new wine €will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be €destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new; for he says, `The old €is good.'"  @On a sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’¦‚disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their €hands. But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful €to do on the sabbath?" And Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he was €hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the bread of the €Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and €also gave it to those with him?" And he said to them, "The Son of man is lord of the sabbath." @On another sabbath, when he entered the synagogue and taught, a man €was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would €heal on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man who had the withered €hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the sabbath to do €good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?" And he looked around on them all, and said to him, "Stretch out your €hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they €might do to Jesus. @In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he €continued in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them €twelve, whom he named apostles; Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, €and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who €was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. @And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great €crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea €and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him €and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him €and healed them all. @And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are €you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. "Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. "Blessed €are you that weep now, for you shall laugh. @"Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and €revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of €man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great €in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. @"But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation. @"Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger. "Woe to you that €laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. "Woe to you, when all men speak well of you, for so their fathers did €to the false prophets. @"But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who €hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him €who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your €goods do not ask them again. And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. @"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even €sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to €you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is €that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in €return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most €High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. @"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not €be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken €together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you €give will be the measure you get back." @He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will €they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but every one when he is fully €taught will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not €notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, `Brother, let me take out the speck €that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in €your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, €and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your €brother's eye. @"For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear €good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from €thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and €the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the €abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. @"Why do you call me `Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show €you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep, and laid the €foundation upon rock; and when a flood arose, the stream broke against €that house, and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But he who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house €on the ground without a foundation; against which the stream broke, and €immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."  @After he had ended all his sayings in the hearing of the people he €entered Caper'na-um. Now a centurion had a slave who was dear to him, who was sick and at €the point of death. When he heard of Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him €to come and heal his slave. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him earnestly, saying, "He €is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he built us our synagogue." And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the €centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, "Lord, do not trouble €yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let €my servant be healed. For I am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say €to one, `Go,' and he goes; and to another, `Come,' and he comes; and to €my slave, `Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this he marveled at him, and turned and said to the €multitude that followed him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I €found such faith." And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the €slave well. @Soon afterward he went to a city called Na'in, and his disciples and €a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was €being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and €a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, €"Do not weep." And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he €said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his €mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet €has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!" And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and €all the surrounding country. @The disciples of John told him of all these things. And John, calling to him two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord, €saying, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" And when the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent €us to you, saying, `Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for €another?'" žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’§˜•In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, €and on many that were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: €the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and €the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached €to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me." @When the messengers of John had gone, he began to speak to the crowds €concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A €reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? €Behold, those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in €kings' courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more €than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, €@@`Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, €@@who shall prepare thy way before thee.' I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John; yet he €who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (When they heard this all the people and the tax collectors justified €God, having been baptized with the baptism of John; but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for €themselves, not having been baptized by him.) @"To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what €are they like? They are like children sitting in the market place and calling to €one another, €@@`We piped to you, and you did not dance; €@@we wailed, and you did not weep.' For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine; and €you say, `He has a demon.' The Son of man has come eating and drinking; and you say, `Behold, a €glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by all her children." @One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the €Pharisee's house, and took his place at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned €that he was at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster €flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet €with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed €his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, €"If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of €woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to €you." And he answered, "What is it, Teacher?" "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and €the other fifty. When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will €love him more?" Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more." And he €said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? €I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet €my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to €kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with €ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she €loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, €"Who is this, who even forgives sins?" And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."  @Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, preaching and €bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with €him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and €infirmities: Mary, called Mag'dalene, from whom seven demons had gone €out, and Joan'na, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many €others, who provided for them out of their means. @And when a great crowd came together and people from town after town €came to him, he said in a parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the €path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because €it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." As €he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." @And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom €of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may €not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes €and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe €and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, €receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while €and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as €they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and €pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, €hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with €patience. @"No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it €under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the €light. For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret €that shall not be known and come to light. Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and €from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken €away." @Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not €reach him for the crowd. And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, €desiring to see you." But he said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the €word of God and do it." @One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, €"Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a storm of wind came down on the €lake, and they were filling with water, and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" €And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; and they €ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and they €marveled, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands €even wind and water, and they obey him?" @Then they arrived at the country of the Ger'asenes, which is opposite €Galilee. And as he stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who €had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he lived not in €a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with €a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High €God? I beseech you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For €many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with €chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon €into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for €many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they €begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd €rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. @When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled, and told it in €the city and in the country. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’؈˜£Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, €and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of €Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with €demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Ger'asenes asked €him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he €got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; €but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And €he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had €done for him. @Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all €waiting for him. And there came a man named Ja'irus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; €and falling at Jesus' feet he besought him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was €dying. €@As he went, the people pressed round him. And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and could not €be healed by any one, came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and €immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter €said, "Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!" But Jesus said, "Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has €gone forth from me." And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and €falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why €she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in €peace." @While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler's house came and €said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more." But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and €she shall be well." And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, €except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, "Do not weep; for €she is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that €something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what €had happened.  @And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority €over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, €nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake €off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them." And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel €and healing everywhere. @Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done, and he was €perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from €the dead, by some that Eli'jah had appeared, and by others that one of the old €prophets had risen. Herod said, "John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such €things?" And he sought to see him. @On their return the apostles told him what they had done. And he took €them and withdrew apart to a city called Beth-sa'ida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him; and he welcomed them and €spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and cured those who had need of €healing. Now the day began to wear away; and the twelve came and said to him, €"Send the crowd away, to go into the villages and country round about, €to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a lonely place." But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We €have no more than five loaves and two fish -- unless we are to go and buy €food for all these people." For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, €"Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each." And they did so, and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and €blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before €the crowd. And all ate and were satisfied. And they took up what was left over, €twelve baskets of broken pieces. @Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with €him; and he asked them, "Who do the people say that I am?" And they answered, "John the Baptist; but others say, Eli'jah; and €others, that one of the old prophets has risen." And he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter €answered, "The Christ of God." But he charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the €elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third €day be raised." @And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny €himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his €life for my sake, he will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or €forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of €man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father €and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste €death before they see the kingdom of God." @Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and €John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, €and his raiment became dazzling white. And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Eli'jah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was to €accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, and when €they wakened they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it €is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one €for Moses and one for Eli'jah" -- not knowing what he said. As he said this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were €afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen; €listen to him!" And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept €silence and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen. @On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great €crowd met him. And behold, a man from the crowd cried, "Teacher, I beg you to look €upon my son, for he is my only child; and behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it €convulses him till he foams, and shatters him, and will hardly leave €him. And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to €be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." While he was coming, the demon tore him and convulsed him. But Jesus €rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to €his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God. €@But while they were all marveling at everything he did, he said to €his disciples, "Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of man is to be €delivered into the hands of men." But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from €them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him €about this saying. @And an argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But when Jesus perceived the thought of their hearts, he took a child €and put him by his side, and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’؉˜°‚and whoever receives me receives him who sent me; for he who is least €among you all is the one who is great." @John answered, "Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, €and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us." But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him; for he that is not against €you is for you." @When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to €go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of €the Samaritans, to make ready for him; but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward €Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you €want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village. @As they were going along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow €you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have €nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go €and bury my father." But he said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for €you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell €to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back €is fit for the kingdom of God."  @After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead €of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was €about to come. And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are €few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into €his harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace be to this house!' And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if €not, it shall return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, €for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before €you; heal the sick in it and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near €to you.' But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its €streets and say, `Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off €against you; nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come €near.' I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for €that town. @"Woe to you, Chora'zin! woe to you, Beth-sa'ida! for if the mighty €works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have €repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than €for you. And you, Caper'na-um, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be €brought down to Hades. @"He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he €who rejects me rejects him who sent me." @The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are €subject to us in your name!" And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and €scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt €you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to €you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." @In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank €thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these €things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, €Father, for such was thy gracious will. All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who €the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and €any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." @Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the €eyes which see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you €see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear €it." @And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, €"Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, €and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your €mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will €live." @But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my €neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he €fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, €leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he €passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by €on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw €him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then €he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of €him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the €innkeeper, saying, `Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I €will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell €among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go €and do likewise." @Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman €named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and €listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and €said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? €Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and €troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not €be taken away from her."  @He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his €disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his €disciples." And he said to them, "When you pray, say: €@"Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is €indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation." @And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at €midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to €set before him'; and he will answer from within, `Do not bother me; the door is now €shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you €anything'? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he €is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him €whatever he needs. And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; €knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who €knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a €fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your €children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit €to those who ask him!" @Now he was casting out a demon that was dumb; when the demon had gone €out, the dumb man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Be-el'zebul, the prince €of demons"; while others, to test him, sought from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’؋˜‘‚against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom €stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul. And if I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul, by whom do your sons cast them €out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the €kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in €peace; but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes €away his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoil. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me €scatters. @"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through €waterless places seeking rest; and finding none he says, `I will return €to my house from which I came.' And when he comes he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than himself, and €they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes €worse than the first." @As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to €him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you €sucked!" But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and €keep it!" @When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is €an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it €except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nin'eveh, so will the Son of €man be to this generation. The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with the men of this €generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to €hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon €is here. The men of Nin'eveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and €condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, €something greater than Jonah is here. @"No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a bushel, €but on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is sound, your whole €body is full of light; but when it is not sound, your body is full of €darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will €be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light." @While he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him; so he €went in and sat at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before €dinner. And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the €cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of extortion and €wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything €is clean for you. @"But woe to you Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and every herb, €and neglect justice and the love of God; these you ought to have done, €without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! for you love the best seat in the synagogues and €salutations in the market places. Woe to you! for you are like graves which are not seen, and men walk €over them without knowing it." @One of the lawyers answered him, "Teacher, in saying this you €reproach us also." And he said, "Woe to you lawyers also! for you load men with burdens €hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of €your fingers. Woe to you! for you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers €killed. So you are witnesses and consent to the deeds of your fathers; for they €killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, `I will send them prophets and €apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,' that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the €world, may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechari'ah, who perished between €the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it shall be required of €this generation. Woe to you lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge; you €did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering." @As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to €press him hard, and to provoke him to speak of many things, lying in wait for him, to catch at something he might say.  @In the meantime, when so many thousands of the multitude had gathered €together that they trod upon one another, he began to say to his €disciples first, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is €hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will €not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the €light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed €upon the housetops. @"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and €after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, €has power to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is €forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of €more value than many sparrows. @"And I tell you, every one who acknowledges me before men, the Son of €man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And every one who speaks a word against the Son of man will be €forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be €forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the €authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or what €you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to €say." @One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the €inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a €man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought €forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to €store my crops?' And he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build €larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many €years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul is required of you; €and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." @And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be €anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what €you shall put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither €storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are €you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you €anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I €tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of €these. But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and €tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O €men of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be €of anxious mind. For all the nations of the world seek these things; and your Father €knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well. @"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to €give you the kingdom. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’،˜”Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses €that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not €fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. @"Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the €marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and €knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; €truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, €and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, €blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief €was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected €hour." Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his €master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food €at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so €doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, `My master is delayed in coming,' €and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and €drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect €him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him €with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will, but did not make ready or €act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive €a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be €required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more. @"I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already €kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it €is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, €but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against €two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother €against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against €her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." @He also said to the multitudes, "When you see a cloud rising in the €west, you say at once, `A shower is coming'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, `There will be €scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and €sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? @"And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to €settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the €judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the very last €copper."  @There were some present at that very time who told him of the €Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse €sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Silo'am fell and killed them, €do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who €dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." @And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his €vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, `Lo, these three years I have come €seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why €should it use up the ground?' And he answered him, `Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig €about it and put on manure. And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut €it down.'" @Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen €years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are €freed from your infirmity." And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, €and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on €the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work €ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the €sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on €the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away €to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for €eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the €people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him. @He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what €shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his €garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made €nests in its branches." @And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of €flour, till it was all leavened." @He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and €journeying toward Jerusalem. And some one said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And €he said to them, "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to €enter and will not be able. When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will €begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, `Lord, open to €us.' He will answer you, `I do not know where you come from.' Then you will begin to say, `We ate and drank in your presence, and you €taught in our streets.' But he will say, `I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart €from me, all you workers of iniquity!' There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and €Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you €yourselves thrust out. And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit €at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who €will be last." @At that very hour some Pharisees came, and said to him, "Get away €from here, for Herod wants to kill you." And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, `Behold, I cast out demons €and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my €course. Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day €following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from €Jerusalem.' O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are €sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as €a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me €until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"  @One sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged €to the Pharisees, they were watching him. And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. And Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to €heal on the sabbath, or not?" But they were silent. Then he took him and healed him, and let him go. And he said to them, "Which of you, having a son or an ox that has €fallen into a well, will not immediately pull him out on a sabbath day?" And they could not reply to this. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’؎—@Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he marked how €they chose the places of honor, saying to them, "When you are invited by any one to a marriage feast, do not sit down €in a place of honor, lest a more eminent man than you be invited by him; and he who invited you both will come and say to you, `Give place to €this man,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when €your host comes he may say to you, `Friend, go up higher'; then you €will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles €himself will be exalted." @He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner €or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your €kinsmen or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and you €be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the €blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be €repaid at the resurrection of the just." @When one of those who sat at table with him heard this, he said to €him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!" But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who €had been invited, `Come; for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, `I €have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me €excused.' And another said, `I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine €them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, `I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the €householder in anger said to his servant, `Go out quickly to the €streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and €blind and lame.' And the servant said, `Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still €there is room.' And the master said to the servant, `Go out to the highways and hedges, €and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my €banquet.'" @Now great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them, "If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and €wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, €he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my €disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down €and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, €all who see it begin to mock him, saying, `This man began to build, and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down €first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him €who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy €and asks terms of peace. So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot €be my disciple. @"Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness €be restored? It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill; men throw it away. €He who has ears to hear, let him hear."  @Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives €sinners and eats with them." @So he told them this parable: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, €does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one €which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his €neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep €which was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner €who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no €repentance. "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does €not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she €finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and €neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I €had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one €sinner who repents." @And he said, "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the share €of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his €journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in €loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, €and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, €who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one €gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, `How many of my father's hired €servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I €have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your €hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a €distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced €him and kissed him. And the son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and €before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, `Bring quickly the best robe, and €put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is €found.' And they began to make merry. @"Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to €the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, `Your brother has come, and your father has killed €the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and €entreated him, but he answered his father, `Lo, these many years I have served you, €and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I €might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with €harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, `Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine €is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was €dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"  @He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a €steward, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his €goods. And he called him and said to him, `What is this that I hear about you? €Turn in the account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be €steward.' And the steward said to himself, `What shall I do, since my master is €taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and €I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that people may receive me into their €houses when I am put out of the stewardship.' So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, €`How much do you owe my master?' He said, `A hundred measures of oil.' And he said to him, `Take your €bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.' Then he said to another, `And how much do you owe?' He said, `A hundred €measures of wheat.' He said to him, `Take your bill, and write eighty.' The master commended the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’ؐ˜ˆ‚sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation €than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous €mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal €habitations. @"He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he €who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will €entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will €give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and €love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. €You cannot serve God and mammon." @The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they €scoffed at him. But he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, €but God knows your hearts; for what is exalted among men is an €abomination in the sight of God. @"The law and the prophets were until John; since then the good news €of the kingdom of God is preached, and every one enters it violently. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one dot of €the law to become void. @"Every one who divorces his wife and marries another commits €adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits €adultery. @"There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and €who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Laz'arus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table; €moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The €rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham €far off and Laz'arus in his bosom. And he called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send €Laz'arus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for €I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, `Son, remember that you in your lifetime received €your good things, and Laz'arus in like manner evil things; but now he €is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, €in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, €and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, `Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come €into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, `They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear €them.' And he said, `No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the €dead, they will repent.' He said to him, `If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither €will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'"  @And he said to his disciples, "Temptations to sin are sure to come; €but woe to him by whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and €he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these €little ones to sin. Take heed to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he €repents, forgive him; and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you €seven times, and says, `I repent,' you must forgive him." @The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" And the Lord said, "If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you €could say to this sycamine tree, `Be rooted up, and be planted in the €sea,' and it would obey you. @"Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say €to him when he has come in from the field, `Come at once and sit down €at table'? Will he not rather say to him, `Prepare supper for me, and gird €yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall €eat and drink'? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, `We are €unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'" @On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Sama'ria and €Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a €distance and lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the €priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising €God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a €Samaritan. Then said Jesus, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this €foreigner?" And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you €well." @Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he €answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be €observed; nor will they say, `Lo, here it is!' or `There!' for behold, the €kingdom of God is in the midst of you." @And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will €desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you will not see €it. And they will say to you, `Lo, there!' or `Lo, here!' Do not go, do not €follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the €other, so will the Son of man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of €man. They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until €the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed €them all. Likewise as it was in the days of Lot -- they ate, they drank, they €bought, they sold, they planted, they built, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom fire and sulphur rained €from heaven and destroyed them all --so will it be on the day when the Son of man is revealed. On that day, let him who is on the housetop, with his goods in the €house, not come down to take them away; and likewise let him who is in €the field not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life €will preserve it. I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed; one will be €taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together; one will be taken and the €other left." ˜„And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body €is, there the eagles will be gathered together."  @And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to €pray and not lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God €nor regarded man; and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, €`Vindicate me against my adversary.' For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, `Though I €neither fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will €wear me out by her continual coming.'" And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? €Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son €of man comes, will he find faith on earth?" @He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they €were righteous and despised others: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other €a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank thee €that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even €like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his €eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a €sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the €other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’ؒ˜Žƒhumbles himself will be exalted." @Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; €and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and €do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a €child shall not enter it." @And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit €eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God €alone. You know the commandments: `Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not €steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'" And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth." And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. €Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have €treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to €enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for €a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." And Peter said, "Lo, we have left our homes and followed you." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there is no man who has left €house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the €kingdom of God, who will not receive manifold more in this time, and in the age to come €eternal life." @And taking the twelve, he said to them, "Behold, we are going up to €Jerusalem, and everything that is written of the Son of man by the €prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and €shamefully treated and spit upon; they will scourge him and kill him, and on the third day he will rise." But they understood none of these things; this saying was hid from €them, and they did not grasp what was said. @As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside €begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but €he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he €came near, he asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me receive my €sight." And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you €well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; €and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.  @He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchae'us; he was a chief tax collector, and €rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the €crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for €he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, €"Zacchae'us, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house €today." So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest €of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchae'us stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of €my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of €anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since €he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost." @As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because €he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of €God was to appear immediately. He said therefore, "A nobleman went into a far country to receive a €kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them, €`Trade with these till I come.' But his citizens hated him and sent an embassy after him, saying, `We €do not want this man to reign over us.' When he returned, having received the kingdom, he commanded these €servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he €might know what they had gained by trading. The first came before him, saying, `Lord, your pound has made ten €pounds more.' And he said to him, `Well done, good servant! Because you have been €faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.' And the second came, saying, `Lord, your pound has made five pounds.' And he said to him, `And you are to be over five cities.' Then another came, saying, `Lord, here is your pound, which I kept laid €away in a napkin; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you take up what €you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.' He said to him, `I will condemn you out of your own mouth, you wicked €servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking up what I did not lay €down and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my coming I €should have collected it with interest?' And he said to those who stood by, `Take the pound from him, and give €it to him who has the ten pounds.' (And they said to him, `Lord, he has ten pounds!') `I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him €who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over €them, bring them here and slay them before me.'" @And when he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he drew near to Beth'phage and Bethany, at the mount that is €called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village opposite, where on entering you will find €a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat; untie it and bring it €here. If any one asks you, `Why are you untying it?' you shall say this, `The €Lord has need of it.'" So those who were sent went away and found it as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are €you untying the colt?" And they said, "The Lord has need of it." And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their garments on the colt €they set Jesus upon it. And as he rode along, they spread their garments on the road. As he was now drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the €whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a €loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace €in heaven and glory in the highest!" And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, "Teacher, €rebuke your disciples." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would €cry out." @And when he drew near and saw the city he wept over it, saying, "Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! €But now they are hid from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank €about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side, and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they €will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know €the time of your visitation." @And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, "It is written, `My house shall be a house of prayer'; €but you have made it a den of robbers." @And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the €scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people hung €upon his words.  @One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching €the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, "Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’ؔ’‚it is that gave you this authority." He answered them, "I also will ask you a question; now tell me, Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?" And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, `From €heaven,' he will say, `Why did you not believe him?' But if we say, `From men,' all the people will stone us; for they are €convinced that John was a prophet." So they answered that they did not know whence it was. And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do €these things." @And he began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a €vineyard, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country for €a long while. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, that they should €give him some of the fruit of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him, €and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent another servant; him also they beat and treated shamefully, €and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third; this one they wounded and cast out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, `What shall I do? I will send my €beloved son; it may be they will respect him.' But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, `This is the €heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.' And they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will €the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants, and give the vineyard to €others." When they heard this, they said, "God forbid!" But he looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: €@@`The very stone which the builders rejected €@@has become the head of the corner'? Every one who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but when it €falls on any one it will crush him." @The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on him at that €very hour, but they feared the people; for they perceived that he had €told this parable against them. So they watched him, and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that €they might take hold of what he said, so as to deliver him up to the €authority and jurisdiction of the governor. They asked him, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and €show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?" But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Show me a coin. Whose likeness and inscription has it?" They said, €"Caesar's." He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, €and to God the things that are God's." And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him by €what he said; but marveling at his answer they were silent. @There came to him some Sadducees, those who say that there is no €resurrection, and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us €that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man €must take the wife and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without €children; and the second and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and €died. Afterward the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the €seven had her as wife." @And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in €marriage; but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the €resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are €sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about €the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of €Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him." And some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." For they no longer dared to ask him any question. @But he said to them, "How can they say that the Christ is David's son? For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, €@@`The Lord said to my Lord, €@@Sit at my right hand, @@till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet.' David thus calls him Lord; so how is he his son?" @And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and love €salutations in the market places and the best seats in the synagogues €and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They €will receive the greater condemnation."  @He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins. And he said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than €all of them; for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her €poverty put in all the living that she had." @And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones €and offerings, he said, "As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall €not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." And they asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the €sign when this is about to take place?" And he said, "Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come €in my name, saying, `I am he!' and, `The time is at hand!' Do not go €after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this €must first take place, but the end will not be at once." @Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom €against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and €pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, €delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be €brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be a time for you to bear testimony. Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to €answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries €will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and €friends, and some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. @"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its €desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those €who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the €country enter it; for these are days of vengeance, to fulfil all that is written. Alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those €days! For great distress shall be upon the earth and wrath upon this €people; they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive among all €nations; and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the €times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. @"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the €earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and €the waves, men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the €world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and €great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your €heads, because your redemption is drawing near." @And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees; as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that €the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the €kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all has €taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. @"But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with €dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’ؕ˜¢ƒupon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape €all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of €man." @And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out €and lodged on the mount called Olivet. And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to €hear him.  @Now the feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the €Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to €death; for they feared the people. @Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number €of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he €might betray him to them. And they were glad, and engaged to give him money. So he agreed, and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the €absence of the multitude. @Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the passover lamb had €to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the passover for €us, that we may eat it." They said to him, "Where will you have us prepare it?" He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man €carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house which €he enters, and tell the householder, `The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest €room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?' And he will show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready." And they went, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the €passover. @And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover €with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom €of God." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, €and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the €vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it €to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in €remembrance of me." And likewise the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which is poured €out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of man goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man €by whom he is betrayed!" And they began to question one another, which of them it was that would €do this. @A dispute also arose among them, which of them was to be regarded as €the greatest. And he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over €them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the €youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For which is the greater, one who sits at table, or one who serves? Is €it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves. @"You are those who have continued with me in my trials; and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on €thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. @"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift €you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you €have turned again, strengthen your brethren." And he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to €death." He said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you €three times deny that you know me." @And he said to them, "When I sent you out with no purse or bag or €sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing." He said to them, "But now, let him who has a purse take it, and €likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy €one. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, `And he was €reckoned with transgressors'; for what is written about me has its €fulfilment." And they said, "Look, Lord, here are two swords." And he said to them, €"It is enough." @And he came out, and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; €and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place he said to them, "Pray that you may not €enter into temptation." And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and €prayed, "Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not €my will, but thine, be done." ˜­And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them €sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not €enter into temptation." @While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called €Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to €kiss him; but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of man with a €kiss?" And when those who were about him saw what would follow, they said, €"Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his €right ear. But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed €him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and €elders, who had come out against him, "Have you come out as against a €robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands €on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness." @Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high €priest's house. Peter followed at a distance; and when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat €down together, Peter sat among them. Then a maid, seeing him as he sat in the light and gazing at him, said, €"This man also was with him." But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." And a little later some one else saw him and said, "You also are one of €them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, €"Certainly this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying." And €immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word €of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you €will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. @Now the men who were holding Jesus mocked him and beat him; they also blindfolded him and asked him, "Prophesy! Who is it that €struck you?" And they spoke many other words against him, reviling him. @When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered €together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away to €their council, and they said, "If you are the Christ, tell us." But he said to them, "If I tell you, €you will not believe; and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of man shall be seated at the right hand of the €power of God." And they all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" And he said to them, €"You say that I am." And they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it €ourselves from his own lips."  @Then the whole company of them arose, and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our €nation, and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he €himself is Christ a king." And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered €him, "You have said so." And Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, "I find no €crime in this man." But they were urgent, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching €throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place." @When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent €him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’ؗ˜ˆWhen Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see €him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign €done by him. So he questioned him at some length; but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; €then, arraying him in gorgeous apparel, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for €before this they had been at enmity with each other. @Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the €people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting €the people; and after examining him before you, behold, I did not find €this man guilty of any of your charges against him; neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Behold, nothing €deserving death has been done by him; I will therefore chastise him and release him." ˜’@But they all cried out together, "Away with this man, and release to €us Barab'bas" --a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in €the city, and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus; but they shouted out, "Crucify, crucify him!" A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found €in him no crime deserving death; I will therefore chastise him and €release him." But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be €crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection €and murder, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their €will. @And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyre'ne, who was €coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it €behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women €who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep €for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, `Blessed are the €barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never gave €suck!' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, `Fall on us'; and to the €hills, `Cover us.' For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is €dry?" @Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death €with him. And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they €crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." €And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, €saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of €God, his Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." @One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you €not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are €under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; €but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in €Paradise." @It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the €whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in €two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into thy hands I €commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and €said, "Certainly this man was innocent!" And all the multitudes who assembled to see the sight, when they saw €what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from €Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things. @Now there was a man named Joseph from the Jewish town of Arimathe'a. €He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their purpose and deed, and he was looking for €the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud, and laid him in €a rock-hewn tomb, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and saw the €tomb, and how his body was laid; then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. €@On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.  @But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the €tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in €dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the €men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and €be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all €the rest. Now it was Mary Mag'dalene and Jo-an'na and Mary the mother of James €and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe €them. ˜@That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma'us, €about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew €near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding €with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cle'opas, answered him, "Are you the only €visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened €there in these days?" And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning €Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God €and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned €to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides €all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb €early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even €seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as €the women had said; but him they did not see." And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all €that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and €enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them €in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. @So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He €appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward €evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and €broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out €of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶°’ļ‚Ģõėå’ؘ˜ ‚talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found €the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to €them in the breaking of the bread. @As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a €spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings €rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for €a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." ˜©And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to €them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. @Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while €I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of €Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer €and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his €name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the €city, until you are clothed with power from on high." @Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he €blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into €heaven. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God. ąļ‚Źļčī’”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word €was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made €that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. @There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might €believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. @The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world €knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to €become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the €will of man, but of God. @And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and €truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the €Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, `He €who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'") And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus €Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the €Father, he has made him known. @And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and €Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." €"Are you the prophet?" And he answered, "No." They said to him then, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those €who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, `Make €straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." @Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the €Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water; but among you stands one €whom you do not know, even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy €to untie." This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. @The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the €Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, `After me comes a man who ranks before me, €for he was before me.' I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, €that he might be revealed to Israel." And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, €and it remained on him. I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water €said to me, `He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is €he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." @The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of €God!" The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What do you €seek?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are €you staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was €staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth €hour. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, €Simon Peter's brother. He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the €Messiah" (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, "So you are €Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter). @The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and €said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Beth-sa'ida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathan'a-el, and said to him, "We have found him of whom €Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the €son of Joseph." Nathan'a-el said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" €Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathan'a-el coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an €Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathan'a-el said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, €"Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathan'a-el answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the €King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig €tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven €opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of €man."  @On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the €mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no €wine." And Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour €has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of €purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up €to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the €feast." So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did €not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the €water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men €have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine €until now." This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and €manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him. @After this he went down to Caper'na-um, with his mother and his €brothers and his disciples; and there they stayed for a few days. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶±’ļ‚Źļčī’¢˜@The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and €pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, €out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers €and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; you €shall not make my Father's house a house of trade." His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for thy house will €consume me." The Jews then said to him, "What sign have you to show us for doing €this?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will €raise it up." The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, €and will you raise it up in three days?" But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered €that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word €which Jesus had spoken. @Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in €his name when they saw the signs which he did; but Jesus did not trust himself to them, because he knew all men and needed no one to bear witness of man; for €he himself knew what was in man.  @Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicode'mus, a ruler of €the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that €you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you €do, unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born €anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicode'mus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he €enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of €water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the €Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born anew.' The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do €not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one €who is born of the Spirit." Nicode'mus said to him, "How can this be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not €understand this? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness €to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you €believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the €Son of man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son €of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." @For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever €believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that €the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is €condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only €Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and €men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the €light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly €seen that his deeds have been wrought in God. @After this Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there €he remained with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Ae'non near Salim, because there was much €water there; and people came and were baptized. For John had not yet been put in prison. @Now a discussion arose between John's disciples and a Jew over €purifying. And they came to John, and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you €beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, here he is, baptizing, and €all are going to him." John answered, "No one can receive anything except what is given him €from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I €have been sent before him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, €who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice; €therefore this joy of mine is now full. He must increase, but I must decrease." @He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth belongs €to the earth, and of the earth he speaks; he who comes from heaven is €above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his €testimony; he who receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for it is not by €measure that he gives the Spirit; the Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the €Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.  @Now when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was €making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again to Galilee. He had to pass through Samar'ia. So he came to a city of Samar'ia, called Sy'char, near the field that €Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his €journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. @There came a woman of Samar'ia to draw water. Jesus said to her, €"Give me a drink." For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a €drink of me, a woman of Samar'ia?" For Jews have no dealings with €Samaritans. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is €saying to you, `Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he €would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the €well is deep; where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank €from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" Jesus said to her, "Every one who drinks of this water will thirst €again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never €thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of €water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, €nor come here to draw." @Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You €are right in saying, `I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your €husband; this you said truly." The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that in Jerusalem €is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither €on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for €salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will €worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to €worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and €truth." The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called €Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a €woman, but none said, "What do you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with €her?" So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city, and said €to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the €Christ?" žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶±’ļ‚Źļčī’¤˜žThey went out of the city and were coming to him. @Meanwhile the disciples besought him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Has any one brought him food?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and €to accomplish his work. Do you not say, `There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? I €tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white €for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so €that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, `One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have €labored, and you have entered into their labor." @Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's €testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; €and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we €believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is €indeed the Savior of the world." @After the two days he departed to Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own €country. So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all €that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they too had gone to €the feast. @So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water €wine. And at Caper'na-um there was an official whose son was ill. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and €begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of €death. Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will €not believe." The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word €that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son €was living. So he asked them the hour when he began to mend, and they said to him, €"Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son €will live"; and he himself believed, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea €to Galilee.  @After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to €Jerusalem. @Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called €Beth-za'tha, which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed. •One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, €he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool €when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down €before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. €@Now that day was the sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, it is €not lawful for you to carry your pallet." But he answered them, "The man who healed me said to me, `Take up your €pallet, and walk.'" They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, `Take up your pallet, €and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had €withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you €are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed €him. And this was why the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did this on the €sabbath. But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working still, and I am working." This was why the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not €only broke the sabbath but also called God his Father, making himself €equal with God. @Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do €nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for €whatever he does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all that he himself is €doing; and greater works than these will he show him, that you may €marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son €gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does €not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who €sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has €passed from death to life. @"Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the €dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will €live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also €to have life in himself, and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son €of man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the €tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, €and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. @"I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my €judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him €who sent me. If I bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true; there is another who bears witness to me, and I know that the testimony €which he bears to me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony which I receive is from man; but I say this that €you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for €a while in his light. But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the €works which the Father has granted me to accomplish, these very works €which I am doing, bear me witness that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. His voice €you have never heard, his form you have never seen; and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe him €whom he has sent. You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have €eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men. But I know that you have not the love of God within you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me; if another €comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive glory from one another and do not seek €the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; it is Moses who €accuses you, on whom you set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"  @After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which €is the Sea of Tiber'i-as. And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did €on those who were diseased. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to €him, Jesus said to Philip, "How are we to buy bread, so that these €people may eat?" This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread €for each of them to get a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what €are they among so many?" Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶±’ļ‚Źļčī’¦˜Š‚place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he €distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as €they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up €the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost." So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from €the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, "This is €indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!" @Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to €make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Caper'na-um. It was now €dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking €on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, but he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat €was at the land to which they were going. @On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea €saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not €entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone €away alone. However, boats from Tiber'i-as came near the place where they ate the €bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, €they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'na-um, seeking €Jesus. @When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, €"Rabbi, when did you come here?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not €because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which €endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on €him has God the Father set his seal." Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him €whom he has sent." So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and €believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, `He gave €them bread from heaven to eat.'" Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses €who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread €from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives €life to the world." They said to him, "Lord, give us this bread always." @Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall €not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I €will not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will €of him who sent me; and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of €all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and €believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at €the last day." @The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, "I am the bread which €came down from heaven." They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and €mother we know? How does he now say, `I have come down from heaven'?" Jesus answered them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I €will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, `And they shall all be taught by God.' €Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has €seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of €it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of €this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for €the life of the world is my flesh." @The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man €give us his flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the €flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will €raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he €who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers €ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever." This he said in the synagogue, as he taught at Caper'na-um. @Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, "This is a hard €saying; who can listen to it?" But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said €to them, "Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of man ascending where he was €before? It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words €that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you that do not believe." For Jesus knew from the €first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would €betray him. And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless €it is granted him by the Father." @After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about €with him. Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the €words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One €of God." Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you €is a devil?" He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, €was to betray him.  @After this Jesus went about in Galilee; he would not go about in €Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the Jews' feast of Tabernacles was at hand. So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your €disciples may see the works you are doing. For no man works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do €these things, show yourself to the world." For even his brothers did not believe in him. Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always €here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify of it that €its works are evil. Go to the feast yourselves; I am not going up to this feast, for my €time has not yet fully come." So saying, he remained in Galilee. @But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went €up, not publicly but in private. The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, "Where is he?" And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some €said, "He is a good man," others said, "No, he is leading the people €astray." Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him. @About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and €taught. The Jews marveled at it, saying, "How is it that this man has learning, €when he has never studied?" So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me; if any man's will is to do his will, he shall know whether the teaching €is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but he who €seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no €falsehood. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶±’ļ‚Źļčī’§˜“Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do €you seek to kill me?" The people answered, "You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?" Jesus answered them, "I did one deed, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the €fathers), and you circumcise a man upon the sabbath. If on the sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses €may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the sabbath I made €a man's whole body well? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." @Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, "Is not this the man €whom they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be €that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? Yet we know where this man comes from; and when the Christ appears, no €one will know where he comes from." So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, "You know me, and you €know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord; he who €sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me." So they sought to arrest him; but no one laid hands on him, because his €hour had not yet come. Yet many of the people believed in him; they said, "When the Christ €appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?" @The Pharisees heard the crowd thus muttering about him, and the chief €priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. Jesus then said, "I shall be with you a little longer, and then I go to €him who sent me; you will seek me and you will not find me; where I am you cannot come." The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we €shall not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the €Greeks and teach the Greeks? What does he mean by saying, `You will seek me and you will not find €me,' and, `Where I am you cannot come'?" @On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and €proclaimed, "If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, `Out of his heart €shall flow rivers of living water.'" Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were €to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was €not yet glorified. @When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This is really €the prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to €come from Galilee? Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and €comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. @The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who €said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!" The Pharisees answered them, "Are you led astray, you also? Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed." Nicode'mus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said €to them, "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and €learning what he does?" They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that €no prophet is to rise from Galilee." @They went each to his own house,  but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple; all the people came €to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in €adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of €adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about €her?" This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring €against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let €him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And once more he bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the €eldest, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus looked up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one €condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; €go, and do not sin again." Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who €follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." The Pharisees then said to him, "You are bearing witness to yourself; €your testimony is not true." Jesus answered, "Even if I do bear witness to myself, my testimony is €true, for I know whence I have come and whither I am going, but you do €not know whence I come or whither I am going. You judge according to the flesh, I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone that €judge, but I and he who sent me. In your law it is written that the testimony of two men is true; I bear witness to myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness to €me." They said to him therefore, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, €"You know neither me nor my Father; if you knew me, you would know my €Father also." These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but €no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. @Again he said to them, "I go away, and you will seek me and die in €your sin; where I am going, you cannot come." Then said the Jews, "Will he kill himself, since he says, `Where I am €going, you cannot come'?" He said to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this €world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your €sins unless you believe that I am he." They said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Even what I have €told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge; but he who sent me is €true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him." They did not understand that he spoke to them of the Father. So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will €know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak €thus as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always €do what is pleasing to him." As he spoke thus, many believed in him. @Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue €in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham, and have never been €in bondage to any one. How is it that you say, `You will be made free'?" @Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who €commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues €for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me, €because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have €heard from your father." @They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If €you were Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I €heard from God; this is not what Abraham did. You do what your father did." They said to him, "We were not born of €fornication; we have one Father, even God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I €proceeded and came forth from God; I came not of my own accord, but he €sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to €hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's €desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶±’ļ‚Źļčī’؈˜¬ƒwith the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he €speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of €lies. But, because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not €believe me? He who is of God hears the words of God; the reason why you do not hear €them is that you are not of God." @The Jews answered him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a €Samaritan and have a demon?" Jesus answered, "I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and you €dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it and he will €be the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if any one keeps my word, he will never see €death." The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, €as did the prophets; and you say, `If any one keeps my word, he will €never taste death.' Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets €died! Who do you claim to be?" Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my €Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is your God. But you have not known him; I know him. If I said, I do not know him, I €should be a liar like you; but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and €was glad." The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have €you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I €am." So they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went €out of the temple.  @As he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his €parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but €that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night €comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and €anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Silo'am" (which means Sent). So €he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is €not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, €"I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and €said to me, `Go to Silo'am and wash'; so I went and washed and received €my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know." @They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he €said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not €keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do €such signs?" There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since €he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." @The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his €sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his €sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then €does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was €born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. €Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had €already agreed that if any one should confess him to be Christ, he was €to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him." @So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and €said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, €that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. €Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his €disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are €disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not €know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he €comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if any one is a €worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that any one opened the €eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach €us?" And they cast him out. @Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, €"Do you believe in the Son of man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you." He said, "Lord, I believe"; and he worshiped him. Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not €see may see, and that those who see may become blind." Some of the Pharisees near him heard this, and they said to him, "Are €we also blind?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but €now that you say, `We see,' your guilt remains.  @"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by €the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his €own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep €follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they €do not know the voice of strangers." This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he €was saying to them. @So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the €door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not €heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go €in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they €may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the €sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, €sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf €snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life €for the sheep. And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them €also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one €shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I €may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have €power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I €have received from my Father." @There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, "He has a demon, and he is mad; why listen to him?" Others said, "These are not the sayings of one who has a demon. Can a €demon open the eyes of the blind?" @It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of €Solomon. So the Jews gathered round him and said to him, "How long will you keep žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶±’ļ‚Źļčī’؊˜˜‚us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works €that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one €shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is €able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." @The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; €for which of these do you stone me?" The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we stone you but €for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God." Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, `I said, you are €gods'? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came (and scripture €cannot be broken), do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, €`You are blaspheming,' because I said, `I am the Son of God'? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, €that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in €the Father." Again they tried to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. @He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John at first €baptized, and there he remained. And many came to him; and they said, "John did no sign, but everything €that John said about this man was true." And many believed in him there.  @Now a certain man was ill, Laz'arus of Bethany, the village of Mary €and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with €her hair, whose brother Laz'arus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness is not unto death; it is €for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means €of it." @Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Laz'arus. So when he heard that he was ill, he stayed two days longer in the €place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go into Judea again." The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to €stone you, and are you going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one €walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of €this world. But if any one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is €not in him." Thus he spoke, and then he said to them, "Our friend Laz'arus has €fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep." The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will €recover." Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant €taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Laz'arus is dead; and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may €believe. But let us go to him." Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, €that we may die with him." @Now when Jesus came, he found that Laz'arus had already been in the €tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them €concerning their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while €Mary sat in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not €have died. And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection €at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes €in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe €this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son €of God, he who is coming into the world." @When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying €quietly, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still in the place €where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary €rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was €going to the tomb to weep there. Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell at his feet, €saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have €died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also €weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled; and he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come €and see." Jesus wept. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind €man have kept this man from dying?" @Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb; it was a cave, and €a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, €said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been €dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you would believe you €would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, €"Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. I knew that thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of €the people standing by, that they may believe that thou didst send me." When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Laz'arus, come out." The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his €face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him €go." @Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what €he did, believed in him; but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had €done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council, and said, €"What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on thus, every one will believe in him, and the Romans €will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation." But one of them, Ca'iaphas, who was high priest that year, said to €them, "You know nothing at all; you do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should €die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish." He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year €he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God €who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they took counsel how to put him to death. @Jesus therefore no longer went about openly among the Jews, but went €from there to the country near the wilderness, to a town called €E'phraim; and there he stayed with the disciples. @Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the €country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in €the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?" Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if any €one knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might €arrest him.  @Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Laz'arus €was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Laz'arus was one of €those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet €of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled €with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), €said, "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to €the poor?" žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶±’ļ‚Źļčī’،–This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a €thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me." @When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they €came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Laz'arus, whom he €had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Laz'arus also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and €believing in Jesus. @The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus €was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, €"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the €King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it; as it is written, @@"Fear not, daughter of Zion; €@@behold, your king is coming, €@@sitting on an ass's colt!" His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was €glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and €had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Laz'arus out of the €tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had €done this sign. The Pharisees then said to one another, "You see that you can do €nothing; look, the world has gone after him." @Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Beth-sa'ida in Galilee, and said €to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew went with Philip and they told €Jesus. And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of man to be €glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the €earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world €will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my €servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him. @"Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? `Father, save me from €this hour'? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify thy name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have €glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd standing by heard it and said that it had thundered. Others €said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be €cast out; and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show by what death he was to die. The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ €remains for ever. How can you say that the Son of man must be lifted €up? Who is this Son of man?" Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk €while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks €in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become €sons of light." €@When Jesus had said this, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, yet they did not believe €in him; it was that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: €@@"Lord, who has believed our report, €@@and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" Therefore they could not believe. For Isaiah again said, @@"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, €@@lest they should see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, €@@and turn for me to heal them." Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear €of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out €of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. @And Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in me, believes not in €me but in him who sent me. And he who sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may €not remain in darkness. If any one hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; €for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings has a judge; the word €that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has €himself given me commandment what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, €I say as the Father has bidden me."  @Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour €had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his €own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of €Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and €that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a €towel. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' €feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, "Lord, do you wash my €feet?" Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward €you will understand." Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, €"If I do not wash you, you have no part in me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and €my head!" Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for €his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every €one of you." For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "You are not €all clean." @When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and resumed €his place, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought €to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done €to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; €nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of you all; I know whom I have chosen; it is that the €scripture may be fulfilled, `He who ate my bread has lifted his heel €against me.' I tell you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take €place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any one whom I send €receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me." @When Jesus had thus spoken, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, €"Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was lying close to the breast €of Jesus; so Simon Peter beckoned to him and said, "Tell us who it is of whom he €speaks." So lying thus, close to the breast of Jesus, he said to him, "Lord, who €is it?" Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give this morsel when I have €dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the €son of Simon Iscariot. Then after the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What €you are going to do, do quickly." Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling €him, "Buy what we need for the feast"; or, that he should give €something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out; and it was €night. @When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of man glorified, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶±’ļ‚Źļčī’؍˜Ÿ‚and in him God is glorified; if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and €glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me; €and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, `Where I am going you €cannot come.' A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I €have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love €for one another." @Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, €"Where I am going you cannot follow me now; but you shall follow €afterward." Peter said to him, "Lord, why cannot I follow you now? I will lay down €my life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I €say to you, the cock will not crow, till you have denied me three times.  @"Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have €told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will €take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can €we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one €comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth €you know him and have seen him." @Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be €satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not €know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you €say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The €words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the €Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else €believe me for the sake of the works themselves. @"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the €works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go €to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be €glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it. @"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to €be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it €neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, €and will be in you. @"I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see €me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I €in you. He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and €he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and €manifest myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will €manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my €Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with €him. He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you €hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. @"These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my €name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all €that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives €do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be €afraid. You heard me say to you, `I go away, and I will come to you.' If you €loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the €Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does €take place, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is €coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know €that I love the Father. Rise, let us go hence.  @"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every €branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, €unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, €he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and €withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, €and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove €to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have €kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that €your joy may be full. @"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved €you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his €friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what €his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have €heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you €should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that €whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. This I command you, to love one another. @"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated €you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you €are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the €world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, `A servant is not greater than €his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they €kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not €know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now €they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they €would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my €Father. It is to fulfil the word that is written in their law, `They hated me €without a cause.' But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, €even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear €witness to me; and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the €beginning.  @"I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming €when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may €remember that I told you of them. €@"I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was €with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, `Where €are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your €hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go €away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but €if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶±’ļ‚Źļčī’ؐ˜ˆ‚righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see €me no more; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. @"I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; €for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he €will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take €what is mine and declare it to you. @"A little while, and you will see me no more; again a little while, €and you will see me." Some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says €to us, `A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little €while, and you will see me'; and, `because I go to the Father'?" They said, "What does he mean by `a little while'? We do not know what €he means." Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him; so he said to them, "Is this €what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, `A little €while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will €see me'? Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world €will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; €but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the €anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will €rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if €you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, €that your joy may be full. @"I have said this to you in figures; the hour is coming when I shall €no longer speak to you in figures but tell you plainly of the Father. In that day you will ask in my name; and I do not say to you that I €shall pray the Father for you; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have €believed that I came from the Father. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am €leaving the world and going to the Father." @His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly, not in any €figure! Now we know that you know all things, and need none to question you; by €this we believe that you came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, €every man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet I am not alone, for €the Father is with me. I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world €you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  @When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven €and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may €glorify thee, since thou hast given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to €all whom thou hast given him. And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and €Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou €gavest me to do; and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory €which I had with thee before the world was made. @"I have manifested thy name to the men whom thou gavest me out of the €world; thine they were, and thou gavest them to me, and they have kept €thy word. Now they know that everything that thou hast given me is from thee; for I have given them the words which thou gavest me, and they have €received them and know in truth that I came from thee; and they have €believed that thou didst send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those €whom thou hast given me, for they are thine; all mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am €coming to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast €given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in thy name, which thou hast given €me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of €perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to thee; and these things I speak in the world, €that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they €are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that €thou shouldst keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth. As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the €world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be €consecrated in truth. @"I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me €through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in €thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that €thou hast sent me. The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may €be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that €the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as €thou hast loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom thou hast given me, may be with €me where I am, to behold my glory which thou hast given me in thy love €for me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world has not known thee, but I have known €thee; and these know that thou hast sent me. I made known to them thy name, and I will make it known, that the love €with which thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."  @When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples €across the Kidron valley, where there was a garden, which he and his €disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met €there with his disciples. So Judas, procuring a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief €priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and €weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to befall him, came forward and said €to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." €Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When he said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of €Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he; so, if you seek me, let these €men go." This was to fulfil the word which he had spoken, "Of those whom thou €gavest me I lost not one." Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's €slave and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink €the cup which the Father has given me?" @So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the €Jews seized Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas; for he was the father-in-law of Ca'iaphas, €who was high priest that year. It was Ca'iaphas who had given counsel to the Jews that it was €expedient that one man should die for the people. @Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. As this €disciple was known to the high priest, he entered the court of the high €priest along with Jesus, while Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was €known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the maid who kept the €door, and brought Peter in. The maid who kept the door said to Peter, "Are not you also one of this €man's disciples?" He said, "I am not." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶±’ļ‚Źļčī’ؒ˜’Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was €cold, and they were standing and warming themselves; Peter also was €with them, standing and warming himself. @The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his €teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always €taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together; I €have said nothing secretly. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me, what I said to them; €they know what I said." When he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus €with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the €wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" Annas then sent him bound to Ca'iaphas the high priest. @Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, €"Are not you also one of his disciples?" He denied it and said, "I am €not." One of the servants of the high priest, a kinsman of the man whose ear €Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Peter again denied it; and at once the cock crowed. Then they led Jesus from the house of Ca'iaphas to the praetorium. It €was early. They themselves did not enter the praetorium, so that they €might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring €against this man?" They answered him, "If this man were not an evildoer, we would not have €handed him over." Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own €law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to €death." This was to fulfil the word which Jesus had spoken to show by what €death he was to die. @Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to €him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say €it to you about me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests €have handed you over to me; what have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were €of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over €to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that €I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the €world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth €hears my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" €@After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again, and told them, €"I find no crime in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the €Passover; will you have me release for you the King of the Jews?" They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barab'bas!" Now Barab'bas was €a robber.  @Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and €arrayed him in a purple robe; they came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him €with their hands. Pilate went out again, and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to €you, that you may know that I find no crime in him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. €Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!" When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, €"Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves €and crucify him, for I find no crime in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, €because he has made himself the Son of God." When Pilate heard these words, he was the more afraid; he entered the praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are you €from?" But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not €know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been €given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the €greater sin." @Upon this Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If €you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend; every one who makes €himself a king sets himself against Caesar." When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the €judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, and in Hebrew, Gab'batha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about the €sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate €said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, €"We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. @So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the €place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Gol'gotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, €and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, "Jesus of €Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was €crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, €and in Greek. The chief priests of the Jews then said to Pilate, "Do not write, `The €King of the Jews,' but, `This man said, I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written." @When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and made €four parts, one for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was €without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for €it to see whose it shall be." This was to fulfil the €scripture, €@@"They parted my garments among them, €@@and for my clothing they cast lots." @So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his €mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary €Mag'dalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing €near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour €the disciple took her to his own home. @After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil €the scripture), "I thirst." A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the €vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished"; and he €bowed his head and gave up his spirit. @Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies €from remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high €day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that €they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other €who had been crucified with him; but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did €not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once €there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness -- his testimony is true, and he knows €that he tells the truth -- that you also may believe. For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, "Not €a bone of him shall be broken." And again another scripture says, "They shall look on him whom they €have pierced." @After this Joseph of Arimathe'a, who was a disciple of Jesus, but €secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away €the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away €his body. Nicode'mus also, who had at first come to him by night, came bringing a €mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds' weight. They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the €spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the €garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at €hand, they laid Jesus there. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶±’ļ‚Źļčī’ؔ@Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag'dalene came to the tomb €early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken €away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one €whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of €the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the €tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb €first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he €did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw €the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen €cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and €he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the €dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes. @But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped €to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had €lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, €"Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they €have laid him." Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not €know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" €Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have €carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him €away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, €"Rab-bo'ni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the €Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my €Father and your Father, to my God and your God." Mary Mag'dalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; €and she told them that he had said these things to her. @On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors €being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came €and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the €disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent €me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, €"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the €sins of any, they are retained." @Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them €when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said €to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place €my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I €will not believe." @Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas €was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among €them, and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and €put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but €believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed €are those who have not seen and yet believe." @Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, €which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, €the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.  @After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea €of Tibe'ri-as; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan'a-el of Cana in Galilee, €the sons of Zeb'edee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We €will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night €they caught nothing. @Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples €did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, €"No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you €will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it €in, for the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When €Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he €was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of €fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards €off. @When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish €lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large €fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so €many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the €disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples €after he was raised from the dead. @When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, €son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, €Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He €said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, €"Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" €Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love €me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I €love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself €and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out €your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not €wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after €this he said to him, "Follow me." @Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, €who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who €is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what €is that to you? Follow me!" The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not €to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If €it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" @This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who €has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. @But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one €of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not €contain the books that would be written. ąļ‚Įćōó’”In the first book, O The-oph'ilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus €began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment €through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, €appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from €Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, €"you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be €baptized with the Holy Spirit." @So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at €this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćōó’”—He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the €Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and €you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sama'ria €and to the end of the earth." And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, €and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men €stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This €Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way €as you saw him go into heaven." @Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which €is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away; and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they €were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, €Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot €and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with €the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. @In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of €persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said, "Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit €spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide €to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this €ministry. (Now this man bought a field with the reward of his wickedness; and €falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed €out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the €field was called in their language Akel'dama, that is, Field of Blood.) For it is written in the book of Psalms, €@@`Let his habitation become desolate, €@@and let there be no one to live in it'; €and €@@`His office let another take.' So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the €Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up €from us -- one of these men must become with us a witness to his €resurrection." And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsab'bas, who was surnamed €Justus, and Matthi'as. And they prayed and said, "Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, €show which one of these two thou hast chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas €turned aside, to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthi'as; and he was €enrolled with the eleven apostles.  @When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one €place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, €and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting €on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in €other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. @Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every €nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were €bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, "Are not all these who are €speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Par'thians and Medes and E'lamites and residents of Mesopota'mia, Judea €and Cappado'cia, Pontus and Asia, Phryg'ia and Pamphyl'ia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to €Cyre'ne, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the €mighty works of God." And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does €this mean?" But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." @But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and €addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this €be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third €hour of the day; but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: @@`And in the last days it shall be, God declares, €@@that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, €@@and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, €@@and your young men shall see visions, €@@and your old men shall dream dreams; @@yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days €@@I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. @@And I will show wonders in the heaven above €@@and signs on the earth beneath, €@@blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; @@the sun shall be turned into darkness €@@and the moon into blood, €@@before the day of the Lord comes, €@@the great and manifest day. @@And it shall be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall €@@@@be saved.' @"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested €to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did €through him in your midst, as you yourselves know --this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and €foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless €men. But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was €not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, €@@`I saw the Lord always before me, €@@for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; @@therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; €@@moreover my flesh will dwell in hope. @@For thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades, €@@nor let thy Holy One see corruption. @@Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; €@@thou wilt make me full of gladness with thy presence.' @"Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that €he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath €to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not €abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received €from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this €which you see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens; but he himself says, €@@`The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, @@till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet.' Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made €him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." @Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to €Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in €the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you €shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far €off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him." And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, "Save €yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that €day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, €to the breaking of bread and the prayers. @And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done €through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, €as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in €their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added €to their number day by day those who were being saved.  @Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, €the ninth hour. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćōó’£’And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at €that gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask alms of those €who entered the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, with John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention upon them, expecting to receive something €from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; €in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately €his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and walked and entered the temple with them, €walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of €the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had €happened to him. @While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them €in the portico called Solomon's, astounded. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, "Men of Israel, why do €you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own €power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, €glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the €presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to €be granted to you, and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this €we are witnesses. And his name, by faith in his name, has made this man strong whom you €see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man €this perfect health in the presence of you all. @"And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also €your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ €should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, €that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God €spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. Moses said, `The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your €brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he €tells you. And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet €shall be destroyed from the people.' And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came €afterwards, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to €your fathers, saying to Abraham, `And in your posterity shall all the €families of the earth be blessed.' God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you €in turning every one of you from your wickedness."  @And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain €of the temple and the Sad'ducees came upon them, annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus €the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the morrow, for it €was already evening. But many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the €men came to about five thousand. @On the morrow their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered €together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Ca'iaphas and John and Alexander, and €all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power €or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the €people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a €cripple, by what means this man has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the €name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised €from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well. This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has €become the head of the corner. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under €heaven given among men by which we must be saved." @Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that €they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized €that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had €nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they €conferred with one another, saying, "What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has €been performed through them is manifest to all the inhabitants of €Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us €warn them to speak no more to any one in this name." So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in €the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of €God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no €way to punish them, because of the people; for all men praised God for €what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than €forty years old. @When they were released they went to their friends and reported what €the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and €said, "Sovereign Lord, who didst make the heaven and the earth and the €sea and everything in them, who by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, didst say by the €Holy Spirit, €@@`Why did the Gentiles rage, €@@and the peoples imagine vain things? @@The kings of the earth set themselves in array, €@@and the rulers were gathered together, €@@against the Lord and against his Anointed' --for truly in this city there were gathered together against thy holy €servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, €with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever thy hand and thy plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to €speak thy word with all boldness, while thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders are €performed through the name of thy holy servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered €together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and €spoke the word of God with boldness. @Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and €no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but €they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the €resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors €of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each as €any had need. Thus Joseph who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means, Son €of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field which belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it €at the apostles' feet.  @But a man named Anani'as with his wife Sapphi'ra sold a piece of €property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and €brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Anani'as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to €the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was €sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived €this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćōó’„•When Anani'as heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear €came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried €him. @After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing €what had happened. And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." €And she said, "Yes, for so much." But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to €tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Hark, the feet of those that have buried €your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came €in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside €her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of €these things. @Now many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of €the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high €honor. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of €men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them €on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might €fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the €sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. @But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the €party of the Sad'ducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought €them out and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of €this Life." And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and €taught. €@Now the high priest came and those who were with him and called €together the council and all the senate of Israel, and sent to the €prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, and €they returned and reported, "We found the prison securely locked and the sentries standing at the €doors, but when we opened it we found no one inside." Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these €words, they were much perplexed about them, wondering what this would €come to. And some one came and told them, "The men whom you put in prison are €standing in the temple and teaching the people." Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but without €violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. @And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And €the high priest questioned them, saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here €you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring €this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a €tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give €repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom €God has given to those who obey him." @When they heard this they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gama'li-el, a teacher of the law, €held in honor by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put €outside for a while. And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you do with these €men. For before these days Theu'das arose, giving himself out to be €somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he €was slain and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew €away some of the people after him; he also perished, and all who €followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let €them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will €fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might €even be found opposing God!" @So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, €they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and €let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were €counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease teaching and €preaching Jesus as the Christ.  @Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the €Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were €neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "It is not €right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, €full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, €a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Proch'orus, €and Nica'nor, and Ti'mon, and Par'menas, and Nicola'us, a proselyte of €Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their €hands upon them. @And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples €multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were €obedient to the faith. @And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs €among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it €was called), and of the Cyre'nians, and of the Alexandrians, and of €those from Cili'cia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he €spoke. Then they secretly instigated men, who said, "We have heard him speak €blasphemous words against Moses and God." And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they €came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and set up false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak €words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this €place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us." And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was €like the face of an angel.  @And the high priest said, "Is this so?" And Stephen said: "Brethren and fathers, hear me. The God of glory €appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopota'mia, before he €lived in Haran, and said to him, `Depart from your land and from your kindred and go €into the land which I will show you.' Then he departed from the land of the Chalde'ans, and lived in Haran. €And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in €which you are now living; yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but €promised to give it to him in possession and to his posterity after €him, though he had no child. And God spoke to this effect, that his posterity would be aliens in a €land belonging to others, who would enslave them and ill-treat them €four hundred years. `But I will judge the nation which they serve,' said God, `and after €that they shall come out and worship me in this place.' And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the €father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac €became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. @"And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God €was with him, and rescued him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and €wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt €and over all his household. Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great €affliction, and our fathers could find no food. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćō󒧘ŒBut when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent forth our €fathers the first time. And at the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and €Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh. And Joseph sent and called to him Jacob his father and all his kindred, €seventy-five souls; and Jacob went down into Egypt. And he died, himself and our fathers, and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham €had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. @"But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to €Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt till there arose over Egypt another king who had not known Joseph. He dealt craftily with our race and forced our fathers to expose their €infants, that they might not be kept alive. At this time Moses was born, and was beautiful before God. And he was €brought up for three months in his father's house; and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him €up as her own son. And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was €mighty in his words and deeds. @"When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his €brethren, the sons of Israel. And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and €avenged him by striking the Egyptian. He supposed that his brethren understood that God was giving them €deliverance by his hand, but they did not understand. And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling €and would have reconciled them, saying, `Men, you are brethren, why do €you wrong each other?' But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, €`Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' At this retort Moses fled, and became an exile in the land of Mid'ian, €where he became the father of two sons. @"Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the €wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it he wondered at the sight; and as he drew near to €look, the voice of the Lord came, `I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of €Jacob.' And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. And the Lord said to him, `Take off the shoes from your feet, for the €place where you are standing is holy ground. I have surely seen the ill-treatment of my people that are in Egypt and €heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now €come, I will send you to Egypt.' @"This Moses whom they refused, saying, `Who made you a ruler and a €judge?' God sent as both ruler and deliverer by the hand of the angel €that appeared to him in the bush. He led them out, having performed wonders and signs in Egypt and at the €Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, `God will raise up for €you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up.' This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel €who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received €living oracles to give to us. Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their €hearts they turned to Egypt, saying to Aaron, `Make for us gods to go before us; as for this Moses €who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become €of him.' And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol €and rejoiced in the works of their hands. But God turned and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as €it is written in the book of the prophets: €@@`Did you offer to me slain beasts and sacrifices, €@@forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? @@And you took up the tent of Moloch, €@@and the star of the god Rephan, €@@the figures which you made to worship; €@@and I will remove you beyond Babylon.' @"Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, even as he €who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern €that he had seen. Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed €the nations which God thrust out before our fathers. So it was until €the days of David, who found favor in the sight of God and asked leave to find a €habitation for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as the €prophet says, @@`Heaven is my throne, €@@and earth my footstool. €@@What house will you build for me, says the Lord, €@@or what is the place of my rest? @@Did not my hand make all these things?' @"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always €resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed €those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom €you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it." @Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground €their teeth against him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of €God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man €standing at the right hand of God." But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed €together upon him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses €laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my €spirit." And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this €sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.  @And Saul was consenting to his death. €@And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in €Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea €and Sama'ria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he €dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. @Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to a city of Sama'ria, and proclaimed to them the €Christ. And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by €Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did. For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a €loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city. @But there was a man named Simon who had previously practiced magic in €the city and amazed the nation of Sama'ria, saying that he himself was €somebody great. They all gave heed to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, €"This man is that power of God which is called Great." And they gave heed to him, because for a long time he had amazed them €with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the €kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both €men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with €Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. @Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Sama'ria had received €the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy €Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been €baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of €the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, "Give me also this power, that any one on whom I lay my hands €may receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "Your silver perish with you, because you €thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not €right before God. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćōó’؈˜–Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord €that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of €iniquity." And Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you €have said may come upon me." @Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they €returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the €Samaritans. @But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the €south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a €desert road. And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of €the Can'dace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, €had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet €Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot." So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and €asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless some one guides me?" And he invited €Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this: €@@"As a sheep led to the slaughter €@@or a lamb before its shearer is dumb, €@@so he opens not his mouth. @@In his humiliation justice was denied him. €@@Who can describe his generation? €@@For his life is taken up from the earth." And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, pray, does the prophet say €this, about himself or about some one else?" Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told €him the good news of Jesus. And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch €said, "See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?" ˜¦And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the €water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught €up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way €rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azo'tus, and passing on he preached the gospel €to all the towns till he came to Caesare'a.  @But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of €the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he €found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound €to Jerusalem. Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from €heaven flashed about him. And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, €why do you persecute me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you €are persecuting; but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice €but seeing no one. Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could see €nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. @Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Anani'as. The Lord said to €him in a vision, "Anani'as." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, €and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for €behold, he is praying, and he has seen a man named Anani'as come in and lay his hands on him €so that he might regain his sight." But Anani'as answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, €how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call €upon thy name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to €carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Anani'as departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him €he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road €by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be €filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he €regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized, and took food and was strengthened. €@For several days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And in the synagogues immediately he proclaimed Jesus, saying, "He is €the Son of God." And all who heard him were amazed, and said, "Is not this the man who €made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called on this name? And he has €come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief €priests." But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews €who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. @When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day €and night, to kill him; but his disciples took him by night and let him down over the wall, €lowering him in a basket. @And when he had come to Jerusalem he attempted to join the disciples; €and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a €disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to €them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at €Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed €against the Hellenists; but they were seeking to kill him. And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Caesare'a, and €sent him off to Tarsus. @So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Sama'ria had peace €and was built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the €comfort of the Holy Spirit it was multiplied. @Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to €the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aene'as, who had been bedridden for eight €years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aene'as, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make €your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to €the Lord. @Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. €She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, €they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was €there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without €delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him €to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing €tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning €to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when €she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and €widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.  @At Caesare'a there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was €known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms liberally €to the people, and prayed constantly to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of €God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius." And he stared at him in terror, and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he €said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial €before God. And now send men to Joppa, and bring one Simon who is called Peter; he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside." When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his €servants and a devout soldier from among those that waited on him, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćōó’؊˜‰@The next day, as they were on their journey and coming near the city, €Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. And he became hungry and desired something to eat; but while they were €preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heaven opened, and something descending, like a great €sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." But Peter said, "No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is €common or unclean." And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has cleansed, €you must not call common." This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. @Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision which he €had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, €having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging €there. And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, €"Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down, and accompany them without hesitation; for I have €sent them." And Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking €for; what is the reason for your coming?" And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, €who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a €holy angel to send for you to come to his house, and to hear what you €have to say." So he called them in to be his guests. €@The next day he rose and went off with them, and some of the brethren €from Joppa accompanied him. And on the following day they entered Caesare'a. Cornelius was €expecting them and had called together his kinsmen and close friends. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and €worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am a man." And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered; and he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew €to associate with or to visit any one of another nation; but God has €shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you €sent for me." @And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I was keeping €the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me €in bright apparel, saying, `Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been €remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter; he is €lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the seaside.' So I sent to you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now €therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all that €you have been commanded by the Lord." @And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows €no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is €acceptable to him. You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace €by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from €Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; €how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the €devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews €and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest; not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, €who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is €the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him €receives forgiveness of sins through his name." @While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit fell on all who €heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who came with Peter were €amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on €the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter €declared, "Can any one forbid water for baptizing these people who have received €the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then €they asked him to remain for some days.  @Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the €Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized €him, saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?" But Peter began and explained to them in order: "I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, €something descending, like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four €corners; and it came down to me. Looking at it closely I observed animals and beasts of prey and €reptiles and birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, `Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' But I said, `No, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered €my mouth.' But the voice answered a second time from heaven, `What God has €cleansed you must not call common.' This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. At that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, €sent to me from Caesare'a. And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These €six brethren also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and €saying, `Send to Joppa and bring Simon called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and €all your household.' As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the €beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, `John baptized with €water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we €believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand €God?" When they heard this they were silenced. And they glorified God, €saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto €life." @Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose €over Stephen traveled as far as Phoeni'cia and Cyprus and Antioch, €speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyre'ne, who on coming €to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that €believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent €Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted €them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a €large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year €they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in €Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians. @Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Ag'abus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that €there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place €in the days of Claudius. And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to €send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea; and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and €Saul.  @About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who €belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword; and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter €also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćōó’،”And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to €four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to €bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God €by the church. @The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was €sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries €before the door were guarding the prison; and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the €cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up €quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." €And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your mantle around you and €follow me." And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by €the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the €iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, €and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the €angel left him. And Peter came to himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has €sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that €the Jewish people were expecting." @When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of €John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and €were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a maid named Rhoda came €to answer. Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran €in and told that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, "You are mad." But she insisted that it was so. They €said, "It is his angel!" But Peter continued knocking; and when they opened, they saw him and €were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them €how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Tell this €to James and to the brethren." Then he departed and went to another €place. @Now when day came, there was no small stir among the soldiers over €what had become of Peter. And when Herod had sought for him and could not find him, he examined €the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went €down from Judea to Caesare'a, and remained there. @Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and they came €to him in a body, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, €they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's €country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon €the throne, and made an oration to them. And the people shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of man!" Immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he did not give God €the glory; and he was eaten by worms and died. @But the word of God grew and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled €their mission, bringing with them John whose other name was Mark.  @Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, €Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyre'ne, Man'a-en a €member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, €"Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called €them." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent €them off. @So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleu'cia; €and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Sal'amis, they proclaimed the word of God in the €synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came €upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who €summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But El'ymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) €withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith. But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked €intently at him and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full €of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the €straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be €blind and unable to see the sun for a time." Immediately mist and €darkness fell upon him and he went about seeking people to lead him by €the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was €astonished at the teaching of the Lord. @Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in €Pamphyl'ia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem; but they passed on from Perga and came to Antioch of Pisid'ia. And on €the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the €synagogue sent to them, saying, "Brethren, if you have any word of €exhortation for the people, say it." So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: €@"Men of Israel, and you that fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people €great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he €led them out of it. And for about forty years he bore with them in the wilderness. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave €them their land as an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty €years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a €man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; of €whom he testified and said, `I have found in David the son of Jesse a €man after my heart, who will do all my will.' Of this man's posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as €he promised. Before his coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the €people of Israel. And as John was finishing his course, he said, `What do you suppose €that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the sandals of €whose feet I am not worthy to untie.' @"Brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you that €fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not €recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets which are €read every sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning him. Though they could charge him with nothing deserving death, yet they €asked Pilate to have him killed. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him €down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead; and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from €Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus; as also €it is written in the second psalm, €@@`Thou art my Son, €@@today I have begotten thee.' And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to €return to corruption, he spoke in this way, €@@`I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.' Therefore he says also in another psalm, €@@`Thou wilt not let thy Holy One see corruption.' For David, after he had served the counsel of God in his own €generation, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw €corruption; but he whom God raised up saw no corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brethren, that through this man €forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him every one that believes is freed from everything from which €you could not be freed by the law of Moses. Beware, therefore, lest there come upon you what is said in the €prophets: @@`Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish; €@@for I do a deed in your days, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćōó’؍˜©ƒ@@a deed you will never believe, if one declares it to you.'" @As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told €them the next sabbath. And when the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout €converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and €urged them to continue in the grace of God. @The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered together to hear the €word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, €and contradicted what was spoken by Paul, and reviled him. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that €the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from €you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to €the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, €@@`I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, €@@that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.'" @And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the €word of God; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord spread throughout all the region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading €men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, €and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and went to €Ico'nium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.  @Now at Ico'nium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue, and €so spoke that a great company believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their €minds against the brethren. So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who €bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be €done by their hands. But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, and €some with the apostles. When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, €to molest them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycao'nia, €and to the surrounding country; and there they preached the gospel. @Now at Lystra there was a man sitting, who could not use his feet; he €was a cripple from birth, who had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking; and Paul, looking intently at him and €seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he sprang up €and walked. And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their €voices, saying in Lycao'nian, "The gods have come down to us in the €likeness of men!" Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, because he was the chief speaker, €they called Hermes. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of the city, brought €oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the €people. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their €garments and rushed out among the multitude, crying, "Men, why are you doing this? We also are men, of like nature with you, €and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to €a living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that €is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own €ways; yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good and gave €you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with €food and gladness." With these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering €sacrifice to them. @But Jews came there from Antioch and Ico'nium; and having persuaded €the people, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing €that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the €city; and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many €disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Ico'nium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in €the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the €kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with €prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they €believed. @Then they passed through Pisid'ia, and came to Pamphyl'ia. And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attali'a; and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to €the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. And when they arrived, they gathered the church together and declared €all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith €to the Gentiles. And they remained no little time with the disciples.  @But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brethren, €"Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you €cannot be saved." And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with €them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up €to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both €Phoeni'cia and Sama'ria, reporting the conversion of the Gentiles, and €they gave great joy to all the brethren. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the €apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with €them. But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up, €and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to €keep the law of Moses." @The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this €matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, €"Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among you, €that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and €believe. And God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them the Holy €Spirit just as he did to us; and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their €hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the €neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able €to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord €Jesus, just as they will." @And all the assembly kept silence; and they listened to Barnabas and €Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them €among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brethren, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of €them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written, @@`After this I will return, €@@and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; €@@I will rebuild its ruins, €@@and I will set it up, @@that the rest of men may seek the Lord, €@@and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, @@says the Lord, who has made these things known from of old.' Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the €Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and €from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood. For from early generations Moses has had in every city those who preach €him, for he is read every sabbath in the synagogues." @Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole €church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with €Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsab'bas, and Silas, €leading men among the brethren, with the following letter: "The brethren, both the apostles and the €elders, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria €and Cili'cia, greeting. Since we have heard that some persons from us have troubled you with €words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and €send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćōó’؏˜šmen who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you €the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no €greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood €and from what is strangled and from unchastity. If you keep yourselves €from these, you will do well. Farewell." @So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch; and having €gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. And when they read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation. And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, exhorted the €brethren with many words and strengthened them. And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the €brethren to those who had sent them. ˜£But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the €word of the Lord, with many others also. @And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us return and €visit the brethren in every city where we proclaimed the word of the €Lord, and see how they are." And Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from €them in Pamphyl'ia, and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp contention, so that they separated from each €other; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to €the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cili'cia, strengthening the churches.  @And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named €Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father €was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Ico'nium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and circumcised €him because of the Jews that were in those places, for they all knew €that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them €for observance the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and €elders who were at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in €numbers daily. @And they went through the region of Phry'gia and Galatia, having been €forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come opposite My'sia, they attempted to go into €Bithyn'ia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; so, passing by My'sia, they went down to Tro'as. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedo'nia was €standing beseeching him and saying, "Come over to Macedo'nia and help €us." And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into €Macedo'nia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to €them. @Setting sail therefore from Tro'as, we made a direct voyage to €Sam'othrace, and the following day to Ne-ap'olis, and from there to Philip'pi, which is the leading city of the district €of Macedo'nia, and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days; and on the sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where €we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to €the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyati'ra, a €seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her €heart to give heed to what was said by Paul. And when she was baptized, with her household, she besought us, saying, €"If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and €stay." And she prevailed upon us. @As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl €who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by €soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, "These men are servants of the Most €High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and €said to the spirit, "I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come €out of her." And it came out that very hour. @But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized €Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said, "These men €are Jews and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or €practice." The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the €garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into €prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and €fastened their feet in the stocks. @But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to €God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of €the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and €every one's fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew €his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners €had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all €here." And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell €down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you €and your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his €house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, €and he was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and €he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God. But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let €those men go." And the jailer reported the words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates €have sent to let you go; now therefore come out and go in peace." But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men €who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now €cast us out secretly? No! let them come themselves and take us out." The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were €afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens; so they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked €them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison, and visited Lydia; and when they had €seen the brethren, they exhorted them and departed.  @Now when they had passed through Amphip'olis and Apollo'nia, they €came to Thessaloni'ca, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and for three weeks he argued with €them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer €and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to €you, is the Christ." And some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas; as did a €great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked fellows of the €rabble, they gathered a crowd, set the city in an uproar, and attacked €the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the people. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the €brethren before the city authorities, crying, "These men who have €turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them; and they are all acting against the €decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus." And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard €this. And when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them €go. @The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to €Beroe'a; and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćōó’ؑ˜‹Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessaloni'ca, for they €received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to €see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high €standing as well as men. But when the Jews of Thessaloni'ca learned that the word of God was €proclaimed by Paul at Beroe'a also, they came there too, stirring up €and inciting the crowds. Then the brethren immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but €Silas and Timothy remained there. Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a €command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they €departed. @Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was €provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and €in the market place every day with those who chanced to be there. Some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers met him. And some €said, "What would this babbler say?" Others said, "He seems to be a €preacher of foreign divinities" -- because he preached Jesus and the €resurrection. And they took hold of him and brought him to the Are-op'agus, saying, €"May we know what this new teaching is which you present? For you bring some strange things to our ears; we wish to know €therefore what these things mean." Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their €time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. @So Paul, standing in the middle of the Are-op'agus, said: "Men of €Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I €found also an altar with this inscription, `To an unknown god.' What €therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven €and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he €himself gives to all men life and breath and everything. And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the €earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their €habitation, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him €and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, for €@@`In him we live and move and have our being'; €as even some of your poets have said, €@@`For we are indeed his offspring.' @Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the Deity is €like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and €imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men €everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in €righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given €assurance to all men by raising him from the dead." @Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but €others said, "We will hear you again about this." So Paul went out from among them. But some men joined him and believed, among them Dionys'ius the €Are-op'agite and a woman named Dam'aris and others with them.  @After this he left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aq'uila, a native of Pontus, lately come from €Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the €Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them; and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them, and they €worked, for by trade they were tentmakers. And he argued in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and €Greeks. @When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedo'nia, Paul was occupied €with preaching, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and €said to them, "Your blood be upon your heads! I am innocent. From now €on I will go to the Gentiles." And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a €worshiper of God; his house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together €with all his household; and many of the Corinthians hearing Paul €believed and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but €speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man shall attack you to harm you; for I have €many people in this city." And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among €them. @But when Gallio was proconsul of Acha'ia, the Jews made a united €attack upon Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying, "This man is persuading men to worship God contrary to the law." But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If €it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, I should have reason €to bear with you, O Jews; but since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your €own law, see to it yourselves; I refuse to be a judge of these things." And he drove them from the tribunal. And they all seized Sos'thenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat €him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to this. @After this Paul stayed many days longer, and then took leave of the €brethren and sailed for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aq'uila. At €Cen'chre-ae he cut his hair, for he had a vow. And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself went €into the synagogue and argued with the Jews. When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined; but on taking leave of them he said, "I will return to you if God €wills," and he set sail from Ephesus. @When he had landed at Caesare'a, he went up and greeted the church, €and then went down to Antioch. After spending some time there he departed and went from place to place €through the region of Galatia and Phryg'ia, strengthening all the €disciples. @Now a Jew named Apol'los, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He €was an eloquent man, well versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in €spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, €though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and €Aq'uila heard him, they took him and expounded to him the way of God €more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Acha'ia, the brethren encouraged him, €and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he arrived, he greatly €helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully confuted the Jews in public, showing by the €scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.  @While Apol'los was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country €and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you €believed?" And they said, "No, we have never even heard that there is a €Holy Spirit." And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into €John's baptism." And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling €the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, €Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on €them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve of them in all. @And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, €arguing and pleading about the kingdom of God; but when some were stubborn and disbelieved, speaking evil of the Way €before the congregation, he withdrew from them, taking the disciples €with him, and argued daily in the hall of Tyran'nus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard €the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. @And God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the €sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćōó’ؓ˜Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to pronounce the €name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I €adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but €who are you?" And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, mastered all of €them, and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked €and wounded. And this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and €Greeks; and fear fell upon them all; and the name of the Lord Jesus was €extolled. Many also of those who were now believers came, confessing and €divulging their practices. And a number of those who practiced magic arts brought their books €together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the €value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew and prevailed mightily. @Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through €Macedo'nia and Acha'ia and go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been €there, I must also see Rome." And having sent into Macedo'nia two of his helpers, Timothy and €Eras'tus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. @About that time there arose no little stir concerning the Way. For a man named Deme'trius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of €Ar'temis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and €said, "Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. And you see and hear that not only at Ephesus but almost throughout all €Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable company of €people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into €disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Ar'temis may €count for nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her €magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship." @When they heard this they were enraged, and cried out, "Great is €Ar'temis of the Ephesians!" So the city was filled with the confusion; and they rushed together €into the theater, dragging with them Ga'ius and Aristar'chus, €Macedo'nians who were Paul's companions in travel. Paul wished to go in among the crowd, but the disciples would not let €him; some of the A'si-archs also, who were friends of his, sent to him and €begged him not to venture into the theater. Now some cried one thing, some another; for the assembly was in €confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. €And Alexander motioned with his hand, wishing to make a defense to the €people. But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they €all with one voice cried out, "Great is Ar'temis of the Ephesians!" And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "Men of €Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the €Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Ar'temis, and of the sacred €stone that fell from the sky? Seeing then that these things cannot be contradicted, you ought to be €quiet and do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor €blasphemers of our goddess. If therefore Deme'trius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint €against any one, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls; let €them bring charges against one another. But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular €assembly. For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, there being €no cause that we can give to justify this commotion." And when he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.  @After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and having €exhorted them took leave of them and departed for Macedo'nia. When he had gone through these parts and had given them much €encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by €the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return €through Macedo'nia. Sop'ater of Beroe'a, the son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the €Thessalo'nians, Aristar'chus and Secun'dus; and Ga'ius of Derbe, and €Timothy; and the Asians, Tych'icus and Troph'imus. These went on and were waiting for us at Tro'as, but we sailed away from Philip'pi after the days of Unleavened Bread, €and in five days we came to them at Tro'as, where we stayed for seven €days. @On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break €bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and he €prolonged his speech until midnight. There were many lights in the upper chamber where we were gathered. And a young man named Eu'tychus was sitting in the window. He sank into €a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer; and being overcome by sleep, €he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and embracing him said, "Do not €be alarmed, for his life is in him." And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed €with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. And they took the lad away alive, and were not a little comforted. @But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take €Paul aboard there; for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by €land. And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mityle'ne. And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chi'os; the €next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we came to €Mile'tus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to €spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if €possible, on the day of Pentecost. @And from Mile'tus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of €the church. And when they came to him, he said to them: €@"You yourselves know how I lived among you all the time from the €first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which €befell me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was €profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith €in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the Spirit, not €knowing what shall befall me there; except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that €imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if €only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from €the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that all you among whom I have gone preaching €the kingdom will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of €all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit €has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained €with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, €not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, €to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease €night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is €able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those €who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and €to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the €weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, `It is more žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćōó’ؔ˜£ƒblessed to give than to receive.'" @And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they all wept and embraced Paul and kissed him, sorrowing most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they €should see his face no more. And they brought him to the ship.  @And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight €course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Pat'ara. And having found a ship crossing to Phoeni'cia, we went aboard, and set €sail. When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed €to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload its €cargo. And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. €Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. And when our days there were ended, we departed and went on our €journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way €till we were outside the city; and kneeling down on the beach we prayed €and bade one another farewell. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home. @When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolema'is; €and we greeted the brethren and stayed with them for one day. On the morrow we departed and came to Caesare'a; and we entered the €house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed €with him. And he had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. While we were staying for some days, a prophet named Ag'abus came down €from Judea. And coming to us he took Paul's girdle and bound his own feet and €hands, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, `So shall the Jews at €Jerusalem bind the man who owns this girdle and deliver him into the €hands of the Gentiles.'" When we heard this, we and the people there begged him not to go up to €Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? €For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die at Jerusalem €for the name of the Lord Jesus." And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, "The will of €the Lord be done." @After these days we made ready and went up to Jerusalem. And some of the disciples from Caesare'a went with us, bringing us to €the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should €lodge. @When we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. On the following day Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders €were present. After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done €among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, "You €see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who €have believed; they are all zealous for the law, and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are €among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise €their children or observe the customs. What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their €expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that €there is nothing in what they have been told about you but that you €yourself live in observance of the law. But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with €our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to €idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity." Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself with them €and went into the temple, to give notice when the days of purification €would be fulfilled and the offering presented for every one of them. @When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, who €had seen him in the temple, stirred up all the crowd, and laid hands on €him, crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching men €everywhere against the people and the law and this place; moreover he €also brought Greeks into the temple, and he has defiled this holy €place." For they had previously seen Troph'imus the Ephesian with him in the €city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. Then all the city was aroused, and the people ran together; they seized €Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. And as they were trying to kill him, word came to the tribune of the €cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. He at once took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them; and when €they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then the tribune came up and arrested him, and ordered him to be bound €with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another; and as he could not €learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought €into the barracks. And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers €because of the violence of the crowd; for the mob of the people followed, crying, "Away with him!" @As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the €tribune, "May I say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek? Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and €led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?" Paul replied, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cili'cia, a citizen of no €mean city; I beg you, let me speak to the people." And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned €with his hand to the people; and when there was a great hush, he spoke €to them in the Hebrew language, saying:  @"Brethren and fathers, hear the defense which I now make before you." @And when they heard that he addressed them in the Hebrew language, €they were the more quiet. And he said: @"I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cili'cia, but brought up in this city €at the feet of Gama'li-el, educated according to the strict manner of €the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as you all are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison €both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders bear me witness. €From them I received letters to the brethren, and I journeyed to €Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to €Jerusalem to be punished. @"As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great €light from heaven suddenly shone about me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, `Saul, Saul, €why do you persecute me?' And I answered, `Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, `I am Jesus of €Nazareth whom you are persecuting.' Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of €the one who was speaking to me. And I said, `What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, `Rise, €and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed €for you to do.' And when I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was €led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. @"And one Anani'as, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of €by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, `Brother Saul, receive your €sight.' And in that very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he said, `The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to €see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and €heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, €calling on his name.' @"When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I €fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, `Make haste and get quickly out of Jerusalem, €because they will not accept your testimony about me.' And I said, `Lord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I €imprisoned and beat those who believed in thee. And when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćōó’ؖ˜”‚by and approving, and keeping the garments of those who killed him.' And he said to me, `Depart; for I will send you far away to the €Gentiles.'" @Up to this word they listened to him; then they lifted up their €voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he ought €not to live." And as they cried out and waved their garments and threw dust into the €air, the tribune commanded him to be brought into the barracks, and ordered €him to be examined by scourging, to find out why they shouted thus €against him. But when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to the €centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man €who is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned?" When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to him, €"What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen." So the tribune came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman €citizen?" And he said, "Yes." The tribune answered, "I bought this citizenship for a large sum." Paul €said, "But I was born a citizen." So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him instantly; and €the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman €citizen and that he had bound him. @But on the morrow, desiring to know the real reason why the Jews €accused him, he unbound him, and commanded the chief priests and all €the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.  @And Paul, looking intently at the council, said, "Brethren, I have €lived before God in all good conscience up to this day." And the high priest Anani'as commanded those who stood by him to strike €him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, "God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are €you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the €law you order me to be struck?" Those who stood by said, "Would you revile God's high priest?" And Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; €for it is written, `You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your €people.'" @But when Paul perceived that one part were Sad'ducees and the other €Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a €son of Pharisees; with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the €dead I am on trial." And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and €the Sad'ducees; and the assembly was divided. For the Sad'ducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor €spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great clamor arose; and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' €party stood up and contended, "We find nothing wrong in this man. What €if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?" And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul €would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and €take him by force from among them and bring him into the barracks. @The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, €for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must bear €witness also at Rome." @When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath €neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. And they went to the chief priests and elders, and said, "We have €strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have €killed Paul. You therefore, along with the council, give notice now to the tribune €to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his €case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near." @Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush; so he went and €entered the barracks and told Paul. And Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to €the tribune; for he has something to tell him." So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, "Paul the €prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he €has something to say to you." The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, €"What is it that you have to tell me?" And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the €council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more €closely about him. But do not yield to them; for more than forty of their men lie in €ambush for him, having bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor €drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for €the promise from you." So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, "Tell no one that €you have informed me of this." @Then he called two of the centurions and said, "At the third hour of €the night get ready two hundred soldiers with seventy horsemen and two €hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesare'a. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him safely to Felix the €governor." And he wrote a letter to this effect: @"Claudius Lys'ias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greeting. This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them, €when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned €that he was a Roman citizen. And desiring to know the charge on which they accused him, I brought €him down to their council. I found that he was accused about questions of their law, but charged €with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the €man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state €before you what they have against him." @So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and €brought him by night to Antip'atris. And on the morrow they returned to the barracks, leaving the horsemen €to go on with him. When they came to Caesare'a and delivered the letter to the governor, €they presented Paul also before him. On reading the letter, he asked to what province he belonged. When he €learned that he was from Cili'cia he said, "I will hear you when your accusers arrive." And he commanded €him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium.  @And after five days the high priest Anani'as came down with some €elders and a spokesman, one Tertul'lus. They laid before the governor €their case against Paul; and when he was called, Tertul'lus began to accuse him, saying: €@"Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your provision, €most excellent Felix, reforms are introduced on behalf of this nation, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us €briefly. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all €the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the €Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. ˜ˆBy examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him about €everything of which we accuse him." @The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all this was so. And when the governor had motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: €@"Realizing that for many years you have been judge over this nation, €I cheerfully make my defense. As you may ascertain, it is not more than twelve days since I went up €to worship at Jerusalem; and they did not find me disputing with any one or stirring up a crowd, €either in the temple or in the synagogues, or in the city. Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a €sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down €by the law or written in the prophets, having a hope in God which these themselves accept, that there will be €a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward God and toward €men. Now after some years I came to bring to my nation alms and offerings. As I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any €crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia --they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, if they €have anything against me. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćōó’ؘ˜”Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I €stood before the council, except this one thing which I cried out while standing among them, €`With respect to the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you €this day.'" @But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them €off, saying, "When Lys'ias the tribune comes down, I will decide your €case." Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody €but should have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be €prevented from attending to his needs. @After some days Felix came with his wife Drusil'la, who was a Jewess; €and he sent for Paul and heard him speak upon faith in Christ Jesus. And as he argued about justice and self-control and future judgment, €Felix was alarmed and said, "Go away for the present; when I have an €opportunity I will summon you." At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he €sent for him often and conversed with him. But when two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; €and desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.  @Now when Festus had come into his province, after three days he went €up to Jerusalem from Caesare'a. And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him €against Paul; and they urged him, asking as a favor to have the man sent to Jerusalem, planning an ambush €to kill him on the way. Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesare'a, and that he €himself intended to go there shortly. "So," said he, "let the men of authority among you go down with me, and €if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him." @When he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he €went down to Caesare'a; and the next day he took his seat on the €tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. And when he had come, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem stood €about him, bringing against him many serious charges which they could €not prove. Paul said in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor €against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended at all." But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Do you wish €to go up to Jerusalem, and there be tried on these charges before me?" But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought €to be tried; to the Jews I have done no wrong, as you know very well. If then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything for which I €deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death; but if there is nothing €in their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to €Caesar." Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, "You €have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go." @Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Berni'ce arrived €at Caesare'a to welcome Festus. And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the €king, saying, "There is a man left prisoner by Felix; and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the €Jews gave information about him, asking for sentence against him. I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up any €one before the accused met the accusers face to face, and had €opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. When therefore they came together here, I made no delay, but on the €next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought €in. When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such €evils as I supposed; but they had certain points of dispute with him about their own €superstition and about one Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted €to be alive. Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he €wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of €the emperor, I commanded him to be held until I could send him to €Caesar." And Agrippa said to Festus, "I should like to hear the man myself." €"Tomorrow," said he, "you shall hear him." @So on the morrow Agrippa and Berni'ce came with great pomp, and they €entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent €men of the city. Then by command of Festus Paul was brought in. And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see €this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both at €Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. But I found that he had done nothing deserving death; and as he himself €appealed to the emperor, I decided to send him. But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I €have brought him before you, and, especially before you, King Agrippa, €that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate €the charges against him."  @Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." €Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: @"I think myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am €to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, because you are especially familiar with all customs and controversies €of the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. @"My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my €own nation and at Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that €according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a €Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial for hope in the promise made by God to €our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship €night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? @"I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing €the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem; I not only shut up many of the saints in €prison, by authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to €death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them €blaspheme; and in raging fury against them, I persecuted them even to €foreign cities. @"Thus I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of €the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than €the sun, shining round me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me €in the Hebrew language, `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It hurts €you to kick against the goads.' And I said, `Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, `I am Jesus whom €you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this €purpose, to appoint you to serve and bear witness to the things in €which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles -- to whom I send you to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from €the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins €and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' @"Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly €vision, but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and €throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that €they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their €repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand €here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the €prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from €the dead, he would proclaim light both to the people and to the €Gentiles." @And as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćōó’ؚ˜˜‚"Paul, you are mad; your great learning is turning you mad." But Paul said, "I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking €the sober truth. For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I €am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this €was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe." And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time you think to make me a €Christian!" And Paul said, "Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you €but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am -- except for €these chains." @Then the king rose, and the governor and Berni'ce and those who were €sitting with them; and when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, "This man is €doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment." And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he €had not appealed to Caesar."  @And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered €Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, €named Julius. And embarking in a ship of Adramyt'tium, which was about to sail to the €ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by €Aristar'chus, a Macedo'nian from Thessaloni'ca. The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul kindly, and €gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. And putting to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, €because the winds were against us. And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cili'cia and €Pamphyl'ia, we came to Myra in Ly'cia. There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy, and €put us on board. We sailed slowly for a number of days, and arrived with difficulty off €Cni'dus, and as the wind did not allow us to go on, we sailed under the €lee of Crete off Salmo'ne. Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair €Havens, near which was the city of Lase'a. @As much time had been lost, and the voyage was already dangerous €because the fast had already gone by, Paul advised them, saying, "Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much €loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives." But the centurion paid more attention to the captain and to the owner €of the ship than to what Paul said. And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority €advised to put to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could €reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, looking northeast and southeast, and €winter there. @And when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained €their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close €inshore. But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from €the land; and when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way €to it and were driven. And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed €with difficulty to secure the boat; after hoisting it up, they took measures to undergird the ship; then, €fearing that they should run on the Syr'tis, they lowered the gear, and €so were driven. As we were violently storm-tossed, they began next day to throw the €cargo overboard; and the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackle of the €ship. And when neither sun nor stars appeared for many a day, and no small €tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. @As they had been long without food, Paul then came forward among them €and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and should not have set €sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. I now bid you take heart; for there will be no loss of life among you, €but only of the ship. For this very night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I €belong and whom I worship, and he said, `Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and €lo, God has granted you all those who sail with you.' So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as €I have been told. But we shall have to run on some island." @When the fourteenth night had come, as we were drifting across the €sea of A'dria, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were €nearing land. So they sounded and found twenty fathoms; a little farther on they €sounded again and found fifteen fathoms. And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let out four anchors €from the stern, and prayed for day to come. And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had €lowered the boat into the sea, under pretense of laying out anchors €from the bow, Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in €the ship, you cannot be saved." Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let it go. @As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, €saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in €suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food; it will give you strength, €since not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you." And when he had said this, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in €the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. (We were in all two hundred and seventy-six persons in the ship.) And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out €the wheat into the sea. @Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they €noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to bring €the ship ashore. So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time €loosening the ropes that tied the rudders; then hoisting the foresail €to the wind they made for the beach. But striking a shoal they ran the vessel aground; the bow stuck and €remained immovable, and the stern was broken up by the surf. The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away €and escape; but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out €their purpose. He ordered those who could swim to throw themselves €overboard first and make for the land, and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all €escaped to land.  @After we had escaped, we then learned that the island was called €Malta. And the natives showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and €welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, when a €viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to €one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped €from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live." He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They waited, expecting him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead; but €when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, €they changed their minds and said that he was a god. @Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the €chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained €us hospitably for three days. It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and €dysentery; and Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on €him healed him. And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who €had diseases also came and were cured. They presented many gifts to us; and when we sailed, they put on board €whatever we needed. @After three months we set sail in a ship which had wintered in the €island, a ship of Alexandria, with the Twin Brothers as figurehead. Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhe'gium; and after one €day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Pute'oli. There we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven €days. And so we came to Rome. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶²’ļ‚Įćōó’؜˜And the brethren there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum €of Ap'pius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them Paul thanked €God and took courage. And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with €the soldier that guarded him. @After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews; €and when they had gathered, he said to them, "Brethren, though I had €done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers, yet I €was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because €there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar -- though €I had no charge to bring against my nation. For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you, €since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this €chain." And they said to him, "We have received no letters from Judea about €you, and none of the brethren coming here has reported or spoken any €evil about you. But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for with regard to €this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against." @When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his €lodging in great numbers. And he expounded the matter to them from €morning till evening, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to €convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the €prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, while others disbelieved. So, as they disagreed among themselves, they departed, after Paul had €made one statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your €fathers through Isaiah the prophet: @@`Go to this people, and say, €@@You shall indeed hear but never understand, €@@and you shall indeed see but never perceive. @@For this people's heart has grown dull, €@@and their ears are heavy of hearing, €@@and their eyes they have closed; €@@lest they should perceive with their eyes, €@@and hear with their ears, €@@and understand with their heart, €@@and turn for me to heal them.' Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to €the Gentiles; they will listen." ˜žAnd he lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all €who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ €quite openly and unhindered. ąļ‚Ņļķ’”Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for €the gospel of God which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy €scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according €to the flesh and designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness €by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the €obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ; To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: €@Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. @First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because €your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his €Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming €to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to €strengthen you, that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both €yours and mine. I want you to know, brethren, that I have often intended to come to you €(but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some €harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the €wise and to the foolish: so I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. @For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for €salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the €Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; €as it is written, "He who through faith is righteous shall live." @For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness €and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown €it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his €eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that €have been made. So they are without excuse; for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks €to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless €minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling €mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles. @Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, €to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and €served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! €Amen. @For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their €women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were €consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts €with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their €error. @And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up €to a base mind and to improper conduct. They were filled with all manner of wickedness, evil, covetousness, €malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are €gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of €evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who do such things deserve to €die, they not only do them but approve those who practice them.  @Therefore you have no excuse, O man, whoever you are, when you judge €another; for in passing judgment upon him you condemn yourself, because €you, the judge, are doing the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who do such €things. Do you suppose, O man, that when you judge those who do such things and €yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume upon the riches of his kindness and forbearance and €patience? Do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to €repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for €yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be €revealed. For he will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and €immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey €wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does €evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew €first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. @All who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, €and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but €the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, €they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while €their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts €accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men €by Christ Jesus. @But if you call yourself a Jew and rely upon the law and boast of žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶³’ļ‚Ņļķ’¢˜‘‚your relation to God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are €instructed in the law, and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those €who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law €the embodiment of knowledge and truth --you then who teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you €preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? €You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the €Gentiles because of you." @Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law; but if you break €the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will €not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the law will €condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the €law. For he is not a real Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision €something external and physical. He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of €the heart, spiritual and not literal. His praise is not from men but €from God.  @Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews are entrusted with the €oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the €faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every man be false, as it is €written, €@@"That thou mayest be justified in thy words, €@@and prevail when thou art judged." But if our wickedness serves to show the justice of God, what shall we €say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human €way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my falsehood God's truthfulness abounds to his glory, €why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come? -- as some people slanderously €charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. @What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all; for I have €already charged that all men, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power €of sin, as it is written: €@@"None is righteous, no, not one; @@no one understands, no one seeks for God. @@All have turned aside, together they have gone wrong; €@@no one does good, not even one." @@"Their throat is an open grave, €@@they use their tongues to deceive." €@@"The venom of asps is under their lips." @@"Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." @@"Their feet are swift to shed blood, @@in their paths are ruin and misery, @@and the way of peace they do not know." @@"There is no fear of God before their eyes." @Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are €under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world €may be held accountable to God. For no human being will be justified in his sight by works of the law, €since through the law comes knowledge of sin. @But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, €although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who €believe. For there is no distinction; since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which €is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by €faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine €forbearance he had passed over former sins; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and €that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus. @Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? €On the principle of works? No, but on the principle of faith. For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? €Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of €their faith and the uncircumcised through their faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the €contrary, we uphold the law.  @What then shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the €flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, €but not before God. For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was €reckoned to him as righteousness." Now to one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his €due. And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, €his faith is reckoned as righteousness. So also David pronounces a blessing upon the man to whom God reckons €righteousness apart from works: @@"Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins €@@@@are covered; @@blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not reckon his sin." @Is this blessing pronounced only upon the circumcised, or also upon €the uncircumcised? We say that faith was reckoned to Abraham as €righteousness. How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been €circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received circumcision as a sign or seal of the righteousness which €he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to €make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised and €who thus have righteousness reckoned to them, and likewise the father of the circumcised who are not merely €circumcised but also follow the example of the faith which our father €Abraham had before he was circumcised. @The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit €the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness €of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is €null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no €transgression. @That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest €on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants -- not only to the €adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, €for he is the father of us all, as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations" -- in the €presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and €calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of €many nations; as he had been told, "So shall your descendants be." He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was €as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or when he €considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew €strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was "reckoned to him as righteousness." But the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake €alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him that €raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our €justification.  @Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God €through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, €and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering €produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured €into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. @While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the €ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man -- though perhaps for a good €man one will dare even to die. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶³’ļ‚Ņļķ’„˜ˆBut God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ €died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we €be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of €his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by €his life. Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, €through whom we have now received our reconciliation. @Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death €through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned --sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not €counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were €not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was €to come. @But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through €one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift €in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the effect of that one man's sin. For the €judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift €following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, €much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free €gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. @Then as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one €man's act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by one €man's obedience many will be made righteous. Law came in, to increase the trespass; but where sin increased, grace €abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through €righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  @What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may €abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus €were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as €Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too €might walk in newness of life. @For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall €certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful €body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For he who has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live €with him. For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die €again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives €he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in €Christ Jesus. @Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey €their passions. Do not yield your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but €yield yourselves to God as men who have been brought from death to €life, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but €under grace. @What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under €grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient €slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which €leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become €obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were €committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For €just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and €greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for €sanctification. @When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now €ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of €God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life €in Christ Jesus our Lord.  @Do you not know, brethren -- for I am speaking to those who know the €law -- that the law is binding on a person only during his life? Thus a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he €lives; but if her husband dies she is discharged from the law €concerning the husband. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another €man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies she is free €from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. @Likewise, my brethren, you have died to the law through the body of €Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised €from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. While we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the €law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are discharged from the law, dead to that which held us €captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new €life of the Spirit. @What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet, if it €had not been for the law, I should not have known sin. I should not €have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not €covet." But sin, finding opportunity in the commandment, wrought in me all €kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin €revived and I died; the very commandment which promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, finding opportunity in the commandment, deceived me and by it €killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good. @Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was €sin, working death in me through what is good, in order that sin might €be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful €beyond measure. We know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I €do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. So then it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I €can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I €do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin €which dwells within me. @So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies €close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and €making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I of myself €serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of €sin.  @There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ €Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from €the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: €sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he €condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, €who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶³’ļ‚Ņļķ’؈•‚of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their €minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the €Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not €submit to God's law, indeed it cannot; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. @But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the €Spirit of God dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of €Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, €your spirits are alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he €who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal €bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you. @So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live €according to the flesh --for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the €Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, €but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! €Father!" it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are €children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, €provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with €him. @I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth €comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons €of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by €the will of him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay €and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together €until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits €of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the €redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For €who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. @Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how €to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with €sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the €Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the €will of God. @We know that in everything God works for good with those who love €him, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the €image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many €brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called €he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. @What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he €not also give us all things with him? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised €from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes €for us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or €distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, €@@"For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; €@@we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who €loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor €principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able €to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  @I am speaking the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience €bears me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ €for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen by race. They are Israelites, and to them belong the sonship, the glory, the €covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the €flesh, is the Christ. God who is over all be blessed for ever. Amen. @But it is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all who €are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his descendants; €but "Through Isaac shall your descendants be named." This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the €children of God, but the children of the promise are reckoned as €descendants. For this is what the promise said, "About this time I will return and €Sarah shall have a son." And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one €man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad, €in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of €works but because of his call, she was told, "The elder will serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." @What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I €will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So it depends not upon man's will or exertion, but upon God's mercy. For the scripture says to Pharaoh, "I have raised you up for the very €purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed €in all the earth." So then he has mercy upon whomever he wills, and he hardens the heart €of whomever he wills. @You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can €resist his will?" But who are you, a man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say €to its molder, "Why have you made me thus?" Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one €vessel for beauty and another for menial use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, €has endured with much patience the vessels of wrath made for €destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for the vessels of €mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the €Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hose'a, €@@"Those who were not my people €@@I will call `my people,' €@@and her who was not beloved €@@I will call `my beloved.'" @@"And in the very place where it was said to them, `You are not my €@@@@people,' €@@they will be called `sons of the living God.'" @And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the €sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will €be saved; for the Lord will execute his sentence upon the earth with rigor and €dispatch." And as Isaiah predicted, €@@"If the Lord of hosts had not left us children, €@@we would have fared like Sodom and been made like Gomor'rah." @What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue €righteousness have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith; but that Israel who pursued the righteousness which is based on law did €not succeed in fulfilling that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it through faith, but as if it were €based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, €@@"Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make men stumble, €@@a rock that will make them fall; €@@and he who believes in him will not be put to shame."  @Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they €may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but it is not €enlightened. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶³’ļ‚Ņļķ’؊“For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and €seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's €righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law, that every one who has faith may be €justified. @Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is €based on the law shall live by it. But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, €"Who will ascend into heaven?" (that is, to bring Christ down) or "Who will descend into the abyss?" (that is, to bring Christ up from €the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your €heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach); because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe €in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses €with his lips and so is saved. The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is €Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him. For, "every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." @But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And €how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how €are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How €beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who €has believed what he has heard from us?" So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the €preaching of Christ. @But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for €@@"Their voice has gone out to all the earth, €@@and their words to the ends of the world." Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, €@@"I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; €@@with a foolish nation I will make you angry." Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, €@@"I have been found by those who did not seek me; €@@I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me." @But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a €disobedient and contrary people."  @I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an €Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what €the scripture says of Eli'jah, how he pleads with God against Israel? "Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have demolished thy altars, €and I alone am left, and they seek my life." But what is God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand €men who have not bowed the knee to Ba'al." So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise €grace would no longer be grace. What then? Israel failed to obtain what it sought. The elect obtained €it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, €@@"God gave them a spirit of stupor, €@@eyes that should not see and ears that should not hear, €@@down to this very day." @And David says, €@@"Let their table become a snare and a trap, €@@a pitfall and a retribution for them; @@let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, €@@and bend their backs for ever." @So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through €their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel €jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure €means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion €mean! @Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle €to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will €their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the dough offered as first fruits is holy, so is the whole lump; and €if the root is holy, so are the branches. @But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive €shoot, were grafted in their place to share the richness of the olive €tree, do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember it is not you €that support the root, but the root that supports you. You will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you €stand fast only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare €you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those €who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in €his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off. And even the others, if they do not persist in their unbelief, will be €grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and €grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much €more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive €tree. @Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this €mystery, brethren: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the €full number of the Gentiles come in, and so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, €@@"The Deliverer will come from Zion, €@@he will banish ungodliness from Jacob"; @@"and this will be my covenant with them €@@when I take away their sins." As regards the gospel they are enemies of God, for your sake; but as €regards election they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but now have received mercy €because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to €you they also may receive mercy. For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that he may have mercy €upon all. @O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How €unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! @@"For who has known the mind of the Lord, €@@or who has been his counselor?" @@"Or who has given a gift to him €@@that he might be repaid?" @For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be €glory for ever. Amen.  @I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to €present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, €which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of €your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and €acceptable and perfect. @For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think €of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober €judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned €him. For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not €have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members €one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use €them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; €he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with €cheerfulness. @Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing €honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. @Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with €the lowly; never be conceited. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶³’ļ‚Ņļķ’،˜‘Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the €sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for €it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him €drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  @Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there €is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been €instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has €appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have €no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will €receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, €for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to €execute his wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God's wrath but also €for the sake of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are €ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to €whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom €honor is due. @Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his €neighbor has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, €You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, €are summed up in this sentence, "You shall love your neighbor as €yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of €the law. @Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for €you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we €first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the €works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and €drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling €and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, €to gratify its desires.  @As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for €disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only €vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who €abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before €his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the €Master is able to make him stand. @One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man €esteems all days alike. Let every one be fully convinced in his own €mind. He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who €eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he €who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so €then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both €of the dead and of the living. @Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise €your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, €@@"As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, €@@and every tongue shall give praise to God." So each of us shall give account of himself to God. @Then let us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide €never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in €itself; but it is unclean for any one who thinks it unclean. If your brother is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer €walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom €Christ died. So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and €peace and joy in the Holy Spirit; he who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is €indeed clean, but it is wrong for any one to make others fall by what €he eats; it is right not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes €your brother stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God; happy is he who €has no reason to judge himself for what he approves. But he who has doubts is condemned, if he eats, because he does not act €from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.  @We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and €not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The €reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our €instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the €scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in €such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our €Lord Jesus Christ. @Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the €glory of God. For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show €God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the €patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As €it is written, €@@"Therefore I will praise thee among the Gentiles, €@@and sing to thy name"; and again it is said, €@@"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people"; and again, €@@"Praise the Lord, all Gentiles, €@@and let all the peoples praise him"; and further Isaiah says, €@@"The root of Jesse shall come, €@@he who rises to rule the Gentiles; €@@in him shall the Gentiles hope." @May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so €that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. @I myself am satisfied about you, my brethren, that you yourselves are €full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one €another. But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of €reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly €service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may €be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has €wrought through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so €that from Jerusalem and as far round as Illyr'icum I have fully €preached the gospel of Christ, thus making it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has €already been named, lest I build on another man's foundation, but as it is written, €@@"They shall see who have never been told of him, €@@and they shall understand who have never heard of him." @This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to €you. But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and €since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be sped on my €journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem with aid for the saints. For Macedo'nia and Acha'ia have been pleased to make some contribution žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶³’ļ‚Ņļķ’؏˜š‚for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem; they were pleased to do it, and indeed they are in debt to them, for if €the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they €ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. When therefore I have completed this, and have delivered to them what €has been raised, I shall go on by way of you to Spain; and I know that when I come to you I shall come in the fulness of the €blessing of Christ. @I appeal to you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love €of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my €behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my €service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in €your company. The God of peace be with you all. Amen.  @I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at €Cen'chre-ae, that you may receive her in the Lord as befits the saints, and help her €in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a helper of many €and of myself as well. @Greet Prisca and Aq'uila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I but also all the €churches of the Gentiles give thanks; greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epae'netus, who €was the first convert in Asia for Christ. Greet Mary, who has worked hard among you. Greet Androni'cus and Ju'nias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners; they €are men of note among the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. Greet Amplia'tus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urba'nus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet Apel'les, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to €the family of Aristobu'lus. Greet my kinsman Hero'dion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the €family of Narcis'sus. Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphae'na and Trypho'sa. Greet the €beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, eminent in the Lord, also his mother and mine. Greet Asyn'critus, Phlegon, Hermes, Pat'robas, Hermas, and the brethren €who are with them. Greet Philol'ogus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olym'pas, and all €the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet €you. @I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create €dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you €have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, €and by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the €simple-minded. For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I €would have you wise as to what is good and guileless as to what is evil; then the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace €of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. @Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and €Sosip'ater, my kinsmen. @I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord. @Ga'ius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. €Eras'tus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you. ˜™@Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and €the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the €mystery which was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known €to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring €about the obedience of faith --to the only wise God be glory for evermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. ąļ‚±Ćļņ’”Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and €our brother Sos'thenes, @To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in €Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every €place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and €ours: @Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. @I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which €was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all €knowledge --even as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you --so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the €revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ; who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus €Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his €Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. @I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that €all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that €you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chlo'e's people that there is €quarreling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I €belong to Apol'los," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in €the name of Paul? I am thankful that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Ga'ius; lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Steph'anas. Beyond that, I do not €know whether I baptized any one else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not €with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. @For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to €us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, €@@"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, €@@and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of €this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through €wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save €those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to €Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of €God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God €is stronger than men. @For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according €to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble €birth; but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose €what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are €not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our €wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption; therefore, as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord."  @When I came to you, brethren, I did not come proclaiming to you the €testimony of God in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him €crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in much fear and trembling; and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but €in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of €God. @Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom €of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed €before the ages for our glorification. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they €would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, €@@"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, €@@nor the heart of man conceived, €@@what God has prepared for those who love him," God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches €everything, even the depths of God. For what person knows a man's thoughts except the spirit of the man žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶“’ļ‚±Ćļņ’¢˜‹‚which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except €the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which €is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by €the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the €Spirit. @The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, €for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them €because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no €one. "For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we €have the mind of Christ.  @But I, brethren, could not address you as spiritual men, but as men €of the flesh, as babes in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food; for you were not ready for it; and €even yet you are not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife €among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary men? For when one says, "I belong to Paul," and another, "I belong to €Apol'los," are you not merely men? @What then is Apol'los? What is Paul? Servants through whom you €believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apol'los watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God €who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are equal, and each shall receive his €wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. @According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master €builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let €each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which €is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious €stones, wood, hay, straw --each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, €because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort €of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will €receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself €will be saved, but only as through fire. @Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit €dwells in you? If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's €temple is holy, and that temple you are. @Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you thinks that he is €wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He €catches the wise in their craftiness," and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." So let no one boast of men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apol'los or Cephas or the world or life or death or the €present or the future, all are yours; and you are Christ's; and Christ is God's.  @This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards €of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or €by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby €acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord €comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and €will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every man will receive €his commendation from God. @I have applied all this to myself and Apol'los for your benefit, €brethren, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, €that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What have you that you did not €receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a €gift? @Already you are filled! Already you have become rich! Without us you €have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share €the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men €sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to €angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are €weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted €and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when €persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as €the refuse of the world, the offscouring of all things. @I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my €beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many €fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. Therefore I sent to you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the €Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in €every church. Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not €the talk of these arrogant people but their power. For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a €spirit of gentleness?  @It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and of a €kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his €father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has €done this be removed from among you. @For though absent in body I am present in spirit, and as if present, €I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. €When you are assembled, and my spirit is present, with the power of our €Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, €that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. @Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven €leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really €are unleavened. For Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the €leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity €and truth. @I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men; not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and €robbers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the €name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an €idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber -- not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside €the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. "Drive out the wicked person from among you."  @When one of you has a grievance against a brother, does he dare go to €law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world €is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, matters €pertaining to this life! If then you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who are €least esteemed by the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no man among you wise €enough to decide between members of the brotherhood, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? @To have lawsuits at all with one another is defeat for you. Why not €rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud, and that even your own brethren. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶“’ļ‚±Ćļņ’¦˜‰@Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of €God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor €adulterers, nor sexual perverts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers €will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, €you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the €Spirit of our God. @"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All €things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" -- and God will €destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, €but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I €therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a €prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one €body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the €body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within €you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.  @Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a €man not to touch a woman. But because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his €own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise €the wife to her husband. For the wife does not rule over her own body, but the husband does; €likewise the husband does not rule over his own body, but the wife does. Do not refuse one another except perhaps by agreement for a season, €that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, €lest Satan tempt you through lack of self-control. I say this by way of concession, not of command. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own special gift €from God, one of one kind and one of another. @To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to €remain single as I do. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is €better to marry than to be aflame with passion. @To the married I give charge, not I but the Lord, that the wife €should not separate from her husband (but if she does, let her remain single or else be reconciled to her €husband) -- and that the husband should not divorce his wife. @To the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who €is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not €divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to €live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through his wife, and the €unbelieving wife is consecrated through her husband. Otherwise, your €children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner desires to separate, let it be so; in €such a case the brother or sister is not bound. For God has called us €to peace. Wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Husband, how €do you know whether you will save your wife? @Only, let every one lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him, €and in which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was any one at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not €seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was any one at the time of €his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but €keeping the commandments of God. Every one should remain in the state in which he was called. Were you a slave when called? Never mind. But if you can gain your €freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity. For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. €Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. So, brethren, in whatever state each was called, there let him remain €with God. @Now concerning the unmarried, I have no command of the Lord, but I €give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. I think that in view of the present distress it is well for a person to €remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a €wife? Do not seek marriage. But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a girl marries she does not €sin. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare €you that. I mean, brethren, the appointed time has grown very short; from now on, €let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who €rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though €they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with €it. For the form of this world is passing away. @I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious €about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his €wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman or girl is €anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to be holy in body and €spirit; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how to €please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but €to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. @If any one thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his €betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as €he wishes: let them marry -- it is no sin. But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no €necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this €in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. So that he who marries his betrothed does well; and he who refrains €from marriage will do better. @A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If the husband €dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. But in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think €that I have the Spirit of God.  @Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess €knowledge." "Knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up. If any one imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he €ought to know. But if one loves God, one is known by him. @Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an €idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one." For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth -- as €indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords" --yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and €for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all €things and through whom we exist. @However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through being €hitherto accustomed to idols, eat food as really offered to an idol; €and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, €and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling €block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's €temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat €food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for €whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when €it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat €meat, lest I cause my brother to fall. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶“’ļ‚±Ćļņ’؉@Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? €Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the €seal of my apostleship in the Lord. @This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other €apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working €for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard €without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some €of the milk? @Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when €it is treading out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, €because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope €of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap €your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? €@Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure €anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get €their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in €the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel €should get their living by the gospel. @But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this €to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have any one €deprive me of my ground for boasting. For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For €necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own €will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my preaching I may make the €gospel free of charge, not making full use of my right in the gospel. @For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, €that I might win the more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews; to those under the €law I became as one under the law -- though not being myself under the €law -- that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law -- not being €without law toward God but under the law of Christ -- that I might win €those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all €things to all men, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its €blessings. @Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one €receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to €receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I €myself should be disqualified.  @I want you to know, brethren, that our fathers were all under the €cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same supernatural food and all drank the same supernatural drink. For they drank from the €supernatural Rock which followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless with most of them God was not pleased; for they were €overthrown in the wilderness. @Now these things are warnings for us, not to desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people €sat down to eat and drink and rose up to dance." We must not indulge in immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three €thousand fell in a single day. We must not put the Lord to the test, as some of them did and were €destroyed by serpents; nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as a warning, but they were written €down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is €faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but €with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may €be able to endure it. @Therefore, my beloved, shun the worship of idols. I speak as to sensible men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the €blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in €the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all €partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices €partners in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that €an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to €God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot €partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? @"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things €are lawful," but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on €the ground of conscience. For "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to €go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the €ground of conscience. (But if some one says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," €then out of consideration for the man who informed you, and for €conscience' sake --I mean his conscience, not yours -- do not eat it.) For why should my €liberty be determined by another man's scruples? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for €which I give thanks? So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory €of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please all men in everything I do, not seeking my own €advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.  @Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. @I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the €traditions even as I have delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the €head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his €head, but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonors €her head -- it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; €but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her €wear a veil. For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory €of God; but woman is the glory of man. (For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.) That is why a woman ought to have a veil on her head, because of the €angels. (Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of €woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all €things are from God.) Judge for yourselves; is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her €head uncovered? Does not nature itself teach you that for a man to wear long hair is €degrading to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her pride? For her hair is given to €her for a covering. If any one is disposed to be contentious, we recognize no other žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶“’ļ‚±Ćļņ’؋˜‚practice, nor do the churches of God. @But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when €you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you assemble as a church, I hear that €there are divisions among you; and I partly believe it, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are €genuine among you may be recognized. When you meet together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal, and one is hungry €and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the €church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to €you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not. @For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the €Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body €which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the €new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in €remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the €Lord's death until he comes. @Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in €an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of €the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and €drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we should not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are chastened so that we may not €be condemned along with the world. @So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one €another --if any one is hungry, let him eat at home -- lest you come together to be €condemned. About the other things I will give directions when I come.  @Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be €uninformed. You know that when you were heathen, you were led astray to dumb idols, €however you may have been moved. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit €of God ever says "Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" €except by the Holy Spirit. @Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires €them all in every one. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to €another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the €one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the €ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of €tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to €each one individually as he wills. @For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members €of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, €slaves or free -- and all were made to drink of one Spirit. @For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to €the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to €the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole €body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as €he chose. If all were a single organ, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the €head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are €indispensable, and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest €with the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with €greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so €composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have €the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, €all rejoice together. @Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, €third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, €administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work €miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all €interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. €@And I will show you a still more excellent way.  @If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I €am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all €knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have €not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but €have not love, I gain nothing. @Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is €not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures €all things. @Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for €tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I €reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in €part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully €understood. So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is €love.  @Make love your aim, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, €especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one €understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, he who prophesies speaks to men for their upbuilding €and encouragement and consolation. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies €edifies the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. He €who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless some €one interprets, so that the church may be edified. @Now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how shall I €benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy €or teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not €give distinct notes, how will any one know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for €battle? So with yourselves; if you in a tongue utter speech that is not €intelligible, how will any one know what is said? For you will be €speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is €without meaning; but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a €foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves; since you are eager for manifestations of the €Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. @Therefore, he who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to €interpret. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶“’ļ‚±Ćļņ’؎˜ŽFor if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the €mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind €also. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how can any one in the €position of an outsider say the "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he €does not know what you are saying? For you may give thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all; nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, €in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. @Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; be babes in evil, but €in thinking be mature. In the law it is written, "By men of strange tongues and by the lips of €foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not €listen to me, says the Lord." Thus, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while €prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church assembles and all speak in tongues, and €outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is €convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so, falling on his face, he €will worship God and declare that God is really among you. @What then, brethren? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a €lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be €done for edification. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and €each in turn; and let one interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silence in €church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be €encouraged; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. €@As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not €permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands €at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. What! Did the word of God originate with you, or are you the only ones €it has reached? @If any one thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should €acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord. If any one does not recognize this, he is not recognized. So, my brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid €speaking in tongues; but all things should be done decently and in order.  @Now I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the €gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast -- unless you believed in €vain. @For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, €that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance €with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most €of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, €because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not €in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it €was not I, but the grace of God which is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. @Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some of €you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been €raised; if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your €faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of €God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the €dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still €in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most €to be pitied. @But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of €those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of €the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming €those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father €after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. "For God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it €says, "All things are put in subjection under him," it is plain that he €is excepted who put all things under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be €subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be €everything to every one. Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? €If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their €behalf? Why am I in peril every hour? I protest, brethren, by my pride in you which I have in Christ Jesus €our Lord, I die every day! What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? €If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." Come to your right mind, and sin no more. For some have no knowledge of €God. I say this to your shame. @But some one will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of €body do they come?" You foolish man! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body which is to be, but a bare kernel, €perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its €own body. For not all flesh is alike, but there is one kind for men, another for €animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are celestial bodies and there are terrestrial bodies; but the €glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is €another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and €another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. @So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is €perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, €it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is €a physical body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the €last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual which is first but the physical, and then €the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from €heaven. As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the €man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear €the image of the man of heaven. I tell you this, brethren: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom €of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. @Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be €changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶“’ļ‚±Ćļņ’؏˜“‚trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we €shall be changed. For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this €mortal nature must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on €immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is €written: €@@"Death is swallowed up in victory." @@"O death, where is thy victory? €@@O death, where is thy sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus €Christ. @Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always €abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor €is not in vain.  @Now concerning the contribution for the saints: as I directed the €churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside €and store it up, as he may prosper, so that contributions need not be €made when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to €carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me. @I will visit you after passing through Macedo'nia, for I intend to €pass through Macedo'nia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you €may speed me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now just in passing; I hope to spend some €time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many €adversaries. When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is €doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Speed him on his way in peace, that he may €return to me; for I am expecting him with the brethren. @As for our brother Apol'los, I strongly urged him to visit you with €the other brethren, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will €come when he has opportunity. @Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. @Now, brethren, you know that the household of Steph'anas were the €first converts in Acha'ia, and they have devoted themselves to the €service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and €laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Steph'anas and Fortuna'tus and Acha'icus, €because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such €men. @The churches of Asia send greetings. Aq'uila and Prisca, together €with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. @I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, €come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. ąļ‚²Ćļņ’”Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our €brother. €@To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are €in the whole of Acha'ia: @Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. @Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of €mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to €comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we €ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we €share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we €are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you €patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our €sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. @For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of the affliction we €experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we €despaired of life itself. Why, we felt that we had received the sentence of death; but that was €to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead; he delivered us from so deadly a peril, and he will deliver us; on him €we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our €behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers. @For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we have €behaved in the world, and still more toward you, with holiness and €godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God. For we write you nothing but what you can read and understand; I hope €you will understand fully, as you have understood in part, that you can be proud of us as we can €be of you, on the day of the Lord Jesus. @Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that €you might have a double pleasure; I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedo'nia, and to come back to you €from Macedo'nia and have you send me on my way to Judea. Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans like a €worldly man, ready to say Yes and No at once? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we preached among you, Silva'nus €and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No; but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter €the Amen through him, to the glory of God. But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has €commissioned us; he has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a €guarantee. @But I call God to witness against me -- it was to spare you that I €refrained from coming to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith; we work with you for your joy, for €you stand firm in your faith.  @For I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom €I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from €those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, €that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with €many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love €that I have for you. @But if any one has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in €some measure --not to put it too severely -- to you all. For such a one this punishment by the majority is enough; so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be €overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are €obedient in everything. Any one whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I €have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of €Christ, to keep Satan from gaining the advantage over us; for we are not €ignorant of his designs. @When I came to Tro'as to preach the gospel of Christ, a door was €opened for me in the Lord; but my mind could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus €there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedo'nia. @But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and €through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved €and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from €life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word; but as men of €sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in €Christ.  @Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some €do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on your €hearts, to be known and read by all men; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶µ’ļ‚²Ćļņ’£“and you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written €not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of €stone but on tablets of human hearts. @Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from €us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not in a €written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the €Spirit gives life. @Now if the dispensation of death, carved in letters on stone, came €with such splendor that the Israelites could not look at Moses' face €because of its brightness, fading as this was, will not the dispensation of the Spirit be attended with greater €splendor? For if there was splendor in the dispensation of condemnation, the €dispensation of righteousness must far exceed it in splendor. Indeed, in this case, what once had splendor has come to have no €splendor at all, because of the splendor that surpasses it. For if what faded away came with splendor, what is permanent must have €much more splendor. @Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites €might not see the end of the fading splendor. But their minds were hardened; for to this day, when they read the old €covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ €is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their minds; but when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there €is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are €being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; €for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.  @Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose €heart. We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice €cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the €truth we would commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight €of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are €perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the €unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the €glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with €ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has €shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of €God in the face of Christ. @But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the €transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. @We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not €driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of €Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' €sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. @Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I €believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus €and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more €people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. @So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our €inner nature is being renewed every day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal €weight of glory beyond all comparison, because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that €are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things €that are unseen are eternal.  @For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have €a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the €heavens. Here indeed we groan, and long to put on our heavenly dwelling, so that by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we sigh with anxiety; not that we €would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what €is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the €Spirit as a guarantee. @So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home €in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and €at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each €one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body. @Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but what we €are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to be €proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who pride €themselves on a man's position and not on his heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right €mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one €has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for €themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. @From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; €even though we once regarded Christ from a human point of view, we €regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has €passed away, behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and €gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not €counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the €message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We €beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we €might become the righteousness of God.  @Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the €grace of God in vain. For he says, €@@"At the acceptable time I have listened to you, €@@and helped you on the day of salvation." €Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of €salvation. We put no obstacle in any one's way, so that no fault may be found with €our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great €endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine €love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of €righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as €impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as €punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as €having nothing, and yet possessing everything. @Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own €affections. In return -- I speak as to children -- widen your hearts also. @Do not be mismated with unbelievers. For what partnership have €righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Be'lial? Or what has a believer in common €with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the €temple of the living God; as God said, €@@"I will live in them and move among them, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶µ’ļ‚²Ćļņ’¦˜„@@and I will be their God, €@@and they shall be my people. @@Therefore come out from them, €@@and be separate from them, says the Lord, €@@and touch nothing unclean; €@@then I will welcome you, @@and I will be a father to you, €@@and you shall be my sons and daughters, €@@says the Lord Almighty."  @Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from €every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the €fear of God. @Open your hearts to us; we have wronged no one, we have corrupted no €one, we have taken advantage of no one. I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our €hearts, to die together and to live together. I have great confidence in you; I have great pride in you; I am filled €with comfort. With all our affliction, I am overjoyed. @For even when we came into Macedo'nia, our bodies had no rest but we €were afflicted at every turn -- fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was €comforted in you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your €zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it (though €I did regret it), for I see that that letter grieved you, though only €for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were €grieved into repenting; for you felt a godly grief, so that you €suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and €brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, what €eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what €longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved €yourselves guiltless in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did €the wrong, nor on account of the one who suffered the wrong, but in €order that your zeal for us might be revealed to you in the sight of €God. Therefore we are comforted. €@And besides our own comfort we rejoiced still more at the joy of €Titus, because his mind has been set at rest by you all. For if I have expressed to him some pride in you, I was not put to €shame; but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting €before Titus has proved true. And his heart goes out all the more to you, as he remembers the €obedience of you all, and the fear and trembling with which you €received him. I rejoice, because I have perfect confidence in you.  @We want you to know, brethren, about the grace of God which has been €shown in the churches of Macedo'nia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their €extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of liberality on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond €their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the €saints --and this, not as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the €Lord and to us by the will of God. Accordingly we have urged Titus that as he had already made a €beginning, he should also complete among you this gracious work. Now as you excel in everything -- in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, €in all earnestness, and in your love for us -- see that you excel in this €gracious work also. @I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of €others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was €rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you €might become rich. And in this matter I give my advice: it is best for you now to complete €what a year ago you began not only to do but to desire, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing €it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a man €has, not according to what he has not. I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time €should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want, €that there may be equality. As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who €gathered little had no lack." @But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the €heart of Titus. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he €is going to you of his own accord. With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the €churches for his preaching of the gospel; and not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel €with us in this gracious work which we are carrying on, for the glory €of the Lord and to show our good will. We intend that no one should blame us about this liberal gift which we €are administering, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also €in the sight of men. And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and €found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever €because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker in your service; and €as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of €Christ. So give proof, before the churches, of your love and of our boasting €about you to these men.  @Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the offering for €the saints, for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of €Macedo'nia, saying that Acha'ia has been ready since last year; and €your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I am sending the brethren so that our boasting about you may not €prove vain in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would €be; lest if some Macedo'nians come with me and find that you are not ready, €we be humiliated -- to say nothing of you -- for being so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren to go on to you before €me, and arrange in advance for this gift you have promised, so that it €may be ready not as an exaction but as a willing gift. @The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, €and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under €compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so €that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in €abundance for every good work. As it is written, €@@"He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; €@@his righteousness endures for ever." @He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and €multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through €us will produce thanksgiving to God; for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the €saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God. Under the test of this service, you will glorify God by your obedience €in acknowledging the gospel of Christ, and by the generosity of your €contribution for them and for all others; while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing €grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!  @I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of €Christ -- I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold to you €when I am away! --I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness €with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us €of acting in worldly fashion. For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to €destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, €and take every thought captive to obey Christ, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶µ’ļ‚²Ćļņ’؊–being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is €complete. @Look at what is before your eyes. If any one is confident that he is €Christ's, let him remind himself that as he is Christ's, so are we. For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord €gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I shall not be put €to shame. I would not seem to be frightening you with letters. For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily €presence is weak, and his speech of no account." Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we €do when present. Not that we venture to class or compare ourselves with some of those €who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one €another, and compare themselves with one another, they are without €understanding. @But we will not boast beyond limit, but will keep to the limits God €has apportioned us, to reach even to you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you; €we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. We do not boast beyond limit, in other men's labors; but our hope is €that as your faith increases, our field among you may be greatly €enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting €of work already done in another's field. "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord." For it is not the man who commends himself that is accepted, but the €man whom the Lord commends.  @I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with €me! I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Christ to €present you as a pure bride to her one husband. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your €thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if some one comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we €preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you €received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you €accepted, you submit to it readily enough. I think that I am not in the least inferior to these superlative €apostles. Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not in knowledge; in every way €we have made this plain to you in all things. @Did I commit a sin in abasing myself so that you might be exalted, €because I preached God's gospel without cost to you? I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to €serve you. And when I was with you and was in want, I did not burden any one, for €my needs were supplied by the brethren who came from Macedo'nia. So I €refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. As the truth of Christ is in me, this boast of mine shall not be €silenced in the regions of Acha'ia. And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! @And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim €of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they €work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising €themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as €servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. @I repeat, let no one think me foolish; but even if you do, accept me €as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. (What I am saying I say not with the Lord's authority but as a fool, in €this boastful confidence; since many boast of worldly things, I too will boast.) For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! For you bear it if a man makes slaves of you, or preys upon you, or €takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! €@But whatever any one dares to boast of -- I am speaking as a fool -- I €also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they €descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one -- I am talking like a €madman -- with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless €beatings, and often near death. Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes €less one. Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three €times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at €sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, €danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, €danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and €thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my €anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not €indignant? @If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows €that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor under King Ar'etas guarded the city of €Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and €escaped his hands.  @I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on €to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the €third heaven -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God €knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise -- whether in the €body or out of the body I do not know, God knows --and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not €boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be €speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think €more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a €thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to €keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is €made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my €weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, €hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am €strong. @I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been €commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these superlative €apostles, even though I am nothing. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all patience, €with signs and wonders and mighty works. For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except €that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong! @Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be €a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you; for children ought not €to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you the €more, am I to be loved the less? But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, €and got the better of you by guile. Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take €advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take €the same steps? @Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending €ourselves before you? It is in the sight of God that we have been €speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. For I fear that perhaps I may come and find you not what I wish, and €that you may find me not what you wish; that perhaps there may be €quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and €disorder. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶µ’ļ‚²Ćļņ’،˜•I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I €may have to mourn over many of those who sinned before and have not €repented of the impurity, immorality, and licentiousness which they €have practiced.  @This is the third time I am coming to you. Any charge must be €sustained by the evidence of two or three witnesses. I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them €now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I €come again I will not spare them --since you desire proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in €dealing with you, but is powerful in you. For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we €are weak in him, but in dealing with you we shall live with him by the €power of God. @Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith. €Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in €you? -- unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed. But we pray God that you may not do wrong -- not that we may appear to €have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may €seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. What we pray for €is your improvement. I write this while I am away from you, in order that when I come I may €not have to be severe in my use of the authority which the Lord has €given me for building up and not for tearing down. @Finally, brethren, farewell. Mend your ways, heed my appeal, agree €with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be €with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the €fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. ąļ‚Ēįģ’”Paul an apostle -- not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ €and God the Father, who raised him from the dead --and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: @Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, €according to the will of our God and Father; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. @I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you €in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel --not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you €and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel €contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, If any one is preaching to €you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed. @Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I trying to €please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of €Christ. @For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was €preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came €through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the €church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so €extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me €through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him €among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but €I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. @Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and €remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cili'cia. And I was still not known by sight to the churches of Christ in Judea; they only heard it said, "He who once persecuted us is now preaching €the faith he once tried to destroy." And they glorified God because of me.  @Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, €taking Titus along with me. I went up by revelation; and I laid before them (but privately before €those who were of repute) the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, €lest somehow I should be running or had run in vain. But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, €though he was a Greek. But because of false brethren secretly brought in, who slipped in to €spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might €bring us into bondage --to them we did not yield submission even for a moment, that the truth €of the gospel might be preserved for you. And from those who were reputed to be something (what they were makes €no difference to me; God shows no partiality) -- those, I say, who were €of repute added nothing to me; but on the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the €gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the €gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for the mission to the circumcised €worked through me also for the Gentiles), and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and €Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and €Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the €Gentiles and they to the circumcised; only they would have us remember the poor, which very thing I was eager €to do. @But when Cephas came to Antioch I opposed him to his face, because he €stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but €when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the €circumcision party. And with him the rest of the Jews acted insincerely, so that even €Barnabas was carried away by their insincerity. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of €the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, €live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles €to live like Jews?" We ourselves, who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, yet who know that a man is not justified by works of the law but €through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, €in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the €law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were €found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove €myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but €Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by €faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification were through €the law, then Christ died to no purpose.  @O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus €Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the €law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending €with the flesh? Did you experience so many things in vain? -- if it really is in vain. Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do €so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? @Thus Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as €righteousness." So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by €faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall €all the nations be blessed." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶¶’ļ‚Ēįģ’£˜‰So then, those who are men of faith are blessed with Abraham who had €faith. @For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is €written, "Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written €in the book of the law, and do them." Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law; for €"He who through faith is righteous shall live"; but the law does not rest on faith, for "He who does them shall live by €them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for €us -- for it is written, "Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree" --that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the €Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. @To give a human example, brethren: no one annuls even a man's will, €or adds to it, once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not €say, "And to offsprings," referring to many; but, referring to one, €"And to your offspring," which is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came four hundred and thirty years €afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as €to make the promise void. For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by promise; but €God gave it to Abraham by a promise. @Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the €offspring should come to whom the promise had been made; and it was €ordained by angels through an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one; but God is one. @Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not; for if a €law had been given which could make alive, then righteousness would €indeed be by the law. But the scripture consigned all things to sin, that what was promised €to faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. @Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under €restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be €justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there €is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs €according to promise.  @I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a €slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental €spirits of the universe. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of €woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive €adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our €hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then €an heir. @Formerly, when you did not know God, you were in bondage to beings €that by nature are no gods; but now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, €how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits, €whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days, and months, and seasons, and years! I am afraid I have labored over you in vain. @Brethren, I beseech you, become as I am, for I also have become as €you are. You did me no wrong; you know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel €to you at first; and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or €despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What has become of the satisfaction you felt? For I bear you witness €that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them €to me. Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to shut you €out, that you may make much of them. For a good purpose it is always good to be made much of, and not only €when I am present with you. My little children, with whom I am again in travail until Christ be €formed in you! I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am €perplexed about you. @Tell me, you who desire to be under law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by €a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of €the free woman through promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from €Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present €Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, €@@"Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; €@@break forth and shout, you who are not in travail; €@@for the children of the desolate one are many more €@@than the children of her that is married." Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted €him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now. But what does the scripture say? "Cast out the slave and her son; for €the son of the slave shall not inherit with the son of the free woman." So, brethren, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.  @For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not €submit again to a yoke of slavery. @Now I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will €be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is bound €to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you €have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any €avail, but faith working through love. You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view than €mine; and he who is troubling you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. But if I, brethren, still preach circumcision, why am I still €persecuted? In that case the stumbling block of the cross has been €removed. I wish those who unsettle you would mutilate themselves! @For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your €freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants €of one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, "You shall love your €neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another take heed that you are not €consumed by one another. @But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the €flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of €the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, €to prevent you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, €licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, €dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you €before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of €God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, €goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its €passions and desires. @If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of €one another.  @Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶¶’ļ‚Ēįģ’¦‚spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to €yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if any one thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives €himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will €be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each man will have to bear his own load. @Let him who is taught the word share all good things with him who €teaches. @Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that €he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; €but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall €reap, if we do not lose heart. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and €especially to those who are of the household of faith. @See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would €compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be €persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, €but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your €flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus €Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a €new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of €God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of €Jesus. @The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. €Amen. ąļ‚Åšč’”Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, €@To the saints who are also faithful in Christ Jesus: @Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. @Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has €blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly €places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we €should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according €to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in €the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our €trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us. For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of €his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things €in heaven and things on earth. @In him, according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things €according to the counsel of his will, we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live €for the praise of his glory. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your €salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy €Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession €of it, to the praise of his glory. @For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus €and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give €you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is €the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his €glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe, €according to the working of his great might which he accomplished in Christ when he raised him from the dead and €made him sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above €every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which €is to come; and he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over €all things for the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all.  @And you he made alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and €sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following €the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in €the sons of disobedience. Among these we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, following €the desires of body and mind, and so we were by nature children of €wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he €loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together €with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly €places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his €grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your €own doing, it is the gift of God --not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, €which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. @Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called €the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in €the flesh by hands --remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated €from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of €promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought €near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the €dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that €he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making €peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, €thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to €those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow €citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus €himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy €temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the €Spirit.  @For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you €Gentiles --assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was €given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written €briefly. When you read this you can perceive my insight into the mystery of €Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it €has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, €and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. @Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's €grace which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was €given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages €in God who created all things; that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made €known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in €Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in €him. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶·’ļ‚Åšč’£˜So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which €is your glory. @For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be €strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being €rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth €and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may €be filled with all the fulness of God. @Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more €abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, €for ever and ever. Amen.  @I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy €of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another €in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one €hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in €all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's €gift. Therefore it is said, €@@"When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, €@@and he gave gifts to men." (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also €descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, €that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some €evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body €of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of €the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the €fulness of Christ; so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried €about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their €craftiness in deceitful wiles. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into €him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with €which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily €growth and upbuilds itself in love. @Now this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer €live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of €God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of €heart; they have become callous and have given themselves up to €licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of uncleanness. You did not so learn Christ! --assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the €truth is in Jesus. Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and €is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true €righteousness and holiness. @Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with €his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest €work with his hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for €edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who €hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for €the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put €away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as €God in Christ forgave you.  @Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a €fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. @But fornication and all impurity or covetousness must not even be €named among you, as is fitting among saints. Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not €fitting; but instead let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure man, or one who is €covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of €Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these €things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them, for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as €children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and €true), and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose €them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for €anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it is said, €@@"Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, €@@and Christ shall give you light." @Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord €is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled €with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing €and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus €Christ to God the Father. @Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the €church, his body, and is himself its Savior. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in €everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself €up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water €with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot €or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without €blemish. Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who €loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as €Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined €to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to €Christ and the church; however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife €see that she respects her husband.  @Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a €promise), "that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth." Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in €the discipline and instruction of the Lord. @Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with fear €and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ; not in the way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of €Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good any one does, he will receive the same again €from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Masters, do the same to them, and forbear threatening, knowing that he €who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no €partiality with him. @Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶·’ļ‚Åšč’¦˜‹Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against €the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the €principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this €present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the €heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to €withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on €the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can €quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is €the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To €that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all €the saints, and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth €boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, €as I ought to speak. @Now that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tych'icus €the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you €everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we €are, and that he may encourage your hearts. @Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father €and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love undying. ąļ‚Ščéģ’”Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, €@To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philip'pi, with the €bishops and deacons: @Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. @I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until €now. And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to €completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel thus about you all, because I hold you in my €heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my €imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of €Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with €knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and €blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus €Christ, to the glory and praise of God. @I want you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me has really €served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole praetorian guard and €to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because €of my imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak the word of God €without fear. @Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good €will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the €defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of partisanship, not sincerely but €thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, €Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice. @Yes, and I shall rejoice. For I know that through your prayers and €the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my €deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I shall not be at all €ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be €honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet €which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with €Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you €all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, €because of my coming to you again. @Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so €that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that €you stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for €the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear omen €to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should €not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict which you saw and now hear to be mine.  @So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, €any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being €in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others €better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the €interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God €a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the €likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient €unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which €is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth €and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God €the Father. @Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as €in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation €with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good €pleasure. @Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish €in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine €as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be €proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured as a libation upon the sacrificial offering €of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. @I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may €be cheered by news of you. I have no one like him, who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare. They all look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But Timothy's worth you know, how as a son with a father he has served €with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with €me; and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself shall come also. @I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphrodi'tus my brother €and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister €to my need, for he has been longing for you all, and has been distressed because €you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not €only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at €seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy; and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete €your service to me.  @Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things €to you is not irksome to me, and is safe for you. @Look out for the dogs, look out for the evil-workers, look out for €those who mutilate the flesh. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶ø’ļ‚Ščéģ’£“For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and glory €in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh. Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If any €other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of €Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee, as to zeal a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the €law blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of €knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of €all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on €law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from €God that depends on faith; that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share €his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. @Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I €press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I €do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies €ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in €Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature be thus minded; and if in anything you €are otherwise minded, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. @Brethren, join in imitating me, and mark those who so live as you €have an example in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with €tears, live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and they glory in €their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the €Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the €power which enables him even to subject all things to himself.  @Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, €stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat Eu-o'dia and I entreat Syn'tyche to agree in the Lord. And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have €labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and €the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. @Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and €supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your €hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. @Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever €is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if €there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think €about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and €the God of peace will be with you. @I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived €your concern for me; you were indeed concerned for me, but you had no €opportunity. Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I €am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all €circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, €abundance and want. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. @Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the €gospel, when I left Macedo'nia, no church entered into partnership with €me in giving and receiving except you only; for even in Thessaloni'ca you sent me help once and again. Not that I seek the gift; but I seek the fruit which increases to your €credit. I have received full payment, and more; I am filled, having received €from Epaphrodi'tus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice €acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in €glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. @Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet €you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. @The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. ąļ‚Ćļģ’”Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our €brother, @To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colos'sae: €@Grace to you and peace from God our Father. @We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we €pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love €which you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard €before in the word of the truth, the gospel which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit €and growing -- so among yourselves, from the day you heard and understood €the grace of God in truth, as you learned it from Ep'aphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a €faithful minister of Christ on our behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. @And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for €you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in €all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit €in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious €might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the €inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to €the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. @He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and €invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or €authorities -- all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the €first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or €in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. @And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil €deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to €present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not €shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which has been €preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a €minister. @Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I €complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his €body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was €given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to €his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the €riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope €of glory. Him we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all €wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ. For this I toil, striving with all the energy which he mightily €inspires within me.  @For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you, and for those at €La-odice'a, and for all who have not seen my face, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°¶¹’ļ‚Ćļģ’¢’that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in love, €to have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of €God's mystery, of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with beguiling speech. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing €to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. @As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you €were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. @See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty €deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental €spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fulness of life in him, who is the head of all €rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without €hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ; and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised €with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the €dead. And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your €flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our €trespasses, having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; €this he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of €them, triumphing over them in him. @Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and €drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath. These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs €to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of €angels, taking his stand on visions, puffed up without reason by his €sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished €and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth €that is from God. @If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why €do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to €regulations, "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" (referring to things which all perish as they are used), according to €human precepts and doctrines? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting rigor of €devotion and self-abasement and severity to the body, but they are of €no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh.  @If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are €above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on €earth. For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him €in glory. @Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, €passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk €from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature €with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge €after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, €barbarian, Scyth'ian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all. @Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, €kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, €forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must €forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in €perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you €were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one €another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs €with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the €Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. @Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not with €eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the €Lord. Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your €reward; you are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and €there is no partiality.  @Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also €have a Master in heaven. @Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with €thanksgiving; and pray for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to €declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison, that I may make it clear, as I ought to speak. @Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the €time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may €know how you ought to answer every one. @Tych'icus will tell you all about my affairs; he is a beloved brother €and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we €are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Ones'imus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of €yourselves. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. @Aristar'chus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of €Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions -- if he comes €to you, receive him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the €circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they €have been a comfort to me. Ep'aphras, who is one of yourselves, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets €you, always remembering you earnestly in his prayers, that you may €stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in €La-odice'a and in Hi-erap'olis. Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. Give my greetings to the brethren at La-odice'a, and to Nympha and the €church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the €church of the La-odice'ans; and see that you read also the letter from €La-odice'a. And say to Archip'pus, "See that you fulfil the ministry which you have €received in the Lord." @I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my fetters. €Grace be with you. ļ°·°’ļ‚±Ōčåó’”Paul, Silva'nus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalo'nians in €God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: €@Grace to you and peace. @We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you €in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of €love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you; for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in €the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we €proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the €word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit; so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedo'nia and in €Acha'ia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in €Macedo'nia and Acha'ia, but your faith in God has gone forth €everywhere, so that we need not say anything. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°·°’ļ‚±Ōčå󒔘‰For they themselves report concerning us what a welcome we had among €you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true €God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, €Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.  @For you yourselves know, brethren, that our visit to you was not in €vain; but though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at €Philip'pi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the €gospel of God in the face of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from error or uncleanness, nor is it €made with guile; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the €gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but to please God who tests our €hearts. For we never used either words of flattery, as you know, or a cloak for €greed, as God is witness; nor did we seek glory from men, whether from you or from others, though €we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse taking care of her children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with €you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had €become very dear to us. @For you remember our labor and toil, brethren; we worked night and €day, that we might not burden any of you, while we preached to you the €gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless €was our behavior to you believers; for you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one €of you and encouraged you and charged you to lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and €glory. @And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the €word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of €men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you €believers. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ €Jesus which are in Judea; for you suffered the same things from your €own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and €displease God and oppose all men by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they may be €saved -- so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God's €wrath has come upon them at last! @But since we were bereft of you, brethren, for a short time, in €person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great €desire to see you face to face; because we wanted to come to you -- I, Paul, again and again -- but Satan €hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus €at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.  @Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left €behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the gospel of €Christ, to establish you in your faith and to exhort you, that no one be moved by these afflictions. You yourselves know that €this is to be our lot. For when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to €suffer affliction; just as it has come to pass, and as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent that I might €know your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and €that our labor would be in vain. @But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the €good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember €us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you --for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we have €been comforted about you through your faith; for now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy €which we feel for your sake before our God, praying earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and €supply what is lacking in your faith? @Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our €way to you; and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another €and to all men, as we do to you, so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our €God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.  @Finally, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that €as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as €you are doing, you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from €unchastity; that each one of you know how to take a wife for himself in holiness €and honor, not in the passion of lust like heathen who do not know God; that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in this matter, because €the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we solemnly forewarned €you. For God has not called us for uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who €gives his Holy Spirit to you. @But concerning love of the brethren you have no need to have any one €write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one €another; and indeed you do love all the brethren throughout Macedo'nia. But we €exhort you, brethren, to do so more and more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with €your hands, as we charged you; so that you may command the respect of outsiders, and be dependent on €nobody. @But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who €are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through €Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are €alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede €those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, €with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. €And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with €them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always €be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.  @But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to €have anything written to you. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a €thief in the night. When people say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction €will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there €will be no escape. But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you €like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the €night or of darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be €sober. For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk €at night. But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the €breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through €our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you €are doing. @But we beseech you, brethren, to respect those who labor among you €and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at €peace among yourselves. And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the idlers, encourage the €fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good €to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ €Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophesying, but test everything; hold fast what is good, abstain from every form of evil. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°·°’ļ‚±Ōčå󒄘—@May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit €and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord €Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. @Brethren, pray for us. @Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. @I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brethren. @The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. ąļ‚²Ōčåó’”Paul, Silva'nus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalo'nians in €God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: @Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. @We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, as is €fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of €every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God for your €steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions €which you are enduring. @This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be €made worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering --since indeed God deems it just to repay with affliction those who €afflict you, and to grant rest with us to you who are afflicted, when the Lord Jesus €is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who €do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion €from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be €marveled at in all who have believed, because our testimony to you was €believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of €his call, and may fulfil every good resolve and work of faith by his €power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in €him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.  @Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling €to meet him, we beg you, brethren, not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by €word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day €of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless €the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the €son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of €worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming €himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you this? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in €his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now €restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will slay €him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by his appearing and €his coming. The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all €power and with pretended signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they €refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe €what is false, so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had €pleasure in unrighteousness. @But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren €beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be €saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the €glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were €taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter. @Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved €us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.  Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on €and triumph, as it did among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not all have €faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from €evil. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and €will do the things which we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the €steadfastness of Christ. @Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, €that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not €in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle €when we were with you, we did not eat any one's bread without paying, but with toil and labor €we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our €conduct an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one €will not work, let him not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, €not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do €their work in quietness and to earn their own living. Brethren, do not be weary in well-doing. @If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, €and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. @Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all €ways. The Lord be with you all. @I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in €every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. ąļ‚±Ōéķ’”Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of €Christ Jesus our hope, @To Timothy, my true child in the faith: €@Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. @As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus that €you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies which €promote speculations rather than the divine training that is in faith; whereas the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and €a good conscience and sincere faith. Certain persons by swerving from these have wandered away into vain €discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what €they are saying or the things about which they make assertions. @Now we know that the law is good, if any one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for €the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the €unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, €for manslayers, immoral persons, sodomites, kidnapers, liars, perjurers, and whatever €else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I €have been entrusted. @I thank him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our €Lord, because he judged me faithful by appointing me to his service, though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and insulted him; but I €received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love €that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus €came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners; but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, €Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those €who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and €glory for ever and ever. Amen. @This charge I commit to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the €prophetic utterances which pointed to you, that inspired by them you žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°·²’ļ‚±Ōéķ’”˜’ƒmay wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain €persons have made shipwreck of their faith, among them Hymenae'us and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan €that they may learn not to blaspheme.  @First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, €intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet €and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the €truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, €the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne €at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle (I am telling the €truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. @I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy €hands without anger or quarreling; also that women should adorn themselves modestly and sensibly in seemly €apparel, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly attire but by good deeds, as befits women who profess religion. Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to €keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a €transgressor. Yet woman will be saved through bearing children, if she continues in €faith and love and holiness, with modesty.  @The saying is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he €desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, €temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of €money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive €and respectful in every way; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he €care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit €and fall into the condemnation of the devil; moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, or he may fall into €reproach and the snare of the devil. @Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not addicted to €much wine, not greedy for gain; they must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then if they prove themselves €blameless let them serve as deacons. The women likewise must be serious, no slanderers, but temperate, €faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husband of one wife, and let them manage their €children and their households well; for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves €and also great confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. @I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to €you so that, if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household €of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark €of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: €@@He was manifested in the flesh, €@@vindicated in the Spirit, €@@@seen by angels, €@@preached among the nations, €@@believed on in the world, €@@@taken up in glory.  @Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart €from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of €demons, through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created €to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the €truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if €it is received with thanksgiving; for then it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. @If you put these instructions before the brethren, you will be a good €minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of €the good doctrine which you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless and silly myths. Train yourself in €godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in €every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the €life to come. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the €living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who €believe. @Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in €speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, €to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic €utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see €your progress. Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; hold to that, for by so €doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.  @Do not rebuke an older man but exhort him as you would a father; €treat younger men like brothers, older women like mothers, younger women like sisters, in all purity. @Honor widows who are real widows. If a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn their €religious duty to their own family and make some return to their €parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. She who is a real widow, and is left all alone, has set her hope on God €and continues in supplications and prayers night and day; whereas she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command this, so that they may be without reproach. If any one does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his €own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. @Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, €having been the wife of one husband; and she must be well attested for her good deeds, as one who has €brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, €relieved the afflicted, and devoted herself to doing good in every way. But refuse to enrol younger widows; for when they grow wanton against €Christ they desire to marry, and so they incur condemnation for having violated their first pledge. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, gadding about from house to €house, and not only idlers but gossips and busybodies, saying what they €should not. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, rule their €households, and give the enemy no occasion to revile us. For some have already strayed after Satan. If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her assist €them; let the church not be burdened, so that it may assist those who €are real widows. @Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, €especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; for the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading €out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages." Never admit any charge against an elder except on the evidence of two €or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so €that the rest may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I €charge you to keep these rules without favor, doing nothing from €partiality. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor participate in another €man's sins; keep yourself pure. @No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of €your stomach and your frequent ailments. The sins of some men are conspicuous, pointing to judgment, but the €sins of others appear later. So also good deeds are conspicuous; and even when they are not, they €cannot remain hidden.  @Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as €worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not €be defamed. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°·²’ļ‚±Ōéķ’¦’‚ground that they are brethren; rather they must serve all the better €since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved. €@Teach and urge these duties. If any one teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of €our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching which accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit, he knows nothing; he has a morbid craving €for controversy and for disputes about words, which produce envy, €dissension, slander, base suspicions, and wrangling among men who are depraved in mind and bereft of the €truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. There is great gain in godliness with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out €of the world; but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, €into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and €destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this €craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their €hearts with many pangs. @But as for you, man of God, shun all this; aim at righteousness, €godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to €which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence €of many witnesses. In the presence of God who gives life to all things, and of Christ €Jesus who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good €confession, I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach €until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; and this will be made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and €only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no €man has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. €Amen. @As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to €set their hopes on uncertain riches but on God who richly furnishes us €with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous, thus laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that €they may take hold of the life which is life indeed. @O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the godless €chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, for by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith. €@Grace be with you. ąļ‚²Ōéķ’”Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the €promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, @To Timothy, my beloved child: €@Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. @I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience, as did my fathers, €when I remember you constantly in my prayers. As I remember your tears, I long night and day to see you, that I may €be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your €grandmother Lo'is and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in €you. Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you €through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and €love and self-control. @Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his €prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our €works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us €in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ €Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light €through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, and therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I €have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day €what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in €the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who €dwells within us. @You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, and among €them Phy'gelus and Hermog'enes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiph'orus, for he often €refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me --may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day -- and you €well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.  @You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to €faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his €aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the €crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in €everything. @Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as €preached in my gospel, the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a €criminal. But the word of God is not fettered. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also €may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory. The saying is sure: €@@If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; @@if we endure, we shall also reign with him; €@@if we deny him, he also will deny us; @@if we are faithless, he remains faithful --€for he cannot deny himself. @Remind them of this, and charge them before the Lord to avoid €disputing about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who €has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. Avoid such godless chatter, for it will lead people into more and more €ungodliness, and their talk will eat its way like gangrene. Among them are €Hymenae'us and Phile'tus, who have swerved from the truth by holding that the resurrection is €past already. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows €those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord €depart from iniquity." @In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but €also of wood and earthenware, and some for noble use, some for ignoble. If any one purifies himself from what is ignoble, then he will be a €vessel for noble use, consecrated and useful to the master of the €house, ready for any good work. So shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and €peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with stupid, senseless controversies; you know that €they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to every one, €an apt teacher, forbearing, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that €they will repent and come to know the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured €by him to do his will.  @But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of €stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, €abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather €than lovers of God, holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such €people. For among them are those who make their way into households and capture €weak women, burdened with sins and swayed by various impulses, who will listen to anybody and can never arrive at a knowledge of the €truth. As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°·³’ļ‚²Ōéķ’£˜ˆ‚truth, men of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith; but they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, €as was that of those two men. @Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my €faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Ico'nium, €and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord €rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be €persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers €and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly €believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred €writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in €Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for €reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.  @I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to €judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, €rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but €having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to €suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an €evangelist, fulfil your ministry. @For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my €departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the €faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which €the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not €only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. @Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to €Thessaloni'ca; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you; for he is very €useful in serving me. Tych'icus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Tro'as, also €the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will requite him €for his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense no one took my part; all deserted me. May it not be €charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the message €fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the €lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his heavenly €kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. @Greet Prisca and Aq'uila, and the household of Onesiph'orus. Eras'tus remained at Corinth; Troph'imus I left ill at Mile'tus. Do your best to come before winter. Eubu'lus sends greetings to you, as €do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren. @The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. ąļ‚Ōéō’”Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the €faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords €with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who never lies, promised ages ago and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching €with which I have been entrusted by command of God our Savior; @To Titus, my true child in a common faith: €@Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. @This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was €defective, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you, if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, and his children are €believers and not open to the charge of being profligate or €insubordinate. For a bishop, as God's steward, must be blameless; he must not be €arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, upright, holy, €and self-controlled; he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to €give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who €contradict it. For there are many insubordinate men, empty talkers and deceivers, €especially the circumcision party; they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by €teaching for base gain what they have no right to teach. One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always €liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be €sound in the faith, instead of giving heed to Jewish myths or to commands of men who reject €the truth. To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving €nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are corrupted. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their deeds; they are €detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good deed.  @But as for you, teach what befits sound doctrine. Bid the older men be temperate, serious, sensible, sound in faith, in €love, and in steadfastness. Bid the older women likewise to be reverent in behavior, not to be €slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their €husbands, that the word of God may not be discredited. Likewise urge the younger men to control themselves. Show yourself in all respects a model of good deeds, and in your €teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured, so that an opponent may be €put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us. Bid slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction €in every respect; they are not to be refractory, nor to pilfer, but to show entire and true fidelity, so that in €everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. @For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live €sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God €and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify €for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. @Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no €one disregard you.  @Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be €obedient, to be ready for any honest work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show €perfect courtesy toward all men. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to €various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, €hated by men and hating one another; but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in €virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in €the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of €eternal life. The saying is sure. €@I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have €believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these €are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels €over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have €nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is €self-condemned. @When I send Artemas or Tych'icus to you, do your best to come to me €at Nicop'olis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°·“’ļ‚Ōéō’£˜Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apol'los on their way; see €that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to €help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful. @All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in €the faith. €@Grace be with you all. ąļ‚Ščģķ’‘Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, €@To Phile'mon our beloved fellow worker and Ap'phia our sister and Archip'pus our fellow soldier, and the €church in your house: @Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. @I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the €Lord Jesus and all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may promote the knowledge of €all the good that is ours in Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, €because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. @Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do €what is required, yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you -- I, Paul, an ambassador €and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus --I appeal to you for my child, Ones'imus, whose father I have become in €my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and €to me.) I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might €serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your €goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will. @Perhaps this is why he was parted from you for a while, that you €might have him back for ever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, €especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the €Lord. So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my €account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand, I will repay it -- to say nothing €of your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my €heart in Christ. @Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do €even more than I say. At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through €your prayers to be granted to you. @Ep'aphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristar'chus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. @The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. ąļ‚Čåā’”In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the €prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed €the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, €upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made €purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on €high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is €more excellent than theirs. @For to what angel did God ever say, €@@"Thou art my Son, €@@today I have begotten thee"? €Or again, €@@"I will be to him a father, €@@and he shall be to me a son"? And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, €@@"Let all God's angels worship him." Of the angels he says, €@@"Who makes his angels winds, €@@and his servants flames of fire." @But of the Son he says, €@@"Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, €@@the righteous scepter is the scepter of thy kingdom. @@Thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; €@@therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee €@@with the oil of gladness beyond thy comrades." And, €@@"Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, €@@and the heavens are the work of thy hands; @@they will perish, but thou remainest; €@@they will all grow old like a garment, @@like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, €@@and they will be changed. €@@But thou art the same, €@@and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, €@@"Sit at my right hand, €@@till I make thy enemies €@@a stool for thy feet"? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake €of those who are to obtain salvation?  @Therefore we must pay the closer attention to what we have heard, €lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression €or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was €declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who €heard him, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles €and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his own will. @For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of €which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, €@@"What is man that thou art mindful of him, €@@or the son of man, that thou carest for him? @@Thou didst make him for a little while lower than the angels, €@@thou hast crowned him with glory and honor, @@putting everything in subjection under his feet." €Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing €outside his control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in €subjection to him. But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the €angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, €so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one. @For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in €bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation €perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. €That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, €@@"I will proclaim thy name to my brethren, €@@in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee." And again, €@@"I will put my trust in him." €And again, €@@"Here am I, and the children God has given me." @Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself €likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might €destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to €lifelong bondage. For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the €descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that €he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of €God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to €help those who are tempted.  @Therefore, holy brethren, who share in a heavenly call, consider €Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. He was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was €faithful in God's house. Yet Jesus has been counted worthy of as much more glory than Moses as €the builder of a house has more honor than the house. (For every house is built by some one, but the builder of all things is €God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to €the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ was faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house €if we hold fast our confidence and pride in our hope. @Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, €@@"Today, when you hear his voice, @@do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, €@@on the day of testing in the wilderness, @@where your fathers put me to the test €@@and saw my works for forty years. @@Therefore I was provoked with that generation, €@@and said, `They always go astray in their hearts; €@@they have not known my ways.' @@As I swore in my wrath, €@@`They shall never enter my rest.'" Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving €heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°·¶’ļ‚Čåā’£˜But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that €none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to €the end, while it is said, €@@"Today, when you hear his voice, €@@do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." Who were they that heard and yet were rebellious? Was it not all those €who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses? And with whom was he provoked forty years? Was it not with those who €sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they should never enter his rest, but to €those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.  @Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest remains, let us €fear lest any of you be judged to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them; but the message which they €heard did not benefit them, because it did not meet with faith in the €hearers. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, €@@"As I swore in my wrath, €@@`They shall never enter my rest,'" €although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way, "And God €rested on the seventh day from all his works." And again in this place he said, €@@"They shall never enter my rest." Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly €received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he sets a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long €afterward, in the words already quoted, €@@"Today, when you hear his voice, €@@do not harden your hearts." For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later of another €day. So then, there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God; for whoever enters God's rest also ceases from his labors as God did €from his. @Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the €same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged €sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and €marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to €the eyes of him with whom we have to do. @Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the €heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our €weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, €yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we €may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  @For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on €behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for €sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is €beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well €as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, €just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but €was appointed by him who said to him, €@@"Thou art my Son, €@@today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, €@@"Thou art a priest for ever, €@@after the order of Melchiz'edek." @In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, €with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, €and he was heard for his godly fear. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all €who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchiz'edek. @About this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you €have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need some one to €teach you again the first principles of God's word. You need milk, not €solid food; for every one who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of €righteousness, for he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties €trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.  @Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to €maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works €and of faith toward God, with instruction about ablutions, the laying on of hands, the €resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once €been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become €partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the €age to come, if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on €their own account and hold him up to contempt. For land which has drunk the rain that often falls upon it, and brings €forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, €receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being €cursed; its end is to be burned. @Though we speak thus, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of €better things that belong to salvation. For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love which €you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness in realizing €the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through €faith and patience inherit the promises. @For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater €by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their €disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the €promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with €an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that €God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong €encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that €enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a €high priest for ever after the order of Melchiz'edek.  @For this Melchiz'edek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, €met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, €by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also €king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning €of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a €priest for ever. @See how great he is! Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of the €spoils. And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a €commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from €their brethren, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who has not their genealogy received tithes from Abraham €and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. Here tithes are received by mortal men; there, by one of whom it is €testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes €through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchiz'edek met him. @Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levit'ical €priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further €need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order €of Melchiz'edek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°·¶’ļ‚Čåā’§˜ŒFor when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a €change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, €from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in €connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. @This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the €likeness of Melchiz'edek, who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement €concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, €@@"Thou art a priest for ever, €@@after the order of Melchiz'edek." On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its €weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, a better hope is €introduced, through which we draw near to God. @And it was not without an oath. Those who formerly became priests took their office without an oath, €but this one was addressed with an oath, €@@"The Lord has sworn €@@and will not change his mind, €@@`Thou art a priest for ever.'" This makes Jesus the surety of a better covenant. @The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented €by death from continuing in office; but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God €through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. @For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, €blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, €first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this €once for all when he offered up himself. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the €word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has €been made perfect for ever.  @Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high €priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the €Majesty in heaven, a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent which is set up not by €man but by the Lord. For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; hence €it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there €are priests who offer gifts according to the law. They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary; for when Moses €was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, "See €that you make everything according to the pattern which was shown you €on the mountain." But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry which is as much more €excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it €is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no €occasion for a second. @For he finds fault with them when he says: €@@"The days will come, says the Lord, €@@when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel €@@and with the house of Judah; @@not like the covenant that I made with their fathers €@@on the day when I took them by the hand €@@to lead them out of the land of Egypt; €@@for they did not continue in my covenant, €@@and so I paid no heed to them, says the Lord. @@This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel €@@after those days, says the Lord: €@@I will put my laws into their minds, €@@and write them on their hearts, €@@and I will be their God, €@@and they shall be my people. @@And they shall not teach every one his fellow €@@or every one his brother, saying, `Know the Lord,' €@@for all shall know me, €@@from the least of them to the greatest. @@For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, €@@and I will remember their sins no more." In speaking of a new covenant he treats the first as obsolete. And what €is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.  @Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an €earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and €the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered €on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, €and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of €these things we cannot now speak in detail. @These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually €into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, €and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the €errors of the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary is €not yet opened as long as the outer tent is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, €gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot perfect the conscience of €the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various ablutions, regulations €for the body imposed until the time of reformation. @But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that €have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made €with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of €goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and €bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of €the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit €offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from €dead works to serve the living God. @Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are €called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has €occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first €covenant. For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be €established. For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long €as the one who made it is alive. Hence even the first covenant was not ratified without blood. For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all €the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and €scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the €people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you." And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all €the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and €without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. @Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be €purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with €better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of €the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of €God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the €Holy Place yearly with blood not his own; for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of €the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the €age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes €judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will €appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are €eagerly waiting for him.  @For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead €of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same €sacrifices which are continually offered year after year, make perfect €those who draw near. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°·¶’ļ‚Čåā’؊’Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered? If the worshipers €had once been cleansed, they would no longer have any consciousness of €sin. But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year. For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away €sins. @Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, €@@"Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired, €@@but a body hast thou prepared for me; @@in burnt offerings and sin offerings thou hast taken no pleasure. @@Then I said, `Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God,' €@@as it is written of me in the roll of the book." When he said above, "Thou hast neither desired nor taken pleasure in €sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these €are offered according to the law), then he added, "Lo, I have come to do thy will." He abolishes the first €in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the €body of Jesus Christ once for all. @And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the €same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, €he sat down at the right hand of God, then to wait until his enemies should be made a stool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are €sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, @@"This is the covenant that I will make with them €@@after those days, says the Lord: €@@I will put my laws on their hearts, €@@and write them on their minds," then he adds, €@@"I will remember their sins and their misdeeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering €for sin. @Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary €by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, €that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our €hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed €with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he €who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but €encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing €near. @For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the €truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will €consume the adversaries. A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the €testimony of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who €has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant by €which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." And again, €"The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. @But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you €endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and affliction, and sometimes €being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on the prisoners, and you joyfully accepted the €plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a €better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and €receive what is promised. @@"For yet a little while, €@@and the coming one shall come and shall not tarry; @@but my righteous one shall live by faith, €@@and if he shrinks back, €@@my soul has no pleasure in him." @But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of €those who have faith and keep their souls.  @Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of €things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval. By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, €so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear. @By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, €through which he received approval as righteous, God bearing witness by €accepting his gifts; he died, but through his faith he is still €speaking. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was €not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was €attested as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would €draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those €who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, €took heed and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; by €this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness €which comes by faith. @By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which €he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where €he was to go. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, €living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same €promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder €and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was €past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants €as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by €the seashore. @These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but €having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that €they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a €homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, €they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. €Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has €prepared for them a city. @By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who €had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your descendants be named." He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence, €figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing €in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of €the Israelites and gave directions concerning his burial. @By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid for three months by his €parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were €not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of €Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to €enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the €treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king; for €he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the €Destroyer of the first-born might not touch them. @By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land; but the €Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled €for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were €disobedient, because she had given friendly welcome to the spies. @And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°·¶’ļ‚Čåā’؋˜ ‚Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets --who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received €promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out €of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing €to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the €sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, €afflicted, ill-treated --of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and €mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. @And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive €what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they €should not be made perfect.  @Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, €let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, €and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the €joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and €is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. @Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, €so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of €shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? --€@@"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, €@@nor lose courage when you are punished by him. @@For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, €@@and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as €sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, €then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we €respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of €spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time at their pleasure, but he €disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later €it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been €trained by it. @Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be €put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no €one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fail to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of €bitterness" spring up and cause trouble, and by it the many become €defiled; that no one be immoral or irreligious like Esau, who sold his €birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, €he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it €with tears. @For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire, and €darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers €entreat that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast €touches the mountain, it shall be stoned." Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with €fear." But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the €heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and €to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made €perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled €blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel. @See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not €escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less shall €we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. His voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, "Yet once more €I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven." This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of what is shaken, €as of what has been made, in order that what cannot be shaken may €remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be €shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence €and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.  @Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have €entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them; and €those who are ill-treated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be €undefiled; for God will judge the immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you €have; for he has said, "I will never fail you nor forsake you." Hence we can confidently say, €@@"The Lord is my helper, €@@I will not be afraid; €@@what can man do to me?" @Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; €consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is well €that the heart be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not €benefited their adherents. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to €eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the €sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside €the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people €through his own blood. Therefore let us go forth to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he €endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city which is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to €God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such €sacrifices are pleasing to God. @Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over €your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this €joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you. @Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, €desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be €restored to you the sooner. @Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord €Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal €covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you €that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be €glory for ever and ever. Amen. @I appeal to you, brethren, bear with my word of exhortation, for I €have written to you briefly. You should understand that our brother Timothy has been released, with €whom I shall see you if he comes soon. Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy €send you greetings. Grace be with all of you. Amen. ąļ‚Źįó’”James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve €tribes in the Dispersion: Greeting. @Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and €complete, lacking in nothing. @If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men €generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a €wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°··’ļ‚Źįó’”—For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in €all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord. ؉@Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass €he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its €flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So will the rich man fade away €in the midst of his pursuits. @Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test €he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who €love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God €cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one; but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own €desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it €is full-grown brings forth death. @Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down €from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due €to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should €be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. @Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow €to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and €receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your €souls. @But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man €who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was €like. But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and €perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall €be blessed in his doing. @If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but €deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: €to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself €unstained from the world.  @My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord €Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your €assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, €"Have a seat here, please," while you say to the poor man, "Stand €there," or, "Sit at my feet," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with €evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in €the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has €promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress €you, is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme that honorable name which was invoked over €you? @If you really fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, "You €shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the €law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become €guilty of all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not kill." If €you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become a transgressor €of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of €liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy €triumphs over judgment. @What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has €not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," €without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. @But some one will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me €your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my €faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe -- and €shudder. Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works €is barren? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son €Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was €completed by works, and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and €it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend €of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works €when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from €works is dead.  @Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that €we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness. For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what €he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we €guide their whole bodies. Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by €strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will €of the pilot directs. So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great €a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! @And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among €our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of €nature, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be €tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no human being can tame the tongue -- a restless evil, full of deadly €poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are €made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought €not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish? Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more €can salt water yield fresh. @Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him €show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do €not boast and be false to the truth. This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, €unspiritual, devilish. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder €and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open €to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or €insincerity. And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make €peace.  @What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your €passions that are at war in your members? You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot €obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not €ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on €your passions. Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is €enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world €makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is in vain that the scripture says, "He yearns €jealously over the spirit which he has made to dwell in us"? But he gives more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but €gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee €from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you €sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning €and your joy to dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°··’ļ‚Źįó’،˜‹@Do not speak evil against one another, brethren. He that speaks evil €against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law €and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the €law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. €But who are you that you judge your neighbor? @Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and €such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain"; whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are €a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and we €shall do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.  @Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming €upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence €against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up €treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept €back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached €the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have €fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have killed the righteous man; he does not €resist you. @Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. €Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being €patient over it until it receives the early and the late rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord €is at hand. Do not grumble, brethren, against one another, that you may not be €judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the doors. As an example of suffering and patience, brethren, take the prophets €who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we call those happy who were steadfast. You have heard of the €steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how €the Lord is compassionate and merciful. @But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by €earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be €no, that you may not fall under condemnation. @Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let €him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and €let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise €him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, €that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power €in its effects. Eli'jah was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently €that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not €rain on the earth. Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought €forth its fruit. @My brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth and some one €brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his €way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. ąļ‚±Šåō’”Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the exiles of the Dispersion in €Pontus, Galatia, Cappado'cia, Asia, and Bithyn'ia, chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit €for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his €blood: €@@May grace and peace be multiplied to you. @Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great €mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection €of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, €kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to €be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to €suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which €though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory €and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you €believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls. @The prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours €searched and inquired about this salvation; they inquired what person or time was indicated by the Spirit of Christ €within them when predicting the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent €glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, €in the things which have now been announced to you by those who €preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, €things into which angels long to look. @Therefore gird up your minds, be sober, set your hope fully upon the €grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your €former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your €conduct; since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." And if you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially €according to his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the €time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from €your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without €blemish or spot. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made €manifest at the end of the times for your sake. Through him you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead €and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. @Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a €sincere love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, €through the living and abiding word of God; for €@@"All flesh is like grass €@@and all its glory like the flower of grass. €@@The grass withers, and the flower falls, @@but the word of the Lord abides for ever." €That word is the good news which was preached to you.  @So put away all malice and all guile and insincerity and envy and all €slander. Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you €may grow up to salvation; for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. @Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God's sight €chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to €be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God €through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: €@@"Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and €@@@@precious, €@@and he who believes in him will not be put to shame." To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but for those who do €not believe, €@@"The very stone which the builders rejected €@@has become the head of the corner," and €@@"A stone that will make men stumble, €@@a rock that will make them fall"; €for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were €destined to do. @But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's €own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called €you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were no people but now you are God's people; once you had not €received mercy but now you have received mercy. @Beloved, I beseech you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the €passions of the flesh that wage war against your soul. Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in case they speak €against you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God €on the day of visitation. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°·ø’ļ‚±Šåō’¢˜@Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it €be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to €praise those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing right you should put to silence the €ignorance of foolish men. Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; €but live as servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. @Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to €the kind and gentle but also to the overbearing. For one is approved if, mindful of God, he endures pain while suffering €unjustly. For what credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you €take it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you take €it patiently, you have God's approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, €leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he €did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to €sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd €and Guardian of your souls.  @Likewise you wives, be submissive to your husbands, so that some, €though they do not obey the word, may be won without a word by the €behavior of their wives, when they see your reverent and chaste behavior. Let not yours be the outward adorning with braiding of hair, decoration €of gold, and wearing of fine clothing, but let it be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable €jewel of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very €precious. So once the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves and €were submissive to their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are now her children €if you do right and let nothing terrify you. @Likewise you husbands, live considerately with your wives, bestowing €honor on the woman as the weaker sex, since you are joint heirs of the €grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered. @Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the €brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind. Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the €contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a €blessing. For €@@"He that would love life €@@and see good days, €@@let him keep his tongue from evil €@@and his lips from speaking guile; @@let him turn away from evil and do right; €@@let him seek peace and pursue it. @@For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, €@@and his ears are open to their prayer. €@@But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil." @Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? But even if you do suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. €Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make €a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in €you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence; and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who €revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God's €will, than for doing wrong. For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the €unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the €flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of €Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight €persons, were saved through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of €dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, €through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, €authorities, and powers subject to him.  @Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the €same thought, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer by human €passions but by the will of God. Let the time that is past suffice for doing what the Gentiles like to €do, living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, €and lawless idolatry. They are surprised that you do not now join them in the same wild €profligacy, and they abuse you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and €the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to the dead, that though €judged in the flesh like men, they might live in the spirit like God. @The end of all things is at hand; therefore keep sane and sober for €your prayers. Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a €multitude of sins. Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another. As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good €stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who utters oracles of God; whoever renders €service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies; in €order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To €him belong glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. @Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you €to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may €also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because €the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a wrongdoer, €or a mischief-maker; yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under €that name let him glorify God. For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; €and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey €the gospel of God? And €@@"If the righteous man is scarcely saved, €@@where will the impious and sinner appear?" Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will do right and €entrust their souls to a faithful Creator.  @So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of €the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to €be revealed. Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but €willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the €flock. And when the chief Shepherd is manifested you will obtain the unfading €crown of glory. Likewise you that are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe €yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God €opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." @Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due €time he may exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you. Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a €roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of €suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who €has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, €establish, and strengthen you. To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. @By Silva'nus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written €briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of €God; stand fast in it. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings; and €so does my son Mark. Greet one another with the kiss of love. €@Peace to all of you that are in Christ. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°·¹’ļ‚²Šåō’”Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have €obtained a faith of equal standing with ours in the righteousness of €our God and Savior Jesus Christ: @May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and €of Jesus our Lord. @His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life €and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own €glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, €that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the €world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature. For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with €virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, €and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with €love. For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being €ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has €forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and €election, for if you do this you will never fall; so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal €kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. @Therefore I intend always to remind you of these things, though you €know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to arouse you by way of €reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord €Jesus Christ showed me. And I will see to it that after my departure you may be able at any €time to recall these things. @For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to €you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were €eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice €was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with €whom I am well pleased," we heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy €mountain. And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay €attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day €dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is €a matter of one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by €the Holy Spirit spoke from God.  @But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be €false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive €heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon €themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their licentiousness, and because of them the way €of truth will be reviled. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words; from of old €their condemnation has not been idle, and their destruction has not €been asleep. @For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them €into hell and committed them to pits of nether gloom to be kept until €the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of €righteousness, with seven other persons, when he brought a flood upon €the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomor'rah to ashes he condemned €them to extinction and made them an example to those who were to be €ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the €licentiousness of the wicked (for by what that righteous man saw and heard as he lived among them, €he was vexed in his righteous soul day after day with their lawless €deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the €unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and €despise authority. €@Bold and wilful, they are not afraid to revile the glorious ones, whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a €reviling judgment upon them before the Lord. But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be €caught and killed, reviling in matters of which they are ignorant, will €be destroyed in the same destruction with them, suffering wrong for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel €in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their €dissipation, carousing with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice €unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! Forsaking the right way they have gone astray; they have followed the €way of Balaam, the son of Be'or, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a dumb ass spoke with human €voice and restrained the prophet's madness. @These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm; for them the €nether gloom of darkness has been reserved. For, uttering loud boasts of folly, they entice with licentious €passions of the flesh men who have barely escaped from those who live €in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of €corruption; for whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through €the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again €entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for €them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of €righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy €commandment delivered to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog turns €back to his own vomit, and the sow is washed only to wallow in the mire.  @This is now the second letter that I have written to you, beloved, €and in both of them I have aroused your sincere mind by way of reminder; that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the €commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the €last days with scoffing, following their own passions and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the €fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the €beginning of creation." They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens €existed long ago, and an earth formed out of water and by means of €water, through which the world that then existed was deluged with water and €perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist have been €stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and €destruction of ungodly men. @But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day €is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is €forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all €should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens €will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved €with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned €up. @Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons €ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of €which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will €melt with fire! But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in €which righteousness dwells. @Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found €by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved €brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°·¹’ļ‚²Šåō’£˜‚in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to €their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware lest you be €carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus €Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. ļ°ø°’ļ‚±Źļčī’”That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have €seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our €hands, concerning the word of life --the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and €proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made €manifest to us --that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you €may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and €with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing this that our joy may be complete. @This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that €God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie €and do not live according to the truth; but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship €with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all €sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in €us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our €sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not €in us.  @My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; €but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus €Christ the righteous; and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also €for the sins of the whole world. And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his €commandments. He who says "I know him" but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and €the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By €this we may be sure that we are in him: he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he €walked. @Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment €which you had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which €you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new commandment, which is true in him and in €you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already €shining. He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness €still. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and in it there is no €cause for stumbling. But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the €darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has €blinded his eyes. @I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven €for his sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the €beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome €the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the €beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the €word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. @Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves €the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the €eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will €of God abides for ever. @Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist €is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it €is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of €us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might €be plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all know. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you €know it, and know that no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the €antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has €the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard €from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in €the Father. And this is what he has promised us, eternal life. @I write this to you about those who would deceive you; but the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you €have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches €you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught €you, abide in him. @And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we €may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that every one who €does right is born of him.  @See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called €children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know €us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we €shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we €shall see him as he is. And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. @Every one who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is €lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or €known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does right is €righteous, as he is righteous. He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the €beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works €of the devil. No one born of God commits sin; for God's nature abides in him, and he €cannot sin because he is born of God. By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the €children of the devil: whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he €who does not love his brother. @For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that €we should love one another, and not be like Cain who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. €And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his €brother's righteous. Do not wonder, brethren, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the €brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Any one who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no €murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought €to lay down our lives for the brethren. But if any one has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet €closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in €truth. @By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our €hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and €he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his €commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his €Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And by this €we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.  @Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see €whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the €world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°ø°’ļ‚±Źļčī’¤’‚Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God. This is €the spirit of antichrist, of which you heard that it was coming, and €now it is in the world already. Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is €in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world, therefore what they say is of the world, and the €world listens to them. We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of €God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the €spirit of error. @Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who €loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his €only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent €his Son to be the expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and €his love is perfected in us. @By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has €given us of his own Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the €Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and €he in God. So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who €abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence for the €day of judgment, because as he is so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has €to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because he first loved us. If any one says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for €he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom €he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should €love his brother also.  @Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, €and every one who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and €obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his €commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the €victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is €the Son of God? @This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the €water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth. There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and €these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; €for this is the testimony of God that he has borne witness to his Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who €does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed €in the testimony that God has borne to his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life €is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life. @I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that €you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask €anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we €have obtained the requests made of him. If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he €will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. €There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal. @We know that any one born of God does not sin, but He who was born of €God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. @We know that we are of God, and the whole world is in the power of €the evil one. @And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us €understanding, to know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, €in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. ąļ‚²Źļčī’‘The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, €and not only I but also all who know the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us for ever: @Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from €Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love. @I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children following the truth, €just as we have been commanded by the Father. And now I beg you, lady, not as though I were writing you a new €commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning, that we love €one another. And this is love, that we follow his commandments; this is the €commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you follow love. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not €acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the €deceiver and the antichrist. Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but €may win a full reward. Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ €does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father €and the Son. If any one comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not €receive him into the house or give him any greeting; for he who greets him shares his wicked work. @Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and €ink, but I hope to come to see you and talk with you face to face, so €that our joy may be complete. @The children of your elect sister greet you. ąļ‚³Źļčī’‘The elder to the beloved Ga'ius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in €health; I know that it is well with your soul. For I greatly rejoiced when some of the brethren arrived and testified €to the truth of your life, as indeed you do follow the truth. No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow €the truth. @Beloved, it is a loyal thing you do when you render any service to €the brethren, especially to strangers, who have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to €send them on their journey as befits God's service. For they have set out for his sake and have accepted nothing from the €heathen. So we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers in the €truth. @I have written something to the church; but Diot'rephes, who likes to €put himself first, does not acknowledge my authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, prating against me with €evil words. And not content with that, he refuses himself to welcome €the brethren, and also stops those who want to welcome them and puts €them out of the church. @Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. He who does good is of €God; he who does evil has not seen God. Deme'trius has testimony from every one, and from the truth itself; I €testify to him too, and you know my testimony is true. @I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and €ink; I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face. @Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, every one €of them. ąļ‚Źõäå’‘Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, €@To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus €Christ: @May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. @Beloved, being very eager to write to you of our common salvation, I €found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith €which was once for all delivered to the saints. For admission has been secretly gained by some who long ago were žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°ø³’ļ‚Źõäå’”‚designated for this condemnation, ungodly persons who pervert the grace €of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus €Christ. @Now I desire to remind you, though you were once for all fully €informed, that he who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, €afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels that did not keep their own position but left their €proper dwelling have been kept by him in eternal chains in the nether €gloom until the judgment of the great day; just as Sodom and Gomor'rah and the surrounding cities, which likewise €acted immorally and indulged in unnatural lust, serve as an example by €undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. @Yet in like manner these men in their dreamings defile the flesh, €reject authority, and revile the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, disputed €about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a reviling €judgment upon him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you." But these men revile whatever they do not understand, and by those €things that they know by instinct as irrational animals do, they are €destroyed. Woe to them! For they walk in the way of Cain, and abandon themselves €for the sake of gain to Balaam's error, and perish in Korah's rebellion. These are blemishes on your love feasts, as they boldly carouse €together, looking after themselves; waterless clouds, carried along by €winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; €wandering stars for whom the nether gloom of darkness has been reserved €for ever. @It was of these also that Enoch in the seventh generation from Adam €prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with his holy myriads, to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their €deeds of ungodliness which they have committed in such an ungodly way, €and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against €him." These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own passions, €loud-mouthed boasters, flattering people to gain advantage. @But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of €our Lord Jesus Christ; they said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following €their own ungodly passions." It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in €the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord €Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And convince some, who doubt; save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with €fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. @Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you €without blemish before the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, €majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and for ever. €Amen. ąļ‚Ņåö’”The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his €servants what must soon take place; and he made it known by sending his €angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus €Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed €are those who hear, and who keep what is written therein; for the time €is near. @John to the seven churches that are in Asia: €@Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to €come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, €and the ruler of kings on earth. €@To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory €and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, every €one who pierced him; and all tribes of the earth will wail on account €of him. Even so. Amen. @"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was €and who is to come, the Almighty. @I John, your brother, who share with you in Jesus the tribulation and €the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos €on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud €voice like a trumpet saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven €churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Per'gamum and to Thyati'ra €and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to La-odice'a." @Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on €turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with €a long robe and with a golden girdle round his breast; his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes €were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his €voice was like the sound of many waters; in his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth issued a sharp €two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. @When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his €right hand upon me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one; I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I €have the keys of Death and Hades. Now write what you see, what is and what is to take place hereafter. As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, €and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the €seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.  @"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: `The words of him who €holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven €golden lampstands. @"`I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how €you cannot bear evil men but have tested those who call themselves €apostles but are not, and found them to be false; I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, €and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had €at first. Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you €did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from €its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have, you hate the works of the Nicola'itans, which I also €hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. €To him who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is €in the paradise of God.' @"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: `The words of the €first and the last, who died and came to life. @"`I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the €slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a €synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to €throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days €you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you €the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. €He who conquers shall not be hurt by the second death.' @"And to the angel of the church in Per'gamum write: `The words of him €who has the sharp two-edged sword. @"`I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; you hold fast my €name and you did not deny my faith even in the days of An'tipas my €witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the €teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before €the sons of Israel, that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and €practice immorality. So you also have some who hold the teaching of the Nicola'itans. Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with €the sword of my mouth. žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°ø“’ļ‚Ņåö’¢˜‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. €To him who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will €give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no €one knows except him who receives it.' @"And to the angel of the church in Thyati'ra write: `The words of the €Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like €burnished bronze. @"`I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient €endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jez'ebel, who €calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and beguiling my servants to €practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a sickbed, and those who commit adultery €with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her €doings; and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches shall know €that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of €you as your works deserve. But to the rest of you in Thyati'ra, who do not hold this teaching, who €have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, €I do not lay upon you any other burden; only hold fast what you have, until I come. He who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him €power over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are €broken in pieces, even as I myself have received power from my Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'  @"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: `The words of him €who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. €@"`I know your works; you have the name of being alive, and you are €dead. Awake, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I €have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If €you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at €what hour I will come upon you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled €their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are €worthy. He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, and I will not €blot his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before €my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' @"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: `The words of €the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no €one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens. @"`I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, €which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, €and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they €are Jews and are not, but lie -- behold, I will make them come and bow €down before your feet, and learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you €from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those €who dwell upon the earth. I am coming soon; hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize €your crown. He who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God; €never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my €God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem which comes €down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' @"And to the angel of the church in La-odice'a write: `The words of €the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's €creation. @"`I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you €were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you €out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not €knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you €may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of €your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you €may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and €opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I €myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"  @After this I looked, and lo, in heaven an open door! And the first €voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up €hither, and I will show you what must take place after this." At once I was in the Spirit, and lo, a throne stood in heaven, with one €seated on the throne! And he who sat there appeared like jasper and carnelian, and round the €throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald. Round the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones €were twenty-four elders, clad in white garments, with golden crowns €upon their heads. From the throne issue flashes of lightning, and voices and peals of €thunder, and before the throne burn seven torches of fire, which are €the seven spirits of God; and before the throne there is as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. €@And round the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living €creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like €an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth €living creature like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full €of eyes all round and within, and day and night they never €cease to sing, €@@"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, €@@who was and is and is to come!" And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to €him who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne €and worship him who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns €before the throne, singing, @@"Worthy art thou, our Lord and God, €@@to receive glory and honor and power, €@@for thou didst create all things, €@@and by thy will they existed and were created."  @And I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a €scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy €to open the scroll and break its seals?" And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open €the scroll or to look into it, and I wept much that no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to €into into it. Then one of the elders said to me, "Weep not; lo, the Lion of the tribe €of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the €scroll and its seven seals." @And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the €elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven €horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out €into all the earth; and he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was €seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the €twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and €with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; and they sang a new song, saying, €@@"Worthy art thou to take the scroll and to open its seals, €@@for thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men for God €@@from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, @@and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God, €@@and they shall reign on earth." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°ø“’ļ‚Ņåö’„˜‹Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures €and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads €and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive €power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth €and in the sea, and all therein, saying, "To him who sits upon the €throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for €ever and ever!" And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down €and worshiped.  @Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard €one of the four living creatures say, as with a voice of thunder, €"Come!" And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and its rider had a bow; and a €crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. @When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature €say, "Come!" And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take €peace from the earth, so that men should slay one another; and he was €given a great sword. @When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, €"Come!" And I saw, and behold, a black horse, and its rider had a €balance in his hand; and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living €creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of €barley for a denarius; but do not harm oil and wine!" @When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth €living creature say, "Come!" And I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and its rider's name was Death, €and Hades followed him; and they were given power over a fourth of the €earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by €wild beasts of the earth. @When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of €those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they €had borne; they cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how €long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell €upon the earth?" Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little €longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren €should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. @When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a €great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon €became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its €winter fruit when shaken by a gale; the sky vanished like a scroll that is rolled up, and every mountain €and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the generals and the €rich and the strong, and every one, slave and free, hid in the caves €and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the €face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand before it?"  @After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the €earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might €blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the sun, with the €seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four €angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have €sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads." And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand €sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand of €the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand of the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand of the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand of the tribe of €Naph'tali, twelve thousand of the tribe of Manas'seh, twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand of the tribe of €Levi, twelve thousand of the tribe of Is'sachar, twelve thousand of the tribe of Zeb'ulun, twelve thousand of the tribe €of Joseph, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Benjamin. @After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could €number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, €standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, €with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who €sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the €four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne €and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor €and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen." @Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed €in white robes, and whence have they come?" I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are they who €have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes €and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. @@Therefore are they before the throne of God, €@@@and serve him day and night within his temple; €@@@and he who sits upon the throne will shelter them with his €@@@@presence. @@They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; €@@@the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. @@For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, €@@@and he will guide them to springs of living water; €@@and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."  @When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven €for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets €were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and €he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints €upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from €the hand of the angel before God. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar €and threw it on the earth; and there were peals of thunder, voices, €flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. @Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets made ready to blow €them. @The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, €mixed with blood, which fell on the earth; and a third of the earth was €burnt up, and a third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass €was burnt up. @The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great €mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in €the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. @The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, €blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the €fountains of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became €wormwood, and many men died of the water, because it was made bitter. @The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, €and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of €their light was darkened; a third of the day was kept from shining, and €likewise a third of the night. @Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice, as it €flew in midheaven, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at €the blasts of the other trumpets which the three angels are about to €blow!"  @And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from €heaven to earth, and he was given the key of the shaft of the €bottomless pit; he opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose €smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were €darkened with the smoke from the shaft. Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given €power like the power of scorpions of the earth; žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°ø“’ļ‚Ņåö’؉”they were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green growth €or any tree, but only those of mankind who have not the seal of God €upon their foreheads; they were allowed to torture them for five months, but not to kill €them, and their torture was like the torture of a scorpion, when it €stings a man. And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will €long to die, and death will fly from them. @In appearance the locusts were like horses arrayed for battle; on €their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like €human faces, their hair like women's hair, and their teeth like lions' teeth; they had scales like iron breastplates, and the noise of their wings €was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. They have tails like scorpions, and stings, and their power of hurting €men for five months lies in their tails. They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit; his name €in Hebrew is Abad'don, and in Greek he is called Apol'lyon. @The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come. @Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the €four horns of the golden altar before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels €who are bound at the great river Euphra'tes." So the four angels were released, who had been held ready for the hour, €the day, the month, and the year, to kill a third of mankind. The number of the troops of cavalry was twice ten thousand times ten €thousand; I heard their number. And this was how I saw the horses in my vision: the riders wore €breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulphur, and the €heads of the horses were like lions' heads, and fire and smoke and €sulphur issued from their mouths. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and €smoke and sulphur issuing from their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; €their tails are like serpents, with heads, and by means of them they €wound. @The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not €repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and €idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot €either see or hear or walk; nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their €immorality or their thefts.  @Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a €cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and €his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on €the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring; when he called €out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I €heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders have €said, and do not write it down." And the angel whom I saw standing on sea and land lifted up his right €hand to heaven and swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created heaven and €what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in €it, that there should be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh €angel, the mystery of God, as he announced to his servants the €prophets, should be fulfilled. @Then the voice which I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, €saying, "Go, take the scroll which is open in the hand of the angel who €is standing on the sea and on the land." So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll; and €he said to me, "Take it and eat; it will be bitter to your stomach, but €sweet as honey in your mouth." And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it €was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was €made bitter. And I was told, "You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations €and tongues and kings."  @Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told: "Rise €and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it €is given over to the nations, and they will trample over the holy city €for forty-two months. And I will grant my two witnesses power to prophesy for one thousand €two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." @These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which stand €before the Lord of the earth. And if any one would harm them, fire pours out from their mouth and €consumes their foes; if any one would harm them, thus he is doomed to €be killed. They have power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days €of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them €into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they €desire. And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends €from the bottomless pit will make war upon them and conquer them and €kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which is €allegorically called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. For three days and a half men from the peoples and tribes and tongues €and nations gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed €in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry €and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to €those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered €them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who €saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up €hither!" And in the sight of their foes they went up to heaven in a €cloud. And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city €fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest €were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. @The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come. @Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices €in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of €our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever." And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on €their faces and worshiped God, saying, €@@"We give thanks to thee, Lord God Almighty, who art and who wast, €@@@that thou hast taken thy great power and begun to reign. @@The nations raged, but thy wrath came, €@@@and the time for the dead to be judged, €@@for rewarding thy servants, the prophets and saints, €@@@and those who fear thy name, both small and great, €@@and for destroying the destroyers of the earth." @Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant €was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, €voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.  @And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, €with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish €for delivery. And another portent appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon, €with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to €the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear €a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth; she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with €a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared €by God, in which to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty €days. @Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the €dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in €heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°ø“’ļ‚Ņåö’،˜‰‚called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world -- he was €thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the €power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have €come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses €them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of €their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Rejoice then, O heaven and you that dwell therein! But woe to you, O €earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, €because he knows that his time is short!" @And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he €pursued the woman who had borne the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle that she might €fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to €be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, €to sweep her away with the flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its €mouth and swallowed the river which the dragon had poured from his €mouth. Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on €the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God €and bear testimony to Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.  @And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven €heads, with ten diadems upon its horns and a blasphemous name upon its €heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a €bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon €gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound €was healed, and the whole earth followed the beast with wonder. Men worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, €and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who €can fight against it?" @And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous €words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months; it opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his €name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And €authority was given it over every tribe and people and tongue and €nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, every one whose name has €not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life €of the Lamb that was slain. If any one has an ear, let him hear: @@If any one is to be taken captive, €@@@to captivity he goes; €@@if any one slays with the sword, €@@@with the sword must he be slain. €Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. @Then I saw another beast which rose out of the earth; it had two €horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and €makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose €mortal wound was healed. It works great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth €in the sight of men; and by the signs which it is allowed to work in the presence of the €beast, it deceives those who dwell on earth, bidding them make an image €for the beast which was wounded by the sword and yet lived; and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the €image of the beast should even speak, and to cause those who would not €worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free €and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the €name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number €of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and €sixty-six.  @Then I looked, and lo, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a €hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name €written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like €the sound of loud thunder; the voice I heard was like the sound of €harpers playing on their harps, and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living €creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except €the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the €earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are €chaste; it is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes; these have €been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are spotless. @Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel €to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and €tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, for the €hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and €earth, the sea and the fountains of water." @Another angel, a second, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon €the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of her impure €passion." @And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, €"If any one worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark on €his forehead or on his hand, he also shall drink the wine of God's wrath, poured unmixed into the €cup of his anger, and he shall be tormented with fire and sulphur in €the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever; and they have €no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and €whoever receives the mark of its name." @Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the €commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. @And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the €dead who die in the Lord henceforth." "Blessed indeed," says the €Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow €them!" @Then I looked, and lo, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one €like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle €in his hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to €him who sat upon the cloud, "Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour €to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe." So he who sat upon the cloud swung his sickle on the earth, and the €earth was reaped. @And another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a €sharp sickle. Then another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has power €over fire, and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp €sickle, "Put in your sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the €earth, for its grapes are ripe." So the angel swung his sickle on the earth and gathered the vintage of €the earth, and threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God; and the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from €the wine press, as high as a horse's bridle, for one thousand six €hundred stadia.  @Then I saw another portent in heaven, great and wonderful, seven €angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath €of God is ended. @And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire, and €those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its €name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of €the Lamb, saying, €@@"Great and wonderful are thy deeds, €@@O Lord God the Almighty! €@@Just and true are thy ways, €@@O King of the ages! @@Who shall not fear and glorify thy name, O Lord? €@@For thou alone art holy. €@@All nations shall come and worship thee, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°ø“’ļ‚Ņåö’؏”„@@for thy judgments have been revealed." @After this I looked, and the temple of the tent of witness in heaven €was opened, and out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, €robed in pure bright linen, and their breasts girded with golden €girdles. And one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden €bowls full of the wrath of God who lives for ever and ever; and the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his €power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the €seven angels were ended.  @Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, €"Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God." @So the first angel went and poured his bowl on the earth, and foul €and evil sores came upon the men who bore the mark of the beast and €worshiped its image. @The second angel poured his bowl into the sea, and it became like the €blood of a dead man, and every living thing died that was in the sea. @The third angel poured his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of €water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel of water say, €@@"Just art thou in these thy judgments, €@@thou who art and wast, O Holy One. @@For men have shed the blood of saints and prophets, €@@and thou hast given them blood to drink. €@@It is their due!" And I heard the altar cry, €@@"Yea, Lord God the Almighty, €@@true and just are thy judgments!" @The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to €scorch men with fire; men were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God €who had power over these plagues, and they did not repent and give him €glory. @The fifth angel poured his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its €kingdom was in darkness; men gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores, and did not €repent of their deeds. @The sixth angel poured his bowl on the great river Euphra'tes, and €its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, issuing from the mouth of the dragon and from the mouth of €the beast and from the mouth of the false prophet, three foul spirits €like frogs; for they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the €kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day €of God the Almighty. ("Lo, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is he who is awake, keeping his €garments that he may not go naked and be seen exposed!") And they assembled them at the place which is called in Hebrew €Armaged'don. @The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came €out of the temple, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" And there were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, and a €great earthquake such as had never been since men were on the earth, so €great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the €nations fell, and God remembered great Babylon, to make her drain the €cup of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found; and great hailstones, heavy as a hundred-weight, dropped on men from €heaven, till men cursed God for the plague of the hail, so fearful was €that plague.  @Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to €me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who is €seated upon many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and with €the wine of whose fornication the dwellers on earth have become drunk." And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a €woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of blasphemous names, €and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and bedecked with gold and €jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of €abominations and the impurities of her fornication; and on her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great, €mother of harlots and of earth's abominations." And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood €of the martyrs of Jesus. €@When I saw her I marveled greatly. But the angel said to me, "Why marvel? I will tell you the mystery of €the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries €her. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is to ascend from the €bottomless pit and go to perdition; and the dwellers on earth whose €names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of €the world, will marvel to behold the beast, because it was and is not €and is to come. This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains €on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other €has not yet come, and when he comes he must remain only a little while. As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to €the seven, and it goes to perdition. And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received €royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, €together with the beast. These are of one mind and give over their power and authority to the €beast; they will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he €is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and €chosen and faithful." @And he said to me, "The waters that you saw, where the harlot is €seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the €harlot; they will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and €burn her up with fire, for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being €of one mind and giving over their royal power to the beast, until the €words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman that you saw is the great city which has dominion over €the kings of the earth."  @After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great €authority; and the earth was made bright with his splendor. And he called out with a mighty voice, €@@"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! €@@It has become a dwelling place of demons, €@@a haunt of every foul spirit, €@@a haunt of every foul and hateful bird; @@for all nations have drunk the wine of her impure passion, €@@and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, €@@and the merchants of the earth have grown rich with the wealth of €@@@@her wantonness." @Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, €@@"Come out of her, my people, €@@lest you take part in her sins, €@@lest you share in her plagues; @@for her sins are heaped high as heaven, €@@and God has remembered her iniquities. @@Render to her as she herself has rendered, €@@and repay her double for her deeds; €@@mix a double draught for her in the cup she mixed. @@As she glorified herself and played the wanton, €@@so give her a like measure of torment and mourning. €@@Since in her heart she says, `A queen I sit, €@@I am no widow, mourning I shall never see,' @@so shall her plagues come in a single day, €@@pestilence and mourning and famine, €@@and she shall be burned with fire; €@@for mighty is the Lord God who judges her." @And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and were wanton €with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her €burning; they will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, €@@"Alas! alas! thou great city, €@@thou mighty city, Babylon! €@@In one hour has thy judgment come." @And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one €buys their cargo any more, cargo of gold, silver, jewels and pearls, fine linen, purple, silk and €scarlet, all kinds of scented wood, all articles of ivory, all articles €of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour €and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, €human souls. @@"The fruit for which thy soul longed has gone from thee, žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°ø“’ļ‚Ņåö’ؒ˜Ž‚@@and all thy dainties and thy splendor are lost to thee, never to €@@@@be found again!" @The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand €far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud, @@"Alas, alas, for the great city €@@that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, €@@bedecked with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! @@In one hour all this wealth has been laid waste." €@And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade €is on the sea, stood far off and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, €@@"What city was like the great city?" And they threw dust on their heads, as they wept and mourned, crying €out, €@@"Alas, alas, for the great city €@@where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! €@@In one hour she has been laid waste. @@Rejoice over her, O heaven, €@@O saints and apostles and prophets, €@@for God has given judgment for you against her!" @Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and €threw it into the sea, saying, €@@"So shall Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, €@@@and shall be found no more; @@and the sound of harpers and minstrels, of flute players and €@@@@trumpeters, €@@@shall be heard in thee no more; €@@and a craftsman of any craft €@@@shall be found in thee no more; €@@and the sound of the millstone €@@@shall be heard in thee no more; @@and the light of a lamp €@@@shall shine in thee no more; €@@and the voice of bridegroom and bride €@@@shall be heard in thee no more; €@@for thy merchants were the great men of the earth, €@@@and all nations were deceived by thy sorcery. @@And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, €@@@and of all who have been slain on earth."  @After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great €multitude in heaven, crying, €@@"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, @@for his judgments are true and just; €@@he has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her €@@@@fornication, €@@and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants." Once more they cried, €@@"Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever." And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and €worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" And from the throne came a voice crying, €@@"Praise our God, all you his servants, €@@you who fear him, small and great." Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like €the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty €thunderpeals, crying, €@@"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. @@Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, €@@for the marriage of the Lamb has come, €@@and his Bride has made herself ready; @@it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and €@@@@pure" --€for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. @And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are €invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These €are true words of God." Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You €must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren who €hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." For the testimony of Jesus €is the spirit of prophecy. @Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon €it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and €makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; €and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is €called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, €followed him on white horses. From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, €and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press €of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and €Lord of lords. @Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he €called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, "Come, gather for the €great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty €men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, €both free and slave, both small and great." And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies €gathered to make war against him who sits upon the horse and against €his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its €presence had worked the signs by which he deceived those who had €received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These €two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur. And the rest were slain by the sword of him who sits upon the horse, €the sword that issues from his mouth; and all the birds were gorged €with their flesh.  @Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the €key of the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and €Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, that he €should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years were ended. €After that he must be loosed for a little while. @Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom judgment €was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for €their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not €worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their €foreheads or their hands. They came to life, and reigned with Christ a €thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were €ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection! Over such €the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of €Christ, and they shall reign with him a thousand years. @And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be loosed from his €prison and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners €of the earth, that is, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their €number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad earth and surrounded the camp of the €saints and the beloved city; but fire came down from heaven and €consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire €and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will €be tormented day and night for ever and ever. @Then I saw a great white throne and him who sat upon it; from his €presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and €books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of €life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by €what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead in €them, and all were judged by what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the €second death, the lake of fire; and if any one's name was not found written in the book of life, he was €thrown into the lake of fire.  @Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the €first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from €God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling €of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his €people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no €more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for €the former things have passed away." @And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." €Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." žļ€ŅÓÖ’ļ°ø“’ļ‚Ņåö’ؕ–And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the €beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the fountain of €the water of life without payment. He who conquers shall have this heritage, and I will be his God and he €shall be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, €fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in €the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death." @Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the €seven last plagues, and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the €Bride, the wife of the Lamb." And in the Spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain, and €showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a €jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve €angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of €Israel were inscribed; on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three €gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve €names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. @And he who talked to me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the €city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its breadth; and he €measured the city with his rod, twelve thousand stadia; its length and €breadth and height are equal. He also measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits by a man's €measure, that is, an angel's. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as €glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every jewel; €the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth €emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth €beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, €the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a €single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as €glass. @And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the €Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory €of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light shall the nations walk; and the kings of the earth shall €bring their glory into it, and its gates shall never be shut by day -- and there shall be no night €there; they shall bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor any one who practices €abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's €book of life.  @Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, €flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of €the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding €its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing €of the nations. There shall no more be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of €the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall worship him; they shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads. And night shall be no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the €Lord God will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever. @And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the €Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to €show his servants what must soon take place. And behold, I am coming soon." €@Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. @I John am he who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw €them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them €to me; but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with €you and your brethren the prophets, and with those who keep the words €of this book. Worship God." @And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this €book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the €righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." @"Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one €for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and €the end." @Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right €to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and €idolaters, and every one who loves and practices falsehood. @"I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the €churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning €star." @The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let him who hears say, €"Come." And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the €water of life without price. @I warn every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if €any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this €book, and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, €God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, €which are described in this book. @He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." €Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! @The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen. šž